User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
4 Heart Pounding Stars!Charles Jenkins is an Ex CIA agent. He left the CIA 40 years ago. His old boss approaches him and asks for help with a dangerous new mission in Russia. He needs money because his security business is going bankrupt so he decided to do it. He leaves his pregnant wife, Alex, and his nine year old son, C.J. behind. He travels undercover to Moscow to locate the eighth sister. There are a lot of intense cat and mouse chases. Then Jenkins gets arrested and then we have a courtroom drama.
This is the third book that I have read by Robert Dugoni and he never disappoints. I read two books of his Tracy Crosswhite series and loved both of them. Can't wait to read the rest of that series. This one is the first book of a new series, the Charles Jenkins series. I am not a big fan of spy thrillers but this one is so different and unique. I loved it.
It had everything that I love in a thriller. It has many twists and turns. I was so intrigued. It was like a rollercoaster. My heart was pounding and there were a lot of jaw dropping moments. I was up late at night reading this one because it was so intense at times that I had to read to find out what was going to happen next. I also loved the courtroom drama.
The character dynamics were fantastic and very well done. I really loved Charles Jenkins character. Dugoni makes his characters come to life. He is an excellent writer. I love his writing style.
I want to thank Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer and Robert Dugoni, for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
Another marvellous tale from Robert Dugoni, who is fast becoming one of my go-to authors. This book is set in two parts, the first a spy tale, in the mould of the classic cold war espionage novels. As I cut my teeth on these types of books back in the day, it was fantastic to see a modern take, and Dugoni has done a great job here.
We have Charlie, former spy for the CIA, now 64 years old, and running a security company with his pregnant wife. Cash flow isn't good and business is failing. Then a blast from Charlie's past turns up with a chance to activate on a mission for the CIA, and to solve his money problems at the same time. Charlie has little choice but to take the lifeline, and this plunges him into the turmoil of modern Russia, where memories are long. When the mission goes awry he has to find his way out of Russia, with the FSB, the modern KGB close on his tail.
Part two of this story takes a totally different tack, it turns legal thriller, and is classic Robert Dugoni.
I'm not going to say too much more, as I don't want to give the plot away. This is a fast paced book that you really don't want to put down. I was reading it waaaaaay past my bed time. It is a compelling and gripping read, and I recommend it to all thriller lovers.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC un exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
Charles Jenkins, a man in his early sixties, needs money. His wife is pregnant with their second child and his security business is facing bankruptcy due to one of his vendors not paying bills on time. Although he finds relief reading Harry Potter to his son at night, thoughts about finances and the future trouble him. When Carl Emerson, his former CIA station chief contacts him, Charlie is intrigued. Charlie walked away from the CIA forty years ago, but when Emerson presents him with a mission and a way to make some money, Charlie cannot refuse. Charlie speaks Russian, had experience working with the KGB years ago when he worked undercover in Mexico, making him the perfect person to gather information for this covert mission.
Charlie is soon in Russia engaged in a game of cat and mouse trying to find the identity of the eighth sister, the one who is killing members of US spy cell known as the seven sisters - Russian women who are being killed for being spies. Soon, things become intense and Charlie must put all his past CIA experience to the test in order to come out this alive.
There is a lot going on in this book especially in the first section. The cat and mouse game in Russia is exciting, intriguing and kept my attention. Never really knowing what was going to happen next, had me on the edge of my seat. Plus, Charlies found a worthy opponent in Russian Agent Federov.
Dugoni shared about his previous trip to Russia with his family, being followed, a child thinking he was military and even rumors of listening devices and walking naked in front of mirrors. He also shared a discussion he had with Kristin Hannah about her inspiration for the Nightingale and his encounters with individuals who shared parts of their lives with him, as his inspiration for this book.
It's fair to say, I think Dugoni nailed it. Not only did he create interesting and well-developed characters, he used the environment of Russia as a character as well. I could feel the cold seeping from the pages. I am also not a big spy/espionage fan, but he made me one with this book. He also showcased his research and ability to write in various genres. I found this book to be captivating and although the last half slows down with the court room scenes, they are still interesting and thought provoking.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rating: really liked it
I'm not a big fan of spy thrillers, but I'll read anything that Robert Dugoni writes. This stand alone novel has Charles Jenkins, a mid 60s retired CIA agent forced to come out of retirement to raise enough money to save his security business. He is sent to Moscow to discover who is killing the members of a US spy ring.
