Thats what I felt I was..puppet on a string controlled by the master storyteller, Alistair MacLean.
Puppet on a chain is another fast paced novel by Alistair Maclean. I had a choice of reading MacLean or PG Wodehouse’s ’’Jeeves & The Tie That Binds’’. I am glad to say I haven’t regretted my decision.
The novel revolves around a top Interpol agent, Major Paul Sherman’s attempt to bust a narcotics smuggling ring operating from the Netherlands. He is aided in this mission by two of his assistants, both ravishing young women whose beauty has been described in some detail by MacLean( thank god for small mercies :) ). Of course he also has the backing of the top cops in the Netherlands. Maclean sets up a fast and furious pace for the novel from the word go. The reader gets to read every smart and dumb move that Sherman makes as he goes about finding the top dog of the narcotics ring.
The story starts off with the Major’s arrival in the Netherlands with his assistants, no hints no drama till the plane lands that is. Once out of the airport the novel is full of twists and turns. I don’t want to reveal the plot, so I’ll focus on other aspects of the novel which should sufficiently interest a person reading this review(whether they like it or not :) ) to go out and read it. The language is as usual no nonsense and up to the point. This is one of those novels which is expressed from the protagonist’s point of view i.e. in the first person. Another interesting thing about this novel is the number of wisecracks and smartass comments that Sherman makes to himself and to others, reminded me of the game THIEF...of course those two are totally unrelated!
Another interesting thing about this novel is the title. This title is related to the novel...what I mean is its not like some other novels by MacLean where the title is too generic e.g Fear is the Key...someone is surely gonna contest this assertion of mine! The title of the novel has to do with a way of torture devised by the gang to torture and kill people who are against it...the gang hangs the people like a puppet on a chain!
The various characters are very well written and the ending of the novel is ..well, very MacLeanish. In fact the ending will have you marvelling at the way all the pieces fall into place.Hope you have as good a time reading this one as I did. A must read for all fans of MacLean and fans of the thriller genre in general.....
hmm where did I put that Wodehouse now?