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The Gordian Knot    by Bernard Schlink Amazon.com order for
Gordian Knot
by Bernard Schlink
Order:  USA  Can
Vintage, 2010 (2010)
Softcover, e-Book
* *   Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth

Foreign freelance translator Georg Polger is recovering from a breakup. Although he is living in the south of France, he is not doing a very good job of it - he's lonely and despondent and running out of money.

Suddenly the tables turn. Georg is offered translating work and he meets Francoise Kramsky. Life is looking up. However something about Francoise doesn't ring true. It's as though she has another life.

She disappears and Georg follows her to New York. Here is where the intrigue picks up and pulls in military plans for an attack helicopter, quantities of money, Russians, CIA, blackmail, police, and a baby in a carrying sling. Yes, a baby in a carrying sling!

It's a well written story with believable characters. As a private citizen, I have no experience with international dealings; so I don't know if this plot rings true. If it does, the United States is in a lot of trouble. If not, then it's still a darn good yarn.

Bernard Schlink has written a book of short stories as well as seven novels, the latest being The Gordian Knot (translated from the German by Peter Constantine). Let's hope he has another under way.

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