The Bucharest Dossier, William Maz, author The really special thing about this novel is that it encompasses spycraft, with all of its intrigue and controversy, exposing its warts and foibles along the way, as the author marries this tale of espionage with a fairytale romance, replete with all of the necessary dreams and hopefulness that accompany young unrequited love. Neither theme detracts from the other, rather, they enhance the mystery, and make the book ever so much more enlightening. Skillfully, the author has woven together a tale that is based on actual historic events in Romania, a country that seems often to have been riddled with turmoil and corrupt leaders, with the most normal of human needs, the search for love. The reader cannot help but notice the similarity of circumstances inside Ukraine today, another country with a history buried in corruption, that was recently invaded by Russia. The meddling of a country into the affairs of other countries, seems to be a common practice. Andrei Pincus, the Harvard Professor and mentor to Harvard student, William Hefflin, our main character, who is assumed to be Romanian, is suddenly murdered. It was supposedly carried out by an agent of the Romanian Securitate. Behind the scenes, Pincus had influenced Hefflin’s life, beginning with his invitation and acceptance to the exclusive “Fly Club” at Harvard, where Hefflin was being observed and groomed to work for the CIA, unbeknownst to him. Bereft at the loss, of Pincus, he hopes to discover who is responsible. This is just the first of many secrets that will be unraveled. William Hefflin, is an assumed name for this young man, who identifies with America now, but has also had a childhood history in Greece and Romania. What is his real name? Unknown to all but a few chosen people, William’s real name is Vasili Argyris. He is not Romanian, but Greek. When he decided to work for the CIA and not to go to medical school as his doctor father wished, his life, as a loner, seemed settled. For a year short of a decade, he has had a relationship with an asset in Europe, whom he calls Boris. Although he has never met him, and he does not know his real identity, the asset has always passed legitimate information to Hefflin, that is truly actionable. Both Boris and William have become valuable to the agency. When after the death of Pincus, Boris uncharacteristically asks William to meet him in Bucharest, he is surprised, but at this same time, as Romanians seem ready to demand their freedom, as all the citizens of other countries in the Eastern Bloc recently have, the CIA sends him to Romania to gather information, and gauge the temperature of the country. Even though he is officially an analyst in charge of etiquette, and not a trained field agent, his Romanian background makes him a perfect choice. The CIA wants to know when, and if, this uprising will occur that will supposedly bring freedom to the masses suffering under the thumb of the Ceausescu’s, Nicolae and Elena. Is the country becoming a powder keg? Once in Romania, Hefflin’s old memories begin to haunt him. He remembers Pusha, his childhood friend and first love. They declared their undying devotion to each other when they were seven or eight, but circumstances separated the two youngsters, two decades ago. William discovers that he has to hone his skills, as he idly walks the streets and searches for memories, because he is followed, attacked and compromised in this country that seems almost lawless. Ordinary people must scrounge for their survival. All but the elite seem to be starving. The Securitate are everywhere, are brutal, and seemingly answer to no one All of the characters have secret pasts that are unknown until the end when the loose ends are seamlessly knitted together. There are so many colorful characters in the novel. Tanti Bobo, a gypsy that was Hefflin’s wet nurse in Romania, Pusha (doll), the beautiful little playmate, and Catherine, a beautiful woman Hefflin met and loved while he was at Harvard, to name a few. The novel very deftly and creatively exposes the corruption in government, both at home and abroad. It seems everyone has a price or a will to survive and how far one will go is tested on every page. Book groups will love this book because it raises many universal, timeworn questions. Did anyone instigate the riots, protests, and violence in Romania or were they spontaneous? Does everyone have a price? Is there any hope for a resurgence of moral and ethical boundaries? In spite of the horrors of war and brutality, can love flourish? How far will one go to save themselves and sacrifice others? Is it appropriate for one country to interfere in the affairs of another? Take this book with you on your next vacation or to your next dinner alone. It will be good company.