Crude: Ukraine, Oil and Nuclear War

by Mike Bond

The Doomsday clock is set at 90 seconds to Midnight.There’s no time to lose.Mike Bond delivers the summer’s must read thriller — our very survival depends on it.Nuclear war is coming.
Can we stop it?
Or is it already too late?

On an October night, far out in the South China Sea, a diver sets explosive charges under a huge oil platform. On the platform above, geologist Liz Chaplin stands watching the Southern Cross sink beneath the waves.
In New York, Ross Bullock, the CEO of Rawhide Energy and the platform’s owner, states during a televised press conference that our country has made a fatal mistake in Ukraine and is headed for nuclear war.
Immediately the White House, intelligence agencies, the media and financial world attack Rawhide for raising the specter of nuclear war and thus threatening the president’s reelection.
The action expands to Mongolia, Indonesia, Washington D.C., and Ukraine. The true perpetrator of these crimes becomes known – it is impossible, unbelievable, but true. Is the White House behind it?
The president threatens nuclear war with Russia to distract voters from his fraudulent Ukraine and China deals and worsening polls. The Russians respond by increasing their nuclear readiness. But the president alone can decide to launch a nuclear war as he clings to the nuclear button.
So begins CRUDE, Mike Bond’s new super-thriller that takes us to the door of world annihilation and shows us what’s inside.

“Mike Bond is the master of the existential thriller” – BBC
“One of America’s best thriller writers” – CULTURE BUZZ
“A master of the storytelling craft” – MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
“One of the 21st Century’s most exciting authors” – WASHINGTON TIMES
“Mike Bond is a masterful storyteller.” – SACRAMENTO BEE
“Mike Bond’s books are a national treasure.” –WVOX

MIKE BOND is the author of twelve best-selling novels, a former war correspondent, intelligence expert, U.S. Senate candidate, diplomat, conservationist, investment banker, and CEO of an international energy company. Considered a world expert on crude supply and oil refining, he is also a Russia and Eastern Europe specialist.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Mystery

456 pages, Paperback

Published July 20, 2024

About the author

MIKE BOND has been called the “master of the existential thriller” by the BBC and “one of the 21st century’s most exciting authors” by the Washington Times. He is a bestselling novelist, environmental activist, international energy expert, war and human rights correspondent and award-winning poet who has lived and worked in many remote and dangerous parts of the world. His critically acclaimed novels depict the innate hunger of the human heart for what is good, the intense joys of love, the terror and fury of battle, the sinister vagaries of international politics and multinational corporations, and the beauty of the vanishing natural world.

Reviews

[KJD · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish. This book reads like a wet dream for a guy in a maga hat. Aside from a few details of the drilling platform, the science is imaginary, every character more liberal than the worst despot you can think of is presented as uneducated and venal, every global problem of the past 60 years is pinned on democratic presidents and George Soros - by name! It might appeal to the narrow audience of people who both believe what a certain felon running for president says AND can read, but for the most part, if you have the brain power to read a book, you'll find this trite and ridiculous.

I received this book as a giveaway and I was looking forward to a summer thriller but it's just poorly disguised propaganda. Very disappointing.

[Philip Guzman · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway.

I tried, folks. . . I usually try and finish all books that I start. . . However, I COULD NOT finish this book.

*Poor Russians. . . (the same Russians who have murdered, rape, and bombed their way through Ukraine. . killing and torturing men, women, and children and bombed hospitals). . . are the real victims here in this book.

* Americans, especially Democrats are warmongers who want to cash in on killing people.

*Obama, Biden are the real instigators of war. . Trump though tried to curb the abuse.

* oh. . . and Elon Musk is right all the time.

. . . Enough! . . . One is free to see the world as one likes. . . . but I sure as hell don't have to read this stuff when I don't see your "take" . . . this is insane!

Bond is an engaging writer but I simply don't know what has happened in his life for him to veer from working with Al Gore on climate issues, to running for governor as a Democrat to this stuff???
. . . and I'm not interested in finding out. . . My first and last Mike Bond book!

