The Czar's Spy

There's no real spy in this 1905 thriller, but rather a complex criminal conspiracy across England, Scotland, Italy, Finland and Russia. While some of it touches on conditions in Czarist Russia before Bloody Sunday, the spying going on has little to do with official espionage. Gordon Gregg, an Englishman living in Italy and serving as an acting consul, becomes the victim of a hoax when a visiting countryman invites him for dinner on a luxurious yacht. On board, he finds the photo of a lovely young woman, torn in pieces. Then he returns to shore to find the consulate's safe burgled. The yacht, meanwhile, has set sail for parts unknown. Later, Gregg meets the yachtsman in Scotland under a different name, and finds out the young woman of the photo holds a deadly secret, to both her and his own peril. The mystery holds to the very end, and while the solution and denouement are a bit of a letdown after the high action of the rest, the plot is very absorbing and the writing good.

This is a very good novel of multiple crimes and political intrigues. Don't hold your hopes too high of figuring it all out, not even the characters know what is happening. Good entertainment.

Perfect spy detective novel. I recommend.

A very well-written mystery novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and highly recommend it.

Well worth reading. Complex plot. Lots of action and plenty of head scratching mystery. Lots of parts of the story made me lose complete track of time.

Good intriguing plot, excellent characters, mysterious romance, keeps you in the dark until the end.

Nnyeeh...it was okay. The scenery was painted nicely, but the indelible luck of the hero was a bit over the top. Kind of like a very innocent Bond.

Oh, of course you got to read it, but don't tell to anyone.
Difficult to stay "yourself" after reading Czar's Spy"!
Thanks a lot...

excellent