I am a huge lover of spy stories. Combine a spy with organized crime, and my brain fills with images of deception and shady forms of adventure. I have also always been fond of 40s era books and film. John Knoerle definitely captures that era with his story.

It was nice walking the streets along with Schroeder and clearly visualizing every sound and almost feeling the chill in the air of Cleveland near Christmas time. Each locale whether a deli or a jazz lounge and dance parlor. These details really bring the reader into the story.

Schroeder is a man who has seen the dark side of the war and lost so much while serving his country as a spy. There are no accolades for spies and he has experienced loss that has pushed him to a decision to look out for number one. He is recruited by the FBI to infiltrate a mob, and he is going to do just that, but he is going to get his as well.

This story had so many ups and downs for Hal. I never knew myself what side he was on and what side the FBI was on. Where they really there to even support him in what they hired him to do? This definitely helped you move along the story with some knowledge of what Hal Schroeder was going through. I was kept wondering if he would follow through on his plan or would he be caught by the mob, FBI or both.

Pros - Great, solid characters, excellent plot, fabulous locations, and a good laugh here and there. I enjoyed the story very much.

Cons - It did take me a while to read, and that is not usually the case. At times there were some details that seemed to extend scenes longer than necessary.

All in all, I enjoyed reading A Pure Double Cross. It was a nice escape from the mysteries that I have read lately that have had a romantic component to them. Sometimes I just want to focus on the suspense. ( )

This is the First in a trilogy in the American Spy series. While not on the level of Philip Kerr's Berlin Noir this fast paced story is a 1st class novel. Engaging characters, excellent dialog and a plausable story line make this a worthwhile read. Knowing that there will be at least 2 other books to follow did not lessen the impact of the first in the series. Set in post war Cleveland (1945) Hal Schroeder, former OSS agent is recruited to assist the FBI to help bring down a mob crime boss. I can recommend this work without hesitation and say that I'm looking forward to the next two books. ( )

I found this a very interesting and easy read. Difficult to put down. This is a very good story about a war time spy returning home trying to make his fortune without hard work. The lead character was always trying to work the double cross against both sides to his benefit. The story made you feel like you were back in the 40's immediately after the war. I enjoyed the book immensely. ( )

I thought this book was a fine beginning to a new series. As a stand-alone, not so good. I'll be watching for the next book. This one was a slow starter for me. I'm not familiar with Cleveland, and have never read any "noir" books before, so I can't make any comparison there. What bothered me more than anything was the overuse of slang and jargon in the first half of the book. There were at least 2 instances on every page of cool words being deliberately used. After about half way, I was no longer aware of it. Not sure whether he stopped using them, or if I just became involved in the story enough not to notice. The story was good - plenty of twists and turns, never knowing who to trust or who was scamming whom. Even the hero wasn't exempt - I was never sure whether he was brilliant or an idiot.

Not great literature, but a fun book. ( )

A PURE DOUBLE CROSS is the first book of the "American Spy Trilogy." Hal Schroeder returns to Cleveland, Ohio after two years as an OSS spy in World War II. Compound the emotions from the war with the fact that Hal's girlfriend married another man while he was at war, and you're left with a hardened and bitter man.

When the FBI recruit Hal to go undercover in the Cleveland mob, Hal sees the opportunity as a chance to turn a double cross and make enough of a fortune to sail off into the sunset. But, things don't turn out to be quite as easy as that.

Of course the first thing that attracted me to this particular book was the fact that it was set in Cleveland, Ohio. But, not only is it set in Cleveland, it's 1945 Cleveland. Knoerle does an exemplary job of depicting the city. I am by no means a Cleveland historian, so if there are minor inaccurate details, I wouldn't be aware of them. But I had no problems visualizing the city Knoerle describes, especially the effects of the steel mills on the city.

The characterization is interesting in this book in the fact that you aren't necessarily supposed to like the protagonist. Hal is a turncoat. He's in this job for himself and he wants to screw everyone else involved. But, while he's bitter and hardened, there's still a part of a conscience that's lurking underneath, so you can't completely dislike him. Hal, as with most all the other characters, is dynamic. There are quite a few layers built up in him and his cynicism throws in a touch of humor. There are no white hats and black hats in this caper.

But, I have to say, the strength of this novel falls squarely in the plot. The twists and double crosses in this plot keep the reader on his/her toes and turning the pages. And when you combine the complexity of the plot with the murkiness of the characters, you're challenged as a reader.

I read this book on my five-hour flight to California. It sure didn't feel like five hours! ( )