Two Spies in Caracas: A Novel

Two Spies in Caracas: A Novel

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  • Create Date:2021-07-13 11:31:12
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Moisés Naím
  • ISBN:1713563177
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

From the New York Times bestselling author of The End of Power comes an edge-of-your-seat political thriller about rival spies, dangerous love, and one of history’s most devastating revolutions。

Venezuela, 1992。 Unknown colonel Hugo Chávez stages an ill-fated coup against a corrupt government, igniting the passions of Venezuela’s poor and catapulting the oil-rich country to international attention。 For two rival spies hurriedly dispatched to Caracas—one from Washington, DC, and the other from Fidel Castro’s Cuba—this is a career-defining mission。

Smooth-talking Iván Rincón of Cuba’s Intelligence Directorate needs a rebel ally to secure the future of his own country。 His job: support Chávez and the revolution by rallying the militants and neutralizing any opposing agents。

Meanwhile, the CIA’s Cristina Garza will do everything in her power to cut Chávez’s influence short。 Her priority: stabilize the greatest oil reserves on the planet by ferreting out and eliminating Cuba’s principal operative。

As Chávez surges to power, Iván and Cristina are caught in the fallout of a toxic political time bomb: an intrepid female reporter and unwitting informant, a drug lord and key architect in Chávez’s rise, and personal entanglements between the spies themselves。 With everything at stake, the adversaries find themselves at the center of a game of espionage, seduction, murder, and shifting alliances playing out against the precarious backdrop of a nation in free fall。 A thrilling fictional story based on unimaginable real-life events。

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Reviews

gerry

A cleverly written novelThis book helped me to better understand the chaos that has been inflicted on Venezuela during the past decades。 It also gives insight to the corruption that is prevalent in Latin America。 Anyone who feels that socialism is an answer for the woes of society needs to read this book。 Humans can be greedy and this is supported by the characters who managed the Venezuelan/African drug trade and the oil give away to Cuba。 My heart goes out to Venezuela and I pray for the prosp A cleverly written novelThis book helped me to better understand the chaos that has been inflicted on Venezuela during the past decades。 It also gives insight to the corruption that is prevalent in Latin America。 Anyone who feels that socialism is an answer for the woes of society needs to read this book。 Humans can be greedy and this is supported by the characters who managed the Venezuelan/African drug trade and the oil give away to Cuba。 My heart goes out to Venezuela and I pray for the prosperous future of this country。 。。。more

Gail

5 stars for the wonderful look at Hugo Chavez’ destruction of Venezuela and Cuba’s complicity。 3 stars for dialog and the spy story。

Lumi

Spectacular writer。Moises is a skilled writer, who managed to create a sofisticated story with multiple story lines on the background of Venezuela's Chavez time。 A book so entrelliing you won't want to put it down。 A delight for history lovers。 Spectacular writer。Moises is a skilled writer, who managed to create a sofisticated story with multiple story lines on the background of Venezuela's Chavez time。 A book so entrelliing you won't want to put it down。 A delight for history lovers。 。。。more

Ken Hulse

It was an entertaining read about Venezuela and Hugo Chavez's role in bringing a lot of harm to the country。 His speeches and grandiose bellicosity remind me a bit of certain x president 。 The story is told with two spies。 One is CIA and the other is Cuban who have opposite goals but fall in love。 I enjoyed the history 。 It was easy to read。 The romance part was a bit underdone。 Two top notch spies who weren't recognizing the other's occupation was a bit unbelievable but I am glad I read it。 It was an entertaining read about Venezuela and Hugo Chavez's role in bringing a lot of harm to the country。 His speeches and grandiose bellicosity remind me a bit of certain x president 。 The story is told with two spies。 One is CIA and the other is Cuban who have opposite goals but fall in love。 I enjoyed the history 。 It was easy to read。 The romance part was a bit underdone。 Two top notch spies who weren't recognizing the other's occupation was a bit unbelievable but I am glad I read it。 。。。more

Kim Wagner

No EndingFailed to bring a cohesive end to this sad tale。 Good characters but a plot that is left without a decent final chapter。

Herman Morgan III

A blind choice that turned out well。When I looked over this month's Prime Reads selection, there wasn't one author I had heard of, or read。 Every book seemed like it was geared for a women's beach reading。 " Two Spies " seemed to be the only one even vaguely in my usual, preferred genres。 I found the book to be intriguing and seductive。 Though very romantic and somewhat sexual, it didn't dwell on those aspects of the character's lives or relationships。 There were some surprising twist and turns, A blind choice that turned out well。When I looked over this month's Prime Reads selection, there wasn't one author I had heard of, or read。 Every book seemed like it was geared for a women's beach reading。 " Two Spies " seemed to be the only one even vaguely in my usual, preferred genres。 I found the book to be intriguing and seductive。 Though very romantic and somewhat sexual, it didn't dwell on those aspects of the character's lives or relationships。 There were some surprising twist and turns, it followed the actual course of the Chavez Presidency close enough to be realistic, and had plenty of complex, quirky actors, set in the real Venezuelan world of that era。 I will look for more of Mr Maim's books。 。。。more

