I admit to being skeptical when I first saw this book, but Summer of Dragons turned out to be one of the best books in the genre in a geography that is rarely touched upon--Korea. John Barr was able to provide deep insight into the minds and motivations of the characters portrayed. He clearly has captured the street scenes in Seoul and brings back memories of when the tear gas was wafting around the capital. Having lived in Asia for 25 years and having been to Seoul hundreds of times, I found the various scenes to be quite realistic. The book's plot twists play into what I call the appearance and reality- divergences/convergences -of the characters' understanding of the environment in which they are moving in. John Barr details the thinking and feelings and the divergences that can develop in the spy game.I highly suggest this excellent book. I could not put it down and finished it with deep interest. John keeps you wanting more. I look forward to his next book.