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Kyiv Rules
‘Kyiv Rules’ - Crime, corruption & the KGB.
Stubborn, sarcastic, witty and laconic, Gennady Dudka is the longest serving officer in the Ukrainian SBU (the post-independence name for the KGB) and the head of the Anti-Corruption & Organised Crime Directorate.
With a series of high-profile attacks on armoured cars threatening the Government’s reputation a week before it hosts an Interpol conference, Dudka is ordered to find those responsible or face the consequences.
Ignoring mounting pressure from the President of Ukraine to retire, Dudka has limited time to prove to both his boss and the bandits that he is still the man for the job. But who is really behind these attacks and is Dudka really meant to finish his investigation?
After appearing in the #1 Kindle bestselling thrillers ‘HETMAN’ and ‘COLD BLACK’ Director Dudka now has his own novella.
Stubborn, sarcastic, witty and laconic, Gennady Dudka is the longest serving officer in the Ukrainian SBU (the post-independence name for the KGB) and the head of the Anti-Corruption & Organised Crime Directorate.
With a series of high-profile attacks on armoured cars threatening the Government’s reputation a week before it hosts an Interpol conference, Dudka is ordered to find those responsible or face the consequences.
Ignoring mounting pressure from the President of Ukraine to retire, Dudka has limited time to prove to both his boss and the bandits that he is still the man for the job. But who is really behind these attacks and is Dudka really meant to finish his investigation?
After appearing in the #1 Kindle bestselling thrillers ‘HETMAN’ and ‘COLD BLACK’ Director Dudka now has his own novella.
69 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2013
1 person is currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Alex Shaw
22 books162 followersALEX SHAW B.A.(Hons), P.G.C.E. spent the second half of the 1990s in Kyiv, Ukraine, teaching Drama and running his own business consultancy before being head-hunted for a division of Siemens. The next few years saw him doing business for the company across the former USSR, the Middle East, and Africa.
Alex is an active member of the ITW (The International Thriller Writers organisation) and the CWA (the Crime Writers Association). He is the author of the #1 International Kindle Bestselling 'Aidan Snow SAS thrillers' HETMAN & COLD BLACK and the new DELTA FORCE VAMPIRE series of books. His writing has also been published in the thriller anthologies DEATH TOLL, DEATH TOLL 2 and ACTION PULSE POUNDING TALES 2 alongside International Bestselling authors Stephen Leather and Matt Hilton. DANGEROUS, DEADLY, ELITE - The third Aidan Snow Thriller will be available in October 2014.
COLD BLACK is commercially published by ENDEAVOUR PRESS.
Alex, his wife and their two sons divide their time between homes in Kyiv, Ukraine and Worthing, England. Alex can be contacted via his website www.alexwshaw.com You can also follow Alex on twitter: @alexshawhetman
Alex is an active member of the ITW (The International Thriller Writers organisation) and the CWA (the Crime Writers Association). He is the author of the #1 International Kindle Bestselling 'Aidan Snow SAS thrillers' HETMAN & COLD BLACK and the new DELTA FORCE VAMPIRE series of books. His writing has also been published in the thriller anthologies DEATH TOLL, DEATH TOLL 2 and ACTION PULSE POUNDING TALES 2 alongside International Bestselling authors Stephen Leather and Matt Hilton. DANGEROUS, DEADLY, ELITE - The third Aidan Snow Thriller will be available in October 2014.
COLD BLACK is commercially published by ENDEAVOUR PRESS.
Alex, his wife and their two sons divide their time between homes in Kyiv, Ukraine and Worthing, England. Alex can be contacted via his website www.alexwshaw.com You can also follow Alex on twitter: @alexshawhetman
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 7, 2014
Gennady Dudka is head of the Organised Crime and Corruption Unit in the Ukranian SBU. He is tasked with finding out who is masterminding a series of audacious raids on armoured cars. The timing couldn’t be worse. In a week’s time the Ukraine is hosting an Interpol conference. Dudka must track down the people responsible - or face the consequences.
This is an interesting novella. It is clear the author, even without reading his bio, is very knowledgeable when it comes to the Ukraine, its people, politics, food and culture. And that adds a dimension to this story that I’ve not come across before. There’s a very strong sense of place within, what it’s like to live and operate within the country, the detail stretches down even to the level of bread consumption.
That’s not to say that this detail dwarfs the story, far from it. The descriptions are light and support the action. In fact it is the politics – crime and corruption within the SBU – that drives this tale and one man, Dudka, who is brave enough to tackle it, albeit in a pragmatic fashion.
The characters are well done too, again they fit with the location and atmosphere Shaw creates, as does the dialogue. The action clips along with the odd twist and turn en route as Dudka tracks down his man and saves the day.
This is a well written short story, I’d like to know more about Dudka and the Ukraine. Well worth looking out.
**Originally reviewed for Books and Pals blog. May have received free review copy.**
This is an interesting novella. It is clear the author, even without reading his bio, is very knowledgeable when it comes to the Ukraine, its people, politics, food and culture. And that adds a dimension to this story that I’ve not come across before. There’s a very strong sense of place within, what it’s like to live and operate within the country, the detail stretches down even to the level of bread consumption.
That’s not to say that this detail dwarfs the story, far from it. The descriptions are light and support the action. In fact it is the politics – crime and corruption within the SBU – that drives this tale and one man, Dudka, who is brave enough to tackle it, albeit in a pragmatic fashion.
