Reviews from

The French Letter

Viewing comments for Chapter 86 "Some Awkward Conclusions "
A Novel

29 total reviews 
Comment from Sandra Ludwick
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Thank you for sharing your thoughts through your story. I really enjoyed reading it, especially the descriptive portions. You painted a very clear picture.

 Comment Written 06-Oct-2019


reply by the author on 09-Oct-2019
    Very many thanks for your review, Sandra. Appreciated. All good wishes, Tony
Comment from rspoet
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Hello Tony,
A lot of description in this chapter, perhaps too much.
Editors might suggest trimming unnecessary information
to tighten the scene.
The various possible connections keep the reader guessing
as to who is on who's side and who can be trusted.
Dead man waking, or dead man thrown off a train, Charles is in
danger everywhere he turns. Secret agent or not,
Helen is his best bet to stay alive.
Six stars for keeping the reader guessing.
Robert

 Comment Written 21-Sep-2019


reply by the author on 22-Sep-2019
    Thanks, Robert. I appreciate the sixth star.
    I think you?re right about the balance of this chapter. Not much is happening in it, so I?ll probably need to cut anything that doesn?t move the plot along.
Comment from Pam (respa)
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

-Another good chapter, Tony.
-The mystery continues with
train companions, Charles'
suspicions about them and
also Helen arise.
-You show these very well in
the sequence where his mind
wanders as he looks out the
window of the train, and later
when he thinks about the
various people involved in this plot
of deception, it would seem.
-The conclusion is very telling
because I think Charles is making
some good assumptions and
possibly some unfortunate deductions,
but about whom and why is yet to be determined!
-A good job putting this all together.

 Comment Written 19-Sep-2019


reply by the author on 22-Sep-2019
    Thanks, Pam. Appreciated, as always. It?s not easy to find the time to write at the moment! Anna needs a lot of support. She was due today, so it shouldn?t be long now. We?d anticipated an early delivery, and it?s a relief that she?s managed to carry through to full term.
reply by Pam (respa) on 22-Sep-2019
    You are very welcome, Tony. I can imagine it is very stressful for Anna, but it is wonderful that the baby is full term.
Comment from Pearl Edwards
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I enjoyed Charles pleasant reminiscences on the train, before long he had much more serious thinking to do. Great chapter Tony and a good, cliff-hanger ending.
cheers,
valda

 Comment Written 19-Sep-2019


reply by the author on 19-Sep-2019
    Thanks, Valda. I appreciate your comments. Best wishes, Tony.
Comment from TallySally
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This is exciting. Complex - but what else would the life of a spy be like?

Loved the last paragraph. Felt the tension and the foreboding. An engrossing read.

God bless and my best ..
Relda

 Comment Written 18-Sep-2019


reply by the author on 19-Sep-2019
    Many thanks for your review, Relda. These thoughts from Charles are all connected with events in previous chapters and are perhaps a bit confusing if you?ve only been following occasionally. Best wishes, Tony.
Comment from Gail Denham
Excellent
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A good chapter - however there are a lot of characters churning about in this man's head. Perhaps too many at one time? It reads very well and convincing however. But it is pretty complicated.

 Comment Written 18-Sep-2019


reply by the author on 19-Sep-2019
    Many thanks for your review, Gail. These thoughts from Charles are all connected with events in previous chapters and are perhaps a bit confusing if you have only been following occasionally. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from WryWriter
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Alas the life of a spy...willing or unwilling. Treachery at every turn! Is Charles, as he puts it, "...a dead man walking"? An excellent, suspenseful chapter. A few lines I really liked:

"The weathered man who led it wore a loose-fitting shirt stained with sweat, ingrained with poverty."

"The awkward silence that ensued was suddenly broken, first by a buffeting and tarantella of noise as another train passed us, hurtling along in the opposite direction,"

 Comment Written 18-Sep-2019


reply by the author on 19-Sep-2019
    Very many thanks for your supportive comments and generous award of six stars. Much appreciated. All good wishes, Tony.
Comment from juliaSjames
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Dramatic but not unexpected turn of events as Charles and Helen encounter an emissary on the train, sending Charles into a panicked tailspin.

I thought this was a very well written chapter. Vivid, poetic,description of the scenery and inhabitants of the land. And as often happens on journeys, Charles lets his thoughts drift to memories of home.

One query, is the taxi driver "Zaheed" meant to be "Rasheed". Or have I misunderstood something?

Blessings Julia


 Comment Written 17-Sep-2019


reply by the author on 19-Sep-2019
    Very many thanks for your review and comments, Julia. No idea where Zaheed came from. I?ve sent him packing! Thanks for spotting the interloper.
reply by juliaSjames on 19-Sep-2019
    LOL
Comment from lyenochka
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Poor Charles! I feel so sorry for him as Helen has his heart but she's so dangerously unpredictable and untrustworthy.
I enjoyed how you varied the pace with this from the meandering thoughts of watching out the window to the moments of annoyance and of fear.
Question:
Are Zamir and Zemar two different people?
"Zamir's European network." and "Zemar's employ"
If so, just for the reader's sake, you might want a little more difference in the names. If not, it's a typo.

 Comment Written 17-Sep-2019


reply by the author on 19-Sep-2019
    Thanks very much for your review and comments, Helen. Zamir was a typo. Thank you for spotting it. All good wishes, Tony
Comment from Bill Pinder
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I like how you use the tunnel as a forewarning of unknown terror ahead. This is a very well written chapter in your book. I like the interesting characters in the unknown questions that come into the man's mind while on the train.
Bill

 Comment Written 17-Sep-2019


reply by the author on 19-Sep-2019
    Thanks very much, Bill. I appreciate your dropping by and the affirmation of a sixth star. All good wishes, Tony.