Best-seller Rosenberg (The Third Target) provides Tom Clancy fans with plenty of red meat in this fast-paced political thriller. In the near future, attorney Oleg Kraskin has become a trusted adviser to his Putin-like father-in-law, Russian president Aleksandr Luganov. Oleg’s rise is paralleled by that of Marcus Ryker, whose valor under fire as a Marine in Afghanistan led to his becoming a Secret Service agent. After Marcus helps thwart a terrorist attack on the White House, he’s promoted to the U.S. president’s personal detail. But when Marcus’s wife and son are killed in a robbery, he takes a break from working for the government. Meanwhile, Luganov, who has no qualms about using nuclear weapons and is chummy with the erratic head of North Korea, finalizes plans to invade the three Baltic states―Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania―and reincorporate them into Russia. Oleg and Marcus each turn out to have a vital part to play in shaping how Luganov’s grandiose schemes end. Although plausibility isn’t at a premium, readers who like escapist suspense will be satisfied. (Publishers Weekly)
Rosenberg cranks up the suspense, delivering his most stunning, high-stakes thriller yet.
Aspiring authors should take note of Rosenberg’s deftly plotted story and first-rate character development―he puts on a clinic for how to introduce and bring along new characters. Some readers, especially early on, may find the plot moving a tad slower than his past books, but that’s clearly by design. Rosenberg meticulously builds the necessary foundation for later on, and, when you least expect it, he yanks the rug out from underneath you.
This is Joel C. Rosenberg at his absolute best, proving yet again that he’s one of the premier novelists working in the genre today.
With his knack for writing prophetic fiction, those who want an early glimpse at what the world might look like in the very near future should pick up Joel Rosenberg’s latest thriller. . . . Strap in and hold on tight, The Kremlin Conspiracy is a high-octane thriller that will stun readers and stay with them long after they turn the final page. (The Real Book Spy (Ryan Steck))