THE SILENT SISTERS

5 stars out of 5

This book brings closure to the trilogy of the "seven sisters" - Russian women who for years have been engaged in spying activities in their country for the benefit of America. The first two, both of which I read, were outstanding - as is this one. Here, American Charles Jenkins, who led the exfiltration of others in the uber-secret group, has been called back into action to retrieve the final two.

Problem is, Jenkins almost bit the dust during his last foray into Russia, and now he's on a kill list. A much-loved wife, a couple of [ditto] kids and a relatively satisfying life render him reluctant to take on the assignment - but the lure of action (and his sense of responsibility) reels him in and off he goes. He's been outfitted with multiple disguises to help him get past those pesky Russian face-recognition cameras, but that doesn't cut down much on the potential for discovery; Jenkins is, after all, a very tall Black man - not easy attributes to cover up, especially in Russia. 

Another attribute he finds hard to conceal is his sense of fair play and concern for the underdog; his first night in Moscow, he can't resist intervening to save a helpless person and ends up on the wrong side of a particularly ruthless Russian Mafia boss. So now, he's got two factions to steer clear of - and much as they despise each other, both are determined to capture and have their way with him. Under these circumstances, going it alone would be tough enough; a couple of on-the-run females added to his baggage put Jenkins's skills to the ultimate test and considerably reduce his chances of returning to his family.

Needless to say, it's the thrill of the chase - and the complexity of the well-developed characters - that make this book (all three of them, actually) very hard to put down. And in the end, I was a little sad that there are no more sisters left to save. But I look on the bright side; although that series seems to have ended, I saw no evidence that it's the last readers will see of Charles Jenkins - and that's a very good thing in my book. I'll keep my fingers crossed that we'll see him again soon; meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to once again read and review a pre-release copy. Another one well done!

The Silent Sisters by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, February 2022); 399 pp.

THE LAST AGENT

 5 stars out of 5

Chalk up another winner in this series - after

reading the first, The Eighth Sister, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next one. And it certainly didn't disappoint. I'm not a very "excitable" reader, really - and I'm always pretty sure an author won't put his or her series star six feet under. But the closer I got to the end of former spy Charles Jenkins' adventures getting into and out of Russia, the tighter I held my Kindle and the closer to falling off the edge of my seat.

Charlie, now married with two children - the daughter named after Paulina Ponomayova, an agent who sacrificed her life to save his in the previous book - isn't exactly happy with his former life. His own country betrayed him and even put him on trial for treason, so he owes nothing. But then, an agent from the CIA's Clandestine Services pays Charlie a visit - telling him that a woman believed to be Paulina is alive - but probably not well - in one of Moscow's nastiest prisons. 

After the way he's been treated, Charlie has no confidence that the agent bringing the news is telling the truth; he could be setting Charlie up for a fall that could be permanent. There's also no proof that the imprisoned woman is Paulina, although clues strongly suggest that is the case. In any event, the agent plays to Charlie's indebtedness to Paulina as he tries to convince him to return to Russia, determine whether or not the woman is his old friend and, if she is, get her out of the prison, out of Russia and  safe in the United States.

It's quite a tall order, and even Charlie isn't sure he's up to the task. His wife Alex isn't thrilled with the thought of such a dangerous mission, but she acknowledges that her husband is with her only because of Paulina's efforts. So off he goes, and the nonstop adventure begins - starting with a surreptitious and almost disastrous venture to Russian soil. First up is identifying the woman; for help with that, he must find a former Russian officer who once was Charlie's nemesis.

It is here that I must stop; otherwise, I'd give away too much. Suffice it to say Charlie's adventure only gets more fast-paced and frightening as the chapters zip along to an exciting end - one that leaves the door open for the next adventure. I'm more than ready - and until then, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of this one.

The Last Agent by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, September 2020); 405 pp.