[Chris MacKechnie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm wondering if Mike Bond is a pseudonym for Stephen Miller, because this book reads like a Heritage Foundation manifesto. It's a lot of unhinged rhetoric wrapped in a blanket of dubious science and alternative facts.

[Robbin Rogers · Rating 1 out of 5]

how could you be so wrong?

I hated the character, hated what he said. hated the writing style, hated the message. I need this kind of negativity, even if there is a grain of truth in it, like a whole in my head. I've read other books of his. he had an engaging writing style. This one, well, ill read no more of him.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

MAGA will love this book.

The uber-wrought details about stock prices for an oil company… who cares.

The “Doomsday” plot drew me in, but this was no “Scott Harvath” type adventure. It was just hundreds of pages of MAGA-porn.

If you like that, fine. For me.. no bueno.

PS. Info have to thank NetGalley & AuthorBuzz for the advanced copy.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

“The paranoid evil minds of the war machine- and their thousands of government, media, and industry allies- were gambling with our lives. How had we allowed this? Given them the option to destroy everything?”

DEFCON 1. Yep, this is serious. We have a crazed, war-loving president, taking us head long into world annihilation with Russia. Our hero is a beloved billionaire oilman who dares speak out against this war. Our billion oilman suddenly finds himself a major target by the US government and it’s evil mass media cohorts. One of his oil platforms is bombed, along with a refinery in Wyoming and that is just the beginning. How can our beloved billionaire oilman save his business and the world before it is too late? Follow every breath-taking moment on Fox News.
This author can certainly write. If he would have just stuck to writing a propulsive thriller this would have worked fine but painting all democrats as scheming war-mongers, (yes, Biden was the senile, criminal mastermind behind it all) choked the life out of it for me. Honestly, I started to think this might be a spoof of some kind and maybe he found the perfect MAGA audience with this formula. I can not confirm that but it did make me wonder if Fauci was really behind the Wuhan lab conspiracy. Tongue firmly in cheek of course.

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jump into a world of oil politics and corruption. This book is wild! Guaranteed to keep your heart pounding, this is an unputdownable thriller filled with nonstop action.

Bond knows how to set the pace and keep it going until the very end. The story and characters are so vividly crafted that as you read you can’t help but be pulled in.

It reminded me of TJ Newman’s book 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝐶𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑆𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑜 only on a broader scale. This is a thrilling book - but is also a thought-provoking read. It’s horrifying to think something like this could happen in real life.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

CRUDE
Ukraine, Oil and Nuclear War

CRUDE is a geopolitical thriller based on current day events in the complex economic and political world of oil. An explosion occurs at Rawhide Energy’s Indonesian Mahakam offshore gas platform in the Makassar Straight. Geologist Liz Chaplin is the only survivor. Shortly after, Rawhide’s Wyoming oil refinery is blown.

Ross Bullock, CEO and owner of Rawhide Energy, has recently expressed his views on Russian sanctions and the continued war in Ukraine, which run contrary to those of the current US administration. And so begins the battle: faulty maintenance by Rawhide Energy or sabotage.

“Our platform’s destroyed with 131 people dead, our hydrocracker’s blown with 4 dead and another in the hospital, our refinery’s shut, the Indonesians are trying to steal our leases, the insurance pool’s accusing us of negligence, the banks are pulling our loans, people are breaking off negotiations on our new deals, social media’s screaming for boycotts, CNN and all those other assholes are spreading lies, everyone’s selling us short in every market, and EastPac’s trying to eat us alive. And you think it’s accidental?”

Investigations and charges from several regulatory agencies, foreign competition for oil drilling leases, and political pressure all threaten Rawhide’s very existence. With operations and offices in Jakarta, New York, and Wyoming, and other business dealings in London, Moscow, Sudan, Wuhan, and Mongolia, the story has a great international presence.

A little over the top, and a little hectic especially near the end, overall it was very entertaining and educational. Gives a good insight in the world of Crude.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Mike Bond, and Big City Press for the opportunity to read and review this book

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

A CEO calls a press conference to protest the war in Ukraine. Then someone blows up his one of his oil refineries and tries to put him out of business. A George Soros type is behind everything.

