The Berlin Assignment,
by Adrian De Hook, Breakwater Books Ltd., 511 pages,
soft cover, $24.95, ISBN 1-55081-218-1

By Alidë Kohlhaas

With the end of the Cold War—or at least the overt aspects of it—writers of spy novels suddenly found themselves without material to write gripping tales. Novelists such as John Le Carré began to flounder, writing some truly awful books. Then al-Qaeda became more prominent and writers turned to the Middle East for their spy material. These books are by now becoming a dime a dozen, and are getting pretty boring. One appreciates, therefore, when a writer turns to the aftermath of the fall of the Wall in Berlin for a novel that features the intrigue that is part of the woof and warp of that city.

Adrian de Hoog is the second Canadian diplomat whom I have come across, who has turned to writing as a second career. Unlike Gilbert Reid, who concentrates on short stories, de Hook has turned to the novel form. His first book, The Berlin Assignment, is—as the name implies—a tale that features Berlin, front row, centre while also offering some insight into the murkier side of diplomatic relations. This is an enjoyable read. This being the author's first novel, one hopes de Hoog will turn his background in the foreign service to continued good use in future books.