Point of View

Though the novel is written from the third-person perspective, each chapter generally follows one character and focuses on that character's perceptions, thoughts, feelings, and emotions. On occasion a chapter will switch perspective mid-chapter. For this reason, the point of view is third-person limited narration, conveying the inner thoughts of a character from the third person. For example, Chapter 3 takes place from Gabriel's point of view, and therefore reveals Gabriel's emotions through sentences like, "Gabriel was more than happy to let the British have him" (22).

Mid-chapter shifts in perspective are usually denoted with a new paragraph and a fairly obvious change of perspective, such as the shift in Chapter 5 focusing on Alois Graf as he witnesses the motorcycle crash that kills the Russian assassin. The first part of the chapter focuses on Mikhail as he sits in the passenger seat of the Volkswagen Passat in pursuit...