Read Time:2 Minute, 11 Second
Every day, politicians and other government officials make deals and alliances and concessions that are meant to be kept secret from the rest of us. It’s a fact that’s become all too clear in recent years. And in The Russian by author Ben Coes, the President sets a plan in place that starts a secret war on US soil.
The story begins with the murders of two prominent politicians: one Republican, one Democrat—both of whom were well-known for their ruthless battle against the Russian Mafia. The two murders took place within minutes—obviously to send a message. To avenge the deaths, the President decides to take advantage of a special exception to the Constitution, and he tasks the CIA with creating a secret team to fight back. But when one of the two team leaders is found murdered before the mission can even begin, the other one, Rob Tacoma, sets out to find those responsible.
Having given up his military career years ago to work with his partner, Katie Foxx, to create an elite and highly lucrative contract company, Tacoma isn’t even sure that he wants to take on the mission—despite the fact that his father’s death was also attributed to the Russian Mafia, providing him with even more motivation. But then he discovers the body of the man who was supposed to be his partner, and he ends up battling the pair of hired guns who had been sent to kill him. And that sets off a wild adventure as Tacoma works with a team of politicians and hackers and other brilliant minds to follow one clue to the next clue to the next, leaving a trail of Presidentially-sanctioned bodies as he goes.
The story is a mix of action and intrigue, with Tacoma involved in both gunfights and close combat while he travels the country, trying to uncover the layers of Mafia hierarchy that were involved in ordering the killings. The action is definitely the strong point here—especially since readers are introduced to the key players before Tacoma is, so there aren’t a whole lot of surprises. But Tacoma’s quest to find answers—and to do so without dying—definitely makes for an edge-of-your-seat kind of read.
Fans of fast-paced action and political thrills are sure to find themselves caught up in Tacoma’s mission. Be warned, though, that with all of the action and danger, The Russian might not be the best book to help you unwind at the end of the night.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
Happy
0
0 %
Sad
0
0 %
Excited
0
0 %
Sleepy
0
0 %
Angry
0
0 %
Surprise
0
0 %
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
0
0
