Readers review of Hoodwink by Dominic Torr (8 Feb. 2011)
I really enjoyed the way the plot unfolds, and the way you introduced each character and ths controlled the timeline of the story. I was left wanting more - always a great sign for a novel. Would particularly have liked a bit more of Cynthia Pyle - am a sucker for the "old school" types, and was a shade disappointed that such a brilliant character played such a peripheral role. I get the same feeling with some of Le Carré's work; in the Spy who Came In from the Cold, I am always craving just a bit more George Smiley. Would love to see Cynthia re-emerge in a future work, I think she has some stories to tell.
The detail on masonic ritual was fascinating, not to mention somewhat alarming - and your revelations of the depths to which the legal "industry" and freemasonry are locked together were the cause of quite a paradigm shift for me. Whilst hearing occasional reference to the "dodgy handshake brigade", I had no real concept of the structure and hierarchy of the organisation, and was quite taken aback by the sheer numbers of members you reference. John Almond's forays inside Freemasons' Hall raised some interesting questions about their archaic administration - and this in turn lent credibility to the book's premise that the reticence of freemasons in the upper echelons of legal and political spheres to declare their affiliation with the order was born not from a humble altruism, but from a reluctance to make public show more the privileges and self-promotion that membership prefers on them.
I confess that I found a couple of the characters a little clichéd - particularly our antihero Mr J A W Street and his mafioso counterpart. That said, allusion to the historic involvement of these contemptible characters in the masonic "suicide" / assassination on Blackfriars bridge added a frisson to the story and lent a superb authenticity to the plot. (I recall - vaguely - the story of this assassination, though confess the details escape me. Linking your characters directly to this factual event was a marvellous touch). Would have loved a bit more on this event - or some expansion of the real background story in some author's notes?
The unravelling of the Russian plot was handled beautifully. The flight of the two spymasters and their families from Germany was wonderful; Katya/Kate's handling of "Tweedledum and Tweedledee" when they revealed their plan was masterly - and their fitting exit at the hands of Asseyev, dispassionate and efficient, was a moment of exquisite surprise (for the reader, as well as for Medvedev and Leonov). Great stuff.
I also loved the dénouement of Guy Monceau's story and his moment of glory. On getting out of my seat on the plane I checked my trouser leg to make sure it wasn't rolled to the knee.
It's a definite page-turner, Dominic - and a subject matter which is captivating. I do find it very amusing that some masons are upset by it - I'd say that you have touched a nerve! And the fact of the matter is, your handling of Freemasonry seems quite balanced - you make the point, clearly and on a number of occasions, that freemasonry is in essence a power of good; but it seems equally clear that its exclusion of women, its rapid and continued expansion, its confused semi-religious ritualism, and the evident hypocritical by-products of self-preferment and nepotism undermine it - and it's pathological secrecy make it a target for suspicion, rumour and conspiracy theory. The over-the-top reactions of a few zealots to your book reinforce your premises rather than undermining them. It's a good story, well told - and long may the debate rumble on!
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Review by Hugh McFarland, past Worshipful Master and author of “Freemasonry Inside Out”
"I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dominic Torr's novel, Hoodwink. A gripping spy story set against the backdrop of how some unscrupulous individuals can operate and exploit the cloak of secrecy that Freemasonry affords its members allowing sinister dealings to go unnoticed by general public. In the end though, the case for Freemasonry is well argued and the bad guys get dealt the glancing blow.
"I was so engrossed in this book that my 8 hour plane journey seemed to take no time at all. Dominic Torr being a former diplomat in the Cold War is well placed to make use of his extensive knowledge of espionage to create very credible scenarios.
"If you enjoy a good thriller, then you'll like 'Hoodwink' for what it is, an enthralling fictional work drawing upon real life experiences. Like Torr's previous novels, I think this too would make a great movie."
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Review by E. King (his website is masonicinfo.com)
The author whines that no publisher will handle this book because it's too controversial. Baloney! It's really because it's a VERY shoddy work of fiction designed as a front for an anti-Masonic screed. The plot: British lawyer finds out that everyone who's anyone is a Mason but he's not. Gets sacked and gets involved with the Russian military who are also all Masons (anyone who counts, that is). Ultimately lawyer saves the world from Freemasonry and goes off into the sunset to start his own law firm where he'll never have anything to do with Freemasonry, ever, nohow, no way. Pulling in all of the usual UK phobias about the Masonic fraternity, the author's story intimates that everyone is a Mason except the 'good guys' - and they are always at the mercy of those horrid, controlling Freemasons. Neither original nor interesting, this book should only appeal to those who feast on stories too simple and too poorly written for trade publishers - but who are also Masonophobes.
