A Cold War Spy Thriller (George Mueller) - An Honorable Man

This was a slow moving spy thriller not my usual read but fancied a change. An Honorable man the authors debut novel which is based on a true story which is described in the after forward this itself would make a great historical non fiction read possibly more so than the novel itself. The plot is based around the 1950's cold war and agent George Mueller has been deemed the best man for the job of finding the mole by the CIA who are reeling from finding a double agent within their ranks.

I wanted to get behind the character of George more but this book didn't give too much away regarding his real personality I am guessing that was the point with it being a spy thriller. I was hoping that this book would be a page turner that provided excitement with every page but unfortunately for me it felt quite mundane and as though the story was going through the motions with no real substance to the chain of events.

I am sorry to say that this book wasn't really for me and came across as a pretty average read.

A special thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Old-Fashion Spy Fiction at its Finest! Paul Vidich delivers a fascinating adventurous debut AN HONORABLE MAN –richly atmospheric, inspired by true events. Suspenseful—powerful and gritty; a chilling Cold War spy mystery thriller!

The dark shadows are lurking from the past. How personal is the political? Is the past ever past? A riveting mystery with a poignant cast of characters – Complex, emotional, rich in history. In the grand tradition---Classic spy fiction genre of literature involves espionage, emerging from the early twentieth century, inspired by rivalries and intrigues between the major powers, and the establishment of modern intelligence agencies.

Who can be trusted? Agents haunted by their own compromises.

Set in Washington DC in the 1950s, The Cold War is heating up. Joseph Stalin’s death. An unsettling time. Tensions, stresses, enemies, corruption, bureaucracy, secrets, hypocrisy, and betrayal. A time when people lived the life that was excepted of them. From communism, homosexuality, atheism.

There is a double agent. Someone is selling secrets to the Soviets. A traitor. Code name – Protocol. The Soviets had penetrated the Agency. Someone inside had provided the Soviets with drop points, and later the names of CIA assets. Everyone worried about a Soviet agent in their midst. A traitor.

George Mueller is the perfect man to assist. Find the mole. Muller liked to keep private matters away from his job, but the daily grind made that hard. Politics had taken over everything. He was tired of the double life, the daily mask. Lonely. Holding onto secrets. Life changing secrets. A desire to escape. Muller wants out. A polygraph test. College, the war, Vienna. Loneliness. Secrets were restless things. Secrets got out. The motivations of men around him were suspect and he no longer knew whom to trust.

The Council selected men who they believed had access to the Agency’s secrets and a motive. Twenty names. Each suspect. The list was secret. Secrecy protected the investigation from compromise, but is also protected the reputations of the innocent.

Based on the sad troubled life of James Speyer Kronthal, found dead 4/1/1953 similar to Robert Altman--a brilliant young deputy of Allen Dulle’s who had worked in the OSS with Dulles in the Bern Station during the WWII. He was one of the original 60 whom Dulles brought to the CIA. The initial recruits were not required to take a polygraph test. Later the CIA discovered a questionable life. In order to keep arrest and scandal under wraps, he was later set up, blackmailed, and became the first Soviet mole in the CIA. These acts later came to light. Forced to honor and duty—compulsions destroy careers—leading to apparent suicide (his death), in order to prevent political embarrassment. Read more at the end of the book, in the acknowledgements.

Taut storytelling Reminiscent of old-school John Le Carré spy thrillers -- Vidich uses well-researched references, books, websites, and quotes of poetry and literary prose-an intriguing Ivy League educated young man who lived a secret life within a secret career. Layers of secrets. A hostile political environment—hushed, during the Cold War.

“Oh, my worse sin was in my blood; Now my blood pays for it.”—John Webster

Quite interesting how spy fiction has taken on different roles throughout history: from the Nineteenth century, WWI, Inter-war period, WWII, the early/late Cold War (British/American), Post Cold War, to Post–9/11 and the subsequent War on Terror, with a reawakened interest in the peoples and politics of the world beyond its borders-- with new authors emerging in the espionage genre.

Despite the end of the Cold War the spy genre has flourished but changed to keep up with the shifts in the political landscape post 9/11.

Gripping! Red-baiting fifties--a term commonly used in the US and its history, often associated with the McCarthyism, which originated in the two historic Red Scare periods of the 1920s (First Red Scare) and 1950s (Second Red Scare). Due to mounting Cold War tensions and the spread of communism --- "McCarthyism" being coined to signify any type of reckless political persecution or witch-hunt.

After reading, you will understand why Publishers Weekly named AN HONORABLE MAN the Top Ten Mysteries & Thrillers of Spring 2016 (plus many other mentions and awards). Most certainly on my radar! Impressive. Looking forward to listening to the audio version narrated by, George Newbern.

In this excellent novel, "An Honorable Man," the writing craft is sleek staccato noir - masterful. But what moved me most was the interior life of the main character, Mueller, who the author brought to life so skillfully. Bringing alive a spy or spooks psyche is no small accomplishment.

In his debut novel, "An Honorable Man," Paul Vidich has created a complicated compelling character who's indifference is a convenient cover for the turbulent emotions roiling beneath. It's a fascinating way back into the Cold War and the McCarthy Era witch hunts and our own secret government. But in the end discovering Mueller's beating heart longing for love was the greatest revelation.

Can't wait to read the next installment.

Takes you away from page one! I stopped reading espionage novels ten years ago because they became too predictable, too trite, and just blurred into one another. Through a friend, I picked this up and couldn't put Honorable Man down. Marvelous characters -- so real that I wish I could have drinks with them and get to know them better. Honorable Man is the creation of an author who as chosen each word to delight the reader. This book is smart, provocative, and will take you away for a few hours -- and also make you wonder how the world got to be the way it is right now. Don't wait for a rainy night to dig in to Honorable Man.