Dugoni once again reeled me in immediately. He does a superb job of painting the Russian atmosphere - the FSB and Putin's power, the Russian character, even the weather. He's also done his research when it comes to how the spy industry works and effortlessly instructs the reader as well. The book moves at a fast pace, like an action movie. There are a lot of close calls. Nothing is as it should be and Jenkins is constantly running to stay one step ahead. The second part of the book becomes more legal procedural than spy thriller, but it's equally engaging. This might not hold together completely, but it's so much fun I didn't mind. (It's best that one not think too hard about some of the plot points.)
I enjoyed the characters, not just Jenkins, but Federov and Paulina. Once again, Dugoni has proven he can handle any genre he decides to take on.
My thanks to netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.
Rating: really liked it
The first half of this novel is a real roller-coaster with cold war style undercover espionage in Moscow and a heart stopping manhunt across Europe. The second half segues into a legal drama, which is no less riveting.
The main character Charlie Jenkins, a former CIA agent for a short time in the 1970s has bought himself some real trouble when financial difficulties and a family to support lead him to accept an undercover job for the CIA in Moscow where he has business dealings. Although it sounds simple enough, nothing goes to plan and Charlie is soon fighting for his life and his freedom.
The characters were excellent, especially the dogged Russian agent who never gave up, the female spy who helped Charlie and lawyer Sloane and his son Jake. While I enjoyed both the suspense and intense action followed by the clearly laid out legal drama, I felt there were a few loose ends that weren't resolved and prevented me awarding a full 5 stars. (view spoiler)
[ Such as why did Emerson set Charlie up in the first place - was it just to have those two agents killed and if so why Charlie? Were the three women killed part of the seven sisters or was that just a myth to get Charlie involved? Was there an eighth sister or was that also a fabrication? I don't think Paulina was Putin's counteragent because she was anti-Russia - or was she a double agent? I'd welcome any clarification on these points if you've read it- you can PM me your theories or add in a spoiler alert below. Thanks! (hide spoiler)] 4.5★
With thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for a digital ARC to read.
Rating: really liked it
50% Spy Thriller. 50% Legal Thriller. 100% Thrilling! Wow! Robert Dugoni you have a new fan, right here! This was a wild action packed story bursting with intrigue and adventure. I don’t read many spy thrillers, but this one was done extremely well. I was seriously on the edge of my seat this entire book and when the spy thriller turned into a legal thriller this book was just as compelling and nerve-racking. Reading this book was like watching an intense action adventure movie, but better.
Charles Jenkins is exCIA now running a security company in Seattle. Now a family Man with a loving wife, a nine-year-old son, and a baby on the way. When Charles is approached by the CIA to go back into Russia he cannot resist the paycheck, it will get his business out of the red. But the assignment and the people involved aren’t quite what they seem. Soon Charles discovers himself in the middle of a precarious situation, in terrible danger. Now he finds himself on a chase across Europe, fighting to save his life, and the lives of those he loves. What transpires is a riveting tale that will keep you glued to the pages.
This book definitely got my heart pounding. I had no idea how Charles was going to get himself out of this situation. Charles was very likable, reminiscent of the spies of old. In fact this entire book had a bit of a nostalgic feel to it, a homage to Russian spy books of the past. All the secondary characters are as interesting as Charles, even the relentless Russian.
A riveting story that will quench your thirst for action, adventure, and spies! Definitely recommend!
*** many thanks to Thomas & Mercer for my copy of this book ***
Rating: really liked it
What a roller-coaster ride .... All the way to Russia and back! The first half was so action-packed, suspenseful and thrilling that I was just glued to every word. I love an intense, spy/legal thriller and this one
DELIVERED!It was the ultimate international cat and mouse game that kept me on the edge and up all night reading. Charles Jenkins is an intriguing character and I'm thrilled this is a series, so book two is already on my shelf!
The second half slowed down a bit, with complex details concerning the trial (the legal jargon was a bit much). It picks back up in the courtroom with some twists.
A clever, intriguing man-hunt with plenty of heart-pounding moments and superb character development. This author can really tell a story in a powerful and addictive way.
Highly recommend to spy/legal thriller lovers!
A library loan for me. His second in this series is available on NG .
