It throws you right into the action - an agent, Reynolds, hiding out in Communist Hungary where he's come to retrieve a scientist. The environment is harsh, the opposition tough and clever, the hero dogged and ruthless and closer to his enemies than he might like to admit.
He also makes a few mistakes, which surprised me. A lot surprised me about this book - it easily has the most vivid characters of any MacLean to date that I've read - Reynolds the agent without a conscience who learns to develop one and forms a strong attachment to the crew he meets, Jansci the Ukranian who has suffered terribly but has evolved to develop an almost Buddhist like philosophy, Jennings the humanist scientist who undergoes a political conversion, the Polish count who has endured incredible suffering. There are too huge William Bendix like killers, Sandor and Coco and the female interest, Julia.
The book has great empathy for those whose suffered under Communism - though it gets communists too. Powerful finale with Jansci's wife being rescued.. then killed, the Count being killed. I was unsure if the big baddie got away or not.
Reynolds has to be rescued a few times. I think Maclean was aware of this, hence the exciting train rescue sequence where Reynolds is the star. He stuffs up at the end though.
This is a lot of people's favourite MacLean. I wouldn't go that far but I recognise its excellence.
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