C Street
"Men like us beleive we are gods."
Book Reviews

Book Review — Laura Schultz, Los Angeles, CA

The espionage/thriller novel C Street by Claudette Walker is a roller coaster ride of suspense, tension and excitement. It is next to impossible to categorize C Street as merely a thriller, as it contains a myriad of components that demonstrates the author's ability to transcend genres. Ms. Walker has an uncanny ability to transport the reader into a foreign world where power, wealth and corruption reign supreme. Some have dreamed of wielding this kind of ultimate world power, but few have enough insight to depict this arena in all its magnificence, allure and yes--its concomitant dangers.

But who are the mysterious characters of C Street and what mechanisms allow them to wield such omnipotent power? With hundreds of millions of dollars at their fingertips and modern secret weapons at their disposal, reminiscent of but more sophisticated than James Bond, these undercover operation teams are able to penetrate the veneer of normalcy in many countries of the world. Disguised as wealthy but often ordinary looking professionals, they travel easily and lithely across every continent without arousing suspicion.

The reader learns very quickly to tune out any distractions while reading C Street, unless one is willing to endure the consequences as a result of one moment of inattention. After the first few pages, it was literally impossible for this reader to think of any mundane chores without the overwhelming desire to return to one of the exotic locales or intriguing characters in C Street. Each character, no matter how peripheral they appear to be at first, is brilliantly woven into this web of deceit and treachery with seamless ease. The reader cannot wait for the next chapter that ultimately culminates in a dramatic unveiling of the entire mystery. However, I advise potential readers of C Street to never get too comfortable with any premature attempt to assess who did what to whom and how--lest one is willing to endure the future "shock and awe" as a result of one glance away from this addictive novel.

The main character and keeper of secrets left to her by her loving husband, Solomon Rosenberg (and an assassin for the CIA), Jacqueline Rose is sultry and sassy with the emotional and physical strength of many men. Expertly trained and powerful men often incorrectly assume there must be a weakness or crack in her armor. Both she and her daughter, Marie, are worthy adversaries for even the most proficient CIA, FBI or military professional. In tandem they are unbeatable, as they outwit the best and brightest on the world stage with a delightful twist in every well-developed scheme and plot. Both Marie and Jacqueline serve as human weapons of mass destruction as they achieve their ultimate goal of exposing the nefarious mission by the secret members of C Street.

Simply stated, C Street by Claudette Walker is an unforgettable novel. It is a must read for anyone who enjoys intrigue, enigmas and haunting memories of a fulfilling thriller.

Laura Schultz, Los Angeles, CA
www.lauraschultznow.com

Book Review — Gary Sorkin, Pacific Book Review

“Men like us believe we are gods,” is the innuendo of the belief of CIA operatives woven into the fabric of C Street, a novel by Claudette Walker.

Possessing the absolute power with unlimited resources of the government’s Central Intelligence Agency,  Jacqueline Bovia Rosenberg (having shortened her name to Jacqueline Rose) is being watched as she traces the prior path of her late husband’s career working within the clandestine organization.  Solomon Rose had amassed evidence of the agency’s illegal and unethical activities throughout many international operations, and had a collection of audio tapes secretly held for his wife to retrieve in case of his death.  Although his death came about naturally, Jacqueline remained under surveillance and investigation by the CIA until the agency could get possession of this revealing and possibly incriminating series of audio tapes.  Unfortunately for Jacqueline, the CIA represented not the only government seeking to get at these secrets, and to get to her!

From her London home, Jacqueline traveled to the US; first to Tampa, Florida, and then up to Manhattan on a mission to retrieve the tapes.  Constantly looking over her shoulder, she takes precautions and she believes she’s not being followed until she meets an Israeli colleague of Solomon’s when she is given new identification documents; surprisingly showing a photo of her taken without her knowledge.  Knowing very well not to trust anyone, she becomes swept into the current of people with power and influence, deep into a world of sex and violence, murder and betrayal with characters not having her own best self interest in mind.

Claudette Walker takes the reader on a very detailed journey throughout the secret methods of falsifying responsibilities within the back operations of government intelligence organizations in C Street, revealing new and fascinating methods of how our history has been manipulated by those in power. Walker masterfully develops and sustains an intelligent level of suspense throughout her novel, capturing and holding hostage the reader while being totally in control of the information revealed. Unlike authors which use quick "snippets" of storytelling to create within the reader's mind a series of fast moving action scenes, Walker embellishes her scenes with descriptions based on her research and experience. She noticeably narrates as seen through a feminine mind's eye of Jacqueline, complete with the coupling of vulnerability, her fortitude of strength, and instinct for self preservation.

Her novel is clearly written in a fashion which lends itself to her screenplay adaptation, which I believe is available, and would no doubt gain innumerable accolades by audiences especially for having her feminine character, Jacqueline Rose, yet appear once again and become so memorably articulated.

C Street has it all, and done in a way you'll be looking over your shoulder when reading this extraordinarily entertaining book.

Gary Sorkin, Pacific Book Review
www.pacificbookreview.com/C-Street.php

Reader Reviews