June Gloom

Infamous "June Gloom" has settled upon us, but I welcome the drizzly gray skies --perfect reading weather--although I can't sit and read all day, except in my dreams. My idea of a great weekend would be to just read for the entire time, without having to go anywhere, but that's an impossibility for me right now with a family. It may sound boring to you, but that's my idea of a real break.

The Hidden Target, a love story with a focus on international terrorism, continues to fascinate me, and 'the queen of the spy writers', Helen MacInnes (pictured to the right) lives up to her name. This is my first Helen MacInnes novel, part of a series of three featuring Robert Renwick as the hero, although I'm told they are best read in order: Prelude to Terror, The Hidden Target, and then Cloak of Darkness. Even without having read the first of the series, I'm doing fine. MacInnes' crisp writing is easy to follow (although I do need to keep track of who's who in this world of changing identities), and the story stands on its own. (Thanks for the introduction, Sandie!)

The Hidden Target

Sandie has lent me The Hidden Target, an espionage novel written by the very prolific Helen MacInnes.  Published in 1980, it's the tale of a battle against international terrorism, as well as a romance between Nina and Robert. This riveting story is very different from what I normally read, but it has already drawn me in. Helen MacInnes' prose is succinct and lucid, bringing the characters and settings, both here and abroad, into sharp, life-like focus. This Scottish born author is world famous for the genre of suspense novels, having published over twenty books during a career which spanned more than forty years. Will this book sharpen my own skills as a sleuth, as I attempt to solve the puzzles and mysteries in the book and my own world?  I hope so.  Isn't that why we read, anyway, for clues, and to ultimately figure things out?

Interested in finding more books by 'the queen of spy writers', Helen MacInnes?  Visit Fantastic Fiction in the UK.