Matt McAvoy Book Review

Donald Gates is a fine espionage author with an enviable knowledge and an admirable work ethic, and The Soloist is no less than a gripping, interesting, exciting thriller, which lingers more on the cerebral than the action, and relies on the intelligence of its reader - which is always a good thing, and something I take as a compliment, as the reader.  In the vein of Frederick Forsyth, the antagonist is the lead character, and a very cool, callous one he is at that, going about his business with the ruthless efficiency of Forsyth’s Jackal, as he plots and prepares a large-scale Nazi-terrorist atrocity on American soil, whilst being frantically tracked by dedicated FBI agents, during the closing moments of World War Two.

The plot is a simple one, and is not over-complicated or unnecessarily convoluted, as some in this genre tend to be.  That said, it is informative, well-researched, and Gates displays a highly respectable knowledge of his subject matter, both in respect of the construction aspect of the planning, and of military dynamics, on the sides of both the Nazis and the Americans.  I did feel that perhaps Gates spent a little too much time concentrating on the schematics and intricate planning of Laurila’s very blue-collar caper, and would have liked to see more of the war and general action scenes; the scenes in Europe are probably where this book is at its best.  Also, perhaps a more clear-cut protagonist – the character of Kramer is developed well, and is afforded a very personal backstory, but I felt he was just sharing the limelight a little as the primary investigator.

All in all, though, The Soloist is a high quality, extremely accomplished and professional espionage thriller.  If you like this genre of books, you will do a lot worse, and to be honest, even if you don’t, I still think you’ll enjoy it a great deal.  It was a very easy read, and I soared through it very quickly, yet no corners were cut in terms of its authenticity or procedural accuracy.  I am finding myself more and more engaged by books about Nazi Germany in the second world war, and The Soloist is a good one.

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