This book was a slog. I know that these kind of spy thrillers typically have that feeling to them but I didn't even understand where this one was going. The writing style was a mess.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an advance copy.

I really enjoyed this novel, overall. This was one of those kinds of books that I picked up on a whim because the synopsis looked interesting, and consequently I wasn't expecting very much going into it. I was somewhat surprised, then, to find out that I had stumbled upon a very competently written novel in a sub genre of stories that I normally really enjoy, but haven't read for a while.

This is, on the surface, your typical spy story. You follow one protagonist as he goes about his job and experience all his trials and tribulations from his point of view. For all I make it sound simple, it's actually very engaging. One thing that struck me immediately is the amount of believable detail Brian has layered throughout his novel. Whether a nicely placed flashback to a training scenario with another character while describing a piece of geography, to a seemingly inconsequential but ultimately important detail during a stakeout and subsequent gunfight. Consequently, there's something on every page that just drags you a little deeper into the story. It actually reminded me a lot of the <i>Slough Hose</i> series by Mick Herron, which is a good thing in my books because I felt the same way about that series as I do about this first entry.

Ultimately, I recommend this novel to anyone looking for an in depth, sometimes meandering, but ultimately exciting and engaging novel on the nature of espionage and tradecraft.

i really enjoyed reading this book, the mystery did feel like a Agatha Christie novel and I enjoyed that. The characters were great and I enjoyed everything about this book.

Real spies are not exactly James Bond. Some of them, maybe, probably, who knows, but otherwise, they can be as big as a failure as any other human facing the challenge of a simple riddle.

Thomas Dylan is one of those unusual spies that not only got rejected by the famous MI6 - Queen´s Secret Intelligence Service - but once in a mission for the less exciting Defense Intelligence Service failed more than once.

Thomas Dylan (not Dylan Thomas, for the connoisseurs) is coming from the cold of the Cold War and his missions are tailored accordingly. The enemies are from the other side of the curtain, some of them bearing such exotic nicknames as Samovar. In the name of the beautiful Briths-American collaboration, Dylan is sent to Brazil to recover a submarine interrogator stolen from the US Navy. Not necessarily accidentally, he has to deal with the craziness - close to brothel kind of ambiance - of the South America in the late 1970s, where former Nazis are in the big business as nothing happened and the dictatorships are supported with $$ because it might stabilize the region. At the time, this region was as eventful as the Middle East of nowadays.

I liked the way in which the story is told - by the agent Thomas Dylan - , on a very phlegmatic sarcastic yet realistic tone. The sentences are short describing situations and events in a very cinematic way. When the situation on the ground looks so complicated, you need at least clear sentences to figure out what it is all about. This writing style also brings a healthy note of certain realism and honesty to the story.

For any lover of spy novels, Awakening of Spies by Brian Landers has a good offer to make: action, surprising characters and turn of events, secrets of spies, in the cold style of British keepers of secrets.



Rating: 3.5

The first line of any book is vital in setting expectations. With the exception of a prologue (something I am never in favor of) the first line in this adventure grabbed me instantly: "The first time somebody tried to kill me was in Holland in 1974." After that I had to learn more.

And then having learned more, and liking it a lot, I kept on to the end. And I enjoyed the journey a very great deal. The characters are fun and interesting. The plotting is superb. And the writing style is like sitting in an easy chair, sipping a fine brandy, and listening to someone recount a great story.

This is the first of several books in the series. I am thrilled with the prospects.

Taking a fish out of water approach, “Awakening of Spies” by Brian Landers is an enjoyable romp through one man’s confusing indoctrination into the hidden world of the spy game.

Thomas Dylan is our lead. He works for the British Ministry of Defense, having been rejected by MI6. It looks like he’s bound for a desk job, but lo and behold he jets out to Holland, where he’s involved in a shootout on his very first mission. And things just get worse from there. Sent to Chicago with a new partner (who knows just a little bit too much and has her own secrets), Thomas is tasked with recovering a bit of American technology, a stolen "Griffin Interrogator”. And once again he manages to fail in a spectacular fashion with another corpse left behind.

