Great

This was the first book by MacInnes that I've read. Wow! It was clever and exciting. After the sale of the artwork, it was hard to believe we were only two-thirds through the story.

Colin Grant finally finds his niche regarding what to do with his life, especially after his bout of depression after the murder of his wife. But it is a long and winding road to that destination.

The author sums up the problem with terrorists (published in 1978!): "They came in all dimensions: groups of political fanatics with blind obedience and perverted social conscience; the trained assassin tracking down their victim in a peaceful Austrian village; a boy on a quiet Washington street killing on vicious impulse. All of them, however different they seemed, bent on destruction. All of them, however motivated, with total contempt for human life." Not much has changed, unfortunately.

I loved discovering the "good guys" from the "bad guys" and watching the novice, Colin, learn the ropes. ( )

2556 Prelude to Terror, by Helen MacInnes (read 28 Nov 1993) This 1978 book takes place in and around Vienna and it is very exciting. Mostly the good guys always win. The arch-villain is KGB-trained and is funneling money to a Geneva bank for terrorists. I found the book extremely fascinating, even though it is obviously formula. ( )