Rating: really liked it
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Robert Dugoni, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.While Robert Dugoni is the author of two successful series, his standalone novels grip the reader just as effectively. There is something refreshing about an author who has so many ideas and whose name is indicative of stellar writing and plausible storylines. Charles Jenkins has been out of the spy game for many years. After serving as a CIA field agent in Mexico City, he left abruptly and eventually began work on his own security company. Four decades on, Jenkins has found solace in his wife, Alex, as well as a son, with a second child on the way. When a former Agency colleague pays a visit, Jenkins knows that it is not a friendly check-in, especially after all this time. Jenkins soon learns that a number of Russian women are turning up dead in and around Moscow. While this is nothing concerning on the surface, they were all feeding secret intel to the Americans, part of a group called the ‘Seven Sisters’. While these women were excellent at their jobs, none knew they were anything but isolated individuals defying Mother Russia during her time as the USSR. With the rise of Putin and a new authoritarian regime, whispers of the Seven Sisters re-emerged, especially since Putin was once a KGB officer and keenly interested in the rumours. Now, it would seem that there is an eighth sister working for Putin and the FSB; one who is tasked with sniffing out these traitors. Enter, Charles Jenkins, who is being sent to Russia under cover of checking up on one of his client’s former offices, to seek to have the newest sister reveal herself and let the Americans take it from there. However, when Jenkins’ mission is compromised, he becomes the hunted inside Russia, while the CIA denies any knowledge and will offer no help. Back in America, Alex is given instructions by her husband to leave their home and seek out David Sloane, a friend and established Seattle attorney. While Sloane and Alex know nothing of what is going on, they can only hope that Jenkins still has the antics he possessed forty years ago to extricate himself from this mess. Little does he know, his fight to get away from the FSB is only the start to the headaches that await him. Another stunning novel by Dugoni that reignites old Cold War drama, alongside some stunning legal developments. Recommended for those who love stories of espionage, especially the reader who is a longtime fan of Robert Dugoni’s writing.
I always flock to a new Robert Dugoni novel, knowing that I will not be disappointed. Even his standalone pieces keep me intrigued, helping to fill the void that arises when I have to wait for the next instalment of his popular Tracy Crosswhite series. Dugoni enjoys filling his novels with details that are more poignant than fillers, keeping the reader educated as well as entertained from the opening paragraphs until the tumultuous final sentences. The development of his protagonist, Charles Jenkins was quite effective, hinting at a past within the Agency without offering up too many details. Pulling on this and linking it effectively to the Cold War-esque storyline helped the reader see the connection, as well as seek to know a little more. As the story progresses and Jenkins finds himself on the run, the reader learns a little more about Jenkins and his family, a core part of why he has stayed off the grid for so long. The story also tests Jenkins’ resolve to better understand just how far he can go as an agency plant to extract needed information with ease. Working with that is a handful of characters, both in Russia’s FSB and back in America, trying to help Jenkins flee the trouble in which he finds himself. Dugoni effectively juggles both sets of characters, developing a strong espionage theme throughout as the race to safety (or elimination) mounts with each passing page. Of particular note in the inclusion of David Sloane into the story. Longtime fans of Robert Dugoni will know that this was the author’s first series protagonist and an effective lawyer he was. I cut my teeth on that series and respected Dugoni the more I read of it. Sloane, still a Seattle attorney, plays an effective and essential role, giving fans a jolt of excitement to see him back on the page. The story was quite strong, particularly in an age when Russia is back to play a key role on the international political and spy scene. Dugoni keeps the chapters flowing and the action mounting as the struggle for freedom becomes more desperate. Dugoni is on the mark with this piece and it goes to show just how masterful an author he has become.
Kudos, Mr. Dugoni, on another splendid addition to your writing list. I am always eager to see what you have in store for fans and was not disappointed with this effort.
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A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Rating: really liked it
This is a stand alone that ties in to the author’s David Sloane series. Charlie Jenkins is the MC, a former CIA agent whose past comes back to haunt him.
Forty years ago, Charlie walked away from his career after a case left him disillusioned & disgusted with the job. Now he lives on a farm in Washington state with his wife & son & runs a private security firm. Money is tight, especially with another baby on the way.
So when his old CIA handler shows up with a paying proposition, it gets Charlie’s attention. The job: go to Moscow for the security firm, make contact with the FSB (new KGB) & convince them he’s a disgruntled former CIA agent with info for sale. His real task is to identify a Russian agent who is killing long time American assets. Sure. What could possibly go wrong?
