The French Letter
Viewing comments for Chapter 95 "A Potential Ally"A Novel
26 total reviews
Comment from rspoet
Hello Tony,
It seems Charles' cover has disintegrated in a matter of seconds.
Maybe a new title could be The Incompetent Spy,
his threat to Habeeb just a pile of fluff.
My knowledge of the inner workings of the Pakistani world is nil,
so I'll accept almost anything as possible, and, it seems quite probable.
Charles needs an ally, but Javed could easily be a spy, to get information from him.
Another excellent chapter. Readers will turning the pages.
Robert
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2019
  |
Hello Tony,
It seems Charles' cover has disintegrated in a matter of seconds.
Maybe a new title could be The Incompetent Spy,
his threat to Habeeb just a pile of fluff.
My knowledge of the inner workings of the Pakistani world is nil,
so I'll accept almost anything as possible, and, it seems quite probable.
Charles needs an ally, but Javed could easily be a spy, to get information from him.
Another excellent chapter. Readers will turning the pages.
Robert
Comment Written 12-Nov-2019
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2019
-
I like your suggestion for a revised title, Robert. This has now got a very long way from the original idea I had in mind. I'm not quite sure how it will look after a Draconian edit. Thanks for the sixth star.
I'm on shaky ground at the moment, never having been to Pakistan - except for twenty minutes, engines running, in Karachi, rescuing British nationals during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. A six-hour truce was declared, to enable the operation.
I've just finished reading the last story in Tales of a Scottish Wood and your splendid poem. The book's been by my bedside for several weeks now. I must say, I have been entranced by it. Wonderfully told. I'll leave a review on Amazon shortly.
Comment from sunnilicious
Hi Tony! I don't like the name Hussein. Hussein does belong locked away in prison awaiting death row or something for his garbage terror. Throw away cars, frivolous spending, red light district sex shops everywhere, drugs... Hussein follows little children for sex and marriage. This Hussein isn't even good enough to talk about... I read the installment, but my mind wandered to an off beaten path. Pure trash.
Good work.
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2019
 |
Hi Tony! I don't like the name Hussein. Hussein does belong locked away in prison awaiting death row or something for his garbage terror. Throw away cars, frivolous spending, red light district sex shops everywhere, drugs... Hussein follows little children for sex and marriage. This Hussein isn't even good enough to talk about... I read the installment, but my mind wandered to an off beaten path. Pure trash.
Good work.
Comment Written 12-Nov-2019
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2019
-
Thanks very much for your review, Alicia. Hussein is a fairly common name on the Indian sub-continent. Not all are bad, but this one's a pretty unsavoury character. All the best, Tony
Comment from w.j.debi
It looks like Charles doesn't have a lot of hope at the moment. He is alive and that always offers some hope that escape from the situation is possible. Great job putting your character in the worst of situations with what appears to be an impossible way out.
I look forward to more.
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2019
|
It looks like Charles doesn't have a lot of hope at the moment. He is alive and that always offers some hope that escape from the situation is possible. Great job putting your character in the worst of situations with what appears to be an impossible way out.
I look forward to more.
Comment Written 12-Nov-2019
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2019
-
Thanks, W.J. It's been easier putting him in the situation than it will be getting him out again! LOL All good wishes, Tony
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Goodness, what is he going to do now? Not a lot he can do, really. And where is Helen? This is turning into a nightmare for poor Charles, and I can't see that he will be waking up from it any time soon! I've now got to wait to find out what happens next. Another excellent part, my friend. :)) Sandra xxx
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2019
|
Goodness, what is he going to do now? Not a lot he can do, really. And where is Helen? This is turning into a nightmare for poor Charles, and I can't see that he will be waking up from it any time soon! I've now got to wait to find out what happens next. Another excellent part, my friend. :)) Sandra xxx
Comment Written 12-Nov-2019
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2019
-
It's so good of you, Sandra, to spend so much of your precious time going back over the last few chapters. Much appreciated. Thanks, too, for dropping a sixth star on this one. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to get Charles out of this mess. Robert has suggested I change the book title to 'The Incompetent Spy' LOL
-
Actually, that sounds like an excellent title! LOL Robert was always dropping little gems like that for parts of my novel, some ideas I actually took up!
-
Yes, I liked it, too, and when I looked it up on Amazon, it didn?t appear under anyone else?s name. I might use it.
-
Yes, I liked it, too, and when I looked it up on Amazon, it didn?t appear under anyone else?s name. I might use it.
