Operation Blackbird: A Cold War Spy Novel (Brass Compass Series)

A team of CIA agents must go undercover in East Berlin to smuggle out a Soviet defector. Based on real events, Operation Blackbird is a fast-paced spy story, one that wouldn’t feel out of place in a movie theater. At its best moments, the book is thrilling and cinematic, with tension that will have readers eagerly turning the pages to see what comes next.

Unfortunately, what would translate well to a movie screen does not always work well on the page. Some secondary characters were introduced too quickly and reached the endpoint of their plot before I knew who they were and what they meant for the book. It often felt like the only character who was solidly grounded was Miriam, from whose perspective we read the whole book. In addition, the book moved entirely at one speed. Without a chance to catch my breath as a reader, it was hard for me to keep track of the narrative.

While an interesting story, Operation Blackbird did not keep me interested. I think it might have been better presented as a movie.