Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Sleeper List: A Spy Novel by Patrick Oster is a work of fiction in the thriller, suspense, and espionage subgenres. It is intended for the general adult reading audience owing to some moderate sexual references and the occasional use of explicit language. In this truly thrilling novel full of exciting twists and turns, we find ourselves following two sleeper agents hiding out in the USA who decide that they don’t want to return to Mother Russia after having had a taste of what life could be like for them in America. As tensions rise and their quest for freedom burns ever brighter, these two formidable agents will have to use all the skills at their disposal to get what they want out of life.

Fans of slow-burning suspense reads are sure to enjoy this episodic and highly intriguing novel by author Patrick Oster, which offers a huge amount of emotional realism alongside the more exotic aspects of the espionage plot. The central characters become more and more relatable as we discover their current and previous lifestyles, and it’s in the clash of these influences that we truly begin to understand their choices, both then and now. Oster achieves this both through some very telling and emotive dialogue and the exposition of the plot in the narrative, which explores the concept of freedom on a wider level that everyone can find common ground in. The Sleeper List is a compelling novel that’s got plenty of in-depth intrigue and excitement to offer fans of the thriller and spy categories.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

The Russian Woman by Alex Lukeman is a spy thriller and the first book in the new Michael Thorne series, headed by its titular protagonist and CIA operative, Michael Thorne. Thorne has a history of being in tight spots but even his extensive experience is put to the test when the undercover agent is assigned to handle a Russian patriot named Anya, a woman with her own deeply honed skillset. Her ties to Russian defense go back generations but the success of lineage does not transfer to the success of her relationships, which is perhaps the only thing Anya and Thorne initially seem to have in common: National honor and crappy personal lives. A deep personal loss turns Anya into an asset, and assets are at risk and risky, especially when there's a mole. Secrets, sizzle, cat and mouse spycraft, nuclear war, and death by brass lamp are just a sampling of the world Lukeman creates in this fast-moving suspense novel.

I love a good spy series and Alex Lukeman delivers in The Russian Woman. Both Thorne and Anya are compelling, thoroughly developed characters who do not require much suspension of disbelief when it comes to the lengths they are willing to go to in a profession most of us know nothing about. Perhaps this is why, as readers, we are always so intrigued by Russian agents turned American counterparts and the men in intelligence work who are paired with them to save us all from nuclear extermination. I love how Lukeman gives us multiple points of view characters, including the President of the United States, and this works well to flesh out the mechanisms of politicking and the chess game of military might. The writing is sublime, the dialogue is pitch perfect and, as a whole, this Jack Ryan meets Red Sparrow novel is a worthy new addition to the genre of espionage and intrigue. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite

The Unquiet Genius: A Classic World War II Spy Thriller (A Conor Thorn Novel Book 3) by Glenn Dyer is a riveting espionage thriller that would appeal most to a mixed audience of young adults and adults who enjoyed the previous books in the Conor Thorn series and do not mind a few swear words. It's 1942 and the Nazis are determined to get the key to an atomic weapon, but Conor Thorn, a man who will stop at nothing to end Hitler’s reign, is just as determined to thwart them. Does Conor Thorn have what it takes to deliver this win to the Allies or will he perish in the attempt to take down Hitler?

The Unquiet Genius by Glenn Dyer is a very well-written book with an intriguing plot and a captivating cover. This is the first book in the Conor Thorn series that I have read, yet I was able to get pulled into the story with little to no confusion over the storyline. I liked that I was not left in a pit of confusion for not having read the previous books, but was instead quickly enthralled by Conor Thorn and his desire to end Hitler’s terror. The addition of the Vatican and the Italian monsignor brought some suspense-filled twists and turns to the story that had me trying to read faster and faster to find out what Conor Thorn would do next and how the book would end. Overall, I loved this book and plan to check out the previous books in the series too as I really liked Conor Thorn as a character.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Devil's Ledger: An International Banking Spy Thriller is a work of fiction in the thriller, action, suspense, and mystery subgenres. It is intended for the general adult reading audience and was penned by author Lorraine Evanoff. Part of the Louise Moscow series of novels, this particular tale is set ten years after one of her previously solved murder cases, and it sees Louise working for financial crimes and dying to get back out there into the espionage world. All clues point back to fraud and corruption, but what Louise doesn’t bank on finding along the way is an enigmatic and terrifying adversary who has mastered the Russian Dark Arts.

