Book Review - The Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen by Thomas Caplan

Synopsis:  At the center of The Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen is Ty Hunter, a former covert operative turned international movie star. He is pulled back into his former life when the President asks him to thwart the transfer of nuclear arms into rogue hands. Hunter must infiltrate the world of billionaire Ian Santal and his protégé Philip Frost. Complicating the operation is Isabella Cavill, Santal’s niece and Frost’s girlfriend. Hunter’s involvement in the operation is complicated by his feelings for Cavill.

First Line:  Wilhelm Claussen had taken possession of his Bentley Continental Flying Spur six days before, but this afternoon was the first time it had left Mission Hills.

Random Quote:  That was the nature of things.  Gatherers of power led rapacious, messy lives, but lives that were remembered and important.  The dual aspects of his character had long been clear to him, and when the thought suddenly struck him that he resembled that figure of adolescent fantasy, the vampire who yearned not to be undeard, he laughed silently.

Review:  The Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen isn't the kind of spy thriller I normally read.  I'm much more John Le Carré than James Bond, but when it was offered to me for review by the publisher it was easy to accept.  She had me at "former covert operative turned international movie star."  How could I resist that?!

Also appealing was the focus on loose nukes - something I don't think enough people take nearly as seriously as they should.  There's a lot of nuclear material floating around out there and the possibilities are ugly and endless if you have any level of imagination.

Why, yes - I AM saying that Matt Damon would be great in the movie
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What a fun read this was - as improbable and sometimes silly as it should have been.  Even though I'm not fond of reading about the privileged and their possessions (both material and human), I loved this book.  It's well-written, doesn't take itself seriously, and keeps you turning the pages.  Great entertainment.  I couldn't stop thinking of the Harrison Ford and Denzel Washington action movies that I love to escape into.  Someone should definitely make this into a movie.

I'm not the only fan, by the way.  President Bill Clinton likes it, too - enough that he wrote an introduction (which I haven't read because it isn't in the galley).  If you've read his memoir you know that he's a big reader and has probably read something that you've read.  He's got good taste in books and continues to prove it by liking this one.

If you're looking for a consistently fun and entertaining read with just enough meat to keep you hooked, look no further.

FTC Disclosure:  Advance copy from publisher for review

Publishing Information:  Viking Books - January 10, 2012

Format - Kindle e-Galley

Rating:  ☆☆☆☆

Reading Challenges:  European Reading Challenge, Mystery and Suspense Challenge

Related Links:  Thomas Caplan was interviewed on NPR’s ”Morning Edition”- have a listen.