Revenge of Odessa

Odessa #2

by Frederick Forsyth, Tony Kent

At last, the long-awaited sequel to the New York Times bestselling thriller classic, The Odessa File.

Fifty years after revealing the secrets of Odessa, an underground organization of former Nazis angling to regain power, Peter Miller is a retired legend in the journalism community. He's spent the last decade caring for his grandson Georg, after the death of his son and daughter in law in a tragic cara accident.

Always suspecting that his own long list of enemies might have been behind his son’s death, Peter pulled back from his career to keep Georg safe. But he could do nothing to stop the young man from following in his footsteps, Georg's reputation and renown for fearless journalism growing fast in a digital world.

But Georg Miller is not the only aspect of Peter’s past that has thrived. By 2025 Odessa has been replace by Medusa which has reached a level of secret power greater than Odessa ever achieved, its every long-term plan nearing fruition. The subtle rise of the far-right in German politics; the dozens of seemingly unconnected ‘patriotic’ parties growing across Germany’s constituent states and districts; the spike in violence and terrorism against Germany’s immigrant population; and the angry reaction of her citizens. All are symptoms of a man-made, hidden danger, fuel for a planned inferno that must be stopped at all costs.

All while, elsewhere, the children of Odessa play for the highest power of all--a seat in the West Wing.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Novels

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 12, 2025

About the author

Frederick Forsyth, CBE was a English author and occasional political commentator. He was best known for thrillers such as The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Dogs of War, The Devil's Alternative, The Fist of God, Icon, The Veteran, Avenger, The Afghan, and more recently, The Cobra and The Kill List.

The son of a furrier, he was born in Ashford, Kent, educated at Tonbridge School and later attended the University of Granada. He became one of the youngest pilots in the Royal Air Force at 19, where he served on National Service from 1956 to 1958. Becoming a journalist, he joined Reuters in 1961 and later the BBC in 1965, where he served as an assistant diplomatic correspondent. From July to September 1967, he served as a correspondent covering the Nigerian Civil War between the region of Biafra and Nigeria. He left the BBC in 1968 after controversy arose over his alleged bias towards the Biafran cause and accusations that he falsified segments of his reports. Returning to Biafra as a freelance reporter, Forsyth wrote his first book, The Biafra Story in 1969.

Forsyth decided to write a novel using similar research techniques to those used in journalism. His first full length novel, The Day of the Jackal, was published in 1971 and became an international bestseller and gained its author the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel. It was later made into a film of the same name.

Reviews

[Mª Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5⭐️

Es difícil leer este libro sin que la sombra de "Odessa" la original única e irrepetible, no planee sobre la lectura. Dicho eso, esta secuela cumple sin más.

Se desenvuelve a buen ritmo, no está mal hilada y contiene mucha acción. La trama se desarrolla en la actualidad y a dos bandas, una en Alemania protagonizada por el nieto de Peter Miller y otra en EEUU. Está bien hilada sin ser tampoco para echar cohetes. Su principal valor reside en que hoy, más que nunca, lo que narra suena muy real.

Por contra los personajes me han parecido clichés manidos, especialmente los matones de Odessa. Es el aspecto de la novela que menos me gustó.

El final correcto.

En conclusión. Un thriller entretenido. No hacía ninguna falta esta segunda parte, pero se deja leer.

[Dave Young · Rating 1 out of 5]

Frederick Forsyth is my favorite author, and when I heard there would be a sequel to Odessa File, I was looking forward to one final dose of Forsyth. I was disappointed. There is a link through Peter Miller and his grandson, but this was not a Forsyth book. It was quickly obvious that somebody else wrote it.
There is no inside information. There are no interesting backstories to give depth to the characters. Forsyth could create wonderful characters. The Jackal was a criminal and a killer but also brilliant and meticulous. Hasan Rahmani (Fist of God) worked for a tyrant but we could see his humanity, his hopes and his fears. Andrew Drake (Devil's Aleternative) became a terrorist but we saw first that he was a patriot who wanted to liberate Ukraine from Russian oppression. His motives are still valid 45 years later. The Badger (Avenger) chose loyalty to his friend over loyalty to his nation. These were real and complex characters.
Revenge of Odessa had nothing like that. This book was like the plot for an action movie where the bad guys threaten violence and murder so the "good" guys commit violence and murder and we are expected to be OK with that.
A massive disappointment. Will not read again.

