Workman-like prose. Very detailed. ( )

Interesting and well written. It is a bit slow at times, but it mostly reads,like a novel and moves right along. ( )

Non-fiction about the capture of Adolph Eichmann, the notorious Nazi responsible for transportation of millions of Jews to the death camps during WWII. This book traces the Israeli Mossad’s efforts to locate Eichmann and bring him to justice. Although I knew the basics of the story, I had no idea of the complexity of the task. I was impressed at the author’s ability to maintain a thread of tension and suspense, especially since the outcome is already known. The author also kept the story tightly leashed. It would have been easy to range far afield, since he had to cover enough of Eichmann’s early years, his rise to power in the Nazi SS, and how he escaped after the end of the war. I found it fast-paced and riveting. It reads like a mystery or thriller. The writing is journalistic in style: straight-forward and easily followed. Content includes descriptions of Holocaust atrocities and violence. Recommended to those interested in WWII history, the Holocaust, international espionage, or war crimes. ( )

This is the story of Adolph Eichmann, his raise to power in Nazi Germany, his escape from Europe and his capture 15 years later by Mossad (Israel's Spy agency).

This book read like a thriller. Even though you know the eventual outcome, Bascomb keeps you alert and engaged. Although Eichmann, of course, is the thrust of the story Bascomb covers the birth of Israel's spy network and so much more. His research was excellent and weaved together a well told story, well written book. I especially liked the stories of the men who took part in the take down of this disgusting criminal. Many of them had lost entire families in the Holocaust, and although the subject matter was not easy, there were moments when I felt pure joy for these men. They were unsung heroes who deserve to be remembered.
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If this was non-fiction, which it isn't, I would have assumed the adventure and close calls in the book were simply thrills added by the author. But it's historical, so I want the movie rights. I had known that there were people who hunted Nazi's after the war, but never fully understood how Nazi leaders eluded their hunters, how they escaped from Europe, how they were found, etc. In this world of global positioning devices, computer tracking of bank accounts, credit card usage, passport applications, etc., one forgets what things were like before these processes were in place. Given the difficulty of tracking people with forged papers and new identities, it's amazing that Eichmann was ever found. The near-misses, clues ignored, and small breaks which finally led to his capture, the stake-outs, the physical grab on the street, the clue of his lost glasses, the ten-day wait to escape Argentina while Eichmann was being searched for, getting through airport security, the control tower calling the plane back prior to departure, the deceptions of the flight plans, the trans-atlantic flight beyone the fuel range of the plane, etc., all kept me engaged as a reader, even though I knew the ultimate outcome. ( )