Licia Flynn's Book and Movie Review Blog

Dear Readers,  I recently created a character index for Firm Resolve. Newer editions (9/1/18) will include one. If you would like a copy, please email me at LiciaFlynn@gmail.com. Thank, you, Li Amazon eBook: Firm Resolve Facebook Author Page Twitter: Firm Resolve CHARACTERS Aaron Walker – Ethnically ambiguous, stranger at a club Amy Liu – Cindy’s best friend: Born in Beijing; marketing executive Ben Chang – Curt’s business partner; born in Fremont, California Brian – Lana’s Scandinavian friend Bonnie – Office manager at a venture capital firm Cal – High school peer of Natalia Canaan Cindy Han – Cantonese marketing executive; grew up in the U.K Colleen – Natalia’s best friend Conrad – Lead chemist at Curt’s pharmaceutical company Curt Steiger – Born in Germany; grew up in Chicago; PhD in chemistry; patent attorney Daniel Petersen – Shanghai expat ...

Generally, when people think about CIA operatives, they imagine what they see in films or television. In most popular programming there's camaraderie among team members. In his book, " Book of Honor: Covert Lives & Classified Deaths at the CIA ," Gup does an excellent job of capturing the isolation that many clandestine officers face. My favorite account was of Hugh Redmond, the U.S. intelligence agent who spent decades in a Chinese prison (Ward road Prison -- Shanghai; 1951-197x). A fter years of incarceration, the once-athletic Redmond had lost all of his teeth and became afflicted with disorders that he was forbidden to discuss. (William McInenly.) Gup's book is great because he captures the integrity of the men and women who have fought bravely to defend American values. At the same time, he is critical of the hypocrisy within various administrations. For example, on page 75, he writes -- "Plausible deniability" enabled the president to distanc...