The Kremlin's Candidate: A Novel (3) (The Red Sparrow Trilogy)

This book is the third book of a trilogy, the first book being "Red Sparrow". I decided to buy "Red Sparrow after running across a panel discussion on YouTube of the movie "Red Sparrow". There was a woman on the panel who was retired from the CIA, and she remarked that "Red Sparrow" was the best novel she'd ever read about Intelligence work. I already knew I wanted to see the movie because I have a huge crush on Jennifer Lawrence :>) :>), but until then had no thought of reading the book. I was soon hooked, and am now almost 90% of the way through this, the third book in the trilogy. The story itself is engrossing, and has kept me wanting to know what's going to happen next. There is some ugly violence occasionally, but those passages are fairly brief and I wouldn't call them egregious. They are appropriate to the story being told. The ugliest of them, actually, is pretty close to the beginning of the first book. From then on, they are very rare. The author is a retired CIA agent, and I have been slightly amused when paints certain CIA agents almost as saints, and when he paints others as annoying bureaucrats. I can't help but suspect he's venting some of the frustrations he encountered during his career. Valdimir Putin is a pretty major character in these books, and the author's opinion of Putin and today's Russia is clear. I wouldn't call the books great literature, but they are well crafted. Having had a career as a writer/editor (wordsmith might be more accurate), I could nitpick a few things about the writing. The author uses the word "impossibly" too often - - phrases like "impossibly beautiful" or "impossibly difficult" - - when the things he's describing did exist, so obviously they were not impossible. I could ignore that once or twice, but he does it many times. It's impossible to ignore. That's the only nitpick that comes to mind - - well, except for a scene or two when there's a long suspenseful buildup to a dangerous encounter, and then the central character defeats the opponent quickly and (relatively) easily. But that's a small matter. Overall I recommend this book highly to anyone who enjoys reading novels of international intrigue mixed with romance. (Oh yes, romance plays an important role in these books - - but they are definitely not "chick-lit")

This is the third book in a series of three, preceded by the original Red Sparrow and the follow-up Palace of Treason. They were written by a guy who spent many years working for the CIA in real life, and the books absolutely reek of authenticity and insight into the spy world. The first I described as the best espionage novel I have ever read, and the second was at least as good. This one, however, doesn’t quite live up to the expectations set by the first two. The cast from the two earlier books returns, including CIA officer Nathan, a young guy entering the prime of his spy career, and Dominika, the Russian secret agent who by this time has risen to lofty heights within her country’s turbulent, vicious, highly effective intelligence system. Other characters return as well, likeable, lovable, and despicable, including veteran CIA officers, plotting and ruthless FSB operatives, and government leaders from both countries. Also returning is none other than Vlad Putin, Russia’s self-proclaimed restorer of Russian greatness and, through subterfuge, coercion, and sanctioned murder, Russia’s ‘elected president for life’. Also present in this book is a collection of senators, congressmen, and others who are lacking in scruples, one of whom will become “The Kremlin’s Candidate”. In this book, Putin hatches a plot to identify an American who is likely to be selected as the next director of the CIA. After finding three likely candidates, at least one is approached and compromised by skilled, sneaky Russian secret agents. The story progresses on many levels. We see Russian agents working diligently in America, and vice versa. We see the workings of the FSB, with insight into how they go about their business of spying, how they recruit agents, how they perceive their duty, and how they fight amongst themselves (apparently just like any government organization that has ever existed). We see into the personal lives of the three candidates, learning their motivations and weaknesses, and understanding how they may be compromised. We watch Nate as he furthers his career in the CIA in various assignments; we see Dominika as she leads the dual life of Russian spymaster and American spy; and we watch as she and Nate pursue their improbable, fiery, apparently doomed love affair. We also spend time with the likeable, experienced, highly competent officers we have followed from the first book. A lot of things are going on in this book, but the central story is the effort on both sides of the ocean to discover the plot and to interrupt it. We watch the efforts of people who are risking their lives to foil the plot, and we meet people who surprisingly want the plot to succeed. Nate and Dominika’s relationship is strained to the breaking point, and at the end things turn out very differently from what you expect. Dramatically different. Like the others, this book is very well written, with accurate, literate, readable prose. The author’s experience is reflected in the superb amount of detail about spy operations, and his unique writing style is entertaining in itself. However, while reading this book you get the recurring impression that it was written perhaps in too much of a hurry, or perhaps to fill a contract requirement. Although it is highly readable, and much better than a lot of the drivel out there, it isn’t as highly polished as the first two books. The banter between the operatives, an enjoyable part of previous books, is not present to the same degree. Some of the missions performed by the operatives are not integral to the story, and one ends in a way that seems to be unnecessary and present only for ‘shock value’. The pursuit of the ‘candidates’ is not explored as deeply as it could have been, and the final disposition of the one who becomes compromised is largely ignored. The ending comes abruptly and is not at all satisfactory. The book goes on and on and on, and then suddenly it resolves in the last few pages, and bang it’s over. And then there is the author’s preoccupation with food. I think I covered that sufficiently in my review of book two. Still, this is a readable book, and you have to read it to finish the series. Unfortunately, while the first two left you clamoring for more, this one ends on a note that makes you feel “enough is enough”.