So is this the end of his career? Nope, off to Brazil, where he continues to work on recovering the Interrogator. Thomas gets thrown into a world of hidden agendas, questionable loyalties, concealed motives…. just your basic cat and mouse game of spy vs. spy, set against the beautiful backdrop of Brazil. But why Thomas? Is he just a dupe? An innocent? Bait? He struggles to answer these questions, complete his mission, and figure out if he can trust his partner, all while trying to stay alive.

A pretty good read. The plot is complex, there are numerous people to keep track of, and one has to pay attention. But overall well-written, and I look forward to the next book in the series.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from RedDoor Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

I had trouble following the characters. A slow-paced beginning ruins the fun a tad. I was expecting more action; this story doesn't have your usual spy-thrillerish feeling.
Overall, this was an okay read.

3.5/5

The premise hooked me and admittedly, the first 80 or so pages were really slow to follow until we get to the promised part - a cat and mouse spy thriller in Brazil. There's also a lot of military jargon that I found difficult to get past. The first part of the book is slow BUT then it gets REALLY good. I was enthralled with the female lead character French and once she was introduced it felt like we were really off to the races. Overall, it promised a spy thriller and it delivered.

This review is a part of a blog tour and ARC provided by Red Door press and NetGalley.

An action packed thrill ride! Told from the point of view of Thomas Dylan who is looking forward to his retirement, he reminisces of the first mission he took in the mid 70's as a new recruit for the defence intelligence staff. He starts by introducing a few characters then it's full blown action, where he, expecting a very desk based role is in the middle of Holland chasing spies and being shot at. The descriptions of the action scenes bring to life the thrill of the chase, and although the plot is a little on the complicated side, about half way through there is a recap as he reports to London which I found hugely beneficial to keep track of everything going on.

There is full on action throughout the book, and the little snippets of plot twists and red herrings keep you hooked. Although predominantly a spy/action thriller there are secondary love interests which give Thomas's character some depth and likeability. I am very much looking forward to reading the next instalment of Brian Landers series with Thomas Dylan. Thanks to NetGalley and Red Door for the ARC.

3.5/5
Quality of writing: 4
Plot development: 3
Pace: 3
Characters: 3
Enjoyability: 4
Ease of reading: 3

Thomas Dylan is an unlikely spy... Do you even need to know more?
It took me a while to finish Awakening of Spies. In part it's my own fault. I wasn't paying attention and basically had to re read the first 1/3 of the book. I was hoping for a quick and easy spy thriller and this is not it. There's a lot of characters and a lot of places and you have to remember them all. If not - you'll get lost and will get frustrated. Trust me, I know.
Both the reader and Thomas have no idea why he was picked for this mission. Why him? Thomas has 0 field experience. We quickly realize that something's off. Is Thomas just a pawn in a bigger game? I had a lot of questions. Most of them were answered. Some got lost somewhere along the way.
Overall it's a decent book. There's death, there's action, there's mystery and spies. There's double-crossing and a girl. It's refreshing to read a spy book that doesn't include misogyny (yes, Ian Fleming, I'm looking at you!)

Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Out of sheer determination I have finally finished reading this convoluted, highly complicated tale involving enough characters to populate a small prison. One might have to have considerable knowledge of the British spy trade to enjoy the novel. I didn't. I wanted suspense. I got deceit and sleight of hand. The reader never has a fair chance with the novel because, besides the convoluted plot involving various governments and bad actors, the protagonist is a dupe. His inexperience is the reason he is given the task of tracking down a "Griffin Interrogator." So we have to trail along as he works out the deceits he has been handed. He is given a partner who may or may not be in on the plot. This goes on and on to the point where it wasn't the spies who needed awakening, it was me!
Finally we get to the big climax, learning more about who and what is going on, only to find out that "wait, there's more!" What one finally learns about the Griffin Interrogator made me feel totally duped. About 88% in the author lays out much of the plot in plain language. Then there's the "more." I even read the acknowledgments and discovered that he had a long history trying to make his novel a feasible read. Keep working, I suggest.
Before I started reading, I received an email telling me what a nice guy the author is and I am happy to know that. I feel bad criticizing his work, and I have no doubt some will like it better than I did. But, since I am reading an ARC, I suggest that the first half include some excitement to reward the reader for sticking with the story, and perhaps there doesn't need to be so much hidden from the reader. Just an idea. And were all those bad guys really needed?
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.