Glass Tiger
by Joe Gores
Published by Harcourt Books
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Reviewed by Alex McGilvery
At first glance Joe Gores’ Glass Tiger fits neatly into the genre of political thrillers that recruit past agents to plan nefarious deeds for which they are then blamed, and spend the rest of the story proving their innocence. Don’t be deceived. Joe Gores begins breaking the rules almost immediately. He brings a fresh and human approach to the old story.
The protagonist is Brendan Thorne, an ex-assassin who is unwillingly recruited to help out think a sniper who has threatened the President. It doesn’t take long for Thorne to learn that he isn’t wanted by all the members of the team. Thorne had been living in Kenya, but was framed in order to force him to cooperate. There is a good reason that Thorne went to Kenya. He went to live out the vow he made to never kill again.
The team surrounding the President needs Thorne’s input but the team leader in particular is eager to use Thorne’s scars against him. The novel proceeds at a breakneck pace as the layers are peeled back and Thorne is forced to look hard at his own life and choices.
I always enjoy a book that takes a cliché and turns it on its head. Joe Gores’ Glass Tiger does this and more. His characters are well developed. The story is complex and well constructed. I found that the more I read, the more I enjoyed the story. The ending is very satisfying. Glass Tiger also manages to make profound statements about the world we live in without ever becoming preachy or moralistic.
Glass Tiger is a book that defies expectation. I will be looking for more of Joe Gores’ books.
According to his web site, Gores is one of only two authors to receive Edgar Awards in three separate categories: Best First Novel, Best Short Story and Best TV Series Segment. His novels 32 Cadillacs and Come Morning were nominated for Edgars as Best Novel, and his 1973 novel Hammett was adapted for the screen by producer Francis Coppola and director Wim Wenders. He has also written episodes of such popular TV crime shows as Mike Hammer, Columbo, Remington Steele, Kojak and Magnum, P.I.
Armchair Interviews says: Stunning read!