The Spy Who Came For Christmas by David Morrell

But not ALL of it - Mr Morrell, as usual, has several dazzling twists up his sleeve to satisfy the readers right until a very sweet ending. Speaking of the plotline - if you've read the blurb or editorial reviews, you pretty much know most of it (don't gear up for an epic saga). Knowing that, everything clicks into place - the lovely format, the word count (a 700-page Christmas tale is an oxymoron), and even the somewhat simplistic plot. Morrell's own HUNDRED-YEAR CHRISTMAS comes to mind for a more direct comparison, but to the best of my knowledge, it's not a spy thriller by a long shot (a very limited-edition book, that one).

Here lies David Morrell's masterstroke in writing this book. First and foremost, 'The Spy Who Came For Christmas' is a Christmas story - but told from a spy thriller perspective. Is this book as good as the afore-mentioned LeCarre, Ludlum, or the best by Morrell himself (insert favorite here, like The Covenant of the Flame in my case).?īecause it is special. So does Morrell get back into full stride with 'Spy Who Came For Christmas'? His first true spy thriller since the 1990s? Yes he does indeed - but in a different way than expected, a unique way. And Scavenger was an utter disappointment. While a good book in its own right, Creepers was only above average by Morrell's own mind-blowing standards. It feels like a Christmas book.ĭavid Morrell's previous two books were a bit of a letdown for me. The book's layout is wonderful, with nice little clipart illustrations. I must note that David Morrell's current publishers are seemingly giving him the attention he deserves. Given the novel's length, this format is perfect to hold in the reader's hands. The hardback has non-standard dimensions - it's smaller than a typical hardback, but larger than a mass market paperback. Hardly ever does a book's physical appearance get mention, but this time it's worth it. The first surprise of The Spy Who Came For Christmas is. But does it have what it takes to become a classic? It certainly has all the ingredients, not least of which is the book's originality. The title of David Morrell's newest book, THE SPY WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS does somewhat resemble the wording of LeCarre's THE SPY WHO CAME FROM THE COLD, and at just over 200 pages, it's about the same size.

The Spy Who Came For Christmas by David Morrell