The Scorpion Signal

Following a pair of disappointing titles from the late 70s that tinkered with the conceptual premise of the character and series, "The Scorpion Signal" not only stands as a return to form for Elleston Trevor's embittered agent Quiller, but works to further delve into the fears and motivations of its principle players. Trevor himself (writing as Adam Hall) brilliantly delivers a continually taut, believable plot that will keep readers genuinely interested. In a way, it has always been Quiller's fallibility and flaws that has kept the character believable, if not fascinating. Quiller remains tough, professional, and even funny sometimes, but is neither a superman nor a comic caricature. Never before has his fallibility been so prevalent and it is a credit to Trevor's abilities that this ninth entry seems as fresh as his earlier titles. Story-wise, Quiller is called upon to work inside Soviet Moscow to investigate the abduction of one of his friends and fellow executive, Shapiro. This time around, the imposing atmosphere of having to work inside an enemy police state richly adds to the suspense. Likewise, among a cell of agents whom he has never worked with, Quiller is faced with being handed over to the KGB by a "Judas" and ends up being taken to the infamous Lubyanka prison for interrogation. In other words, the more superficial architecture of the story provides an environment that is uniquely ripe for suspense. As with the other Quiller books, the really intriguing aspect though is how Quiller introspectively reasons his way through one spot after another and how, in spite of his best rationale, circumstances often work against him. Quiller's ultimate encounter with the "Judas" who has betrayed him is an amazing highlight. Similar scenarios have been played out elsewhere, but few have offered such emotive details. I offer a couple minor notes of criticism, however. First, there is a bit of an over-reliance on car crashes this time out and at least one is superfluous. Second, the character Ignatov straddles between deadly professional and innocent victim of blackmail. As always, the concept of blackmailing someone into committing crimes they have little stake in seems quite silly. These are, however, minor quibbles that are not worthy of detracting from this masterful work as a whole.

Probably the best (but certainly one of the best) in Hall's Quiller-series. It tackles a number of issues & just in the right proportion. We learn the most about Quiller, his personality, sense of honour from this book: the scene in Lyublyanka is quite enlightening. The agent who's ready to die for the Bureau, but kills for his sense of pride; and who wouldn't betray his word to his (ex)-friend not even to save his own life. The perfect mixture of adventure, plot and the tackling of existential questions.

I must declare an interest: This book is dedicated to me. It's the eighth of 19 brilliant escapades starring the lean and mean Quiller, about whom reviewers have observed, "the ultimate pro, cynical, hard and master of the double-think ... businesslike, low-keyed, nondescript."An Englishman, Adam Hall - real name Elleston Trevor - died at his Arizona home in 1996, one day after completing "Quiller Balalaika", scandalously still not taken up by an American publisher. However, the In Memoriam tributes from writers and reviewers around the world set in motion reprints of all his earlier works, including those under his various noms-de-plume (many of which have been misleadingly rejacketed as Adam Hall titles, thus giving the impression of a post-humous cache of new Quillers). "The Scorpion Signal" is Hall at his tense and entertaining best, opening with Q in foul mood with his employers and actually turning down the mission before the full gravity of the situation sinks in: A fellow agent - another top executive in the field - has been put through interrogation at Lubyanka, escaped, and been *re-captured*. And he knows everything about one of British intelligence's most valuable Moscow-based cells, enough to blow the agency sky high. Quiller's job: To get into the KGB fortress and out again with his target intact. Only Adam Hall could conceive such a suicidally improbable mission for his man and succeed so convincingly. Even with the change of political climate and the demise of that whole genre of cold war thrillers, the Quiller canon continue to crackle on the page for their sheet storytelling excitement and what one reviewer spotted as Hall's "scholar's way of relishing the finer points of his discipline for their own sake." One of the doyens of this trade is no longer with us but his hero lives on to keep new readers on the edge of their seats and to show newcomers how it's really done. If you don't know Q, start with the equally capable "Quiller Memorandum" and work up, and I envy you the pleasures in store.