About book The Mazovia Legacy: A Frank Delaney Thriller #1 (2009)
3 1/2 stars.When a harmless old Polish man dies in mysterious circumstances his suspicious niece draws in Montreal investigative journalist, Frank Delaney, to help her find the truth behind the death, a story the authorities seem to want covered up.The search for answers sweeps them into a dangerous web involving Canadian, Polish and Vatican agents who will use any means, even murder, to stop them. The catalyst for this international intrigue is the true story of Polish national art treasures secretly shipped to Canada to be hidden from the Nazis in the opening days of World War Two. This classic thriller combines fascinating history, deft storytelling and psychological depth.I really enjoyed this book, and would have given it 4 * had there not been a tediously long history of the CSIS, and then frequent references (all in much the same vein) to the state of affairs of the Polish government at the time. I think a brief history of the CSIS would have sufficed, and fewer diatribes against the Lech Walesa government would have greatly improved the book. I think the story of hiding the art treasures from the Nazis gave us all the background material needed on the Polish Government.But it is a really good first Crime novel and I understand why it was short-listed for the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Crime Novel, 2004. Overall, a good read - and I don't usually read books involving spies!Thank you to NetGalley, Momentum Books and Michael E Rose for the ARC for review.
I was given an arc by the publishers via Netgalley in return for an honest review.This has all the ingredients you would look for in a great spy thriller, Frank Delaney investigates the death of an elderly Polish man whose niece is convinced something is not right. and hires Frank to find out. The problem with this is that the authorities seem to want to keep them from finding out anything.It becomes clear the war with the Germans has something to do with it, hidden antiquities? The problem facing them is not just their own authorities but the various ones in other countries. Dig a hole chances are it will fall in, dig a tunnel chances are it will subside around you, dig into a death and maybe it will result in another death! I loved the twists & turns in this story, how the author swept you along in this realistic tale of espionage, murder, thrills. and spills.http://lilianflesher.blogspot.com/201...
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Other than a few Jungian dream sequences and treatises on Jungian theory, I actually found this to be quite absorbing story. The main female protagonist Natalia Janovski is a psychotherapist whose practice is based on Jungian analyses. You can gloss over these bits if you want, you won't miss anything particularly but it also made this novel a cut above the average mystery coming out of Canada. Polish WWII fighter pilot found dead in old Montreal - was he or was he not murdered? but there is less doubt about the mysterious death of a priest. Our female lead invites the journalistic expertise of a former client in assisting her in her search for answers about her recently deceased uncle. We meet Francis Delaney, our roving journalist anti-hero and together the two take us to Paris, Rome, Lake Como and to the snow clad outskirts of Montreal. We also get to meet a varied cast of characters, some of whom are rather nasty.WWII Polish treasure.Lech Walesa and 1990's Polish Politics.CSIS.Vatican.Roman Catholic church in Quebec.The scenery was all great.The story is quite clever. There is some mystery still lingering as I reflect on this novel.I enjoyed this book a lot. Fast fun read.Recommend (if you can find it. The original publisher has closed up shop, and I acquired a copy of this book as part of a grab bag give-away).
—Ellen