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I really enjoyed the way the plot unfolds, and the way you introduced each character and ths controlled the timeline of the story. I was left wanting more - always a great sign for a novel. Would particularly have liked a bit more of Cynthia Pyle - am a sucker for the "old school" types, and was a shade disappointed that such a brilliant character played such a peripheral role. I get the same feeling with some of Le Carré's work; in the Spy who Came In from the Cold, I am always craving just a bit more George Smiley. Would love to see Cynthia re-emerge in a future work, I think she has some stories to tell.
The detail on masonic ritual was fascinating, not to mention somewhat alarming - and your revelations of the depths to which the legal "industry" and freemasonry are locked together were the cause of quite a paradigm shift for me. Whilst hearing occasional reference to the "dodgy handshake brigade", I had no real concept of the structure and hierarchy of the organisation, and was quite taken aback by the sheer numbers of members you reference. John Almond's forays inside Freemasons' Hall raised some interesting questions about their archaic administration - and this in turn lent credibility to the book's premise that the reticence of freemasons in the upper echelons of legal and political spheres to declare their affiliation with the order was born not from a humble altruism, but from a reluctance to make public show more the privileges and self-promotion that membership prefers on them.
I confess that I found a couple of the characters a little clichéd - particularly our antihero Mr J A W Street and his mafioso counterpart. That said, allusion to the historic involvement of these contemptible characters in the masonic "suicide" / assassination on Blackfriars bridge added a frisson to the story and lent a superb authenticity to the plot. (I recall - vaguely - the story of this assassination, though confess the details escape me. Linking your characters directly to this factual event was a marvellous touch). Would have loved a bit more on this event - or some expansion of the real background story in some author's notes?
The unravelling of the Russian plot was handled beautifully. The flight of the two spymasters and their families from Germany was wonderful; Katya/Kate's handling of "Tweedledum and Tweedledee" when they revealed their plan was masterly - and their fitting exit at the hands of Asseyev, dispassionate and efficient, was a moment of exquisite surprise (for the reader, as well as for Medvedev and Leonov). Great stuff.
I also loved the dénouement of Guy Monceau's story and his moment of glory. On getting out of my seat on the plane I checked my trouser leg to make sure it wasn't rolled to the knee.
It's a definite page-turner, Dominic - and a subject matter which is captivating. I do find it very amusing that some masons are upset by it - I'd say that you have touched a nerve! And the fact of the matter is, your handling of Freemasonry seems quite balanced - you make the point, clearly and on a number of occasions, that freemasonry is in essence a power of good; but it seems equally clear that its exclusion of women, its rapid and continued expansion, its confused semi-religious ritualism, and the evident hypocritical by-products of self-preferment and nepotism undermine it - and it's pathological secrecy make it a target for suspicion, rumour and conspiracy theory. The over-the-top reactions of a few zealots to your book reinforce your premises rather than undermining them. It's a good story, well told - and long may the debate rumble on!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review by Hugh McFarland, past Worshipful Master and author of “Freemasonry Inside Out”
"I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dominic Torr's novel, Hoodwink. A gripping spy story set against the backdrop of how some unscrupulous individuals can operate and exploit the cloak of secrecy that Freemasonry affords its members allowing sinister dealings to go unnoticed by general public. In the end though, the case for Freemasonry is well argued and the bad guys get dealt the glancing blow.
"I was so engrossed in this book that my 8 hour plane journey seemed to take no time at all. Dominic Torr being a former diplomat in the Cold War is well placed to make use of his extensive knowledge of espionage to create very credible scenarios.
"If you enjoy a good thriller, then you'll like 'Hoodwink' for what it is, an enthralling fictional work drawing upon real life experiences. Like Torr's previous novels, I think this too would make a great movie."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review by E. King (his website is masonicinfo.com)
The author whines that no publisher will handle this book because it's too controversial. Baloney! It's really because it's a VERY shoddy work of fiction designed as a front for an anti-Masonic screed. The plot: British lawyer finds out that everyone who's anyone is a Mason but he's not. Gets sacked and gets involved with the Russian military who are also all Masons (anyone who counts, that is). Ultimately lawyer saves the world from Freemasonry and goes off into the sunset to start his own law firm where he'll never have anything to do with Freemasonry, ever, nohow, no way. Pulling in all of the usual UK phobias about the Masonic fraternity, the author's story intimates that everyone is a Mason except the 'good guys' - and they are always at the mercy of those horrid, controlling Freemasons. Neither original nor interesting, this book should only appeal to those who feast on stories too simple and too poorly written for trade publishers - but who are also Masonophobes.
More reviews on www.hoodwink.eu show less