The Confessions of Gabriel Ash

by Lee Polevoi

Overview

The Confessions of Gabriel Ash, a literary Cold War thriller with echoes of John Le Carre and A Gentleman in Moscow, alternates between the glittery backdrop of 1980s New York and the sinister grottoes of Eastern Europe. The story UN Ambassador Gabriel Ash has to tell—in a voice that's sardonic, self-delusional, and uniquely his own—will result either in his release from captivity or the loss of his life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781955062596
Publisher:	Running Wild Press
Publication date:	05/23/2023
Sold by:	INDEPENDENT PUB GROUP - EPUB - EBKS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	332
File size:	781 KB

About the Author

Lee Polevoi has received a Bread Loaf Writers Conference scholarship, as well as a screenwriting fellowship co-sponsored by Amblin Entertainment and Universal Pictures. His novel The Moon in Deep Winter was used as the basis for a short film screened at the Cannes Film Festival and the New York’s Chelsea Film Festival. His short fiction has appeared in Witness, Sonora Review, and elsewhere. A graduate of Amherst College and the Warren Wilson College MFA Program for Writers.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS PART ONE TOUR D’ HORIZON Chapter 1 3 Chapter 2 11 Chapter 3 15 Chapter 4 23 Chapter 5 32 Chapter 6 41 Chapter 7 61 Chapter 8 73 Chapter 9 98 Chapter 10 114 Chapter 11 123 Chapter 12 132 Chapter 13 144 Chapter 14 166 Chapter 15 180 Chapter 16 185 Chapter 17 196 Chapter 18 245 Chapter 19 286 Chapter 20 316 Chapter 21 339 Chapter 22 358 PART TWO PERSONA NON GRATA Chapter 23 371 Chapter 24 374 Chapter 25 383 Chapter 26 390 Chapter 27 395 Chapter 28 403 Chapter 29 412 Chapter 30 416 Chapter 31 419 Chapter 32 429 Chapter 33 446 PART THREE SEVERED RELATIONS Chapter 34 461 Chapter 35 470 Chapter 36 489 About Running Wild Press 503

Editorial Reviews

"The Confessions of Gabriel Ash is a mesmerizing novel that effortlessly weaves
together a tale full of surprises and intrigue … Lee Polevoi’s writing is rich and
vivid, bringing to life the sights, sounds, and emotions of the past in an authentic
and engrossing way. This captivating historical drama is a must-read for all book
lovers.”—Midwest Book Review

“Over the course of this novel, Polevoi shows that he knows how to spin out a tale
that delivers on all its promises while continuing to surprise to the very
end.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The Confessions of Gabriel Ash is a mesmerizing and suspenseful thriller that
masterfully combines elements of suspense, romance, and political intrigue. This
novel is an absolute must-read for espionage and Cold War narrative fans,
showcasing the author’s exceptional writing skills and ability to create an
immersive and unforgettable reading experience.”—Pick Best Books

“Powerful, heart-pounding, and engaging, author Lee Polevoi’s The Confessions of
Gabriel Ash is a must-read Cold War spy and political thriller you won’t be able to
put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!”—Author Anthony
Avina’s Blog

“Lee Polevoi is a gifted storyteller. Sentences are carefully crafted with power-
packed words that move the storyline along from the deceptive luxurious life of
New York with its sights, sounds and smells to the harsh mountainous settings of
Keshnev’s Lesser Alps and neighboring villages during the Cold War era. The cast
of characters is well-developed, solidifying each of their roles and connections to
one another giving readers insight into their motivations. The book is definitely a
page-turner with an unexpected ending.”—Ever Ready

From the Publisher

2023-06-29
An ambassador for a fictional Soviet bloc country gets in trouble for going off-message in Polevoi’s novel.

As a young boy, Gabriel Ash saved the life of King Josef of the small (fictional) European nation of Keshnev; now, 40 years later, he’s accused of trying to kill that nation’s dictator. He’s spent decades as the Keshnevan ambassador to the United Nations, parroting the Soviet line against the West while partaking liberally of the West’s decadent delights in New York City. Then, during the Falkland Islands conflict in 1982, he speaks his mind in front of the U.N. Security Council. The ramifications of his anti-colonial speech prove troublesome for him and deadly for others. Soon, he’s sitting in secluded imprisonment in a castle deep in the “Lesser Alps” of the Warsaw Pact satellite state. There, the menacing Comrade Pavel gives him the chance to record his “confessions” before facing a tribunal. How did it come to this? Ash is the American-born son of missionaries who moved to Europe after his younger brother Willy died of tuberculosis, and they eventually found their way to the village of Rogvald in Keshnev. During the king’s brief visit to that town in 1936, 12-year-old Gabriel saved him from assassination, which gives the youngster celebrity status. Over the course of this novel, Polevoi shows that he knows how to spin out a tale that delivers on all its promises while continuing to surprise to the very end. Readers learn Ash’s story through statements he records for his “confessions,” and in moments when the recorder is off, readers get Ash’s observations of his private imprisonment—and how he plans to escape. In a narrative choice that’s effectively reminiscent of the tall tales of Mark Helprin, Polevoi relates other parts of Ash’s life as the protagonist tells them to a rapt audience—one that’s enamored with the story of the boy who saved the king: “They all want to know what happens next….So do I, and I’ve already lived it.”

A winding but well-told historical drama.

Kirkus Reviews