Book Review: Red Gold

Reviewed By: David Biemann

Red Gold     Amazon US TPB Amazon Canada TPB
Alan Furst
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Espionage   WW II
The World at Night 2002 reprint Random House Inc 288pages $11.95 trade

Red Gold 2002 reprint Random House Inc. 288 pages $11.95 trade

First met in The World at Night, Parisian Jean Casson, makes his second appearance in Red Gold. Casson is a film producer. Recalled to the French army with the 1940 German invasion, he eventually returns to Paris with the German victory. For a brief period the city tries to carry on as if things were normal. Then the thought is to spend it before the Germans get it. Casson tries to put another movie together and while doing so is approached by the British to sabotage a German controlled factory. Through his ex wife's new amour, the Germans make him an offer to work in their propaganda branch. When Casson begs off the Germans open a file on him. Things go awry and Casson goes on the run.

Red Gold picks up with Casson back in 1941 Paris. He's using an assumed name and like most Parisians is now down to the barest of bare essentials. He makes casual contact with the Communist underground, is caught in a police round up and the Surete officer who arrests him puts him in touch with French military (gone underground) trying to form an alliance with the much more active Communists. Casson, with nothing left to do becomes the go between.

The two books go together quite well. Furst is a master in capturing mood. The beautiful city of Paris becomes a grey, rainy, sad stage throughout the German's stay in it. Casson and all the other characters are all well written. The issues he raises as the Communists begin to strike back at the Germans, despite their reprisals, makes one think of current, similar situations.

Furst keeps the espionage plot moving, holding the readers interest by offering side stories of characters who become connected to Casson. There's action throughout but this isn't the blow them up shoot them up spy story to read on the beach. Furst provides the reader with espionage as literature.

David Biemann

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, David Biemann