The Charm School My Rating: 4.9
On a dark road deep inside the Russian woods at Borodino, a young American tourist picks up an unusual passenger with an explosive secret: an U.S. POW on the run from "The Charm School," a sinister operation where American POWs teach young KBG agents how to be model U.S. citizens. Their goal? To infiltrate the United States undetected. With this horrifying conspiracy revealed, the CIA sets an investigation in motion, and three Americans--an Air Force officer, an embassy liaison, a CIA chief--pit themselves against the country's enemies in a high-powered game of international intrigue.
The Charm School is an absolutely gripping thriller that had me hooked from page one. Nelson DeMille masterfully blends suspense and realism in this Cold War-era story about a secret Soviet facility training Russian spies to pass as Americans.
It reminded me of The Americans—but with an even scarier, more realistic twist. I’d never considered how spies like that were trained, and the way DeMille presents it feels terrifyingly possible. The pacing is sharp, the characters are compelling, and the story sticks with you long after you finish.
If you enjoy smart, chilling espionage thrillers, this one’s a must-read!
What a throw back for me, I could not get enough from this author back in the early 2000s. I read Gold Coast, Plum Island, Lion’s Gate and Charm School. I think I need to revisit the John Corey series.
ReplyDeleteI am so late to this party but LOVED this book. I will have to explore more of his writings.
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