An absolutely superb ending (?) to this trilogy of novels about Dominika a CIA mole in Putin's modern day Russia, and her handlers at CIA. (Note, like the author, I use the phraseology of "at CIA", rather than the uninformed terminology "at the CIA" - one of the ways one can tell the informed versus the uninformed). As this is the third novel in the series, I appreciated the brief references to what the author had written in the first two novels, just enough to cause the reader to remember the details. However, this author (thankfully) did not completely rehash the action of those first two books, and thus take up the entire first third or half of the book trying to bring the reader back up to speed. One of my pet peeves - if the reader is so short of data in his memory banks, he can go back and reread those, there is no sense wasting the time of the rest of us that only need a brief mention here and there to bring those actions back into focus. (A trait that always has me wondering if those other authors are being paid by the word.) Again, as a former operations officer of CIA, the author brings a "feel" for the work to his novels, which seems to be missing from most novels on the subject. Also, the author is not shy about letting his feelings about how the intelligence business of the US has been hampered by the political maneuvers of some really first class idiots over the last “x" decades. As one whose feet were on the ground, he shows his disdain for those arm chair warriors that staff much of the bureaucracy in the US government. He also does a decent job of showing the faults in the kleptocracy that is the current government in Russia, as well as taking some well-aimed shots at Putin. Matthews writes for a more informed reader, one who is conversant with international relations and keeps up with current events, as well as history. I feel I have an excellent vocabulary, but this author even sent me to the dictionary a couple of times to determine the exact meaning of a specific word. There was on grammatical error, which I spotted - on page 384 the author has Dominika and Agnes at "Putin's Palace" on the Black Sea and he has Dominika say "Bring that name back to Benford.” who is located in Langley. Proper English would have been for her to say "Take that name back to Benford." One "brings" towards oneself, and "takes” to another location. I know - petty, and could be chalked up to Dominika not being a native English speaker, but, still jarring, when it did not need to be. This book is superbly written, and I am sure the folks at CIA's Publication Review Board, enjoyed the book as much as I did - well, assuming they have some CIA operations in their backgrounds. Buy this book - but read the entire trilogy - and for the most enjoyment - read them in order - Red Sparrow first, then Palace of Treason and lastly this book. I do hope the author continues to write and not just retire on the laurels he has earned with this trilogy.

This is the final novel in the Red Sparrow series of spy novels involving the Russian double agent Dominika Egorova. There is a time jump from the end of the second novel, and now Dominika is in the running to become the new head of the SVR. This means she will have unparalleled access to information to feed to the Americans, but it also puts her in more danger as it becomes much harder for her to pass the information along to the CIA. The main plot of the novel is that there is a Russian mole, code-named Magnit, who is in line to become the new director of the CIA after the death of the current director. Of course, if the mole becomes the director, Dominika's identity immediately becomes known to the Russians and she would be sent off to a Gulag and killed. So, there is a race to uncover the identity of the mole and prevent the mole from being confirmed as director, and it, of course, includes the usual spy thriller twists and turns with nearly every main character in danger at some point. The book clocks in at about 430 pages. It is not an extremely fast read (it took me 21 days to get through it, and I am a fairly quick reader), but how quickly you can get through it really depends on how much time you can devote to reading it. The chapters are fairly short, anywhere from five to ten pages on average, so there are plenty of natural stopping points if you read just an hour or two at a time. There are a few new characters in the book, but the focus is mostly on the established characters, especially Dominika and Nate, and Putin plays a very large role in this novel, much moreso than he did in the prior two. The ending does leave open the possibility of additional stories, but the tone would definitely be changed somewhat because the characters definitely end up in a very different place from where they started. Chances are, it will be the end of the story, however, especially since the Red Sparrow movie pretty much flopped and there is not any pressure to keep a movie franchise alive. If you liked the prior novels, this is definitely worth reading.

Truly enjoyed this trilogy. Jason Matthew’s has that fine knack of creating characters you love, building a story that resonates with the world as it is and entertaining you on every page. I was a bit sad at the ending of book three but understand the realities of life in this arena. Hoping for more out of Jason!