[dianas_books_cars_coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up

I don't normally read political thriller but I really enjoyed this one. I would definitely read another one by this author.

Ross Bullock is the owner and CEO of Rawhide Energy. One of their platforms in the South China Sea explodes leaving Liz Chaplin, a geologist, the sole survivor. While the media attributes the incident to negligence on Rawhide's part, Ross and Liz believe it was not an accident, but rather an act of sabotage. Shortly after Rawhide's refinery in WY explodes. The question remains, who is responsible for trying to takedown Rawhide? This occurs around the time Ross publicly states at a press conference that the United States made a critical error in the Ukraine, potentially leading to nuclear war. Subsequently, Rawhide comes under attack from the media and financial sectors. The President is up for reelection is he trying to distract voters? Could the attacks be coming from the US or from a foreign entity or both?

This book was very complex with its multiple characters and settings. I found it to be captivating. I thoroughly enjoyed the various locations it transported me to, especially WY. The characters were all unique and I really liked reading all the different POVs. The book was extremely interesting, suspenseful, and filled with action. The mystery was intriguing and kept me turning pages. I appreciated Ross Bullock's backstory and his humble beginnings in North Dakota. This book was definitely fast-paced, exciting, and entertaining, but you really do need to pay attention. I would recommend it, but it is very political, so read at your own discretion🩷

[Don Weymouth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a pre-release through Netgalley, but it took me an entire month to read because it included many, too many complex international issues facing our nation. Given Mike Bond's work history and experience, he is an expert on international oil issues, it would have been better if he didn't stray from this, it would have been a 5 star read.

As you can see from people's ratings, if you rely on the New York Times, Washington Post, MSNBC or CNN, you won't be aware of anything the characters refer to, so don't bother reading, you will hate it. Given that the author was an international correspondent, he probably has cut through the issues which were covered up by the current administration and the news media, and isn't concerned about losing those readers.

On the other hand, this book covered a number of international issues that have not been addressed in the last four years, the situation in Ukraine and the proxy war we seem to be in against Russia, the situation between Israel and Hama/Hezbollah, the price of Crude, and terrorism against oil company operations. This needs to be addressed. If the new administration cannot do anything about these issue, there will be an all out World War III, which is why I believe the author included all these issues.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this is a book about politics disguised as a thriller. I started out pretty interested in this book. As someone who worked in the oil industry, I thought a thriller involving it would be interesting. And it did start out that way.

An oil platform explodes and the company that owns it is quickly blamed for faulty maintenance. Shortly after, a unit in a refinery in the middle of Wyoming blows up which is owned by the same company, and they are again blamed. As the CEO of the company tries to prove that they weren't at fault and actually targeted, he is also trying to save the world from a nuclear war.

Started out strong and action packed, and then it went wrong. It when down a path that clearly reflected the author's political views, and started to turn into a platform for him to push has theories and agenda. The President - who is never outright named, but is clear who it is - is in bed with the Ukrainians. The Russians are our friends and only looking out for us. The Times, NPR and the rest of the "woke" media is lying.

What's disappointing is that whatever your politics are, this didn't have to be a political book. It could have just been a thriller with fictional characters. But the author chose to insert his politics in it, and just lost focus on the story.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sierra| HooksxBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book… was a slow slow sloooowww burn. It dragged. And I won’t lie, I almost DNFed 5% in because it’s very… MAGA coded. This book is written in a way that flips reality (ex. Ukraine is the villain. Russia the victim of war) etc.

Outside of that, once you get into the Ross & Rawhide investigation that’s what really saves the book. Because the president in this book definitely seems to be written after the current pres even though it mentions a Female VP which again… ehh… mmmmm… no. We’re literally watching things play out (without the explosions, yet) in realtime with this current election.

This book in the wrong hands (especially those that are “vulnerable to misinformation”) would definitely take this as fact and not fiction…


I may try another Mike Bond book again. Because I do enjoy political thriller/mystery books… but this one? It wasn’t bad. It just, had some uncomfortable rhetoric.

[robert casullo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good but difficult to read.

If you follow closely and reread when necessary you can out the pieces together. Makes you wonder hat is fact and what is fiction!!!!

