This book is exceptionally written but I think perhaps just not the right storyline for me.

I had to concentrate a lot and it was very political, I can imagine it fascinating many!

If you enjoy Jack Ryan or Reacher this may be for you.

Operation Firefly by L.G. Wilder is a breakneck-paced, high-stakes thriller that grabs you by the throat from the first page and never lets go. This is espionage and action at its finest—gritty, intelligent, and terrifyingly plausible.

Max Voronin is the kind of hero you root for with every breath—a haunted ex-special forces soldier turned reclusive businessman, doing everything in his power to protect his daughter from the brutal legacy of his past. But when that past crashes violently into his present, Max is forced out of exile and into a lethal labyrinth of Russian oligarchs, mafia kingpins, corrupt generals, and double-dealing government ministers.

The plot is a masterclass in complexity—layered with betrayals, shifting allegiances, and old vendettas that refuse to die. Every twist cuts deep, and just when you think you’ve caught your breath, Wilder hits you with another explosive reveal.

But what sets this novel apart is its brutal authenticity. With over 30 years of firsthand knowledge of Russia, Wilder doesn’t just tell a story—he rips the lid off a world built on lies, fear, and ruthless ambition. You feel the tension in every scene, the danger in every silence.

Operation Firefly is more than a thriller—it’s a raw, emotionally-charged ride through the darkest corners of power, loyalty, and redemption. A must-read for fans of espionage, action, and political intrigue.

Do yourself a favor: clear your schedule before you start this one. You won’t want to stop.

Max Voronin is Russian, ex Special Forces and a very wealthy man. He should be happy, but the love of his life died leaving him to bring up Anna, his daughter alone and when the Mafia, gangsters and the secret police all start to try to kill him, he knows he can’t stay hidden forever. That’s when things start getting very interesting.

This is a really insightful read, so relevant to the world we’re living in at the moment. It also gives a good idea of how some Russian minds work, how different their lives are to ours and how justice is meted out. A good pace, so many unexpected events and a satisfying ending. Can’t wait to read whatever else this author writes.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a very well written book, the first of which I think will become a series and give a lot of people a lot of pleasure but sadly it wasn't for me,
Ex military and now a wealthy Russian oil magnate, Max Voronin now lives in voluntary exile, no one must know that he is still alive but he feared that his enemies had found him and he feared for his life but most importantly for the life of his beloved daughter, Anna.
Max had reluctantly allowed Anna to follow her own pathway, he had taught her as much as he could to keep her safe but Anna let down her guard in order to help her father, she took one photograph too many, her body was found beaten and discarded.
Devastated Max's life was now in danger, his enemies were powerful, he was out for revenge but something that Anna had said to him "Turn grief into a force for good" kept coming back to him.This is a fast paced story, it is action packed with diverse, complex characters, I am sure that it will give pleasure to many readers.
I found the story a bit hard to get into although I must admit that it did get better as the story progressed, I also had a problem with the Russian names, remembering who was who with names that don't roll of the tongue.
Thank you Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is voluntary.

A disappointing action thriller set among Russian oligarchs, corrupt officials and FSB thugs that sadly failed to grip. Max is an implausible construct - a classical hero with good looks, strength and smarts who somehow owns a Russian oil company. I yearned for more intrigue, wit and twists.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

In the end I enjoyed this and I would read another one in the series.

I did feel that it started off a little flat, especially the dialogue, and, as is a common issue with books about Russian people, I found the naming conventions to be a bit confusing and was sometimes not sure who we were reading about. It does get quite exciting though andI liked the fact that the main "baddie", the Kazakh, showed some character development towards the end.

It is quite a good thriller, with maybe not entirely unexpected events but it certainly shows promise. It would make a good TV programme or film.

A very enjoyable book if you like murder, crime, politics and violence. It's fast moving despite a lot of similar Russian names. The author, with great skill, manages to make Max the hero even though he kills as many if not more people than the 'baddies'. Even though I am a lady of mature years, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Very topical novel involving the Russian mafia, corruption and the FSB.
Max's past comes back to haunt him when his daughter Anna is brutally murdered. He suspects the involvement of his old enemy Kazach, a member of the Russian mafia. His past actions caused Max to :'disappear presumed dead' in the hopes of protecting his family and friends.

Events surrounding his daughter's murder and the realisation that his whereabouts have been discovered, lead Max to return to his former mercenary life. He seeks out help from his old comrade Kohla and his son Zenha to seek out the identity of Anna's murderer and Dave his own life before it's too late.
What is uncovered causes Max to question everything he knows and, ultimately, just who is the enemy.