The characters are well done too, again they fit with the location and atmosphere Shaw creates, as does the dialogue. The action clips along with the odd twist and turn en route as Dudka tracks down his man and saves the day.
This is a well written short story, I’d like to know more about Dudka and the Ukraine. Well worth looking out.
**Originally reviewed for Books and Pals blog. May have received free review copy.**
August 19, 2016
A riveting crime novella.
As a huge fan of Alex Shaw's Aidan Snow novels, I have been looking forwards to reading Kyiv Rules for some time, and I wasn't the least bit disappointed. This is a fantastic short crime thriller that takes the reader into the world of Director Gennady Dudka, the head of the Ukrainian SBU's Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Directorate.
After a series of armoured car heists throughout Kyiv, Dudka is under pressure to come up with results or face the reality of a forced early retirement. Shaw's careful and clever plotting comes together to not only tell the tale of the investigation, but also the internal, hierarchical politics of the Ukrainian SBU.
Kyiv Rules is a great read. It is highly entertaining, and well worth your time and money. Well done, Mr Shaw.
As a huge fan of Alex Shaw's Aidan Snow novels, I have been looking forwards to reading Kyiv Rules for some time, and I wasn't the least bit disappointed. This is a fantastic short crime thriller that takes the reader into the world of Director Gennady Dudka, the head of the Ukrainian SBU's Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Directorate.
After a series of armoured car heists throughout Kyiv, Dudka is under pressure to come up with results or face the reality of a forced early retirement. Shaw's careful and clever plotting comes together to not only tell the tale of the investigation, but also the internal, hierarchical politics of the Ukrainian SBU.
Kyiv Rules is a great read. It is highly entertaining, and well worth your time and money. Well done, Mr Shaw.
February 4, 2014
Kyiv Rules is a suspenseful, thought-provoking and, above all, highly entertaining crime story. The characterization is excellent and the dialogue full of memorable lines. Ivan Nedilko is one SBU agent I'd love to read more of.
November 26, 2020
Dudka rules!
I always love a story where the good guy cleverly sticks it to the weasels who are trying to stick it to him. Dudka is a master at coming out on top, or at least alive, and Zlotnik and company are just the kind of weasels you love to hate. I like Dudka and Nedilko, who also has an up-your-nose sense of humor.
This was a shortish book, but I already had a handle on some of the characters from Shaw's other books, so I got into the swing of it quickly. Very enjoyable. The Eastern European names were a challenge for the Text-to-Speech dude who lives in my Kindle, but I got along okay.
I always love a story where the good guy cleverly sticks it to the weasels who are trying to stick it to him. Dudka is a master at coming out on top, or at least alive, and Zlotnik and company are just the kind of weasels you love to hate. I like Dudka and Nedilko, who also has an up-your-nose sense of humor.
This was a shortish book, but I already had a handle on some of the characters from Shaw's other books, so I got into the swing of it quickly. Very enjoyable. The Eastern European names were a challenge for the Text-to-Speech dude who lives in my Kindle, but I got along okay.
January 19, 2015
I received a free copy of Kyiv Rules-A Director Dudka Short Crime Thriller in an Amazon promotion. I gave it four stars because it kept my attention & was informative about the Ukrainian SBU (the post-independence name for the KGB).
Director Yuri Zlotnik is determined to oust Dudka because he was the longest standing Director of SBU. Zlotnik's an unattractive man & this is one example of Dudka's snarky descriptions of him. "Dudka addressed the top of his head, which was at least less repulsive than his nostrils."
Here is one that shows his impudence: "Dudka, this is all hearsay. Then hear me say this."
In spite of all opposition Dudka shows he still has the skills necessary to solve crimes. The end is impressive.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G...
Director Yuri Zlotnik is determined to oust Dudka because he was the longest standing Director of SBU. Zlotnik's an unattractive man & this is one example of Dudka's snarky descriptions of him. "Dudka addressed the top of his head, which was at least less repulsive than his nostrils."
Here is one that shows his impudence: "Dudka, this is all hearsay. Then hear me say this."
In spite of all opposition Dudka shows he still has the skills necessary to solve crimes. The end is impressive.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G...
March 10, 2016
Kyiv Rules. Alex Shaw
Director Dudka, is the director of SBU, formerly the KGB. He is well versed in the methods of deduction, if you will Sherlock Holmes. He is street smart, he is a survivor. His promotions and title comes from experience and prior solved cases. He owes no one any favors He solves crimes by using his razor sharp deductive reasoning. He has no peers. This is a short but highly entertaining read. A great book!!
Director Dudka, is the director of SBU, formerly the KGB. He is well versed in the methods of deduction, if you will Sherlock Holmes. He is street smart, he is a survivor. His promotions and title comes from experience and prior solved cases. He owes no one any favors He solves crimes by using his razor sharp deductive reasoning. He has no peers. This is a short but highly entertaining read. A great book!!
May 30, 2016
I enjoyed this short story, a well written thriller set in Kyiv Ukraine, you can clearly see the authors knowledge of the area shining through in the writing and i felt some of the political machinations were worthy of House of Cards.
April 19, 2016
Not my normal genre, with secret service agents. This story set in Ukraine is a fast moving book, plenty of intrigue and corruption. A writer to look out for.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews