This is an outstanding book.

The author, Dan Simmons, has crafted a novel that delves into the espionage activities of a group led by the renowned author Ernest Hemingway, known as the Crook Factory (thus the title).

In 1942, in Havana, Cuba, Hemingway and his motley crew of friends, associates, and volunteers form an informal band engaged in surveillance and espionage.

The group catches the attention of various government espionage agencies from the US, UK, and Germany, and soon finds itself embroiled in real-life (and death-defying) situations.

The story is largely based on facts that have come to light over the years and have been pieced together through the Freedom of Information Act. Simmons claims it is 95% true.

Interestingly, some of the Hemingway files remain classified.

Simmons' book reads like a thrilling spy novel and is well-structured, offering (presumably) some valuable insights into Hemingway during that era and in his final days.

It is a captivating read that combines history, mystery, and the allure of the espionage world.

A fanciful and fairly engaging dramatization of the spy activities of Ernest Hemingway takes center stage.

These activities occurred during his residence on the island of Cuba during World War II. Simmons, as he typically does, conducted extensive research to prepare this story.

The overwhelming majority of its characters are based on real people. His 'Afterword' provides a detailed explanation of these interconnections.

It also outlines the manner in which he skillfully drew together Hemingway's actual activities with those of the FBI, the OSS, British intelligence, and two different German intelligence services.

Simmons is truly remarkable in his ability to excel in so many different genres, including scifi, fantasy, thriller, and horror.

However, with this book and The Terror, he seems to demonstrate that his skills in 'historical fiction' either match or even surpass those he has exhibited in other genres.

Overall, this is a first-rate work that offers a unique and captivating look into a fascinating period of history and the activities of a literary icon.

Hop aboard the Pilar with Ernest Hemingway and his crew as they embark on the exciting Operation Friendless, scouting for German subs off the coast of Cuba. This historical fiction offers an intriguing peek into an obscure aspect of WW2 history, with a significant portion, around 95%, said to be true.

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in the guest house of Hemingway's Finca. There, I indulged in cocktails at all hours and watched Fuentes prepare delicious dishes out at sea. While the espionage and suspense elements were engaging, I found the imaginative interactions with Hemingway to be the most enjoyable part.

As the quote goes, Hemingway was an incredibly bookish man. He read newspapers in the morning, novels on the toilet, magazines like The New Yorker and Harpers while sipping drinks by his pool, history books during lunch, more novels in the cockpit of his boat when others were at the wheel, foreign newspapers at the Floridita, letters during breaks in shooting competitions, short story collections while waiting for a fish to bite in the Gulf, and his wife's book manuscript by oil lamp when his boat was tied up during antisubmarine patrol off the Cuban coast. He was acutely sensitive to memory and nuance, yet also hypersensitive to praise and insult.

One might think these tendencies would lead him to be a college professor or secluded in his own ivory tower. But instead, we are presented with the persona he has crafted for us - the hairy-chested brawler, the big-game hunter, the heavy-drinking adventurer, and the sexual braggart. Hemingway was physically graceful and imposing, yet could be as clumsy as an ox in a phone booth. His vision wasn't great, but he was still an excellent wing shot. He was constantly hurting himself, and I witnessed him run a fish hook through his thumb, split a gaff and drive splinters into his leg, slam a car door on his foot, and hit his head on a door frame. If he had a religion, it was exercise, as he urged those around him to engage in violent forms of exercise, even ordering his executive officer on the Pilar, a millionaire named Guest, to do road work and run several miles a day with his current wife. However, at the slightest sign of a sore throat or cold, he would take to his bed for hours or days. He was a habitual early riser, yet often slept in until late morning.

The Crook Factory has a truly great premise. It is about the spy "network" that Ernest Hemingway offered to run in Cuba after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

An FBI agent is personally dispatched by J. Edgar Hoover to oversee this program, and Lucas serves as the main storyteller. However, unfortunately, for the initial two-thirds of the book, it is as exciting as perusing an FBI file. It lacks the expected thrill and excitement.

It is only in the final third that there is any truly thrilling action. This is perhaps because, based on the historical record, there are evident limitations to the writer's imagination.

Consequently, this makes for a rather slow read, as the story fails to engage the reader fully until the later stages.

Despite the interesting premise, the execution in the first part of the book leaves something to be desired, making it a somewhat disappointing read overall.

This is the very first book that I had the experience of listening to in the form of an audio book.

I really did enjoy it to a certain extent. However, perhaps this particular book is rather difficult to fully understand and grasp in this audio format. The sheer number of characters, the complex plots, and the numerous twists and turns did indeed make it a bit confusing at times.

Nonetheless, it definitely managed to paint a very comprehensive and detailed picture of what Ernest Hemingway must have been like.

Regrettably, though, it did not succeed in making me an even greater fan of him.

All in all, it is a good book to read, especially if you have had the opportunity to visit Cuba. It might offer you a different perspective and a deeper understanding of the place and the people, as well as the author's connection to it.

The author's little imagination about Hemingway, his hunt for German spies and the FBI's pursuit of him, is based on real events and declassified documents. It seemed very believable and informative to me.

Hemingway was a famous American writer, and his life was full of adventures. In this article, the author imagines that Hemingway might have been involved in some secret operations during World War II. Maybe he was asked by the US government to hunt for German spies in Europe. His courage and determination made him a suitable candidate for this task.

However, Hemingway's actions also attracted the attention of the FBI. They suspected that he might have some connections with the Communist Party or other subversive organizations. So, they started to monitor him and investigate his activities. This added another layer of mystery and excitement to Hemingway's life.