A very interesting first book in a new series. A story mainly set in Russia which resonates well in the modern world. Max has hidden himself away and is presumed dead by people who have a grudge against him but the his daughter is murdered and he returns to Russia seeking revenge. The cast of characters is rich and diverse fro Russian state police to the Russian Mafia and ex special forces .It moves along at a cracking pace to a climatic conclusion. I shall look forward to further adventures in this series

A really enjoyable story. Fast paced, lots of intrigue and you could really picture the scenes as they occurred.

Certainly be looking out for Book 2

Fantastic storyline and once I had the characters straight in my head (took a couple of chapters to work out who is who, how they know each other and whether they are good, baf or in the grey middle!) this was a great read, well paced, plenty of action and intrigue and lots of jeopardy!

Thanks @netgalley , the author & publisher for the ARC.

This is the first, in which I'm sure will be a series, Max Voronin thriller, although I'm not quite sure how there would be another!
I had to really persevere and concentrate with the first part of the book as it felt a little disjointed at times with all the characters and knowing where they fit in the story but once you got the general gist, it was OK.
It was fast-paced and well written. Really describes the complexities and corruption within Russian politics.
It was an enjoyable read, my kind of book!

This book is a little bit different. It is set in Russia and our hero is pitched again the Russian Mafia.
His lifelong friend may not be all he seemed. But our hero is not to be deterred from his course of action. His true beliefs are followed despite the odds.
Some unusual settings and fast moving action.
We need more books about this man who is honest and has a conscience.

This is no doubt a carefully researched account of corruption and murder amongst Russian oligarchs. It is well,put together and well written. I am not sure that many readers will find the subject matter attractive. It has a lot of description and a lot of characters who can be confusing. I am not able to recommend it as an interesting or absorbing read!

I would have enjoyed it more if it had been TTS enabled, but it still grabbed me and I held on throughout all the plot twists and heaps of misinformation. Hope this comes out in audio, or at least with TTS!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected PDF from Wilder Books via NetGalley. Pub Date Apr 03, 2025
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The first in the Max Voronin series of thrillers. Very well written. I had to really concentrate and wasn't sure at the start, but so pleased I continued reading as really enjoyed this thrilling adventure. Highly recommended.

I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reader Copy and leave this review willingly.

Thriller

Review: I have re-written this review a few times as I move through the novel. My first review was damning in that this was another Jack Reacher type novel. "Special Ops super covert Russian killer-man - dude and his team of Doc Savage like special ops / sniper / giant bigfoot / recon / infiltrators in one of the Stans, has bad time and becomes billionaire. Although this description is close, it in no way did the novel justice. Max and the supporting cast are a wonderful blend of complex personalities that build with the movement.

Max, despite his Super Operator like Delta Force ninja skills (only Russian type ninja), like Spetznaz but only more speshul is grounded enough that his actions are believable and justified. There were some fails, like how Max can tell what model and caliber a gun is just by the timber of the shots (LOL).

This was an entertaining read and will continue as a series.

The cover art really does not match the MCs description in any way.

I received this ARC for an honest review.

I read the description and thought this may be a good thriller and I wasn't wrong. However, I wasn't prepared for what happened to Max's daughter and it was very sad. They say revenge is a dish best served cold but interestingly Max effected a bit of a compromise.
It's a thriller with great pace, well written and most interesting. It would appear that this is the first in the Max Voronin series of novels but one wonders how he will have changed following revenge and the absence of Firefly in his life. Anyway for me, I can hardly wait.

This was a very brave subject for a novel.
Make the main character an all action pin up Russian soldier who served in Afghanastan and then went on to own a Russian oil company, and make him likeable! OK we are spared from knowing the details of any nastiness undertaken in the war and details of his building up of the oil company to huge profitability , but people in his position have not got there by playing nicely.
But the author has done a good job and I did feel sorry for Max Voronin when his daughter is killed and he then sets himself to get revenge on the person responsible despite claiming the moral high ground in most of his dealings with people.
I did follow and enjoy the fast moving plot for about 60% of the book but then the major players and their deputies all seemed to be plotting against each other and it became a bit confusing. I did enjoy reading about the Russian tycoons, mafia bosses and the FSB state security forces and all their corrupt interactions but not enough to want to follow the rest of the series that is planned.
Thanks to NetGalley and BeRead Ltd for the ARC-

Max Voronin, a former special forces operative, has seen some serious stuff in Afghanistan. He's had enough, so he leaves and takes over as the owner of Russia's third-largest oil company. He's content to keep a low profile, letting his team run the show while he keeps a watchful eye on his daughter. But when she's brutally murdered, Max is dragged back into the game.

With his elite skills, Max navigates a treacherous landscape of lies, betrayal, and ruthless killers to track down his daughter's murderer. But as he digs deeper, nothing is as it seems. This gripping thriller is packed with twists, turns, and intense fight scenes, giving you a glimpse into modern Russia's complex web of politics and oligarchs.