ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeffrey Archer was born in 1940 and educated at Wellington School and Brasenose College, Oxford. In 1969 he became the youngest member of the House of Commons, where he served until 1974. He is married, the father of two children, and lives in Cambridge and London. He was also a world-class sprinter and represented Great Britain in international competition. He was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party in 1985 and was elevated to the House of Lords in 1992. All of his novels have been international best sellers
THE BOOK
’’THOU SHALT NOT BE CAUGHT’’.
This is the Eleventh Commandment on which this particular novel by the same name is based on. Jeffrey Archer has once again for the upteempth time managed to spun an engrossing tale of international espionage. Fans of Jeffrey Archer would however be a touch disappointed as this book doesn’t quite match up to the high standards that had been set by his previous thrillers such as ’’Shall We Tell The President’’ (one of my all-time favourite) and ’’A Matter Of Honour’’. However, there is enough drama and suspense to keep the reader’s interests right up to the last page (this is probably one of those rare books which sure does have a twist in the tale on the very last page).
THE PLOT
Connor Fitzgerald, the central character of the story, as we are told is a professional’s professional. He is a devoted family man and a true servant of his country having offered his service for the army in Vietnam. He is the holder of the MEDAL OF HONOUR bestowed upon him by none other than the President of the United States. On the other hand, he is also leading a double life as a CIA assassin. The action starts off from the first chapter itself where Fitzgerald masterminds and carries out the assassination of a Columbian presidential candidate. The President of the United States, Tom Lawrence suspects the CIA behind this and wants to get rid of the CIA director, Helen Dexter. Dexter realizes that her strangehold on the agency is threatened and the only way that she can escape is by having Connor dead.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, the US is anticipating a national crisis with the Russian presidential elections round the corner, especially since the ruthless Victor Zerimski slowly rising up the popularity charts. Tom Lawrence knows that if Zerimski goes on to become the president of Russia, then the chances of his ’’Arms Reduction Bill’’ being passed on the senate are next to impossible. Dexter sensing this decides to send Connor for a last assignment, just days before his retirement to Russia to eliminate Zerimski. She intelligently manages to fool Connor that the assignment to carry out the assassination has been authorized by the White House itself. But, what Connor doesn’t know that Dexter has also tipped off the Russians of a possible assassination attempt on the presidential candidate. So, it so happens that Connor is arrested by the Russian police just days after his arrival in Russia and Zerimski goes on to win the election. This sets off a chain of events with lots of twists and non-stop action wherein Connor Fitzgerald has to save his own life from the CIA and the Russian President.
Archer saves his best for the last as he once again manages to come up with a superb climax, probably one of the best endings of all his books.
A FINAL WORD
I do have to say that some of the characters including the CIA director, Helen Dexter do seem a bit far-fetched and too unrealistic. Also, some sequences like Connor getting spotted so easily amongst a crowd of 70 thousand by a spy-kid and the Russian police look ridiculous. But, then these are minor glitches in an otherwise near-perfect tale of espionage. All in all, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read. It is fast-paced and a sure page-turner. Go for it if you are on the lookout for a smashing thriller. you wont be disappointed.