The Matchmaker: A Spy in Berlin

This is a spy novel set in Cold War Berlin around the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall. An American woman working in West Berlin finds out that her second husband, Stefan, who she thought was a West German piano tuner, was actually an East German agent. Drama ensues.

The story was not predictable, but it also didn't draw me in very much. Although much of it is focused on the responses and actions of Anne, the main character, I never got a strong sense of her as a person. I did enjoy the atmosphere of the two Berlins just before the fall of the Wall. I probably won't read another book by this author.

Spy novels are hit or miss for me — this one was a hit. This era is full of intrigue and deception on a global scale and made for a perfect setting. I can't comment on how realistic I think the scenario is as I only have a basic knowledge of this time, but it was enjoyable regarding plot and mystery. I liked Anne's character as well as Cooper's. With lots of twists, this book is a page-turner.