the crook factory book review

• Sign in / Join
• Portuguese (Brazil)
• Portuguese (Portugal)

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

• 0 1 Drood: A Novel by Dan Simmons ( Runkst ) Runkst : In both books, Simmons fictionalizes a famous writer and fits his story around the historical facts. (Drood: Charles Dickens, The Crook Factory: Ernest Hemingway)

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» Add other authors (3 possible)

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (1)

No library descriptions found.

LibraryThing Early Reviewers Alum

Dan Simmons's book The Crook Factory was available from LibraryThing Early Reviewers .

Current Discussions

Popular covers.

Melvil Decimal System (DDC)

Lc classification, is this you.

Become a LibraryThing Author .

• Non-Fiction & Other
• Console Corner
• Cardboard Corner
• Culture Corner
• Articles & Essays

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Review of the crook factory by dan simmons.

The Crook Factory is a story told by retired FBI agent Joe Lucas. Half Irish and half Mexican, he has used his heritage for a couple successful missions in Latin America. Getting the call from J. Edgar Hoover at the outset of the novel, he receives his newest mission—something so outrageous he almost can’t believe it. His job is to represent the FBI alongside Ernest Hemingway as they do their counter-espionage part to gather information and hinder the Nazis in the Caribbean. What follows is double-agents, colonial cities, palms and parties, and the blue seas between Cuba and Florida.

The Crook Factory is a classic spy adventure with Ernest Hemingway's character stirring the pot. Simmons builds out the structure of a le Carre novel, then adds layers of Hemingway and historical info from the era and Cuba. Simmons has always tread the line in terms of overdoing things with the research he does for certain novels. There are times it’s front and center and obvious, and not complementary, and there are times it’s integrated effectively into plot and scene. The Crook Factory is a mixed bag. There are moments the reader can see Simmons copying his notes. Thankfully, the lion's share of the book is developing the plot and characters.

Some readers may be interested in Simmons' treatment of Hemingway. As with his treatment of other historical figures, things seem objective, fair—based on fact, including letters, records, vetted documents, etc. Hemingway's machismo is on full display, and so too is his softer side, the side which brought about his most famous books. And of course, his relationship with life, and death.

In the end, The Crook Factory is a solid historical spy novel. Fans of Ernest Hemingway may be interested in seeing his larger-than-life character brought to life on the page. Connoisseurs may disagree with some details, but overall Simmons' presentation seems mostly objective—a boon to the novel. Overall, with action, agents, and the life of Cuba circa 1943 brought to full life, it’s a good beach read.

No comments:

Post a comment.

The Crook Factory

Cavern of the fear, the wonderful country, the last children of tokyo, ireland: awakening, wildwood imperium, where there's a will, the black book.

Fearless Fourteen

Seeking whom he may devour, the world is not enough, the ski bum, feeling sorry for celia, the mist in the mirror, how i became stupid, a sunday at the pool in kigali, fine things, west from home.

The Heritage of Arn

• Literature & Fiction
• Genre Fiction

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

The Crook Factory Paperback – January 1, 1999

• Language English
• Publisher Avon Books
• Publication date January 1, 1999
• See all details

Similar items that may deliver to you quickly

Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000XPTDOG
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avon Books; First Edition (January 1, 1999)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds

About the author

Dan simmons.

Dan Simmons was born in Peoria, Illinois, in 1948, and grew up in various cities and small towns in the Midwest, including Brimfield, Illinois, which was the source of his fictional "Elm Haven" in 1991's SUMMER OF NIGHT and 2002's A WINTER HAUNTING. Dan received a B.A. in English from Wabash College in 1970, winning a national Phi Beta Kappa Award during his senior year for excellence in fiction, journalism and art.

Dan received his Masters in Education from Washington University in St. Louis in 1971. He then worked in elementary education for 18 years -- 2 years in Missouri, 2 years in Buffalo, New York -- one year as a specially trained BOCES "resource teacher" and another as a sixth-grade teacher -- and 14 years in Colorado.