InD'tale Magazine

History buffs rejoice! This book is for you! Seriously, this book could almost double as a Hugo Chavez biography。 Read full review in the 2021 Summer issue of InD'tale Magazine。 History buffs rejoice! This book is for you! Seriously, this book could almost double as a Hugo Chavez biography。 Read full review in the 2021 Summer issue of InD'tale Magazine。 。。。more

mary

Is America going the way of Venezuela? It always amazes me that fiction can be reality or is it the other way around

Robert

A fast readA fast read that was totally engrossing。 I wanted to see what happens next all the way through。 It is a bit fantastic to the end but enjoyable。

Mailmanr5

This is a really fine story。 Realistic characters in a realistic situation。 Excellent dialogue。

Amanda Hupe

"History buffs rejoice!"Check out my full review at InD'Tale Magazine:http://magazine。indtale。com/magazine/。。。 "History buffs rejoice!"Check out my full review at InD'Tale Magazine:http://magazine。indtale。com/magazine/。。。 。。。more

Bob Miller

Although the characters were fairly good and changed over the course of the story, the story, whether based on reality or not, was hard to believe。 Perhaps some additional references would have helped。

Nancy Gilreath

A 3。5。 The history of Hugo Chavez was fascinating, and I would be interested in knowing more about the influence of Fidel Castro and the role of the CIA, as well as more about Venezuela。 The fictional narrative that held it together wasn’t particularly strong。 The characters lacked subtlety。 I also was frustrated by how ineffective Cristina/Eve (woman CIA agent) seemed to be and by the stupid choices made by both main characters。 Some of the small things irritated me - a woman putting on makeup A 3。5。 The history of Hugo Chavez was fascinating, and I would be interested in knowing more about the influence of Fidel Castro and the role of the CIA, as well as more about Venezuela。 The fictional narrative that held it together wasn’t particularly strong。 The characters lacked subtlety。 I also was frustrated by how ineffective Cristina/Eve (woman CIA agent) seemed to be and by the stupid choices made by both main characters。 Some of the small things irritated me - a woman putting on makeup and spraying her perfume in the elevator and Chavez having DVDs in jail in 1992 when they weren’t invented yet。 I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway, and it was worth reading for the introduction to Chavez。 。。。more

Carolyn

This one blew me away! In an introductory note, the author says the characters (except for Castro, Chavez and other well known historical figures) are fictional, but that the hard-to-believe events really happened。 The story started a bit slow, with a recap of recent Venezuelan history, but soon picked up momentum with the introduction of the various characters。 I kept wondering, is this part true? Is that part real? The ending seems impossible to believe - but was it true?

Aaman

Love in the time of ChavezThis compelling book blends fact with fiction to give us a gripping look at the Chavez years in Venezuela and the interplay between the Cuban and American interests。 The spies, the politics, the crime, the doomed passion, the flawed idealism are depicted well and vividly。

phillip

Very interesting bookFor a free credit I chose this 。 So far so good for a choice。 Only time can tell me。

Linda Galella

It was a bit of a chore to read “Two Spies in Caracas”, by Moises Naim。 It’s clear that Naim knows the subject。 Details about the political, social and economical status in Venezuela are abundant often overwhelming the fiction feel so it reads more like a docudrama with stilted dialogue。Not that I’m an huge fan of sexual encounters in political thrillers, (or most books), but the attempts written here are bad。 Abrupt, crude the total red light or fade to black after half a sentence。 It’s just pl It was a bit of a chore to read “Two Spies in Caracas”, by Moises Naim。 It’s clear that Naim knows the subject。 Details about the political, social and economical status in Venezuela are abundant often overwhelming the fiction feel so it reads more like a docudrama with stilted dialogue。Not that I’m an huge fan of sexual encounters in political thrillers, (or most books), but the attempts written here are bad。 Abrupt, crude the total red light or fade to black after half a sentence。 It’s just plain weird。 I wonder if Naim added these scenes just for this American edition。 Unfortunately, the book begins with the worst scene of all。There’s also 2 handfuls of f-bombs that don’t fit with the author’s style, half of which appear in the first 40 pages and 2 in that dreadful first scene。 The author makes mention of numerous rewrites this book went thru getting it ready for this market, (it’s been published in the S。 American market for a few years) and once again I cannot help but wonder if the expletives were added for American readers。If you’re a history and political minutiae junky, this book will be right up your alley; those who prefer fast moving fiction & thriller type stories might want to try something different。 Mechanically sound, except for the dialogue📚 。。。more