-
I did that for each of my titles, and none of them have been used by anyone else. There are so many titles that are the same when you look for a book, it's better if yours is a unique one, you'll be a lot easier to find. :)
Comment from estory
Another top notch chapter. The story is gathering momentum now, you really dug into the tense jail scenes with great descriptions of the interrogations and the rough treatment by the guards, and the disdain of the police captain. You lay out a case for lots of trouble ahead, a long internment, maybe a sham trial, and suspicion by the Pakistani authorities that he is a terrorist, and allusions to possible sexual abuse to come for Helen. The path ahead is filled with trouble, but at the end, Charles seems to come across a potential friend, albeit a shaky one in a shaky situation. estory
reply by the author on 14-Nov-2019
|
Another top notch chapter. The story is gathering momentum now, you really dug into the tense jail scenes with great descriptions of the interrogations and the rough treatment by the guards, and the disdain of the police captain. You lay out a case for lots of trouble ahead, a long internment, maybe a sham trial, and suspicion by the Pakistani authorities that he is a terrorist, and allusions to possible sexual abuse to come for Helen. The path ahead is filled with trouble, but at the end, Charles seems to come across a potential friend, albeit a shaky one in a shaky situation. estory
Comment Written 12-Nov-2019
reply by the author on 14-Nov-2019
-
Thanks for your detailed comments and predictions. Particularly useful since I have not quite decided where this goes next. Thanks, too, for the sixth star. Most affirming. All good wishes, Tony.
Comment from Mistydawn
It seems that things have gotten a thousand times worse. Poor Helen, I can't even imagine what they play to do with her. The chapter is well-written, very interesting start to finish. Your plot is very realistic and your characters seem real, relatable.
reply by the author on 14-Nov-2019
|
It seems that things have gotten a thousand times worse. Poor Helen, I can't even imagine what they play to do with her. The chapter is well-written, very interesting start to finish. Your plot is very realistic and your characters seem real, relatable.
Comment Written 12-Nov-2019
reply by the author on 14-Nov-2019
-
Thanks very much, Misty, for your kind words and supportive comments, particularly those about the characters and readability. Best wishes, Tony.
Comment from Bill Pinder
I enjoyed reading this chapter About the harsh treatment By the captors. Sounds like a realistic situation in a country like that. Good luck to the main characters. It is not looking good.
Bill
reply by the author on 14-Nov-2019
|
I enjoyed reading this chapter About the harsh treatment By the captors. Sounds like a realistic situation in a country like that. Good luck to the main characters. It is not looking good.
Bill
Comment Written 12-Nov-2019
reply by the author on 14-Nov-2019
-
Thanks for your comments, Bill. The information freely available on the internet does lead one to the conclusion that being imprisoned in Pakistan would be a particularly harrowing experience.
Comment from juliaSjames
Another good chapter, Tony. You're setting the scene well for the eventual and inevitable turn of events.
From time to time I think you're overwriting. Description of the guards, salivating over Helen, reference to a careless slip in Charles calling Helen by her maiden name, use of the term "barbarity" when Charles has only been roughed up. Just my opinion.
Interested to see how this situation will play out.
Blessings Julia
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2019
|
Another good chapter, Tony. You're setting the scene well for the eventual and inevitable turn of events.
From time to time I think you're overwriting. Description of the guards, salivating over Helen, reference to a careless slip in Charles calling Helen by her maiden name, use of the term "barbarity" when Charles has only been roughed up. Just my opinion.
Interested to see how this situation will play out.
Blessings Julia
Comment Written 12-Nov-2019
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2019
-
Thanks for the advice, Julia. It?s easy to get carried away with this sort of writing. I?ll go back and have another look. I appreciate the honesty of your reviews. Most helpful. All good wishes, Tony.
-
You're welcome Tony. I'm a big fan of your work.
JJ
Comment from Pantygynt
Beware the stool pigeon, Charles. I asmell a 'rat i' the arras' at the end of this one. Ever since the advent of James Bond on the literary scene, the roughing up up of the hero seems to be de rigeur in this genre of novel. The capacity of such people to remain unaffected by pain and to recover, scarless, in record time never ceases to amaze me.
I wonder what will happen next and how the lovely Helen is coping with her brand of hell on earth.
This is the type of novel I used to wish to write, and have started but failed to finish on several occasions. Thank goodness I seem to be faring better with fairy stories.
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2019
|
Beware the stool pigeon, Charles. I asmell a 'rat i' the arras' at the end of this one. Ever since the advent of James Bond on the literary scene, the roughing up up of the hero seems to be de rigeur in this genre of novel. The capacity of such people to remain unaffected by pain and to recover, scarless, in record time never ceases to amaze me.
I wonder what will happen next and how the lovely Helen is coping with her brand of hell on earth.
This is the type of novel I used to wish to write, and have started but failed to finish on several occasions. Thank goodness I seem to be faring better with fairy stories.
Comment Written 12-Nov-2019
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2019
-
I?ve no doubt Charles will make a full recovery in time for his inevitable rescue or daring escape. In the meantime, I?ve left him languishing in jail with dizzy spells and a headache. The least I could do!
Helen, on the other hand ...
Comment from royowen
I think they've got our hero tagged I'm afraid, he's there on a clandestine mission, even though it may benefit everyone. How's Helen going to fair, we know how long ordinary folk can be held in detention almost indefinitely, never mind the genuinely guilty. Well done Tony, blessings, Roy
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2019
|
I think they've got our hero tagged I'm afraid, he's there on a clandestine mission, even though it may benefit everyone. How's Helen going to fair, we know how long ordinary folk can be held in detention almost indefinitely, never mind the genuinely guilty. Well done Tony, blessings, Roy
Comment Written 12-Nov-2019
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2019
-
Thanks, Roy. I appreciate your comments. They don?t mess around in that part of the world.
-
That?s true