Oh man, where to start……Suffice to say things don’t go as planned & on his second trip to Moscow, Charlie finds himself running for his life. But what he doesn’t realize is getting home in one piece is only half the battle.
The first 60% is a rip-roaring tale of espionage with all the proper ingredients. Clandestine meetings, deadly Russians, Gorky Park & lots of vodka. There’s even a femme fatale. Charlie has to draw on old skills as he tries to evade a determined FSB agent & make it back to the States.
It’s a tense, wild ride & we all breathe a collective sigh of relief when he makes it home. But maybe don’t pop the champagne just yet. Seriously, this guy cannot buy a break. I don’t want to give away too much about the second act but at this point, action switches to the court room after Charlie is arrested. He calls on old friend/lawyer David Sloane to defend him in what is literally a hopeless case that could put him away for life.
Dugoni excels at creating clever suspense populated with well developed characters. In Charlie, we get a sympathetic MC, a man with integrity who just wants to provide for his family. The surrounding cast is an interesting mix & it can be a challenge to tell the good guys from the bad. One of the standouts was Viktor, a burly FSB agent who I became quite fond of.
All in all, it’s an entertaining read full of twists that will keep you turning the pages.
Rating: really liked it
The Eighth Sister is a book about espionage and the resulting court trial of the protagonist, Charles Jenkins. Jenkins is a former agent for the CIA. Forty (40) years after Jenkins had walked away from his CIA job he is approached by his former station chief, Carl Emerson, and asked to come back into the CIA, for a special assignment. You guessed it to find the eighth sister.
Jenkins is now sixty-four (64) years old. He is married and has a young son and a baby on the way. He is or was fluent in Russian and Emerson said that he believed Jenkins was the ideal candidate for this assignment. Jenkins’ security business is struggling to stay afloat and he really needs the money offered for this assignment, so after some thought he agreed.
Overall, I enjoy this book. There are two (2) parts, the espionage and the trial.
The first (1st) part is about two-thirds (⅔) of the book and iis filled with action and intrigue. Jenkins has to travel to Russia a couple of time and on the second (2nd) trip all hell breaks loose. He shows himself able to keep up with the demands of the assignment.
The second (2nd) part is about the trial. Things don’t go as Jenkins had expected and he ends up charged with espionage. His friend, David Sloane, is his attorney. This is a complex trial because much of the information cannot be shared with the court because of national security.
I think the author Robert Dugoni does a great job of describing the settings and and characters of the story. I found Jenkins wife, Alex and son CJ very likable and supportive. I also read My Sister’s Grave by the author. I have enjoyed his writing and plan to read more of his books.
Rating: really liked it
My first book by this author and I enjoyed it very much.
Charles Jenkins is an ex spy who is contacted out of the blue and asked to go back into the field again. In hindsight there is obviously much amiss with this but at the time he needs the money and is prepared to do his duty. The first half of the book tells of his experiences in Russia, the second half is the court case in America as he is tried for crimes against his country.
I struggled at first with the way Jenkins feels able to dash off to Russia and into obvious danger, lying to his wife about where he is, and seeming to feel it is okay to leave her to cope in the midst of a very dangerous pregnancy. Apparently she did not mind so I had to get over it too.
Once I got over that I found the time spent in Russia exciting and the later court room scenes very clever and very stressful. The original theme of the eight (or seven) sisters seemed to get lost along the way and I am assuming that it will be picked up again as the series progresses. I have the next two books already so I am sure I will find out!
Rating: really liked it
Like the raw frigid winds of a Russian winter, this one is gonna get your attention.
Robert Dugoni is switching gears in The Eighth Sister with quite the jaunt into a face-to-face with the FSB, a Russian counter-intelligence agency that is a successor to the ol' KGB. The KGB should conjure up an image of Putin injecting measures of barbaric Russian interrogation methods. You just don't walk away from one of those intact.
Dugoni introduces us to Charles Jenkins, a sixty-four year old African American former CIA agent. He showcased his expertise nearly 40 years ago while working undercover in Mexico. Long behind him, Charles now has a young son and another child on the way. His wife, Alex, was a case officer for CFO. His family is everything to him.
But there's no picket fence involved in this one. Charles runs a security company based out of Seattle. He's invested everything he has into his company with not a nickle to spare. He's already taken on more debt than he can handle making his payroll. His top customer is forever late with payments. His cash flow is just not flowin'.
