Book #13 in the James Ryker series. Ryker has few regrets of the events his past actions have caused. One he never forgets is having to walk away from a 6 yera old child who needed protection. Now this child is a grown man who is in desperate need of help. Ryker will do what he does best, find him and stop anyone or anything in the way. A great thriller that continues the excellent stories I've come to expect from Rob Sinclair.

We are back with James Ryker…. for his 13th adventure! 13 is unlucky for some but not Rob Sinclair!

The Enemy Within jumps from past to present and allows the reader the chance to get to know Gregor Rebrov.

Gregor hasn’t had a great upbringing, and he’s again got himself in trouble.

Ryker is approached one day and informed of Gregor’s plight…Ryker has history with Gregor and his parents from a past mission so sets out to find him.

Of course it’s not going to be as simple as that in Ryker’s world. Firstly who were these two who informed Ryker.. and how do they know so much about him? Something doesn’t smell right.

Looking at the past we learn not only of the fate of Gregor and his family but also Ryker himself. We see how the job has changed him and also a little bit more about Ryker’s history with those who pull his strings, Mackie and Winter.

Back in the present we now understand why Ryker wants to help Gregor.. he owes him.. owes his mother.. Ryker isn’t the same man he was.. still as deadly but the toll of the job has really changed him. Is this Ryker’s chance at a little redemption?

What Rob Sinclair has done wonderfully is weave a fresh story for Ryker but at the same time added character development.. you’d think by now we would know what makes Ryker tick, but he never ceases to amaze me. Ryker has his flaws, but it’s these flaws that have made him the man he is.

Events have also changed Gregor and Ryker has to try and figure out if any of the boy he knew still remains.. it’s as he gets to know him that we finally understand Gregor’s own motivations.. the devastation that has brought him to where they are now..it’s a horrific and brutal punch that even rocks Ryker.

The setting was very poignant too as the author explores the war between Ukraine and Russia, it just makes those poignant moments all the more real.

The Enemy Within is packed full of action, political intrigue, betrayal and blood with a healthy dose of character development. For me it was all about the motivations…the depth and emotion.. Simply wow!

Thrilling thriller. Plenty of guns, weapons, secrets, spies, twists of fate and the like to keep the heart racing in this one. Once again, all with James Ryker in the thick of it.
I like that the setting is in Eastern Europe involving none other place than the Ukraine, Donbas, and Russia. Despite this being a work of fiction, the author seems to explain some of the given unrest in the area, which appeas to hinge on the history of these areas and their intermittent grips and grasps at each others' throats. Some of the storys' characters, namely Roman Mintos and his men, were striving for automony of Donbas in a patriotic endeavor to achieve his goal.

The story's timeframe triggers from about 2014 to 2022. The two-pronged timeframes made it confusing and distracting for me as I read. However, it eventually smoothened out and came together for me.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

February 2025

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by Net Galley and the publisher.

The Enemy Within by Rob Sinclair is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. I really enjoyed the dual timeline, switching between past and present, which added depth to the story. James Ryker is a great main character—flawed but compelling—and his journey is full of twists and intense moments.
The settings, from France to Russia and Ukraine, made the story even more gripping. There’s plenty of action, political intrigue, and unexpected betrayals, which kept me guessing the whole time. I did get a little lost with the time jumps at times, but that didn’t take away from the excitement. The tension builds perfectly, leading to a twisty and satisfying ending.
Overall, this was a thrilling read that had me turning pages as fast as possible. If you love spy thrillers with strong characters and nonstop action, this one is definitely worth reading!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

Overall 4.5*
Yet another good addition to this series about Ryker, who is mellowing in old age...Not!! Set in and around Ukraine this time with a dual timeline of today and 20 years ago, it is very well paced and a great page turner. Lots of killings and violence but that is to be expected from this kind of novel and only adds to the authenticity of it. Loved reading the political points of view and the only reason it lost half a star was that I did lose the time frames from time to time however that may just have been me.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review

Thank you to Boldwood Books for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I do love a good Reacher type hero in a book and James Ryker is just that. This book sees him in Russia looking for an old friend, and flashbacks to Cyprus when he worked for the friend’s family. There’s so much going on in this one, and it’s all action. Things get even more interesting once Ryker gets to Russia and Ukraine, and he even admits he was wrong at one point!