[Guy Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deeply disappointing, lacking in any originality.
It seems this may have been languishing in Forsyth's bottom drawer (with good reason) and his literary executors saw a money making opportunity .
I found the entire premise of the new badder and more demonic Odessa , biding its time since the original Forsyth book to remerge boring.
The use of the original character grandson and the peopling of the book with older versions from the original Odessa file virtually cut and paste with wrinkles.
I have always enjoyed Forsyth's books as original, well researched and a gold standard in thriller writing.
This book could not be further from that.

[Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Odessa File is a classic Frederick Forsyth novel, but this sequel is not.
The reason that this book is not as good as the original is that it was written by Tony Kent and not Frederick Forsyth. Forsyth supplied a four page story outline for Revenge of Odessa and Tony Kent expanded the outline to 50 pages before writing the novel.
Although I found this a very weak story it appears that Forsyth approached Kent to write the book with him, and he approved of the completed novel before his death last year.
Tony Kent does write some reasonably tense moments here and there, but to me it read more like an outline for a film than a complete novel.

[Joaquín Morán · Rating 4 out of 5]

La venganza de Odessa – Frederick Forsyth
Género: Thriller / Conspiración / Historia

No es Odessa. Y eso hay que decirlo desde el inicio.

La venganza de Odessa es una novela más ágil, más directa y claramente pensada para enganchar rápido. Forsyth deja de lado parte de la densidad que caracterizaba al primer libro y apuesta por una historia más accesible, con buen ritmo y una trama que funciona sin exigir demasiado al lector.

¿Es peor? No necesariamente. Es diferente.

Después de venir de lecturas pesadas —y en mi caso, incluso de un pequeño bloqueo— este libro cumple muy bien su función: te regresa el hábito, te mantiene interesado y te lleva sin esfuerzo hasta el final. Tiene ese equilibrio entre conspiración, contexto histórico y entretenimiento que hace que avances sin darte cuenta.

Pero hay algo más que eleva la lectura: la sensación de que no está tan alejado de la realidad. No por los detalles exactos, sino por los patrones. Redes que no desaparecen, intereses que se reciclan, estructuras que operan en la sombra y contextos políticos que permiten que ciertas cosas sucedan. No es una copia del presente, pero tampoco se siente ajeno a él.

Eso es lo que realmente incomoda.

Aun así, si vienes buscando la profundidad o el impacto de Odessa, aquí no está en el mismo nivel. Se siente más como una expansión del universo que como una obra que quiera sacudirte.

El final deja la puerta abierta —y no parece casual—. Más que cerrar un ciclo, da la sensación de estar construyendo algo más grande.

En resumen:
Un thriller bien ejecutado, ágil y, sobre todo, inquietantemente plausible. No es el Forsyth más profundo, pero sí uno más eficiente.

Calificación: ★★★★☆

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

**. 2 1/2 Stars: A Very Uneven Thriller - interesting In Its Concept, Disappointing In Its Execution And Cohesion!

I was very much looking forward to reading this book because it’s written by Frederick Forsyth (one of my all-time favorite thriller writers) in collaboration with Tony Kent; and more importantly because it’s to be marketed as a sequel to Forsyth’s classic thriller, The Odessa File.

I won’t take your time summarizing the plot of Revenge Of Odessa, as this can be read about in the Goodreads or Amazon Book Description. My review will focus on why this book - scheduled to be released on November 18th - is not one I’d highly recommend to thriller lovers.

I felt the book’s attempt to merge the different writing styles of the two authors was ambitious in scope but weak in execution. This fusion of styles didn’t work for me because Forsyth’s usual meticulous, well-researched, deliberate storytelling style often seemed to clash with Kent’s brisk, action-driven approach.