Melissa

Writing wise this was only two stars for me。 I gave an extra star because the author painted great pictures of being in Venezuela, and the story settings。 I only finished this book because it was an ARC (thank you NetGalley) and I knew nothing of this piece of history, and I am happy to have finished it for that reason。 There were large jumps in time that felt awkward, and something about the character dialogue was just off。 I did have to keep reminding myself that this was a fiction book - agai Writing wise this was only two stars for me。 I gave an extra star because the author painted great pictures of being in Venezuela, and the story settings。 I only finished this book because it was an ARC (thank you NetGalley) and I knew nothing of this piece of history, and I am happy to have finished it for that reason。 There were large jumps in time that felt awkward, and something about the character dialogue was just off。 I did have to keep reminding myself that this was a fiction book - again a tribute to the author's immense knowledge and experience in the country。 In fact, when I learned that this was the author's first fiction book, my discomfort with the book made more sense; I don't feel that this author's transition to fiction is complete yet。 。。。more

Dianna Rostad

The history behind this book: Two Spies in Caracas if so fascinating。 I enjoyed discovering how Hugo Chavez rose to power in Venezuela。 A great book for anyone who enjoys political thrillers or revolutionary history, or really history of any kind。 Well done!

Deece de Paor

Unfortunately another book I couldn't get into even though I'm interested in South America, and thought a spy story would be gripping and well paced。 It was neither。 The writing dragged and even though I gave it a good 100 pages, I couldn't tell the characters apart。 There seemed to be no humanity behind them and I don't mean that they were monstrous humans, just that they acted and spoke and reacted like robots。 I'm amazed this isn't the author's first book and that he has had bestsellers befor Unfortunately another book I couldn't get into even though I'm interested in South America, and thought a spy story would be gripping and well paced。 It was neither。 The writing dragged and even though I gave it a good 100 pages, I couldn't tell the characters apart。 There seemed to be no humanity behind them and I don't mean that they were monstrous humans, just that they acted and spoke and reacted like robots。 I'm amazed this isn't the author's first book and that he has had bestsellers before。 I really wanted to like this and I'm sorry I didn't。 Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC。 。。。more

Rose

I have just finished reading Two Spies in Caracas, by Author Moisés Naím。This political thriller by a bestselling Author is a storyline taking place in Venezuela in the 1900’s。 It is about rival spies, political upheaval, love, and power。It was an enjoyable read for me, and I thought the translation was well。 done。There is so much government corruption, and power changes with an unknown Colonel Hugo Chávez in the limelight, and an ill-fated coup。The country, which is oil rich, and yet the people I have just finished reading Two Spies in Caracas, by Author Moisés Naím。This political thriller by a bestselling Author is a storyline taking place in Venezuela in the 1900’s。 It is about rival spies, political upheaval, love, and power。It was an enjoyable read for me, and I thought the translation was well。 done。There is so much government corruption, and power changes with an unknown Colonel Hugo Chávez in the limelight, and an ill-fated coup。The country, which is oil rich, and yet the people very poor。I would recommend this book as a good read for those enjoying this venueThank you to Goodreads, Author Moisés Naím and AmazonCrossing for my advanced copy to read and review。 #TwoSpiesinCaracas #NetGalley3。5 Stars 。。。more

Lua

I’d write a review but Bree already summed up my thoughts perfectly so I’ll link to her: https://www。goodreads。com/review/show。。。 I’d write a review but Bree already summed up my thoughts perfectly so I’ll link to her: https://www。goodreads。com/review/show。。。 。。。more

Bree Ogle

I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!Two Spies in Caracas by Moisés NaímLength: 348 PagesGenres: Political, Espionage, FictionRating: 3 out of 5 StarsI've recently become interested in South America, especially the politics, after becoming obsessed with Netflix's "Narcos" (Pablo Escobar even gets a small shout-out in the beginning of this novel), and I just thought this would be a perfect choice。 Unfortunately, this was a very middle of the road book for me, I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!Two Spies in Caracas by Moisés NaímLength: 348 PagesGenres: Political, Espionage, FictionRating: 3 out of 5 StarsI've recently become interested in South America, especially the politics, after becoming obsessed with Netflix's "Narcos" (Pablo Escobar even gets a small shout-out in the beginning of this novel), and I just thought this would be a perfect choice。 Unfortunately, this was a very middle of the road book for me, and I think some of the blame is on the synopsis。 It promised an exciting dynamic between two spies - one for the CIA, the other for Cuba - that might turn into a dangerous romance, hinted at by the cover, all against the backdrop of Hugo Chávez's rise to power。 But this book is more a biography of Chávez than anything else, with our spies taking the role of window dressing。 It is not until about 60% in that they actually talk to one another, and then at about 82% they finally kiss, falling into an unbelievable whirlwind romance where neither cares that the other is a spy for the enemy。I've given this book 3 stars, just because I found much of Hugo's life so fascinating - from his belief in Santería, and brash, womanizing ways, to his exhuming of Simón Bolívar's body, partly to gather a bone to put on a pendant。 Naím is an award-winning journalist and I think that is painfully obvious。 He's a fine writer, just not a novelist。 。。。more

