- Paperback: 512 pages
- Publisher: Arrow; New edition edition (4 Oct 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0099410648
- ISBN-13: 978-0099410645
- Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 11 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 547,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
In 2020, as a divided and impoverished Russia is driven further into chaos by refugees fleeing, and spreading, a TB epidemic, former policeman Vadim is sent to the US to scout for football players; he does not like acting as errand boy for his old friend Roy, political boss of the North East, but it is better than the possibly fatal alternatives. He finds himself caught up in the affairs of Katerina, the drunken Russian wife of Presidential hopeful Rushton; very soon, he finds himself helping to investigate her abduction and murder and that of Rushton's niece by a serial killer controlled enough to work for hire. He also finds himself hopelessly in love with Katerina's blind daughter... Vadim is an intelligent book about politics and justice. Rushton is campaigning on a programme of massive aid to Russia and when the question arises of whether he is involved with the murders, knowingly or unknowingly, Vadim has to balance different sorts of public good and personal loyalty. Intelligent about the American political process and the roots of Russian organised crime, informed about everything from gulag executions to likely developments in ophthalmic surgery, this combines whodunit, political thriller and sheer excitement in an impressive package. --Roz Kaveney
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Shades of Grisham as an intriguing political plot fuels melodrama with some deft comic touches." -- "Daily Mirror"
"Outstanding...James brilliantly and triumphantly pulls off an improbable fusion of whodunit, apocalyptic science fiction and Primary Colors-style political thriller." -- "Sunday Times"
"Donald James deserves to be in the very first rank of best-selling authors." -- "Express"
"Outstanding...James brilliantly and triumphantly pulls off an improbable fusion of whodunit, apocalyptic science fiction and Primary Colors-style political thriller." -- "Sunday Times"
"Donald James deserves to be in the very first rank of best-selling authors." -- "Express"
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am a huge fan of Constantin Vadim (and of course, his creator, Donald James.) I enjoyed the first two Vadim novels tremendously, even though I was rather dubious about them being set in the near future ( a necessary device to presuppose certain historical events.) It's difficult to say which of the three I've liked best; I enjoy meeting familiar characters in new stories. I think part of the appeal is that each novel has a different location, so no book is simply a re-hash of the previous. Anyway, Vadim is excellent, with a gripping plot, excellent characterisation, and a real nail-biting finale. Thank you, Donald James!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Thanks you Donald James for giving me something I was worrying I'd never get again...a good read.
I am a big fan of Dommick Dunne, but he hasn't done anything for me lately and I loved VC Andrews until she died and some ghostwriter started making a mockery of her name. To make matter worse, several other writers seemed to have fallen prey to this terrible trend of producing forgettable books every six months that leave the reader unsatisfied.
So while I was in Britain on vacation last year I decided to look for some new authors and lucky for me, I found Donald James. I picked up Vadim after reading the back cover. I read the foreword and I was intrigued and by the time I finished reading the first chapter, I was laughing out loud and completely hooked.
What makes this novel is not so much the story and the mystery that unfolds but the protagonist, Constantin Vadim who is an irresistible character. Seeing the world through his eyes is a treat in itself especially his blunt assessments of the state of life in Russia (and it's politics in particular) and his general cynicism about world affairs.
The mystery takes you from a desolate Russia to the opulence of New York. Yet as Vadim makes the journey he remains stubbornly patriotic and his love for his homeland - with all it desperate problems - is a refreshing break from the "life is always better in the US" premise that is usually trumpeted in stories with an east/ west theme.
James does well with his characters; they are - for the most part - well developed and interesting even if only a few are likeable. What is also intriguing is the insight into the operations of the Soviet machinery and how the various regimes - real and those created by the author - only served to undermine what could have been a powerful and productive nation.
After reading this novel, I had to get Monstrum and the Fortune Teller and I am now eagerly awaiting the next Donald James novel.
Format:Hardcover
The previous Vadim novels were unusual - in setting and characterisation, not to mention plot. This latest outing for the Russian ex-policemen is no less entertaining but lacks the credibility of the other two. Some incredible plot twists that defy belief (though Clinton and the Gore/Bush fiasco raise the stakes somewhat)and some very cliched characters undermine an interesting narrative. The year is 2020, and the huge growth in illegal Russian immigrants to the US has created a human crisis and a significant political opportunity for those fighting to win the US presidency. Vadim is sent to New York on a sporting errand for his old "friend" Roy. Death threats, vodka, temptation and Russian wisom ... all good fun. Worth a read.
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