Circus

I read a lot of Alistair Maclean's books in my teens, and loved them, so was curious to see if they held up so many years later. Hmm. This one didn't. It seemed quite dated, and although the actual break-in sequence was intriguing, the rest of the book was not particularly interesting. And it's very......more

I read this book between sports breaks on tv and at points where I couldn’t continue watching my team. But it quickly turned into my main book which I only read during proper sit down concentration times I was enjoying it that much. The story had an easy premise: CIA mission in the 1970’s to stealthi......more

I enjoyed this book because Alistair MacLean is one of my favorite authors. He wrote Guns of Navarone and Where Eagles Dare (among my favorite movies). Circus is suspenseful and takes place during the Cold War. The Soviets have developed a formula rendering nuclear weapons obsolete. The West needs to......more

Not one of his best. The characterisation is poor and feels a little rushed. The use of a circus as the main plot device gives Alistair the opportunity to draw on some uniquely-skilled and highly clichéd individuals. He does so recklessly. The love interest feels tacked-on (Maria adds nothing else to......more

I got these Maclean books from my dad, and I've liked the ones I have previously read. This one I'm not sure about. I'm close to two-thirds done with it, and I'm still not entirely sure if a couple of the heroes are good guys or bad guys.... Oh well. :) It's compelling enough to keep going and find......more