m。

arc provided by netgalley for an honest reviewTwo Spies in Caracas is a political thriller about rival spies set during Hugo Chávez’s coup in 1992We have two main characters:— Iván Rincón of Cuban intelligence needs to find a way to support Chávez and the future of his country — Cristina Garza of American intelligence needs to stabilize one of the biggest oil reserves in the world by eliminating Chávez’s influenceBut their biggest mission is to eliminate one another before the other achieves the arc provided by netgalley for an honest reviewTwo Spies in Caracas is a political thriller about rival spies set during Hugo Chávez’s coup in 1992We have two main characters:— Iván Rincón of Cuban intelligence needs to find a way to support Chávez and the future of his country — Cristina Garza of American intelligence needs to stabilize one of the biggest oil reserves in the world by eliminating Chávez’s influenceBut their biggest mission is to eliminate one another before the other achieves their task。 In the end they are caught in the political explosion and in their own personal feelings for one another。 Overall, this novel felt all over the place as it jumped all over the place which can be due to the fact that this is a translation。 。。。more

Janet

Date reviewed/posted: December 18, 2020Publication date: August 10, 2021When life for the entire universe and planet has turned on its end, you are continuing to #maskup to be in #COVID19 #socialisolation as the #secondwave is upon us, AND the worst sciatica attack in your life means you MIGHT sleep 3 hours a night, superspeed readers like me can read 300+ pages/hour, so yes, I have read the book … and many more today。I requested and received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book Date reviewed/posted: December 18, 2020Publication date: August 10, 2021When life for the entire universe and planet has turned on its end, you are continuing to #maskup to be in #COVID19 #socialisolation as the #secondwave is upon us, AND the worst sciatica attack in your life means you MIGHT sleep 3 hours a night, superspeed readers like me can read 300+ pages/hour, so yes, I have read the book … and many more today。I requested and received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley, the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review。 From the publisher, as I do not repeat the contents or story of books in reviews, I let them do it as they do it better than I do 😸。From the New York Times' bestselling author of The End of Power comes an edge-of-your-seat political thriller about rival spies, dangerous love, and one of history’s most devastating revolutions。Venezuela, 1992。 Unknown colonel Hugo Chávez stages an ill-fated coup against a corrupt government, igniting the passions of Venezuela’s poor and catapulting the oil-rich country to international attention。 For two rival spies hurriedly dispatched to Caracas—one from Washington, DC, and the other from Fidel Castro’s Cuba—this is a career-defining mission。Smooth-talking Iván Rincón of Cuba’s Intelligence Directorate needs a rebel ally to secure the future of his own country。 His job: support Chávez and the revolution by rallying the militants and neutralizing any opposing agents。Meanwhile, the CIA’s Cristina Garza will do everything in her power to cut Chávez’s influence short。 Her priority: stabilize the greatest oil reserves on the planet by ferreting out and eliminating Cuba’s principal operative。As Chávez surges to power, Iván and Cristina are caught in the fallout of a toxic political time bomb: an intrepid female reporter and unwitting informant, a drug lord and key architect in Chávez’s rise, and personal entanglements between the spies themselves。 With everything at stake, the adversaries find themselves at the center of a game of espionage, seduction, murder, and shifting alliances playing out against the precarious backdrop of a nation in free fall。 A thrilling fictional story based on unimaginable real-life events。This is a middle of the road, twisty spy thriller that left me 。。。 wanting more。 It was not "badly written" but it just was all over the place for me。 I lost interest about halfway and did not finish it。 If I feel that it is worth a second chance, later on, I do have 8。5 months to re-read it。As always, I try to find a reason to not rate with stars as I simply adore emojis (outside of their incessant use by "🙏-ed Social Influencer Millennials/#BachelorNation survivors/Tik-Tok and YouTube Millionaires/snowflakes / literally-like-overusers etc。 " on Instagram and Twitter。。。 Get a real job, people!) so let's give it 📚 。。。more