This is a page-turning thriller - a race against time across Soviet Russia, where the participants face impossible odds and must decide between truth, justice and all-out war.

An interesting take on the JFK assassination story whereby the KGB are heavily involved. Starting in a Siberian gulag the action moves across the vast Russian state ending in Estonia. The action is never ending with each of the characters never quite seeming what they ultimately turn out to be. The scenes in Siberia are wonderfully atmospheric in their description and the various escapes from the chasing authorities very entertaining. All in all a good take on an old enigma!

This is the third in Matthews’ series of Alexander Vasin novels set in late 1963 with the events of Nov 22 in Dallas as a backdrop.

Vasin has been sent to take charge of a penal colony 200 miles north of Moscow where he finds himself in the midst of a revolt. Barely escaping with his life he crosses sub zero tundra and follows a trail which leads him across Russia as he tries to unravel the conspiracy he finds himself engulfed in.

I enjoyed this book, perhaps not as much as the others but it was engaging throughout. Thanks to NetGalley and the author and publisher for the advanced reader copy for which I have given my own honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, full of twists, turns and drama until the end. Filled with complicated characters, who’s motives and ambitions remain unknown making you second guess their intentions. An easy to like main character and a thrilling take on one of the biggest moments in US history.

Owen Matthews delivers again.

Following the events of "Red Traitor", where our hero Vasin successfully prevented an atomic war, exposed an American spy and brought down powerful Ivan Serov, he has been "rewarded" by his KGB boss General Orlov and is now commandant of a penal colony, some two hundred kilometres north of Moscow. Surrounded by miles of sub zero tundra, staff who hold no respect for him, and prisoners who are always on the brink of revolt, he is master of all he surveys. Life is about as good as it gets. Not.

When Vasin receives news from Orlov that a special prisoner is en-route to the prison, and that he, Vasin, should summarily execute the prisoner escort, he knows life is about to get ugly again.

With the arrival of the prisoner, followed by a batch of Bosnian prisoners, we are swiftly launched into another fast-moving, complex story which sees our hero escaping his own prison, almost dying in the sub-zero snows of the tundra, then following a trail across Russia as he exposes conspiracies, All the while trying to determine who is friend and who is foe, and working to ensure he lives long enough to get his life back. Maybe.

If I also add that these events take place in November of 1963, readers might suspect there is broader, fact-based background to this story.

Owen Matthews once again delivers a complex, fast-moving story woven around our hero. Unlike his previous two books which were based on verified facts, this one is not, rather it's the author's take on what might have happened before and after the Kennedy assassination. It's full of vivid descriptions of 1960's Russia, of cold-war rivalries and characters who may or may not be what they seem. Vasin remains a middle-aged, driven man who genuinely wants to do the right thing, I like him more and more with each book. Since this is described as the final volume in the trilogy, I think I'm going to miss him.

The author, while making this his own, definitely channels his inner LeCarre / Cruz Smith / Kanon. Fans of the series so far will not be disappointed.

Thoroughly recommended. I was pleased to receive a Netgalley ARC, but look forward to getting my hands on a proper copy.