Scott Stoddard is enjoying his honeymoon in the South of Fance in 1964. Scott, an American student studying in Geneva has just married the former Countess de Rovere, Desiree in an unexpected and whirlwind romance when a letter from the draft board appears saying his status is under review. Scott must now report to a base in Germany to be tested and then tested again only to learn that the CIA is forcing him to train as a spy and use his new social status to gain information and pass it along. Scott is not pleased about how he has to go about his duty, keep secrets from his new wife and spend time away from his baby daughter. However, he finds a way to use this position for good as well as finding a way back to his life.
A Spy With Scruples is the sequel to An Improbable Pairing, while this could be read as a stand-alone it is helpful to know Scott and Desiree backgrounds and romance. This picks up right after the first book with the couple enjoying married life and waiting for the arrival of their new baby. Much like the first book, A Spy with Scruples is a tour of the opulence and luxury of the upper class European community. The descriptions dazzle with the dress of the time period, the hotels, restaurants and cuisine, vacation resorts and parties. Desiree shines with her charm and intellect, I'm not at all surprised that she caught on to Scott's situation. Scott remains one of the luckiest and fast-thinking men ever; even though he was in a less than desirable situation, it was better than having to fight in Vietnam. Scott's time as a spy was filled with suspense, but not a lot of action. Through his articles and meetings, I was able to see the many intricacies of the influences of different European countries during the Cold War. I particularly liked his interviews with Vietnamese families and tracking of former Nazi's. Overall, A Spy with Scruples offers a different kind of spy thriller focused on the gathering of information.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
A Spy With Scruples is the sequel to An Improbable Pairing, while this could be read as a stand-alone it is helpful to know Scott and Desiree backgrounds and romance. This picks up right after the first book with the couple enjoying married life and waiting for the arrival of their new baby. Much like the first book, A Spy with Scruples is a tour of the opulence and luxury of the upper class European community. The descriptions dazzle with the dress of the time period, the hotels, restaurants and cuisine, vacation resorts and parties. Desiree shines with her charm and intellect, I'm not at all surprised that she caught on to Scott's situation. Scott remains one of the luckiest and fast-thinking men ever; even though he was in a less than desirable situation, it was better than having to fight in Vietnam. Scott's time as a spy was filled with suspense, but not a lot of action. Through his articles and meetings, I was able to see the many intricacies of the influences of different European countries during the Cold War. I particularly liked his interviews with Vietnamese families and tracking of former Nazi's. Overall, A Spy with Scruples offers a different kind of spy thriller focused on the gathering of information.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