There's a knock on his door one morning. Standing before him is Carl Emerson, the CIA station chief. He's got quite the offer for Charles. There's an intelligence group of Seven Sisters trained to infiltrate Russian sources and provide crucial information to the United States. The term Seven Sisters refers to Stalin's plainly constructed buildings in Moscow that would confuse bombers during the war. Three of the sisters have been killed in the past two years. None of the sisters have any knowledge of one another. So who exactly is on a rampage and why now?
Emerson leans on Charles. Charles is quite fluent in Russian and has an extreme "boots on the ground" mentality as opposed to total electronic intelligence technology vs man power. It's hardly an instant decision for Charles. He's putting a lot on the line for country here. But the sleepless nights worrying about finances and the well-being of his family finally clicks in. Charles will take on a brutal challenge unlike he's ever seen before in his career.
The Eighth Sister is a stellar read in the hands of the very talented Robert Dugoni. He's widened his scope in this one and we are grippin' knuckles on the steering wheel throughout this read. Just keep 'em comin', Dugoni. Just keep 'em comin'.
I received a copy of The Eighth Sister through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Robert Dugoni for the opportunity.
Rating: really liked it
Charles Jenkins is a 60-year old former CIA case officer who is now married with a young family and a baby on the way. He owns a security firm that’s in financial trouble because a major client falls in serious arrears. When his former bureau chief approaches him about being reactivated for one assignment in Russia, Jenkins reluctantly takes it on as a means to salvage his business. However, once in Moscow, nothing goes as planned and he finds himself in the fight of his life to not only stay alive but make it back home, only to discover even bigger issues.
This story is one great cocktail with all the right ingredients to make it an exciting brew. Equal parts espionage and thriller, one part legal drama and the rest a gnarly mystery, it’s just an exceptional literary ride! I had no clue as to what to expect from one scene to the next and his Russian counterpart was as formidable as Jenkins. There are other interesting characters that rose to the proverbial occasion when needed but you’ll need to read this for yourself to learn more.
I chose to listen to this story (brilliant decision!) and I’m now an instant fan of the narrator, Edoardo Ballerini, who I happened to see in an episode of
NYPD Blue while in the middle of this book! He’s an experienced actor with awards for his audiobook performances and I can attest that if any of those were as good as this one, they were well deserved. He managed a host of accents, ages and genders and all rang authentic. He will be a tipping point for me going forward if he’s associated with a book I’m considering.
I enjoyed this story made even more exciting by the narrator. So many of my friends have raved about this author and now I know why. I’m also thrilled that this is the start of a new series because I want to see more of Jenkins, his cohorts and family. The end of the book came much too soon for me and it had nothing to do with an unsatisfactory ending...far from it. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Rating: really liked it
Robert Dugoni is a wonderful writer. He’s written six police detective novels featuring Tracy Crosswhite. I’ve enjoyed them all. I’ve liked the two legal thrillers featuring David Sloane that I’ve read and hope to get to the others. I have read two standalones as well, both very well written. Now Dugoni’s trying something different – a spy thriller.
The Eighth Sister features a former CIA agent-turned private security consultant who gets caught up in a secret agency operation known as “the seven sisters.” Named for the seven Stalinist style skyscrapers built in Moscow during the late 1940s to early 1950s, the sisters refer to Russian women who work for the Russian government who are spying for the CIA.
Charles Jenkins left the CIA forty years earlier. He was angry and disillusioned, and he has put that behind him. When his former superior shows up out of the blue to recruit him to try to find a Russian agent who is killing the CIA spies one by one, Jenkins thinks long and hard. He has a wife. A nine-year-old son. A baby on way. His company is also in financial trouble. He is led to believe that he will find the agent, “the eighth sister,” get paid, and go home. End of story, right?
That wouldn’t be much of a thriller, now would it? Jenkins – Charlie – does meet a woman, but is she the killer? He winds up having to avoid the police, go into hiding, and somehow flee Russia with the law hot on his trail. All this takes ingenuity, courage, trust, stamina, and help from others along the way. It’s not easy to go unnoticed, given that Jenkins is a six-foot-five black man, who does by the way, speak Russian.
When he finally does make it home, he suspects that somehow his problems are not over. He learns that the CIA has forsaken him, and now it’s up to his friend, lawyer David Sloane, to preserve his freedom. Some of the aspects of the case were a bit confusing to me at first, but as the details emerge, things made more sense.
