Read more
Zusatztext Praise for Top Secret “A thrilling new series...This incredible mix of intrigue! diplomacy and! of course! a bit of romance! is fantastic...Readers will be panting for the next novel.”— Suspense Magazine “Those who are happy with lots of interesting period history! dry humor! and clever scheming will be amply rewarded.”— Publishers Weekly Informationen zum Autor W. E. B. Griffin was the author of seven bestselling series: The Corps, Brotherhood of War, Badge of Honor, Men at War, Honor Bound, Presidential Agent, and Clandestine Operations. He passed away in February 2019. William E. Butterworth IV has been an editor and writer for more than 25 years, and has worked closely with his father for over a decade on the editing and writing of the Griffin books. He is coauthor with him of more than a dozen New York Times bestselling novels. He is a member of the Sons of the American Legion, China Post #1 in Exile; the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Society; and a life member of the National Rifle Association and the Texas Rifle Association. He lives in Florida. Klappentext From #1 New York Times bestselling authors W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV comes the first Clandestine Operations novel-featuring a new kind of threat and a different breed of warrior. In the first weeks after World War II, James D. Cronley, Jr., is recruited for a new enterprise that will eventually be transformed into something called the CIA. For a new war has already begun against an enemy that is bigger, smarter, and more vicious: the Soviet Union. The Soviets have hit the ground running, and Cronley's job is to help frustrate them, harass them, and spy on them any way he can. But his first assignment might be his last. He's got only seven days to extract a vital piece of information from a Soviet agent, and he's already managed to rile up his superior officers. If he fails now, his intelligence career could be the shortest in history. Because there are enemies everywhere-and, as Cronley is about to find out, some of them wear the same uniform he does...I [ ONE ] National Airport Alexandria, Virginia 0405 25 October 1945 The triple-tail Lockheed Constellation with howell petroleum lettered on its fuselage came in low over the Potomac River, lowered its gear, put down its huge flaps, and touched smoothly down at the very end of the main north-south runway. Her four engines roared as the pilot quickly moved the propellers into reverse pitch and shoved her throttles forward. When the Connie finally stopped, she was very uncomfortably close to the far end of the runway and her tires were smoking. The pilot radioed: “National, Howell One on the ground at six past the hour. Request taxi instructions.” “Howell One, turn and take Taxiway One on your right. Hold there.” “Howell One understands hold on Taxiway One.” The Constellation was the finest transport aircraft in the world. It was capable of flying forty passengers in its pressurized cabin higher—at an altitude of 35,000 feet—and faster—it cruised at better than 300 knots—and for a longer distance—4,300 miles—than any other transport aircraft in the world. When National Airport had opened in June 1941, it had been not much more than a pencil sketch in the notebook of legendary aviator Howard Hughes, who owned, among a good deal else, the Lockheed Aircraft Company. Hughes, who had designed the Lockheed P-38 “Lightning” fighter plane, had decided that if he took his design of the P-38’s wing, enlarged it appropriately, put four engines on it, and then married it to a huge, sleek fuselage with an unusual triple-tail design, he would have one hell of an airplane. “Build it,” Hughes ordered. “The Air Corps will buy it once they...
