The Russian: A Thriller

This is not so much a polished novel as a beautifully-decorated confection. If you long for the 1940’s Saturday afternoon serials or some James Bond on steroids, here you go. Your wishes have been answered. THE RUSSIAN inaugurates a new series for Ben Coes but it’s not so much a new series as a spinoff. The hero, Rob Tacoma, has been around for years, operating his ‘security’ service with Katie in the Virginia hunt country. Hey, they’re in Middleburg. When you get tired of blowing things up you can tool on down to the Red Fox Inn and have some of their classic peanut soup.The other supporting cast are there as well—Hector Calibrisi from the CIA, President J.P. Dellenbaugh and even a cameo appearance by Dewey Andreas, so this is not so much a new series as the highlighting of one character in an ensemble cast. The premise: the Russian Mafia is taking over the world of crime and is upset with those who stand in their way, so they knock off a U.S. Senator and the Florida governor who is a top presidential candidate. Our country will not stand for such shenanigans and promptly puts together a team to return their assassination favors. One (a man named Cosgrove) is promptly terminated with extreme prejudice and the other, our hero Rob Tacoma, springs into violent action. Rob is a former Navy Seal, speaks umpteen languages, knows at least fifteen ways to kill you using only his earlobes and has already been issued an unlimited budget and a presidential pardon for anything he might choose to do. So lock and load that safety belt. SPOILER: the ultimate bad guy has a prosthetic arm that enables him to lift large human objects, break their bones, strangle them, and so on, depending upon his mood.This is fantasy land, a place in which Rob can swim underwater, carrying all of his tools and weapons. Unlike his classic film predecessors, his weapons will sometimes run out of ammunition, but Rob will never run out of fire in the belly and kill-capacity in his fingers and toes. The interesting thing is that this is a Ben Coes novel, so that the fantasy is simultaneously anchored by precise detail: elaborate files on foreign and domestic operatives with all of the appropriate acronyms in place; extended dialogue in Russian (yes, with translations) and the kind of detailed information on armament that would make Q proud.All in all, a Nantucket sleigh ride, but we’re in New York, Greenwich, CT, Langley, the Miami docks, Jupiter Island (watch out Tiger; Rob’s in town), and Grosvenor Square, London.Bottom line: unputdownable fun; leave your requirements for realism at the door and keep your head down when the bullets fly.

Democrat Governor Nick Blake of Florida is tough on crime, especially Russian mafia crime in his state. While he has not yet announced his candidacy, it is expected that he will run for president. He comes to Iowa, one of the early voting states and gives a speech in Des Moines at the Marriott Hotel. He is assassinated with a bullet to the head. Senator John Patrick O’Flaherty has been outspoken against Russian mafia units in the United States. He is in New York at his favorite steakhouse, Sparks Steakhouse. He is assassinated with poison. The murders were two minutes apart.President J.P. Dellenbaugh calls together his senior staff. They quickly determine that the Russian mafia in the United States has declared war. The president wants the CIA to form a hit team to go after the Russian mafia in the United States. This would be illegal say’s the CIA Director. The president then shows the director an old document from the founding fathers that allows the president during a period of such crisis to take extraordinary methods to solve the crisis.A small two-mad team is created. Two warriors with special forces backgrounds. Within hours one of the two-man team is assassinated by the Russians. How did the Russians learn that man’s name? That leaves Rob Tacoma as the man to take out the Russians.Recently released “The Russian” is the first in a new series by author Ben Coes. This follows his highly entertaining Dewey Andreas novels of eight. Those novels were believable. “The Russian”, however, had too many “yeah, right” moments in believability. Still, this reader was entertained and enjoyed the story. Looking forward to the next novel in this series.

I liked this book a lot even though the ending was surprising and the story slightly convoluted. Not sure why Kaiser was starting war with the US other than disliking the US? He tried to make it sound deeper than that. I was pleasantly surprised at the Dewey Andreas appearance but it was wasted. You have arguably the two biggest CIA agents together and they assume the head of the Russian mafia is not only dead but he gets away while they are wisecracking to each other, getting Tacoma shot by the unrestrained Kaiser and allowing him to escape...say what? You made these two seem superhuman, thwarting multiple nuclear attacks and terrorist attacks and together they let a man wounded twice shoot one of them, escape with a wounded hip and shoulder without giving off a shot? Usain Bolt in his younger days wouldn't have been able to escape Dewey Andreas after shooting his best friend, much less a 58 year old man wounded twice. They wanted him alive at the very least got neither.I was just perplexed and it sadly marred a really good book for me. Other than the ridic ending, Coes did his typical great job of telling a fun and intriguing story. I am excited for the series since it shows Tacoma can be a compelling standalone character. I just hope this isn't like the David Rivers series where he is chasing the main antagonist for 5 books.

Ben Coes is a talented author. I have read every one of his books. Reading The Island now. If you want to get your heart rate up, read all his books!

Ben Coes already had a good character in the form of Rob Tacoma. Good supporting cast with Katie, Igor and Calibrisi. The story is a good one. As thrillers go it’s as far fetched as can be but entertaining. I’ll keep reading. If you liked the Dewey Andreas books you’ll like this one. Highly recommended.

Ben Coes keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing what’s next. He is always on his game and this read is another must read. Gives us lay people a look on the other side of our too busy worlds. I always read his books quickly because I don’t want to lay them down. In real, Russia is unfortunately rearing its ugly head as I write this and I feel the Cold War returning. Hopefully, the self serving government officials see it as clearly as the rest of us.

The plot idea is good. Some of the characters are also well conceived. However there is little or no character development or depth. The emphasis is on speed and quick page turning which is a mistake. It also makes the sub plots seem silly - the hero simply flies in , drives to the location shoots everyone with little or no resistance and 10 pages later he flies out to do the same again. Its a bit silly really and disatisfying. So should the author read this develop the characters first, forget the James Patterson quick style and think would say Robert Ludlum have done it like this? Lastly , there's no problem adding more pages to the book even 50% more is just fine to make what might have been a cracking story.

Ben Coes has come a long way since his first novels which, although a good read, were a little basic in plot and characterisation. However, it seems the more novels he writes, the better he gets. I had stopped reading Ben Coes for the above reasons, but recently found his name recommended in a list of action thriller authors and decided to have another go. Boy, am I glad I did. This book, The Russian, was hugely enjoyable and easy to read. If I were to add a word of criticism I'd say the book is too short, even at 398 pages. If you like action thrillers, this is it. I'll be investing in Ben Coes again and very much looking forward to it.

Rob Tacoma is a new CIA operator created by Ben Coes. He is facing the worse of the Russian Mafia, leavng behind many bodies in search of a solution to the problems created in the United States' criminal underworld.The story is fast moving since Tacoma must find the person behind the killing of another law enforcer who was supposed to work with him. The area where he will find himself has no rules and no limits. The characters at times remind the reader of the local news in the newspapers with facts that actually happen every day in some parts of the world. Good reading!

I have been a fan for years and have read all his books. This did not disappoint, Well written and i couldn't put it down. Cant wait for more to be written am following closely.

Tacoma gets his own series and it's brilliant. First book is obviously setting things up to give the back story and put everything in place for the future adventuresAll of the main characters from Deweys books are here and if you like these, then you'll love these