[Shanon Whitfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read well written loved the story

[Barbara Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book by Mike Bond. Frighteningly too close to reality.

[John Gately · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

Great plot, characters and world view.
Very current seems like it could be happening in America, Russia and Ukraine now.
Opinions are a little too right leaning.

[Allison · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story has so far gotten high marks from early reviewers for confronting our natural fear of the threat of nuclear war. The author presents his premise in a speech given to journalists, and here I quote:
“ “Again, as most of you know, the real cause of the US-Russian war in Ukraine goes back to the 1990s, when we promised Russia there would be no NATO expansion into Eastern Europe. Instead we have expanded NATO to Russia’s boundaries, surrounded Russia with nuclear missiles, built bioweapons labs and CIA training camps on its borders, and have turned the Ukrainians into mercenaries against their own kin. Every attempt by Russia to resolve this problem, at the UN and other forums, has been ignored. Every Russian request for friendship or closer alliances with the West has been rejected by the U.S. In the spring of 2014, Russia invaded Crimea because we had instructed Ukraine to cut off Russia’s access to Sebastopol, Russia’s most essential historic port. We spent five billion dollars in our 2014 coup that overthrew Ukraine’s popularly elected, pro-Russian government. This warlike, illegal coup was ordered by president Obama and engineered by Victoria Nuland, who in way back in 2003 engineered with Bush and Cheney the tragic invasion of Iraq. At that point she should have been arrested for war crimes,+

This sounded so antithetical to what I knew that I googled this and found multiple sources contradicting his premise
This has been a constant message emerging from the Kremlin: that the Nato membership of many parts of the old Soviet Bloc, and the prospective membership of Ukraine to the alliance, poses a threat to Russian sovereignty.

But the decision to accept former members of the Warsaw Pact, the defensive alliance which included the USSR and several eastern European countries, is being subject to a revisionist history. This is perpetuating a myth that Nato promised not to expand eastwards after the Soviet Union dissolved.

Indeed, the only formal agreement signed between Nato countries and the USSR, before its breakup in December 1991, was the Treaty of Final Settlement with Respect to Germany. The promises made specifically relate to Germany, and the territory of the former GDR, which were on the deployment of non-German Nato forces into eastern Germany and the deployment of nuclear weapons – and these promises have been kept.

I apologizing for these lengthy quotes, but I include them to explain why I decided not to continue reading this apologist for Russia. Lacing a piece of fiction with real historic and contemporary figures is a very dangerous technique. It has obviously convinced the early reviewers who made no mention of examining the author’s premise.
Read. Don’t read. Just be forewarned.

[Sarah W · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the big cast of characters and the mystery behind the explosion of the plant. I knew going into this it was a political thriller and there were a couple chapters with heavy politics that sort of distracted/threw me out of the story during those specific chapters. But, I enjoyed everything else that was affected by the politics. I really liked following Turk as he went undercover to collect evidence and Liz’s storyline. The stock market affected Ross’ Crude business and the things he did to try and right it. It had a lot of suspense and corruption that I did find thrilling and engaging.

Thank you @getredprbooks for the gifted copy.

[John D. Gonzales · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you can overlook the MAGA slant and unproven conspiracy theory conclusions as facts, overall not a terrible or bad read. It was difficult for me to swallow that the US has been screwing and backstabbing Russia, that the Durham report actually made these or had these final conclusions as facts, etc. but like I said it’s a decent fictional story though I did have some problems with keeping the characters straight as there were some similarities (e.g. two separate sets of strangers start hooking up and falling in love after initially suspicious or suspecting each other of potential bad motives). But if you can overlook these shortcomings, I still found it an entertaining read.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to good reads as I won this book and will gladly leave my review.

I have to admit it is not my genre of books I choose to read. It has a huge cast of characters that for me were too many to keep track of who had what title and did what. The main character is Ross CEO, of Rawhide, a major energy platform in the waters off Borneo.

The story starts with the explosion of this platform. The ramifications of war, sanctions. Stocks, loans, leases and news articles are the majority of issues written in the book.

