Marko and Me - Otho Eskin reflects on his character...

ANNOUNCING THE WINNER of Barbara Ross's JANE DARROWFIELD AND THE MAD WOMAN NEXT DOOR: Congratulations Kathy Reel! Kathy, email Barbara at barbaraross@maineclambakemysteries.com to collect your prize.

 HALLIE EPHRON: Otho Eskin, author of THE REFLECTING POOL, brings to his thriller past experience an attorney, a diplomat, as well as serving in the US Army and in the US Foreign Service in Washington and around the world.

Like the rest of us, right now he's grounded, but his new book takes readers to the places he's been, telling a tale of international intrigue with stakes that couldn't be higher.

I'm happy to welcome and the protagonist if his two thrillers, Marko Zorn, to to Jungle Red!

OTHO ESKIN: Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to travel widely but due to the pandemic, recently I've become an armchair traveler. Now I spend my time writing, an activity I love, and I especially enjoy the company of Marko Zorn, the protagonist of my two thrillers (The Reflecting Pool and Headshot). Marko Zorn is a top Washington, DC homicide detective with expensive tastes in classic cars, art, and the company of beautiful women, that far exceed his cop’s salary. He must take on extra work that is not always strictly legal and is usually dangerous in order to supplement his income. This requires his special combination of skill and steel nerves. 

I get a vicarious pleasure from his adventures— activities that, in reality, I would not be able to manage myself.

Washington DC, my home for more than 50 years, seemed the perfect place for Marko Zorn’s adventures. It’s a city I know well, both the familiar DC federal buildings, monuments and museums but also the criminal side of the city. Some of the book’s most important scenes take place in its well-known public landmarks, such as the White House.

The body of a young secret service agent is found in The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Marko investigates her death and this puts his life at risk.

Marko also knows the side of Washington of gangs, drugs, murder and violence. Motivated by revenge, greed and a lust for power, individuals from every strata of Washington society, from drug dealers to the top reaches of Government, commit crimes that Marko must solve.

Readers have asked me where I came up with the character of Marko Zorn. A central purpose in writing The Reflecting Pool was to create an interesting character who is different—an unconventional and original cop. Some of the things he does are close to being illegal but he has a strong moral sense and never does anything that violates his moral standards. Marko does not believe in rules or authority. He is a totally cool character, and is never rattled. 

That’s not true for me. If I were confronted by someone with a gun or in a very dangerous situation I’m pretty sure I would panic.

When I retired from my career in the Foreign Service, I had no plans to write novels. I turned my energies first to writing plays, many of which have been performed in professional theaters in DC, NY and abroad. Finally, I decided I wanted to write thrillers.

In a sense, my career, first as an attorney, then as a diplomat and then as a playwright, gave me the background for thriller writing.

During my the three years posted at the US Embassy in East Berlin during the cold war, I witnessed intrigue and the abuse of power. During my time there, I was listed as a CIA spy in a directory issued by the German secret police (the Stasi) and I certainly wasn’t a spy. This was disinformation intended to compromise my work and that of other Foreign Service officers who were also included in the directory.

Political corruption has always repelled me, but it makes for exciting reading in a work of fiction so I have used it in The Reflecting Pool as part of the intersecting plots that put Marko’s life at risk.

When I developed Marko’s character, I was influenced to some degree by my favorite British mystery and espionage novels such as John Le Carré’s spy novels featuring George Smiley. Smiley is a career intelligence officer with the British overseas intelligence Service. An undistinguished looking person, he blends in and does not attract attention. He doesn’t do thrilling, violent acts and he doesn’t carry a gun. When confronted by traitors and vicious opponents, he is able to defeat them by cunning.

Marko has these same skills. He also doesn’t carry a gun and he outsmarts the villains through his superior brain power. But Marko has some distinctive traits that are different from George Smiley. He is brash and can be offensive if irritated. He is not afraid of violence and tries to avoid it. But when violent action is required he can be exceptionally aggressive in ingenious ways sometimes causing the violent deaths of his opponents.

Although he is adept at navigating the corridors of law enforcement and the criminal world, he'd prefer to stay home and watch old movies, enjoy his art collection, and listen to cool jazz. I can certainly relate to these interests. Marko likes designer clothes and wears a Brioni tuxedo in an important scene in The Reflecting Pool. I used to wear tuxedos to embassy receptions but now prefer jeans. I’ve been told I have a good sense of humor, but Marko’s is more sardonic and often gets him into trouble.

Marko Zorn and I are both fans of classic roadsters. He drives a Jaguar in racing green and, for a while, I drove a classic silver 1971 Mercedes Benz convertible. I don’t drive the Mercedes anymore but I miss it. Marko is also a passionate art collector but must keep his works of art in a special room in his house where outsiders can't view them because they would know he has an income that far exceeds a cop’s salary. I am also a fan of art but I let Marko buy expensive pieces than I could never afford.

While Marko and I may have similar hobbies, the similarities stop there. As they say, opposites attract.

When my children read my book, they told me they can hear my voice in the dialogue. Marko comes alive through the vicarious adventures of my mind. He does things I would never dream of doing in real life. Despite our differences I find him very relatable. I understand him and root for almost everything he does though I don’t always approve of how he does it. And there is no limit to what he can do in my imagination.

HALLIE: Reading Otho talk about Marko, I have to say I'm thinking more of James Bond than John Le Carré's George Smiley. But since we're talking spy novels today with a man who may (or may not!) have been one, what other fictional spy characters have you cherished over the years, and is there anything you've always wanted to know about spycraft?