The Prodigal Spy: A Novel

by Joseph Kanon

Book Overview

In a time of accusations, treachery and lies, some secrets were heartbreaking.... Others were deadly. Once, Nick Kotlar tried to save his father. From the angry questions. From the accusations. From a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0440225345
• Release Date: November 1999
• Publisher: Island Books
• Length: 544 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.9" x 1.1" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Boring, Long-winded

Another boring, predictable, long-winded "thriller" from the author of Los Alamos. It only took me about 100 tedious background pages to suss out the bad guy. Both books spent too much time on the inter-personal relationships of the main characters, which added almost nothing to the story line. I think there are better "thriller" options.

Gripping and educational

Enjoyed the mystery angle of the book and even more so the historical setting - I read it with my laptop - googling many of the events and places. As a result, my knowledge and understanding of pre WWII decision-making (Munich Accord) and post-war East Europe developed greatly. And the history seems to be pretty accurate, based on conversations I've had since with those who had a better education in history than I did (our school years always seemed to end before we got to WWII).

A Story of Deceit, Lies and a Prodigal Bond

It is 1950 and the House Un-American Activities Committee accuses ten-year-old Nick's father, Walter Kotlar, an undersecretary at the Department of State, of being a Communist spy. Nick finds out by seeing him being interrogated by congressmen on the newsreel while at the movies. He refuses to believe it, but his father leaves little doubt when he flees the country in the shadow of the suspicious death of a young woman who testified against him.Jump ahead to the late '60s, and after serving time with the U.S. Army in Vietnam, Nick is in Europe with his stepfather, Larry, who is in Europe to represent the U.S. at the Paris peace talks to end the war in Vietnam. Nick has put his real father, who has since turned up in the Soviet Union where he admitted to being a spy and had received the Order of Lenin, behind him.While in Paris Nick meets Molly, an American hippie type, who tell him his father is now living in Czechoslovakia and wants to see him. In Prague Nick's father tells him that he had been betrayed and framed for murder. He also tells him he wants to come home and that he'll give up the names of spies still operating in exchange for life in America.Nick and Molly go to Washington to search out the spies fingered by Nick's father, including one highly placed agent named Silver, who has been selling out his country for decades and who Nick believes is responsible for many deaths. And now this spy named Silver may even be after Nick.Mr. Kanon has written a super mystery-thriller that tells the sordid story of McCarthyism as you burn the midnight oil, eagerly reading through the pages to see what comes next in this tale of intrigue that has an ending I guarantee you won't see coming.

Definitely a Home Run

When I read Walter Kanon's first novel, "Los Alamos," I felt that we had a new thriller writer with real potential on our hands. That book didn't quite work, with the author spending too much time on atmosphere and the characters and not enough time on the plot. After all, in my book you read a thriller for the plot - if you want great characters and atmosphere, read Flaubert or Bellow. With "The Prodigal Spy," however, Mr. Kanon has definitely hit a home run. The characters are truly vivid, and the atmosphere of 1969 Prague is very well done indeed. But it is the plot that will stay in my mind, enthralling in its detail, complexity and surprises; all elements of the story are expertly balanced, making for a very enjoyable experience. This tale of a young man travelling behind the Iron Curtain to meet his long-lost defector father and then returning to the United States to uncover an even more important mole is worthy of comparison with le Carre, Greene and even Eric Ambler himself. I thought the denoument rather predictable, but that didn't spoil "a cracking good read." Bravo!

I couldn't put this book down!

I liked this story so much that I stayed up until 3am two mornings in a row to finish it, even though I had to be at work at 9am both days!I particularly enjoyed the Prague portion of the story; having been there during the post 1968-pre 1990 period, I was definately able to relate to much of the paronia of the priod.I recommend this book.

A gripping tale, Kanon might possibly be the next Ludlum

This book takes you around the globe in a thrilling tale of power and decption. From the Mcarthy days in Washington to present day eastern Europe, You'll be kept at the edge of your seat. Lookout Ludlum