Sally Gilmartin can't escape her past. Living in the idyllic English countryside in 1976, Sally is haunted by her experiences during the Second World War. She also suspects someone is trying to kill her. With mounting fear, Sally confides with her daughter Ruth; a woman struggling with her own past. Sally drops a bombshell. She is actually Eva Delectorskaya, a Russian emigre recruited as a spy by the British prior to the Second World War. For the past thirty years, Eva has led a second life hiding from the ghosts of her ...
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Sally Gilmartin can't escape her past. Living in the idyllic English countryside in 1976, Sally is haunted by her experiences during the Second World War. She also suspects someone is trying to kill her. With mounting fear, Sally confides with her daughter Ruth; a woman struggling with her own past. Sally drops a bombshell. She is actually Eva Delectorskaya, a Russian emigre recruited as a spy by the British prior to the Second World War. For the past thirty years, Eva has led a second life hiding from the ghosts of her past. Eva reveals her secret to her daughter through a series of written chapters for a planned book. As Ruth delves into her mother's writing, she learns the shocking truth. Eva was recruited in Paris prior to the Second World War, following the death of her brother Kolia; also a British spy. Taught by an enigmatic spymaster named Lucas Romer, Eva learned the art of espionage and was made part of a unit specializing in media manipulation. Above all, she was taught 'Rule Number One' of spying: trust no one -- a rule broken when she and Romer began a dangerous love affair. The affair had tragic consequences. In 1941, Eva and Romer were assigned to the United States. They were given the task of manipulating the American media into motivating the public to support entry into the war on the Allied side. While in New York, Eva's affair with Romer set in motion events that culminated in her betrayal and her flight from the British Secret Services. She found eventual refuge in a new life as Sally Gilmartin. Thirty years later, Eva's identity unravels with her confession to her daughter. Ruth struggles with the truth, and her own recent past fills her with self-doubt and insecurity. A failed relationship in Germany resulted in a son and an eventual return to England. Her mother's confession leads Ruth to the realization that her mother is entangling her in one final mission -- a showdown with Eva's past betrayer. Restless twists and turns through the double life of one remarkable woman. Through Eva's life, William Boyd asks the intriguing question -- How well do we truly know someone?
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Add this copy of Restless to cart. $6.16, like new condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2006 by Random House Canada.
Add this copy of Restless to cart. $7.99, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Diamond rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2006 by Random House Canada.
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Add this copy of Restless to cart. $17.99, very good condition, Sold by Russell Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Victoria, BC, CANADA, published 2006 by Random House Canada.
I loved the older story line and how the book has two narrators. However, this is not great literature. I didn't think the writing was particularly great. Skipping sentences and, in a few cases, paragraphs because the descriptions get dull and excessive is never a good sign. It seems like he was struggling with the more modern story--many aspects did nothing for me. Mr Boyd's writing is good enough, it just needs to be tightened. He seemed to struggle with the last two chapters, bringing the story to a close. That said, I thought it was generally enjoyable.
saintb
Aug 9, 2007
Unrestless Spy Thriller
I read this book as part of my book club reading list. It was an easy read and didn't tax me too much. The book moves between the past and the here and now the story being told by the daughter of the main protagonist. It was set in England and American during the war although the 'heroine' was orginally russian. In her twilight years the heroine reveals her true identity which sets her off on a detective like trail. Unfortunately, I was not breathlessly turning the pages, the story moved very slowly and was somewhat stereotypical as a spy thriller. The only intrigue was considering the notion of the sexual relationship between the heroine and the main male character. I'm not sure what was restless about the story - in summary a holiday beach read.
