Rating: 
Summary: Very Good Historical Mystery Thriller
Review: This is a fairly ambitious book in which the author seeks to combine three genres. It is primarily a mystery-thriller set in the context of the Cold War. Since the author is British, it returns to the staple preoccupation of British Cold War thrillers, the existence and nature of upper class traitors. It contains a serious attempt to depict mid-50s Britain, and is so also a historical novel. Finally, it is a psychological novel whose hero is approaching middle age and the examining his rather unsatisfactory personal life. This is quite an undertaking and Lawton succeeds fairly well on all counts, producing a very readable book. As a thriller, it is quite good and well above the average though not as good as LeCarre's best books. As a historical protrait, I suspect Lawton does quite well and it is faily good as a historical novel. The psychological element is similarly good and clearly intended to parallel some aspects of modern British history, which is a nice touch. To really appreciate this part of the book, you really have to Lawton's prior book, Blackout, which features many of the characters in Old Flames. Blackout is worth reading on it own. Old Flames also contains a couple of cute insider jokes. I'll buy anyone who can identify the wine joke a copy of the paperback edition.
Rating:
Summary: Flamin Critics
Review: This is a good read if you like English mystery histories--which I do, even set in the 1950s. The author is as literate as most good British authors so we are treated to excellent grammar, exposure to intellect and culture, and an account of the various sides of the class barrier--up, down and inside, out. As a "foreigner" myself I enjoy reading about first and second generational families and interaction with their adopted country. While I agree with a critic above that this book contains many outmoded colloquilisms I tend to view them as an aspect of this author's style of presentation. All that is aside from the mystery that is the spark of this story--a good one that goes round and round until you notice that it has ignited costumes and scenery and eventually all the characters.
Rating: 
Summary: John Le Carre meets Agatha Christie
Review: This witty, quick-paced book offers much more than a surprising plot leading through several layers of suspense. The selection of characters is as rich as in the best of Agatha Christie's works, but their psychological portraits are much more sophisticated and fine-tuned. Lawton succeeds also in "smuggling" some insights into the mentality of the post-war England, and he treats the subject lighter, though equally deep, than John Le Carre. His literary style gives a pleasure in itself.
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