His last four years in teaching were spent creating, coordinating, and teaching in APEX, an extensive gifted/talented program serving 19 elementary schools and some 15,000 potential students. During his years of teaching, he won awards from the Colorado Education Association and was a finalist for the Colorado Teacher of the Year. He also worked as a national language-arts consultant, sharing his own "Writing Well" curriculum which he had created for his own classroom. Eleven and twelve-year-old students in Simmons' regular 6th-grade class averaged junior-year in high school writing ability according to annual standardized and holistic writing assessments. Whenever someone says "writing can't be taught," Dan begs to differ and has the track record to prove it. Since becoming a full-time writer, Dan likes to visit college writing classes, has taught in New Hampshire's Odyssey writing program for adults, and is considering hosting his own Windwalker Writers' Workshop.

Dan's first published story appeared on Feb. 15, 1982, the day his daughter, Jane Kathryn, was born. He's always attributed that coincidence to "helping in keeping things in perspective when it comes to the relative importance of writing and life."

Dan has been a full-time writer since 1987 and lives along the Front Range of Colorado -- in the same town where he taught for 14 years -- with his wife, Karen. He sometimes writes at Windwalker -- their mountain property and cabin at 8,400 feet of altitude at the base of the Continental Divide, just south of Rocky Mountain National Park. An 8-ft.-tall sculpture of the Shrike -- a thorned and frightening character from the four Hyperion/Endymion novels -- was sculpted by an ex-student and friend, Clee Richeson, and the sculpture now stands guard near the isolated cabin.

Dan is one of the few novelists whose work spans the genres of fantasy, science fiction, horror, suspense, historical fiction, noir crime fiction, and mainstream literary fiction . His books are published in 27 foreign counties as well as the U.S. and Canada.

Many of Dan's books and stories have been optioned for film, including SONG OF KALI, DROOD, THE CROOK FACTORY, and others. Some, such as the four HYPERION novels and single Hyperion-universe novella "Orphans of the Helix", and CARRION COMFORT have been purchased (the Hyperion books by Warner Brothers and Graham King Films, CARRION COMFORT by European filmmaker Casta Gavras's company) and are in pre-production. Director Scott Derrickson ("The Day the Earth Stood Stood Still") has been announced as the director for the Hyperion movie and Casta Gavras's son has been put at the helm of the French production of Carrion Comfort. Current discussions for other possible options include THE TERROR. Dan's hardboiled Joe Kurtz novels are currently being looked as the basis for a possible cable TV series.

In 1995, Dan's alma mater, Wabash College, awarded him an honorary doctorate for his contributions in education and writing.

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

• Literature & Fiction
• Action & Adventure

Buy new: $76.18 $76.18 $6.49 delivery: May 10 - 23 Ships from: Maria BZR Sold by: Maria BZR

Buy used: $62.23.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video, download Flash Player

Follow the author

The Crook Factory Paperback – Bargain Price, Feb. 5 2013

Purchase options and add-ons.

• Print length 560 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Mulholland Books
• Publication date Feb. 5 2013
• Dimensions 13.97 x 4.45 x 20.96 cm
• See all details

Customers who bought this item also bought

Product description

About the author, product details.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00JQS5ORG
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mulholland Books; Reprint edition (Feb. 5 2013)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 560 pages
• Item weight ‏ : ‎ 440 g
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.97 x 4.45 x 20.96 cm

About the author

Dan simmons.

Dan Simmons was born in Peoria, Illinois, in 1948, and grew up in various cities and small towns in the Midwest, including Brimfield, Illinois, which was the source of his fictional "Elm Haven" in 1991's SUMMER OF NIGHT and 2002's A WINTER HAUNTING. Dan received a B.A. in English from Wabash College in 1970, winning a national Phi Beta Kappa Award during his senior year for excellence in fiction, journalism and art.

Dan received his Masters in Education from Washington University in St. Louis in 1971. He then worked in elementary education for 18 years -- 2 years in Missouri, 2 years in Buffalo, New York -- one year as a specially trained BOCES "resource teacher" and another as a sixth-grade teacher -- and 14 years in Colorado.