Ex-intelligence agent James Ryker has done many things in the past he'd prefer to forget. The last time he he saw Gregor Minto - son of Ukraine's most dangerous and politically influential arms dealers - Gregor was a scared six-year-old boy in need of protection. But Ryker had to walk away. The boy wasn't the mission. Twenty years on and Ryker is approached by two strangers in Antibes, France, asking for his help in finding Gregor - now going by the name og Gregor Rebov. With a back catalogue of "crimes against the Russian state," Gregor has escaped from a gulag in Siberia and is now in the wind.

This story is told in the past, Twenty years ago, and the present day. The pace is fast, the characters are well-developed, and the story has been well-written. In this action-packed story, I didn't know who I could trust. There were lots of twists in this gripping read.

Published 15th February 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #RobSinclair for my ARC of #TheEnemyWithin in exchange for an honest review.

The Enemy Within
by Rob Sinclair
Release date: Feb 15, 2025

An electrifying thriller where the past never stays buried.

Some books grip you from the first page and refuse to let go—The Enemy Within is one of them. Rob Sinclair delivers a high-octane espionage thriller filled with danger, deception, and a relentless chase across the globe. Fans of tightly woven plots and morally complex heroes will find themselves completely immersed in James Ryker’s world, where trust is scarce and old ghosts refuse to stay buried.

James Ryker, a former intelligence agent with a past he’d rather forget, is thrust back into action when two mysterious figures track him down in Antibes, France. Their request? Find Gregor Rebrov, a fugitive with a history of defying the Russian state. But Ryker knows Gregor by a different name—Gregor Minko, the scared six-year-old boy he once had to abandon for the sake of a mission. The weight of that decision still lingers, and now, two decades later, Ryker is forced to confront the consequences.

What follows is a relentless, pulse-pounding journey that takes Ryker across dangerous landscapes and into the crosshairs of powerful enemies. As he pieces together Gregor’s tangled past, Ryker finds himself questioning everything—his choices, his loyalties, and whether he himself might be to blame for the chaos unfolding around him. The deeper he digs, the more sinister the truth becomes, leading him right back to a place he never expected: home.

Sinclair’s writing is razor-sharp, balancing intricate spy craft with raw, emotional depth. Ryker is a protagonist who feels real—hardened by experience yet haunted by regret. The tension is unrelenting, with each revelation hitting like a well-placed punch, keeping the reader constantly on edge. The novel’s pacing is masterfully executed, with short, gripping chapters that make it nearly impossible to stop reading.

For fans of espionage thrillers with a human touch, The Enemy Within delivers everything you could want—action, intrigue, and a deeply personal story of redemption. Sinclair doesn’t just tell a spy story; he makes you feel the weight of every decision, every loss, and every betrayal. If you’re looking for a gripping read that will keep you hooked until the very last page, this one is a must.

Thank you to Boldwood Books for providing this advance copy via NetGalley for my honest, voluntary review.

#TheEnemyWithin #NetGalley

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I do love a good Reacher type hero in a book and James Ryker is just that. This book sees him in Russia looking for an old friend, and flashbacks to Cyprus when he worked for the friend’s family. There’s so much going on in this one, and it’s all action. Things get even more interesting once Ryker gets to Russia and Ukraine, and he even admits he was wrong at one point!

I believe this is number 13 in the Ryker series but can just as easily be read as a standalone. There’s enough background given in each book about James and Winter, his “boss”, that makes this a really good series that you can dip in and out of. I’ve read one of the previous books, number 12, and this one isn’t a direct follow-on from that.

A really good action-packed movie of a novel, draws you in at the start and doesn’t let you out till the end. Just the way a good book should be.

The Enemy Within by Rob Sinclair
James Ryker #13

Once again, I wish that I had not read an advanced readers’ copy of a book so far into an ongoing series without having read previous books in the series because though it flowed and the story was easy enough to follow, I was not invested in the main character or the theme of the story. It could also be that living where I do in Lebanon with a tentative ceasefire and new government in place this story was a bit too close to home…though distant geographically.

