Honour among thieves by Jeffrey Archer

"Honour among thieves" by Jeffrey Archer -  Too long!

This book was published by Pan Macmillan in 2010 and has 416 pages.

Saddam Hussein manages to steal American Declaration of independence by replacing it with a copy. Iraq has ordered a safe from Swedish company, that can withstand nuclear blast. Former Israeli model and now Mossad agent Hannah Kopek has killed an American agent and has penetrated Iraqi foreign ministry by posing as a secretary. Professor Scott Bradley is tasked to retrieve the declaration by using the safe. A team of Israeli agents is given to assist him for this operation titled 'Operation Desert Calm'.

Why did Hanna kill agent of a friendly country? Why does Saddam steal the declaration? What's his plan? How will the safe help? Can Prof. Scott Bradley retrieve the declaration?

The story has various characters. Prof. Scott Bradely, who teaches Constitutional Law, and is also a CIA agent. Hannah, a former model turned Mossad spy, who has loved only once and killed her lover. Now, her only aim is to kill Saddam. Dollar Bill is the forger who became one to escape mediocrity. Colonel Cratz, the Mossad spy, turns the tide. Antonio Cavalli, lawyer and a mafia boss, whose only God is money. Al Obeidi, Iraq's Deputy Ambassador to UN. Dexter Hutchins Dy director CIA. Saddam Hussein and Bill Clinton are also important characters in this story. 

It's a long story. As a result, its not crisp. A lot of time is spent until the theft. Then begins the mission. The mission is doomed. It's not very exciting either. 

Story shows Saddam's sycophants, their fear, their behaviour, their reactions looking at their leader and how an honest man is turned into a daemon. These things are captured well. 

Why would Dy. Director of CIA take a commercial flight in an emergency situation where time is of essence, instead of a chartered flight? Why would he take the road instead of chopper?

If the book was 50-80 pages shorter, it would have become crisp. 

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like? Length. 

What did I like? Saddam's world. 

Not a must read.