The Kremlin conspiracy

Bestseller 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 Putinlike 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. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Award-winning author Rosenberg's (Without Warning) new political thriller centers on the lives of two men who follow parallel paths from 1999 to sometime in the future. Oleg Kraskin, son-in-law and adviser to Russian president Aleksandr Luganov, is concerned with his father-in-law's plans to become the next czar as well as the lies being told to the Russian people and the world. Questioning Aleksandr's decisions, however, could be fatal for Oleg. Former U.S. Marine Marcus Ryker is part of the president's Secret Service detail until a tragic accident rearranges his priorities. Both Oleg and Marcus are loyal to their countries and have focused on their jobs at the expense of their families. Eventually, their trajectories cross as they try to prevent a nuclear war. And it seems that the only way this can be done is to assassinate Aleksandr Luganov. Verdict The nonstop action will keep readers turning the pages. Rosenberg is known for basing his novels on tomorrow's news, and readers will likely recognize some fictionalized characters inspired by public figures. The ending leaves open the possibility of a sequel. Essential for thriller fans.-Margaret Bentley, Shiawassee Dist. Lib., Owosso, MI © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.