The story was well written, concise, well plotted, and characters well developed. There was plenty of action and enough backstory to keep things moving. Ryker, the main character, is supposedly reformed…somewhat…and there are plenty of evil characters to dislike and wish bad luck. I am guessing that those who HAVE read the previous books will slot in smoothly with this book’s theme and root for Ryker eagerly waiting to see what he will get up to next. I will let them and move on to the next book in my queue and wish all James Ryker fans happy reading.

Can this book stand alone without reading previous books in the series? Yes
Would I have enjoyed it more if I’d read the previous books in the series? I think so
Will I read more books in this series? Probably not

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

Another killer read by a very talented author. Book was well written, and doesn't disappoint! Recommended for anyone who loves a good whodunnit.

The Enemy Within is the latest novel in the James Ryker series. I've not read all the books, but I've read enough to know they guarantee an action-packed adventure in which our main character will encounter a few baddies.

The Enemy Within quickly grabbed my attention, especially with the addition of Gregor's point of view from the gulag, while James is in a somewhat better position in the south of France. As we're taken back to Ryker's past, events in the present start to unfold, and we're also treated to a trip to the Ukraine and Russian border.

I don't know if this book is more violent than earlier ones in the series or because one of the storylines is Ryker as a younger man, it's just that we discover how truly lethal he used to be, but the body count is certainly high.

The ending was delightfully twisty, and readers will learn much about Ryker from reading the latest instalment.

It is a violent, bloody and twisty tale, with elements of the current difficulties of the Ukraine war threaded through, which also makes it shockingly current.

Another violent episode in the James Ryker series using the current Russia/Ukraine war as its background. The story also goes back 20 years to explain all the present day events. It does jump about somewhat but remains an interesting read full of treachery and twists with all not seeming what originally appeared to be. A tense ending with the clue there maybe more!

'The Enemy Within' is the thirteenth book in the James Ryker series and the first book by million selling author Rob Sinclair I have read. Set in two time periods twenty years apart this fast paced at times dark story is very much a political thriller involving Russia and the Ukraine amongst other countries. At times violent and brutal but entertaining to those who love this style of writing. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

"The Enemy Within" by Rob Sinclair is the 13th book in the James Ryker series. This book was action packed and made you want to keep going to find out what happened.
James is on assignment in France when his past catches up to him. After his assignment ends he has to go and help someone from his past. As he remembers his time in the past and what things he had to do he realizes just how much he has changed. He is hunting down to help a person that he was connected to in the past. Just as much as James has changed so did the person he is trying to help.
Highly recommend for action fans.

My first thriller by Rob Sinclair, and I will not forget it!! It was absolutely riveting ! The novel is full of twists and turns and many many dead people... Scary , indeed, but I have to admit I could not put the book down! I will definitely read more of James Ryker's adventures (or whoever he is...).
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Enemy Within is not an easy read, or so I thought. It is very dark, and contains multiple story lines that seem to have been mixed together and tossed as you never know why the story line has changed. For me, the book is a mess.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

This story jumped around a lot . There was plenty of action and suspense but it jumped around between time and place made it hard to follow. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Book 13 in the ever gripping James Ryker series however it can be read as a standalone. Ryker works within the Special Intelligence Services, or at least used to. Now he's very much an independent! Whilst on a case in France he is approached by a couple wanting him to find Gregor Minko, or Rebrov as he's now known as. Ryker's last saw him some twenty years previous when Gregor was just six years old. Allegedly he is now seen as a terrorist. Ryker feels he has an obligation to find him and decide if he is a terrorist or a misguided man involved in the Russian - Ukraine conflict.
The storyline is written in dual times, current day and twenty years ago, with each period being equally as dangerous and life threatening. Current day has Ryker wondering who to trust and who to disbelieve.
All this leads to a very fast paced, action packed, gripping thriller. It takes you on a journey from France to Ukraine to Russia to London. Grab your passport and join in this epic voyage of gangs and espionage.

This is an amazing book. It's a mix of action, mystery and contemporary drama.
You get so much action between past and present events. Where James while fighting the bad guys tries to save a young man he used to know as a boy. Trust no one as there is a twist behind each corner. It keeps you engaged for the whole read!