Yes there are some women too, and they too bring their help. One even saw the explosion. Oh, I forgot to mention there are attempts to kill as well as murders.

The story given the above information is who blew up the station or did the murders. Then an explanation how each one of the list of issues effects the country or an individual. It appeared to ,e if you follow the news today and how the different topics work you got this book

It is clear that the author has gotten each topic with a clear understandinng

[Kitten Kisser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminds me a lot of the television show, Yellowstone. You have a powerful oil company (instead of a mega awesome sauce cattle ranch) that everyone is trying to screw over, including other oil companies & the government. A huge bias in the news reporting depicts the owner of the oil company in question as public enemy #1. Or is he?

The story is a combination of recent historical facts, current facts & fiction. The overall theme is mainly of the possibility nuclear war & the death of humanity. The author is pretty hard on the Left, pulling no punches in presenting facts & also creating fictional bad behavior. However, he doesn't hold back on the Right either. They get the same combination of actual facts & fiction. They just don't get hit as often. After all, this is a book about the government & mega corporations. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Very entertaining.

Thank you NetGalley & Big City Press for providing a digital copy for me to review.

[Mark Easter · Rating 4 out of 5]

After nine years and eight books, I'm starting to understand Mike Bond a little. A true contrarian and unconventional thinker, Bond consistently views the world from a different perspective, which contributes to his distinctiveness. He is drawn to characters who are solitary heroes with a clear, balanced outlook, often pitted against malevolent global conspiracies. This theme is particularly prominent in "Crude." The main character, Ross Bullock, who owns and operates Rawhide Energy—a major global energy firm started by his parents in Montana—finds himself in peril after voicing concerns about a potential global nuclear war instigated by self-interested politicians and the military-industrial complex. Suddenly, he becomes a target of the very powers he criticized, who seek to neutralize or eliminate him. It's a compelling narrative that resonates with our current era. And as Ross asserts, "The powerful are only powerful because we allow it."

[McKenna Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crude by Mike Bond is an intense, existential thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. This action-packed novel follows a complex and twisting plot filled with government intrigue, making it a perfect pick for fans of Jack Carr’s The Terminal List and stories centered on high-stakes conspiracies. Bond’s narrative is relentless, driving forward with gripping scenes that ensure the book is a true page-turner. While the story can be complicated at times, it’s worth the ride for those who appreciate intricate thrillers with plenty of action. Note: the book does contain some strong language.

[Stephan Huston · Rating 1 out of 5]

Where to start. This book spreads so much far right, conspiracy bullshit that I couldn't believe it. Blaming the dems, the victims of war, and everybody except the right wingers for every problem known to mankind. It is so bad that I have considered if the author meant it as satire, not sure. Almost quite reading several times, but stuck with it just to see the ending. And the whole thing, particularly the ending, is unbelievable to the extreme. I have no idea what the readers that rated this 5 or 4 stars were thinking. Apparently they like this fantasy bs? If I could have, I would have rated it minus 5. It is garbage, that's all I can say.

[Suzette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good piece of political fantasy. The plot is based on the premise that the democrats and their president are war mongers set on destroying the world with a nuclear bomb. The story is told from multiple points of view of several characters. The setting is international from London to China. The story also features two couples finding love.

[Barry Braverman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional ... A very current events book. Many times while reading, I had to stop to ask me myself if I am reading a book or reading real live events concurring today. Great pace, world traveling, who dun it. Mike Bond took us from two five years fighting to the extreme of world powers fighting or fixing the future of the world. Wonderful adventure.

[Darlene Mesch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Close to reality and almost as scary

Mike kept just enough reality to keep anyone paying attention interested. He needs to add an apology in December.
Very exciting and we all hope it ends well.

[David Harvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book but tended to struggle with the rapid shifts between characters and what seemed like an overly complicated plot. I also never really understood the Nuclear war theme that ran throughout.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crude: Ukraine, Oil and Nuclear War by Mike Bond is a current events story with the twist of nuclear escalation. A very exciting read (I couldn’t put it down!) if you like political thrillers! Thank you to NetGalley and Big City Press for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.