The spy comes out of retirement
In The Fox, retired thriller writer Frederick Forsyth brings back a retired intelligence operative for one last mission. The WORLD’S BEST HACKER, a British lad with Asperger’s syndrome, manages to breach the super-secret database of the American intelligence. (Not good news, by any means.)
Now, if you think it’s all about hacking from here on out, you’d be mistaken; the world’s best hacker doesn’t utter a single word throughout the entire book. And the recalled spy? Well, he’s precisely 70 years old.
The book’s larger-than-average font size also raises suspicions, as it’s usually not a sign of a meticulously detailed story.
All the main characters are miserable Brits! (Alright, this doesn’t really matter.)
The thriller writer comes out of retirement
But let’s see what’s on the other side of the scale! On the other side sits Frederick Forsyth himself, one of the world’s greatest espionage writers. Undoubtedly. Starting with “The Day of the Jackal,” I’ve been reading his books for about thirty years, and he has never disappointed me. Ahem, until now.
The complete authenticity, Forsyth’s main virtue, remains intact in The Fox as well. He’s clearly well-versed in everything from intelligence agencies to special operations to contemporary cyber warfare. From American to Russian to Korean political situations.
However, the writing itself feels like reading a leisurely 19th-century epic novel. It doesn’t consist of scenes unfolding; instead, Frederick Forsyth meticulously EXPLAINS the plot. This turns the whole book into a didactic tale. Especially considering that the United Kingdom is portrayed as executing actions far beyond its political weight, which, considering reality, seems more like the author’s rosy daydreams than a plausible storyline.
Some characters and plotlines seem like obligatory clichés: the despicable Russian adversary from the past or the tepid sparks between two supporting characters.
“The Fox” is credible – but monotonous and slow
And believe it or not, despite its flaws, The Fox still manages to captivate. How on earth does that happen? It’s simply incomprehensible why you’d keep eagerly reading?! Someone explain it quickly!
When:
There’s a scene that could be described as emotional: the rescue mission.
There’s a scene that pushes the emotional scale further, almost to exaggerated sentimentality, but other than that, it serves no purpose. This is the funeral of Corporal Benny Drake.
There’s a scene where the hard-headed American president, who is treated with noticeable disdain by Forsyth, and who comes off as vain and grumpy, much like his real-life counterpart, surprisingly speaks with conspicuous politeness within the pages of The Fox. Of course, even this might not come naturally to him, even if he were hit on the head with good manners all day long. (This isn’t about good old Uncle Joe, mind you, but the one before him.)
These three scenes are the exceptions. Every other scene in thy spy novel The Fox lacks tension, being tepid and predictably monotonous right up to its abrupt, seemingly alibi-like ending.
When the story reads like it was penned by an old man who could churn out another book anytime out of sheer routine.
And so, here’s that inspired moment when you quickly search the internet to find out when good old Frederick Forsyth was actually born.
7/10
The Fox by Frederick Forsyth
286 pages, Hardcover
Published in 2018 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons
—
You may also be interested in:
The Other Woman by Daniel Silva