His last four years in teaching were spent creating, coordinating, and teaching in APEX, an extensive gifted/talented program serving 19 elementary schools and some 15,000 potential students. During his years of teaching, he won awards from the Colorado Education Association and was a finalist for the Colorado Teacher of the Year. He also worked as a national language-arts consultant, sharing his own "Writing Well" curriculum which he had created for his own classroom. Eleven and twelve-year-old students in Simmons' regular 6th-grade class averaged junior-year in high school writing ability according to annual standardized and holistic writing assessments. Whenever someone says "writing can't be taught," Dan begs to differ and has the track record to prove it. Since becoming a full-time writer, Dan likes to visit college writing classes, has taught in New Hampshire's Odyssey writing program for adults, and is considering hosting his own Windwalker Writers' Workshop.

Dan's first published story appeared on Feb. 15, 1982, the day his daughter, Jane Kathryn, was born. He's always attributed that coincidence to "helping in keeping things in perspective when it comes to the relative importance of writing and life."

Dan has been a full-time writer since 1987 and lives along the Front Range of Colorado -- in the same town where he taught for 14 years -- with his wife, Karen. He sometimes writes at Windwalker -- their mountain property and cabin at 8,400 feet of altitude at the base of the Continental Divide, just south of Rocky Mountain National Park. An 8-ft.-tall sculpture of the Shrike -- a thorned and frightening character from the four Hyperion/Endymion novels -- was sculpted by an ex-student and friend, Clee Richeson, and the sculpture now stands guard near the isolated cabin.

Dan is one of the few novelists whose work spans the genres of fantasy, science fiction, horror, suspense, historical fiction, noir crime fiction, and mainstream literary fiction . His books are published in 27 foreign counties as well as the U.S. and Canada.

Many of Dan's books and stories have been optioned for film, including SONG OF KALI, DROOD, THE CROOK FACTORY, and others. Some, such as the four HYPERION novels and single Hyperion-universe novella "Orphans of the Helix", and CARRION COMFORT have been purchased (the Hyperion books by Warner Brothers and Graham King Films, CARRION COMFORT by European filmmaker Casta Gavras's company) and are in pre-production. Director Scott Derrickson ("The Day the Earth Stood Stood Still") has been announced as the director for the Hyperion movie and Casta Gavras's son has been put at the helm of the French production of Carrion Comfort. Current discussions for other possible options include THE TERROR. Dan's hardboiled Joe Kurtz novels are currently being looked as the basis for a possible cable TV series.

In 1995, Dan's alma mater, Wabash College, awarded him an honorary doctorate for his contributions in education and writing.

Customer reviews

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from Canada

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• Amazon and Our Planet
• Investor Relations
• Press Releases
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Become an Affiliate
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Sell on Amazon Handmade
• Advertise Your Products
• Independently Publish with Us
• Host an Amazon Hub
• Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard
• Shop with Points
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Amazon Cash
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns Are Easy
• Manage your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Customer Service
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Interest-Based Ads
• Amazon.com.ca ULC | 40 King Street W 47th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5H 3Y2 |1-877-586-3230

Don’t miss news from Mulholland Books

By clicking ‘Sign Up,’ I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Hachette Book Group’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

Site Preferences

Use code MOM24 for 20% off site wide + free shipping over $45

The Crook Factory

Contributors

By Dan Simmons

Formats and Prices

• Trade Paperback $25.99 $33.99 CAD
• ebook $8.99 $11.99 CAD

This item is a preorder. Your payment method will be charged immediately, and the product is expected to ship on or around February 5, 2013. This date is subject to change due to shipping delays beyond our control.

Also available from:

• Barnes & Noble
• Books-A-Million

Description

• Mystery & Thriller

You May Also Like

Newsletter Signup

Dan Simmons

About the author.

Learn more about this author

• Catalog Instructions
• Digital Content FAQs
• Interlibrary Loan FAQs
• Suggest a Purchase FAQs
• Get a Library Card
• Log In / Register
• My Library Dashboard
• My Borrowing
• Checked Out
• Borrowing History
• ILL Requests
• My Collections
• For Later Shelf
• Completed Shelf
• In Progress Shelf
• My Settings

The Crook Factory The Crook Factory

Title availability.