This is a fast-paced story filled with tension and drama. Charles Jenkins is a clever, intelligent man who seems to have maintained his skills despite the many years since his days in the Agency. He also displays warmth and humanity, not only toward his family, but also toward the Russian women whom he has never met. He feels a sense of duty toward them as fellow agents who have sacrificed much for the sake of the US.
I liked most of the characters in this book, even the Russian FSR agent, Federov. He goes by the book, but he is incredibly smart. However, he actually seems to respect Jenkins and acknowledges that he is a worthy opponent. I loved Pauline’s story; it felt very “Russian” to me. I also loved Charlie’s family – wife Alex, son CJ, and their new baby. David and Jake are great as friends and skilled professionals too. Those who were unlikeable were written to be that way.
So
The Eighth Sister is part espionage, part legal thriller, and all enjoyment. I don’t normally read spy novels, but I read this in two days. I highly recommend
The Eighth Sister.
Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and the author for an ARC digital copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
5 stars
Rating: really liked it
almost 4 ☆ [Federov's] voice startled her, and Zarina screamed. ... Zarina concluded he was police, possibly FSB--the Russian counterintelligence agency and successor organization to the KGB. A second man, hidden in her kitchen, emerged into the hall behind her, preventing retreat...
"What is it you want?" [Zarina] asked.
"I wish to know of the seven sisters, of which you are one, who have spied for the Americans for almost four decades."
Zarina felt a trickle of sweat roll down her back.
It's November 2017, and over in the state of Washington, Charles Jenkins is going about his usual business on his farm. Now 64, Jenkins had married later in life and his 40-year old wife Alex is expecting their second child. The married couple runs a security firm named after CJ, their 9-year old son. The business is a way for Jenkins' to connect with his earlier career dreams and training with the CIA. His mind, however, is currently preoccupied with his main client's delinquent payments and how this could jeopardize his young family's entire financial future. But Jenkins is soon reminded of his CIA past as his former station chief, Carl Emerson, pops up unexpectedly at his home and with a peculiar request.
"Why are you here, Carl?"
"The seven sisters. ... Seven Russian women, chosen from dissident parents, trained almost from birth to infiltrate various institutions of the former Soviet Union and provide the United States with intelligence. ... Three of the sisters have been killed within the last two years."
"So I ask again. Why are you here? ...
You want to reactivate me?" Jenkins asked, disbelieving.
Emerson wants Jenkins to obstruct Putin's hunt for the seven sisters by flushing out Putin's counterintelligence hunter -- the "eighth sister." Around the 15 percent mark,
The Eighth Sister becomes a page-turner as Jenkins resuscitates his rusty tradecraft in Moscow and matches wits with Colonel Federov, the cagey and savvy FSB officer. As events progress, Federov evolves into an uber villain. And if it weren't for the knowledge that sequels exist, it'd be an unknown quantity whether Jenkins survives their encounters.
Dugoni is an author new to me so I didn't have any expectations other than knowing that this is the first installment. I think it's fantastic to feature an older main protagonist, and one who is also of African American ancestry. For readers already familiar with this author, they'll recognize Jenkins from his appearances in the David Sloane legal thriller series and probably gladly welcome Sloane's role in this book.
Russians had interpreted capitalism to mean: “Steal what you can sell.”
The Eighth Sister takes a reader on quite an atmospheric rollercoaster ride. I really enjoyed the Russian cultural setting and its layered sense of paranoia. During the book's Part 1, I was surprised by the persistent pursuit. It was extremely suspenseful. However with each whisker-thin near escape, it felt more like an artificial contrivance than an organic part of the plot. Jenkins wasn't just the proverbial cat with nine lives but a veritable cat demigod judging by his ability to evade capture.
It was difficult to put down even though
The Eighth Sister morphed from an espionage hunt to a legal thriller. Nonetheless, it didn't stop me from noticing the plot holes. In particular, the reader doesn't learn Emerson's motives (view spoiler)
[ yes, Emerson used Jenkins, but the timing doesn't make sense since not all the sisters had yet been found. The other major holes are(view spoiler)[ how does Federov accomplish what he said he does given the different locations of the two parties? More significantly, how on earth is it plausible for Jenkins to be treasonous given his long absence from the CIA? (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] Nevertheless,
The Eighth Sister is a great read - suspenseful and unexpected. Now onto the next installment - The Last Agent.
#2
The Last Agent 3.5 ☆
#3
The Silent Sisters 4 ☆