Author Lorraine Evanoff delivers everything a sophisticated reader of mystery and spy fiction could possibly want in a novel. Think Bond, without the misogyny or needless bloodshed, or le Carré without the endless droning prose, and you’re halfway to the genius of Evanoff’s decisive, intelligent and well-balanced style of spy writing. The rest comes from a sense of urgency and relevance in all the right places, keeping readers on track with essential details and tense plot twists at just the right moment. Layered on top of this we have the cinematically described scenery of exotic vistas and dangerous situations, as well as the in-depth portrayal of the character that sees you really feeling for Louise. I had a lump in my throat every time she was in trouble, the danger felt so real. Overall, I would highly recommend Devil's Ledger for mystery and thriller fans seeking their next high-quality read.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Nerve Attack: A Kolya Petrov thriller by S. Lee Manning is a suspenseful thriller featuring Russian-Jewish immigrant and former American intelligence operative Kolya Petrov on a mission to stop a unique and dangerous terrorist attack. The only person who has the key to stopping the attack is a childhood friend, Dmitri, a man whom Kolya helped put behind bars. He is willing to help stop the deadly attack, but on one condition: he wants a Cherry Garcia pint, ten million dollars, and his freedom, and he only wants to work with Kolya. Is he seeking an opportunity for revenge for what Kolya did to him ten years ago or can he really be trusted? Things seem normal until Kolya’s fiancée’s life, together with the lives of hundreds of people, is endangered.

Every day you discover a new terrific writer and S. Lee Manning has been a delightful discovery for me this year. In Nerve Attack, she gives what every reader expects from a gifted crime and terrorist thriller writer, creating characters that are multidimensional, emotionally rich, and a conflict that captures the attention of the reader. The story has strong psychological underpinnings and while this is a terrorist thriller with a conflict that escalates and involves world governments, the author does an impeccable job in creating two characters that shine through the story. The backgrounds of Kolya and Dmitri are so beautifully written that readers find it easier to understand both the internal and external conflicts and what drives these characters. The characters are deftly written, robust, and unforgettable, and apart from the key characters in the novel, readers will adore the way characters like Alex, Kolya’s fiancée, President Yuri, and Rzaev, amongst others, are written. You’ll love the intrigue, the strong and elaborately written conflict, the intricate plot, and the expertly accomplished dialogues in this thriller. Can’t wait to read more from this author.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Die Every Day: For the Rest of Your Life is a work of thriller fiction featuring espionage, action, and conspiracy, and was penned by author Gordon Bickerstaff. The work is best suited for the mature adult reading audience due to the presence of explicit language, scenes of graphic violence, and some references to sexual violence. Zoe Tampsin, an agent working for the Lambeth Group, is called in to convince a murder suspect to plead guilty when it seems like the suspect is threatening to reveal secrets that could topple the government to secure his own freedom. But when Zoe actually gets into the details of the conspiracy herself, she becomes the next target and faces an unimaginable dilemma.

Author Gordon Bickerstaff has crafted a masterpiece of conspiracy thriller fiction with tons of thrills and spills to entertain readers from cover to cover. Zoe was a useful and well-developed central protagonist who made decisions rooted in both logical and emotional reasoning, which made it easy to relate to her. I also found the dialogue particularly engaging and helpful in explaining many of the exposition details of the plot without the need for huge blocks of complex prose. This allowed the story to move at a fast pace which is sure to keep readers engrossed and wanting to see what happens next. Overall, I would definitely recommend Die Every Day to fans of well-penned thrillers with engrossing characters and for anyone looking for an excellent series of espionage books to delve into.

Reviewed by Risah Salazar for Readers' Favorite

When Gunnar Lind, a Swedish cryptologist working for MI6, goes missing, highly classified intelligence is compromised. Britain wants Lind back at their office right away for the safety of Ultra and the rest of the world. But, of course, countries like Germany are now going after him and what he knows too. OSS Agent Conor Thorn has been tasked to find Lind while in the middle of a personal crisis. While he’s sorting out his feelings for fellow agent Emily Bright, he finds out that his late wife had been raped and kept quiet about it. To say that he wants revenge is an understatement. Superpowers take each other down, agents kill and betray one another, and families fall out in Glenn Dyer’s World War II espionage thriller, The Ultra Betrayal.

As expected in books with this kind of setting, the story is fast-paced, action-packed, and mystery-filled. The chapter headings help in following the order of events; without them, the flow will be hard to grasp as events take place simultaneously in different locations. Although a lot of things are happening, they are not overwhelming because the writing is careful and cohesive. As complexities unfold, Glenn Dyer keeps the audience engaged with detailed story-telling. The characters are diverse and are craftily written but from my point of view there are too many players in the court; it can be hard to keep track of everyone and their roles. The Ultra Betrayal is the second installment in the Connor Thorn series but it can be read as a standalone.

Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' Favorite

The Secret of the Grand Hôtel du Lac by Kathryn Gauci is a beautiful historical novel about the German occupation of France. Between 1943 and 1944, the Nazis occupied France, inflicting varying degrees of hardship on the French in the name of Hitler. England stepped in to save France by sending its best SOE agent, Guy Maxwell, to join forces with the local Resistance in driving the Germans out. One fateful night, while Guy and his team waited for airdropped supplies at a discreet location, something terrible happened which sabotaged their mission. Someone had sold them out, and no one knew Guy’s whereabouts. His wife, Agent Elizabeth, was sent to France on a mission; find Guy and fish out the traitor. The opponents will soon realize that behind a beautiful face lies a lethal mind.

The Secret of the Grand Hôtel du Lac by Kathryn Gauci is an exceptional novel. It will appeal to lovers of espionage, war, and historical novels. I enjoyed reading this book, as it felt like I was in an action movie. Kathryn perfectly blurred the lines between fact and fiction, creating a thorough blend of literary enjoyment. The characters of the star females, Elizabeth, Amelie, Odette, and Madame Sophie, were so well developed that I fell in love with them. They were formidable characters whose contribution to the freedom of France will never be forgotten. The story is one of war and based on true events, but it also incorporates love, deceit, determination, hope, and bravery in the face of danger. I appreciate the stylistic writing and clean editing, which made for a beautiful reading experience. Thank you, Kathryn! Give us more.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

The Voyage of the Stingray by Richard Steinitz is a fascinating look inside a new prototype submarine for the U.S. Navy. It is ultra-stealthy and intended for use in the infiltration and extraction of special forces combatants who are sent into dangerous zones for a specific task. Commander Jeff Woodbridge is a career submariner. He has been waiting patiently for his chance to gain his first command and when he is offered command of the Stingray, still under construction, he is more than excited. The Commander's job is to oversee the final construction of what has been a project plagued by delays and tragedy, then to take the Stingray out for sea trials before deploying the new submarine in its most important role of silently and stealthily delivering and extracting special forces combatants from dangerous zones. The submarine's first mission will take them to the Middle East, along with a SEAL team whose job it is to extract an agent from Iran and deliver him safely back to the States. A civilian contractor is accidentally left aboard the Stingray when she sets sail and there is no possibility of dropping him off anywhere due to the urgency of the mission. Commander Woodbridge must call on all his experience and that of his crack crew to successfully carry out the task set by the Admiralty.

The Voyage of the Stingray is interesting and enthralling not just because of the clandestine spy missions that the submarine will undertake but also because of the wonderful descriptions of life on a U.S. naval submarine and the futuristic design capabilities of the Stingray. Richard Steinitz has produced an exciting tale of modern spying and submarine operations, which appears both accurate and extremely fascinating to the layman. The inclusion of both a civilian contractor and a woman officer on an operational, armed U.S. submarine gave the story that extra touch of spice that it needed. I particularly enjoyed the discussions of the technical capabilities of the Stingray and how she could do things no other submarine was capable of. Clearly, the author is well researched and extremely knowledgeable of naval protocol, equipment, traditions, and hierarchy. I was impressed with the delicate balance between an exciting plot and the thrill of exploring the possibilities for submarines of the future and stretching the bounds of their capabilities. The author achieved this balance extremely well. This is an easy-to-read book that can easily be accomplished in one sitting and definitely opened up my interest in reading more from this author. I can highly recommend this read.

Reviewed by Jon Michael Miller for Readers' Favorite

In the lightning-moving Satan’s Gold, author Michael Ray Ewing plops us down into the action in the very first line and doesn’t stop until the surprising but gratifying ending. Tyler Jackson is a Quantico graduate now using his training to track down his rival Daemon’s stolen Russian money for a commission, getting shot at, crawling through sewers and falling apart Chicago brownstones, waking up from recurring nightmares of being shot, and traversing complicated computer transactions through a network of hackers. Yet, besides all this mind-boggling action, Jackson is trying to reunite with Suzanne, his disillusioned fiancée. Yes, mind-boggling, so before you open this amazing novel, prepare your brain with coffee and fasten your seatbelt. If you don’t have a degree in computer science, be ready to get your diploma in this book.

With my limited knowledge of digital electronics, I was nevertheless swept away immediately by Mr. Ewing’s action-oriented prose. Though I had to Google a few things along the way, like ‘who is Jean Valjean,’ everyone likes a book from which you learn a few things while reading. Besides the tech framework of the narrative, there’s the endearing character of Tyler Jackson, his wry wit, his aversion to using illegal methodology to avert a monumental heist, and his affection for Suzanne which opens the book. Then, there’s the writing itself. Despite the complexities of hacking and decrypting passwords of financial accounts, Ewing’s style (short, declarative sentences, realistic dialogue, gritty violence, emotive locale images, and excellent character descriptions) keeps the pace at a furious speed. I not only read this novel but felt it. Get ready for a mind-bending and ultimately satisfying read.