ARA Review by dublinwriter of The Soviet Comeback

[dublinwriter]

[Following is an OnlineBookClub.org ARA Review of the book, The Soviet Comeback.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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A young Nigerian boy is recruited by a Colonel for shadowy KGB work in return for his parents and sister being looked after. His journeys start off by visiting Helsinki, then Prague, then Cuba and then Greece.

In Greece, we see that he has become the ultimate killer but in sparing the life of Cato we also see that he hasn’t completely lost his sense of humanity, and we see mercy at work. It’s hard to empathise with a Nigerian as a major character and even harder to empathise with his employer the KGB in light of today’s real life events with a former KGB agent wrecking havoc on Ukraine.

In Elysia, we see that his past comes back to haunt him and won’t let him go. The use of novichok in the novel also brings unpleasant recent memories of the chemical agent’s use in the UK. And once again we see agencies getting in one another’s way. Shadows of 9/11.

With Brishnov prowling around, another agent with a secret agenda, a powerful subplot exists within the narrative, both plots colliding at certain points within the main story arc.

The book conjures up images of a Robert Ludlum thriller and books like Gorky Park. The ‘Red’ element is there in spades. Jamie Smith, the author, has excelled here and left the door open for further adventures.

4 out of 5

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