Dan Fesperman, wielding a sharp eye for atmospheric detail and a finely tuned ear for comic relief, has proved to be one of the genre’s most exciting contemporary writers ... Deliciously fun ... As Hal stumbles his way to uncovering a clandestine intelligence-gathering service in the heart of Bolrovia, the plot loses some of its mounting tension and risks falling into Hollywood-style buddy slapstick. I understand why Fesperman chose to set his caper in a fictional country—both legally and creatively—but for me the stakes of the operation never seem tethered to a real world where actual lives hang in the balance ... Still, Hal and Pavel are irresistible creations.
A most unusual and entertaining espionage caper, one in which the protagonist’s serious flaws at last yield to the redeeming qualities of his better angels.
Zippy ... Pitch-perfect portrayal of our times. With crisp, fearless humor that drips with topical, ripped-from-the-tabloids headlines and social media irony, Pariah nails the political calculus.
Sturdy ... Fesperman is dexterous with plotting and character development, but less convincing when it comes to illustrating Hal’s comedic talents ... Still, it’s a minor quibble in an otherwise impressive effort.
