The Gold Swan

by James Stewart Thayer

Book Overview

From the author of Terminal Event and Force 12 comes a unique and gripping thriller bridging the worlds of architecture and global politics, and set in contemporary Hong Kong.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684862867
• ISBN13: 9780684862866
• Release Date: November 2002
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Great Book, Great Author

I would like to say that I discovered a great new author, but I can only say that I discovered a great author. He is not new, because GOLD SWAN is his 12th book, and I am very unhappy that it took me so long to find him. I do not understand why he has not already been on the bestseller list 12 times.I was lucky enough to read one of Thayer's WWII novels a few weeks ago. I enjoyed that paperback so much that I immediately went looking for it in hardback, as well as trying to find all the author's other books. I managed to get a new hardback copy of GOLD SWAN, and I immediately read it as fast as I could. It is a wonderful thriller that is almost completely different from the WWII books, except for the outstanding writing.GOLD SWAN is a marvelous, fast paced story, with many interesting characters. I enjoyed it thoroughly, while learning more about Hong Kong than I did in my 10+ trips there. I love fiction that teaches me things, at the same time that I get a great story. Both of Thayer's books that I have read do that for me, but Gold Swan taught me about Hong Kong, Chinese politics and gangsters, architecture, construction, and police work, and it increased my respect for the work of the CIA. This book was exciting from beginning to end, fun, interesting, educational, and very well written.I now have 10 more books to look forward to reading. It is my understanding that the WWII book has been optioned for a movie that should be as exciting as the book, because of the star who is involved. Buy this author's books now, because he will soon be so well known that copies of his old books will be hard to get.

How does he do it?

This is the fourth James Thayer book I have read, and each one is completely different: different setting, era, professions of main characters, etc. And he does his homework. All of the details are well studied and accurate. I also think he does an excellent job of writing believable female characters. Many male authors of mysteries and thrillers create female characters who are like the male characters but with higher voices and better grooming. Thayer gets the women right.The Gold Swan is one of those mysteries where the reader can see it coming, but can savor the way the story plays out to the characters. This is very American in its style -- Phillip Margolin writes this way too. Unlike the classic British mystery writers, who like to keep you guessing to the very end (and sometimes beyond).Thayer also nails the cultural differences between the Chinese and the gweilos (non-Chinese) in the middle of an increasingly tense construction project in Hong Kong.This book will hold your interest. You may be late for a meal or two while you read to the end of a chapter.

well researched, fast paced and fun to read!

The 11th James Thayer novel is an absolute pleasure to read. The story-line is precise and the characters are deep and believable. In addition, one of the most enjoyable aspects is the amount of details the author included about day-to-day life in Hong Kong, including: the customs, food, observances, rituals and even the non-tourist areas and people. One word of warning when traveling to Hong Kong: watch out for the man with green emerald teeth, and don't offer him a beer!

Great book!

James Stewart Thayer is one of my favorite authors, and this is one of his best books. It's a gripping read; I read it from cover to cover, virtually nonstop.

A fascinating thriller.

Clay Williams has been living in Hong Kong for the last ten years. He is a former FBI agent and is presently working as security chief for one of the worlds largest construction projects. The building, known as 'The Gold Swan' because its shape is similar to a swans neck, is the worlds tallest building coming in at 2500 feet. When Williams realizes the building is starting to lean, he discovers a conspiracy within the government to keep it quiet.Thayer's solid writing along with his 'grab you by the seat' story telling made this a fun thriller to read. From the power struggles in the Chinese government to the powerful triads running the cities to the descriptions of Hong Kong(which made you feel as if you were there), I felt like this was a well rounded thriller and one of Thayer's best.Highly recommended.