A decent but oh so predictable 'story' of the left's bogeyman ' The Red Scare' the other is 'The Spanish Civil War'. The plot is decent sadly Vidich chooses to mock anyone who isn't a follower of the recently defeated party after the 1952 presidential election save 'Ike' w.o. naming him and Allen Dulles. Vidich also inserts James Jesus' Angleton as the 'Coffin' character.

There was no mention of the suspicion of MI6 per the Korean War i.e. Philby, Burgess and McClean forwarding MacArthur's plans in 1950 which is a shame as it would have laid more creedence to the reality of what the Russian GRU and successfully accomplished - 'in situ' rats.
I was fearful there would be some 'lib' ending specific to the traitor 'Altman' you know a rationalization to treason but there thankfully, wasn't.

Someday someone just might write a account of the reverse 'Hollywood Red Scare' the one in the 1940's at MGM Dore Schary and his adoration of FDR and woe unto anyone who didn't contribute or agree just as it is today in Tinseltown.

I just found this story line dull. It meandered along with no real excitement until the closing chapters. As I always finish a book once started, no matter whether it grabs any excitement or not, I nearly made an exception here. It never rose to any heights and was generally ho hum.

A captivating read, I was catching a chapter each night before bed until WHOA! The velocity ramped up and I couldn't put it down until the last page; I even kept reading through the acknowledgments because my brain was still buzzing. I really enjoyed this book for its its thoughtful suspense and its heady thrills. Altogether an enjoyable read.

It is 1950’s Washington. The Cold War is on. The CIA and the FBI are in competition with each other.

Mueller is a spy with the CIA. He is disillusioned with the job; he is talked into taking one last assignment to root out a double agent.

Hoping for some fast paced action? Not a chance. Mueller talks and thinks and ruminates a lot but that’s as good as it gets.

The best thing about this book is that it is only 274 pages.

The author’s Acknowledgments at the end tells the true story from which his fiction is derived – no need to read the book.

Whoever compared this book to Alan Furst and John le Carré must have been joking.

Burning Question: Why does almost every character in this book wear eye glasses of one kind or another?

For a debut novel, Paul Vidich hits all his marks. A beautifully written, thoughtful and intelligent Cold War character study of flawed human beings, An Honorable Man reminded me of the novels of the great Charles McCarry. I eagerly await the next George Mueller installment.

A truly enjoyable read. The plot and character developments keep you engaged throughout, and the well-researched historical elements help to paint a vivid picture of the events. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre, as well as someone new to the genre, like myself.

Once in a while you read a book that transcends the genre. "An Honorable Man" is just this sort of book. While it delivers in all the action elements of a spy novel, it also defies the rather pat elements in the genre - the twists here are both surprising and halting (uncomfortably so at times) and while there is enough here to keep you guessing plot wise until the very end, I found myself most drawn to the realistic characters and their relationships. As a bonus, the book is an exercise in economy - it moves swiftly and never lets up (even if the language gets a bit "steely eyed" at times). This is the best of what I look for in a book, regardless of genre - a story that moves in unexpected directions and contains real and complex characters. A strong offering from a writer to watch. Easy to recommended.

In a world littered with also ran copy cats, Paul Vidich has re-imagined the genre in a refreshing and gripping fashion. The reader is immediately drawn into the world of the 1950s CIA with all of its political undertones and implications. Vidich's ability to paint the scene while simultaneously drawing you into his sympathetic and flawed characters struggling to navigate a murky world is unique. An Honorable Man is a real page turner and a great read!

Once in a while you read a book that transcends the genre. "An Honorable Man" is just this sort of book. While it delivers in all the action elements of a spy novel, it also defies the rather pat elements in the genre - the twists here are both surprising and halting (uncomfortably so at times) and while there is enough here to keep you guessing plot wise until the very end, I found myself most drawn to the realistic characters and their relationships. As a bonus, the book is an exercise in economy - it moves swiftly and never lets up (even if the language gets a bit "steely eyed" at times). This is the best of what I look for in a book, regardless of genre - a story that moves in unexpected directions and contains real and complex characters. A strong offering from a writer to watch. Easy to recommended.

In this excellent novel, "An Honorable Man," the writing craft is sleek staccato noir - masterful. But what moved me most was the interior life of the main character, Mueller, who the author brought to life so skillfully. Bringing alive a spy or spooks psyche is no small accomplishment.

In his debut novel, "An Honorable Man," Paul Vidich has created a complicated compelling character who's indifference is a convenient cover for the turbulent emotions roiling beneath. It's a fascinating way back into the Cold War and the McCarthy Era witch hunts and our own secret government. But in the end discovering Mueller's beating heart longing for love was the greatest revelation.

Can't wait to read the next installment.

The Senate hearings are heated. Democrats and Republicans are going after each other. The senator leading the hearings attacks individuals and smears their names and reputations. The cold war with the Soviets is getting dangerous. It is the early 1950s and Sen. Joseph McCarthy continues his attacks against supposed Communists in the U.S. government. Such is the background of author Paul Vidich’s 2016 “An Honorable Man”.

Operations the Central Intelligence Agency has been conducting in eastern Europe have been failing. The Director of the CIA and his senior staff believe that the Soviets have a spy in the agency and agent George Mueller is tasked with leading the search for the traitor.

All of this makes a good story line, although this reader had the same challenges that he had with the author’s 2017 “The Good Assassin”. It is difficult to visualize George Mueller, as well as the other actors. The story also does not flow, it jumps around. Some scenes are very close to similar scenes by other authors. Perhaps because this reader enjoys espionage novels and some of them follow a similar line.

Still, “An Honorable Man” is the authors first novel, so it is difficult for one to be critical and over time we can hope for better visualization of individuals and a story that flows nicely.