This is my second book by Ross Thomas. I read "The Fools in Town are on Our Side " a few week before this, and enjoyed it enough to seek more. Both had interesting stories, humorous dialogs, lots of twists and turns, and people having bad days in general.

I will most likely read more by this author. ( )

Padillo sold out by own side in swap for gay defectors

I am really picky about the kinds of stories I read. I figure there are more books out there than I will ever get to read so I don't have to read stuff I don't want to. Having said that, I am going to retract at least a piece of it now. I've heard people say that if an author is REALLY good, the subject matter doesn't matter. The photo by that explanations must be The Cold War Swap. I have no interest in the cold war, little interest in spies and less interest in books set outside of the U.S. But Ross Thomas can flat just tell a story. And this one is a gripper. I'm so delighted to have found him and that he was so very prolific. I have a whole shelf of stuff he wrote to get to yet. What luxury. (reviewed in 1996) ( )

An interesting and enjoyable book. This Edgar winner, published in 1966, feels like a farewell to the noir of the 50s and 60s while also foreshadowing the opening of the LGBT wave and our realizations of the naked power wielded by governments. It's all delivered in a casual almost easy-going style. Don't look for a page turner or deep character development but the European setting, the Great Powers lurking and some great plot twists add up to a delectable read. Seems like the Edgar folks got this one right. ( )

This cold war, spy-noir. The main characters are two american expats living in Germany a few years after WW II. They both fought in the war. One is still in the CIA while the other owns a bar and wants to live a quiet, peaceful life. They get caught up in a plot to bring somebody over the border from the GDR. The pace moves along quickly. This is definitely a fun, quick read. ( )