Cheap Chameleon (Book) (WILLIAM DIEHL) Price

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Customer Reviews of Chameleon

Old fashioned, clunky story telling...
I had an idea for a novel with the title "Chameleon" and we I saw this one by Diehl I thought it could interest me. The author has done his homework judging by his detailed description of weapons used by assasins, ocean oil rigs, Japanese culture and political events from the Vietnam era. Yet the novel failed to amaze me because is nothing more than one detail description after another of either events or situations that happened before, and so, only true spy novel fans will be able to digest- without a stomachache- the plot and development in this novel. I believe that just like there are rules for writing, Mr. Diehl should realize that there are things that just don't work on paper like the scene where a briefcase with a hidden gun fires several rounds into a bad guy- we can't hear the shot, nor can we see the reaction of those in the room, and none of us knows how it sounds when a skull is hit by bullets-plus don't you think that the kidnappers would have seized the briefcase at the entrance?
Diehl goes into detailed explanations describing 2 characters only to have them die after a brief romantic encounter and we wonder why. I couldn't relate to anyone in this novel and some of the procedures that the spies/assassins used seemed from old movies, like when Spettro (Ghost) knocks in the door and asks the contact for a light and the ciggarette shows S.P.E.T.T.R.O. on it's side as he takes a puff. One would think that being in the spy/killer-for-hire business you'd know better than to open your door to a stranger and then stand so close to him.
The motives of some of the characters seem irrational and disorganized. Then the author goes on and on explaining the background of a former officer, and talks about things that happened so long ago that even Baby boomers will go "huh?". Unless you're a historian you won't know what his talking about. This style of writing probably was a hit back in the sixties but it sounds dated now. Less detail and more momentum would have saved this book.

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Another great book to read
My second favorite next to Thai Horse. My review on Thai Horse is shown on the posting.

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Diehl has a knack for suspense and surprises.
I find most of Diehl's entertaining and riveting. Chameleon is no exception. Diehl has a fascination with disguise techniques used by experts. In "The Hunt" aka "27", he uses the theme well. In "Primal Fear", he does not use physical changes through makeup and artifacts, but still bases the entire book on the deception of a brilliant, but evil man.

I found this book to be a good read and while not a classic, it was very entertaining.