This series, set against a backdrop of the Soviet Union post Stalin years., shows a good sense of time and context. The well documented Soviet sense of striving to catch up to the decadent West while glorying in the greatness of the past, is overlain by some good spy/thriller text. The author has carved out a good niche for his stories and should do well. What some US readers may miss is that its not and East vs West thing its an ego competition among men with differing backgrounds. By better portraying each characters humanity the author differentiates his style from others in his space.

A well-conceived Cold War thriller, vocalising the inherent threat of war in space. There are apparent resemblances to actual historical figures alongside purely fictional characters. The danger of destruction is implicit in this thriller, and it replicates the feelings of many who lived under the constant threat of nuclear war.

If you are interested in the Cold War as it existed in the twentieth century, this will be of interest. It's a 'what if' book that could have easily happened.

I received a copy of this book from Harper Impulse/ Killer Reads via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

An action packed story situated right in the late Cold War era involving the outbreak of war in Europe and the world. The story essentially an alternative history piece where our own history diverged with the Soviet Union challenging NATO and the US militarily.