I really enjoyed the first two "sparrow" books. Jason Mathews descriptions of streetcraft, along with a gritty plot and plently of turns and twists made for an excellent read. I felt book two was even better than book one and so I had very high expectations for "The Kremlin's Candidate." I became uneasy at the start of the book after reading the prologue.I'm always a bit nervous when writers have to "add"" extra historical events in to a new book- it makes me feel they have struggled to create plot developments smoothly and had to go backwards to throw something else in to make them viable. Throughout the book the feel of the storyline was different from the first two books. Maybe the pressure for the third book was too great with the motion picture coming out? I don't know, but the action scenes didn't tie in as well, and some things were very inconsistant. The ending in particular was off. After their previous dealings together, it was not believable that the SVR didn't connect that Nate and Dominika knew each other. Bedfords ending was also strange- it was like the story was being rushed to a conclusion, to get it over and done with. I am pleased that the ending was not too fairytale however. I hate to be critical, Mathews first two books are the best I have read in a long time, but I feel perhaps the second book should have finished the story.

In this last of his Russian spy trilogy, the author does not disappoint in sharply bringing home the incredible danger and technical competence involved in being a spy, let alone being a mole, or double agent. In the first book the astonishing Dominika Egorova, a counterintelligence agent in the Russian spy service, has been recruited by the CIA as a mole. After any number of successful operations, Dominika, over the years, has risen to being next in line for the head of the main Russian spy agency. But suddenly all of this has been jeopardized. She has learned that the Russians have a long-standing mole in the US who is soon to have access to a list of all assets/agents in Russia, a list that Dominika most assuredly is on. Dominika must identify this mole to the CIA. What ensues is a race around the globe for Nate Nash, Dominka’s CIA handler, and Dominika engaging with all manner of agents and intelligence services, most of which place their lives in imminent danger. They both must be prepared to employ ruthlessness when more subtle actions fall short. Some of the scenarios are only vaguely connected to the central story line, but do add flavor. Of course, Vladimir Putin is a central character, as highly placed spies are key to keeping him in power. Dominika has become so favored by Putin, that she is given the keys to a dacha near Putin’s on the Black Sea. Of course, she is expected to play more than just a little attention to Putin. Unfortunately, the security around Putin and his retinue is so tight that Dominika may be in an inescapable trap. Only a nearly impossible operation by the CIA can give Dominika a chance. It could well be that her spy days are over with only a grim Russian end awaiting her. The book is both gripping and tedious. More than once, Nate and Dominika appear doomed. The sheer number of agencies, characters, and places are difficult to keep straight. Nonetheless, the reader is drawn into the frightening world of spying.

I'm thrilled to share my experience with The Kremlin's Candidate, the final installment of the Red Sparrow trilogy. As a fan of espionage thrillers, I was hooked from the very first page. The Kremlin's Candidate is a masterclass in storytelling, with a complex and intricate plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The author's writing is superb, with vivid descriptions and well-developed characters that leap off the page. What I love most about this book is how it expertly weaves together themes of politics, espionage, and betrayal. The story is full of twists and turns, with surprises at every corner. The characters are multidimensional and nuanced, with motivations that are both relatable and terrifying. The Kremlin's Candidate is a fitting conclusion to the Red Sparrow trilogy, and I was satisfied with the way the story wrapped up. The author's research is impeccable, and the attention to detail is stunning. I'm so impressed with the quality of this book, and I can tell it will stay with me for a long time. The Kremlin's Candidate is a must-read for fans of espionage thrillers, and I highly recommend it. **Pros:** * Gripping and suspenseful plot with plenty of twists and turns * Well-developed and nuanced characters * Expertly researched and detailed * Fitting conclusion to the Red Sparrow trilogy * A must-read for fans of espionage thrillers **Cons:** None! I hope this review helps others discover the benefits of this amazing book!

J’ai vu le film moineau rouge puis les trois volumes et je me suis pris à l’histoire. Lus durant les confinements au cours de 2020 et du printemps 2021. Le texte en Anglo Saxon pas toujours oxfordien m’a semblé intéressant à plusieurs titres, aussi par l’apport linguistique. On pourra regretter un peu de mépris ( dans le second tome) pour la DGSE et la mise en exergue de défauts « franchouillards » chez Angevine. Je regretterai l’absence d’un tome 4. Fin des confinements? Je recommande vivement ces trois ouvrages.

An excellent conclusion (?) to a thoroughly entertaining Red Sparrow trilogy. I have enjoyed and been riveted by each book in turn. JM certainly has a spy master’s brain which ably weaves a multitude of diverse interlocking intelligence/counterintelligence operations of the CIA with consummate clarity and ease. While at the same time managing to keep the pace, tension and excitement at a level rarely equalled in my opinion. This final instalment of the DIVA “enterprise” provides intrigue, cunning, double dealings, politics, greed, bureaucratic incompetence and unexpected twists in equal measure. I cannot praise this work of fiction too highly.

100% recomendado

Great read, keeps you wanting to turn page and read on

Die Wordwise Funktion geht leider auf der Kindle Version nicht, obwohl damit geworben wird.