I'm not quite sure what to make of this book. "Set in the dark world of international espionage, from London to Mallorca, Croatia, Paris, and Cap Ferret: the gripping and suspenseful story of a young woman who unwittingly becomes a perfect asset in the long overdue finale of a covert special op" it would be a thriller. The narrator, a 21-year old English woman, obsessed with a locked, private garden, "meets its charismatic and mysterious new owner, Marcus, thirty-three years older, who sweeps her off her feet. Before long they are married at his finca in Mallorca, and at last she has escaped into a new role – but at what price? On their honeymoon in Croatia, Marcus reveals there is something she can do for him—a plan is in place and she can help with “a favor.”" Add in that the publicity machine said: "Brilliantly compelling, this is a spellbinding and unexpectedly poignant story of a long- planned, high-stakes CIA-Mossad operation that only needed the right asset to complete." Well, that is the job of publicists though I did not see it in that light!

I thought it would be quite the ride [not necessarily]. At the beginning, the patter/rhythym was appealing--but it did not continue. I kept hoping it would grip me, but it did not. It was SOMEWHAT interesting and intriguing but no payoff. Written well enough--no nails on chalkboard and some vivid, on point descriptions of people and places, Thankfully short, An atypical thriller [to me]. A cast of many characters all with an interesting--and international--backstory. I persevered, wanting more [no dice]. And, I did not care for the ending,

Still, it may appeal to some.

An atypical thriller [to me]. A cast of many characters all with an interesting--and international--backstory.

This is an unforgettable story which gives us a lot to digest within the world of espionage.

A 21-year-old girl is trying to figure out her life. She makes a list: be less boring, take new risks and learn more about the world. She gets her wish when she meets a man that will change her life.

She is introduced to Marcus at an event and it doesn’t take long before they decide to get married. But right before the ceremony, he asks her if she wants to change her mind. He’s 33 years older. He has a career with the CIA and he thinks she would be ideal as someone that could help his team with the last part of a long search for a Russian general. He tells her it’s simple; all she has to do is listen, observe, remember…and lie.

This book is inspired by the Ancient Greek poet, Homer, of “The Illiad and Odessey” with much to process about war and peace. It’s not your typical spy book but a character analysis of what happens to a girl in her new role that she has stepped into. I found it to be unsettling that the protagonist didn’t have a name that I could identify with while reading. However, I found the story to be engaging with the curiosity of what might transpire with a family she would meet. There was only a handful of characters and I felt like each one was familiar.

The author put a lot of thought in this plot. Some words made me pause about the future of the world with out-of-control anger, killings and war. One has to ask: will it ever end?

My thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of January 16, 2024.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this interesting novel. This is a very different kind of spy story. In the end, I’m not sure if I liked it that much or not. It left me with a weird sense of “hmm, what did I just read”? If you’re looking for an interesting story that’s more of an internal take on espionage, this might be for you. If you’re looking for a pulse-pounding, car-chasing kind of spy story, this isn’t that.

An absorbing trip into espionage, war, heroes, trust, lies and truths, committed warriors and accidental players who inadvertently enter a stage on which they do not belong. I generally do not like modern stories that attempt to copy or explain mythology or heroic tales of Homer or others. But this one caught me up and left me nearly breathless. I recommend it.

In Ilium, Carpenter gives us a story of long-delayed revenge in the hidden world of international covert operations. A world in which some of the players are advancing the goals of nations, others are simply contractors, and some act as brokers of secrets. All are ruthless.

In London, a woman of twenty-one with few prospects and a gut full of resentment, is seduced by a sophisticated older man. He introduces her to a social circle that she could have barely imagined. We know there’s something a little sinister about the meeting since she’s being watched. At the same time, she is hypnotized by the beauty and possibilities that suddenly surround her.

Another whiff of the sinister comes when we’re privy to her seducer’s thought that “…she was dissatisfied, the hallmark of vulnerability.” In this circle she meets and marries Marcus, only to be widowed six weeks later. Their short marriage prepares her to present herself as an aspiring art dealer with extensive knowledge of the market. Marcus, it seems, has a script and timeline written for their life together.

As she notes, most people take a lifetime to find themselves. I was offered one complete.

Marcus inserts her into the household of Edouard, who she describes as being “…like a movie star on holiday.” His luxurious compound is on a tiny peninsula in southern France. The pretext is her art dealership. The family compound in Cap Ferret is crusted with mysteries: Why does Edouard “usually sleep outside the house?” Who are all the people and children coming and going? And what is the story with the specially-built circular building, which is described as a gallery for Edouard’s commissioned series of paintings depicting the Iliad?

The connections among the key players dating back to the war—a war that they agree has never ended—slowly unfold. Keeping the reader trying to fit the puzzle pieces together right to the end.

Exciting brain teaser.

At first I didnt like this book. Slow moving and overly literate(as compared to the usual stuff I read). But the book grew on me. Covering the themes of love/honor/redemption/retribution this book got better as it went along and the last third was really exciting/interesting and moving. Highly recommended. Give it a chance.