Review of The Diplomatic Bag

[Catherine Sweet]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Diplomatic Bag" by Peter Marshall.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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The Diplomatic Bag by Peter Marshall is a thriller about battles between international security agencies. Marshall has written five spy thrillers and books on astronaut safety and the space industry with Dr Joseph Pelton.

Technological advances threaten the status quo in the high-stakes world of international espionage. Security services in Russia and Great Britain are locked in a fight for supremacy, and both sides will do anything to protect their security. An assassination raises the stakes, and there is a plot for retribution. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) plans to experiment with new technology in London, but the British MI5 are ready to carry out surveillance. The book focuses on the FSB and MI5 headquarters. We learn about the people in charge and how they run their organisations and manage their staff. The diplomatic bag has traditionally been used to carry confidential information, but what part will it play in this deadly confrontation?

The writing style is clear, and it flows well. The dialogue advances the plot and brings scenes to life. The book involves numerous people and organisations but is well-planned and executed, allowing readers to understand the story. The world of espionage is well-drawn and seems believable.

The story gathers pace as the story unfolds. There is some tension as the main event approaches, but introducing more unpredictability could have heightened the suspense and intrigue felt by the reader. There were some interesting characters, but we didn’t learn much about them. I think more character development would have improved the story.

The Diplomatic Bag would appeal to readers who like thrillers and are interested in international espionage. This book is well-written and has a realistic portrayal of intelligence agencies. Due to my points in the penultimate paragraph and editing errors, I have taken off two stars and awarded this book 3 out of 5 stars.

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The Diplomatic Bag
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[Laney K]

This does sound like an interesting concept, though the lackluster character development does give some pause to reconsider. Thanks for the informative review!

[Louis Donald]

The premise of espionage and the diplomatic bag sounds intriguing, but the lack of character development and some editing issues make me hesitant. It seems like it could be a good read for fans of the genre, but I’m not sure it’s for me.

[Pearl Flourish]

Sounds like a solid spy thriller with a realistic take on international espionage, but it could have used more suspense and deeper character development to really make it stand out.

[NetMassimo]

For readers interested in a spy-story that is heavily plot-based, probably this one is great, otherwise I understand the complaint about the limited character development. Of course, proper proofreading should be done. Thank you for your honest review!

[George Bastem]

Peter Marshall’s thriller offers an engaging look into the world of espionage, with a fast-paced plot and interesting settings. While the tension builds effectively, a bit more character development and unpredictability could have elevated the experience. Still, it's a solid read for thriller fans, especially those into international spy games.