Overall, this article offers a fascinating look at Hemingway's life and the events that might have influenced his writing. It shows that even a great writer like Hemingway was not immune to the political and social forces of his time.

The story is based on the events that took place in Cuba in the '40s with Ernest Hemingway as the protagonist. Simmons says that he based the greater part of the story on real events. As a historical espionage novel, it is extremely well-written and detailed. However, the "type" of books that have espionage, spy hunting, double agents, etc. don't appeal to me. Especially if they are extensively referred to in the names of organizations-agents, espionage terminologies, and historical events. That's why I will refrain from giving a grade.

This novel seems to offer a rich and detailed account of the espionage activities during that time period in Cuba. The use of real events as a foundation gives it an air of authenticity. But for those who are not particularly interested in the genre of espionage, it may not hold the same allure. The extensive use of specific terminologies and references to historical events might make it a bit overwhelming for some readers. Nevertheless, it is clear that a lot of research and effort has gone into writing this book.

In 1942, Ernest Hemingway operates a counter-espionage/sub hunting spy-shop from his Cuban estate.

It's like a wild Margaritaville filled with guns, and it's truly awesome. What's more, it's almost entirely true.

Simmons' sun and whiskey-soaked story tells of an FBI agent dispatched by J. Edgar Hoover to "assist" Hemingway in establishing his homegrown "Crook Factory" for spying on German activities in and around Cuba, as well as to spy on EH himself and report back to Hoover. It's just a whole lot of fun.

EH and the strange cast of whores, bartenders, drivers, and idolizing children who surround "Papa" can be described as "enthusiastic amateurs." They are playing a potentially very deadly game without fully understanding the stakes. EH has a writer's dramatic sense of things, but his desire for something "truer than true" sometimes causes him to overlook the reality. When people close to him die, he reacts passionately, which is the opposite of what spycraft demands.

There are several sections where EH and the FBI agent assigned to help/spy on him discuss writing. These are taken from EH's own statements on the craft and are a pleasure to read.

Similar to Teddy Roosevelt, Simmons' accurate depiction conveys an overactive mind and body that constantly teeters on the brink between boy and man.

Since the FBI did have extensive files on EH and his operation was real, Simmons attempts to guide the reader through the intricacies of the German intelligence apparatus. It can be rather confusing, and these extended sections of "real facts" do slow things down a bit. But before long, we're back to the exciting world of drinking, fighting, and wearing guayaberas.

Dan Simmons is, without a doubt, one of my all-time favourite fiction authors.

His works have the power to transport readers to different worlds and times, captivating their imaginations from the very first page.

Whether it's his epic science fiction sagas or his chilling horror tales, Simmons has a unique ability to create complex and engaging characters that readers can't help but root for.

His writing is rich and detailed, painting vivid pictures in the minds of his readers and making them feel as if they are right there in the story.

One of the things I love most about Simmons is his willingness to take risks and explore new ideas.

He's not afraid to push the boundaries of what's possible in fiction, and this makes his books all the more exciting and unpredictable.

In conclusion, Dan Simmons is a master of his craft, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

I do like both Hemingway and Simmonse. However, this one just didn't quite take me in.

Although it is supposed to be based on real events, I really didn't believe the story that much.

For me, it is one of those weaker Simmons' books.

I have read several of his works before, and some of them were truly outstanding, full of vivid descriptions and engaging plots.

But this particular one seems to lack that certain something that makes his other books so great.

The characters didn't seem as well-developed, and the story felt a bit flat at times.

Maybe it's just a personal preference, but I was definitely a bit disappointed with this offering from Simmons.

Still, I will continue to read his work in the hope that he will produce another masterpiece like some of his previous ones.

One of Dan's historical fiction books truly left a profound impression on me. I liked it a great deal. It was as if I was given the opportunity to intimately know Ernest Hemingway himself. The story was filled with larger than life characters who seemed to be on a path of self-destruction, ruining their own lives in the most tragic and captivating ways. This adventurous narrative was so engaging that it was extremely hard to put down. I found myself completely immersed in the world that Dan had created, eagerly turning the pages to discover what would happen next. The vivid descriptions and the well-developed characters made it feel as if I was a witness to their tumultuous lives. It was not just a book; it was an experience that took me on a journey through history and into the hearts and minds of these unforgettable characters.

An enjoyable book whose strength is also its greatest weakness.

It has an intriguing premise: the fictionalized account of the true story of Ernest Hemingway's operation of a counter espionage ring in Havana, Cuba at the start of the Second World War. What makes the book fascinating is the numerous encounters with real life personages such as J. Edgar Hoover, Ian Fleming, Ingrid Berman, Gary Cooper and Marlene Dietrich, along with numerous actual spies and government agents.

However, it is Simmons' fidelity to historical fact that slows the pace of the book with its attention to the details of true events. The story picks up in the last third of the book as the one "fictional" character in the story has several more exciting and dangerous encounters.

I was torn between a 3 and 4 star rating but would recommend this book to anyone who likes a "spy novel" leavened with historical facts. Don't skip the afterword in which Simmons delineates which of the events in the book actually happened. The truth really is stranger than fiction!

This book offers a unique blend of historical accuracy and fictional excitement. While the detailed historical aspects may sometimes make the reading a bit slow, they also add authenticity to the story. The inclusion of real-life figures and their interactions with the fictional elements makes it a captivating read. The last third of the book provides a welcome boost in excitement, keeping the reader engaged until the end. Overall, it is a book that will appeal to those who enjoy a good spy story with a touch of history.