• New York : Mulholland Books/Little, Brown and Co., 2013.

From the community

More from the community, community lists featuring this title, community contributions.

• Suitability

Powered by BiblioCommons.

NERF: nerf01 Version 9.21.1@15f3499 Last updated 2024/03/25 17:33 Built 2024/03/25 21:25

You are here

The crook factory (paperback).

Description

About the author, praise for….

• Fiction / Thrillers / Historical
• Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Historical
• Fiction / Literary
• Paperback (Chinese) (January 1st, 2020): $93.39
• Compact Disc (June 7th, 2012): $19.99
• MP3 CD (October 21st, 2014): $14.99

Search form

Upcoming events.

• LGBTQ+ Book Club: The Spear Cuts Through Water 04/25/2024 - 6:00pm
• Black Lit Book Club: Maame 04/26/2024 - 6:00pm
• Independent Bookstore Day 2024! 04/27/2024 - 10:00am to 6:00pm
• Historical Fiction Book Club: The House with the Golden Door 04/27/2024 - 5:00pm
• Latinx Book Club: Vampire of El Norte 04/28/2024 - 2:00pm

cellar door bookstore

(951) 787-7807

[email protected]

Returns, Special Orders, & Shipping

Privacy Policy

Terms & Conditions

"Wonderful...brilliantly realized...a gripping narrative."- Iain Pears, "New York Times" bestselling author of "An Instance of the Fingerpost" In 1942, at the height of World War II, the famous writer Ernest Hemingway sought permission from the U....

Community Reviews Summary of 17 reviews

Average rating

See all reviews...

Content Warnings

This book doesn't have any content warnings yet!

If you're the author of this book and want to add author-approved content warnings, please email us at [email protected] to request the content warning form.

Bookshop US

Bookshop UK Blackwell's

The StoryGraph is an affiliate of the featured links. We earn commission on any purchases made.

Start a buddy read...

Book Information

Add missing information...

Report missing/incorrect information...

By using The StoryGraph, you agree to our use of cookies . We use a small number of cookies to provide you with a great experience.

Find out more

Advanced Search Browse

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

The Crook Factory

By: dan simmons, book details, other books.

• by Dan Simmons
• in Literature and Fiction
• in Mystery and Thrillers
• in Science Fiction and Fantasy

307 E Lake St. Petoskey, MI 49770   |   231-347-1180   |   H ours     

The Crook Factory (Compact Disc)

• Description
• About the Author
• Reviews & Media

At the height of World War II, the famous writer Ernest Hemingway sought permission from the U.S. government to operate a spy ring out of his house in the Cuban countryside. This much is true....

It is the summer of '42 and FBI agent Joe Lucas has come to Cuba at the behest of J. Edgar Hoover to keep an eye on Hemingway. The great writer has assembled a ragtag spy ring that he calls the "Crook Factory" to play a dangerous game of amateur espionage. But then Lucas and Hemingway, against all the odds, uncover a critical piece of intelligence--and the game turns deadly.

In The Crook Factory , award-winning author Dan Simmons expands a little-known fact into a tour de force of gripping historical suspense set in the sensual Cuban landscape of the early 1940s.

• Thrillers - General
• Paperback (February 5th, 2013): $25.99
• Paperback (Chinese) (January 1st, 2020): $84.90
• MP3 CD (October 21st, 2014): $14.99

• Скидки дня
• Справка и помощь
• Адрес доставки Идет загрузка... Ошибка: повторите попытку ОК
• Продажи
• Список отслеживания Развернуть список отслеживаемых товаров Идет загрузка... Войдите в систему , чтобы просмотреть свои сведения о пользователе
• Краткий обзор
• Недавно просмотренные
• Ставки/предложения
• Список отслеживания
• История покупок
• Купить опять
• Объявления о товарах
• Сохраненные запросы поиска
• Сохраненные продавцы
• Сообщения
• Уведомление
• Развернуть корзину Идет загрузка... Произошла ошибка. Чтобы узнать подробнее, посмотрите корзину.

Oops! Looks like we're having trouble connecting to our server.

Refresh your browser window to try again.