One result of this clash in styles is that the pacing often wavered - too slow in the buildup then suddenly rushed through key confrontations. Another key result is that character development was mostly one-dimensional. Further, while the protagonists seemed competent and compelling in moments, they much more often seemed like archtypes rather than fully realized individuals. Finally, the dialogue often seemed stilted, wavering between taut and overly explanatory. It’s as if the authors were tugging the narrative in two directions - Forsyth toward realism and restraint, Kent toward a cinematic feel.

Despite my criticisms, Revenge Of Odessa is likely to deliver enough suspense to satisfy long-term fans of the genre. The books underlying themes - revenge, legacy and the lingering shadow of history - are potent even if the execution doesn’t always match the ambition.

[Sabina · Rating 4 out of 5]

mucha acción, ha estado súper entretenido.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent sequel to The Odessa Files. It is not too far-fetched to imagine a group like Odessa hiding in the shadows, waiting, plotting for their chance to spread their ideology of hate.

[Charlie Hasler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The quality is not in the same league as the first book.

Good fun in parts but overall quite disappointing. 2.5 stars

[Gregory Beaman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Clearly not written by Frederick Forsyth. The book is lazy and lacks the depth of a Frederick Forsyth novel. The simplistic virtue signalling and identity politics further betrays the excellence of Frederick Forsyth's work.

A massive disappointment.

[Jane Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay and did improve in pace and excitement towards the end, but not as good as Frederick Forsythe, and I feel his name was used merely to attract readers who liked him and he had nothing to do with this book.

[Martin Warner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tony Kent is not Frederick Forsyth

This was embarrassingly bad and a very pale imitation of one of the great thriller writers of the 20th century.

Really, really poor

[Montse #SeguiréLeyendo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Steven Z. · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1972 English writer Frederick Forsyth published a novel, THE ODESSA FILE which encompassed the adventures of a young German reporter attempting to discover the location of a former SS concentration-camp commander, Austrian Nazi SS-Obersturmfuhrer and Commandant of the Riga Ghetto during 1943, Eduard Roschmann who earned the nickname the “Butcher of Riga.” In the novel, the German freelance crime reporter, Peter Miller learns that Roschmann was responsible for the death of his father and had committed acts of immense cruelty, torture, and mass murder. Forsyth’s novel, a blend of fact and historical fiction, follows Miller’s quest and learns that Roschmann is not alone. He is part of something more ominous: Odessa.

The name ODESSA is an acronym for the German phrase "Organisation der ehemaligen SS-Angehörigen", which translates as "Organisation of Former Members of the SS". The novel depicts ODESSA as an international Nazi organization established shortly before the defeat of Nazi Germany for the purpose of protecting former members of the SS after the war. What was most concerning for Miller was that the organization was about to give birth to a new Reich—beginning with a nightmarish plot to regain their former power and carry out Hitler’s “Final Solution.”
Fifty years later, Forsyth, the author of worldwide bestsellers; THE DOGS OF WAR, THE FIST OF GOD, THE AFGHAN, THE KILL LIST among his thirteen novels and his co-writer, Tony Kent, a renown English writer in his own right has revisited the secrets of Odessa in their novel REVENGE OF ODESSA. Today we find Peter Miller is a retired journalist who is devoted to raising his grandson, Georg ever since his son and daughter-in-law died in a tragic car accident. Georg is also an accomplished writer who is investigating a series of terrorist attacks in Germany now finds himself the target of assassins and up against individuals involved with a resurgent ODESSA.

The novel begins with the death of Ohio Senator Jack Johnson and his intern Sophie Arnott in a house fire. The authors soon turn their focus to a Stuttgart soccer stadium where a mass terrorist event takes place. In the ensuing mayhem we are introduced to journalist and podcaster Georg Miller who was at the stadium and following his instincts goes to the hospital to report on casualties representing the Komet news magazine. Georg fears that the right-wing shift by German politicians and newspapers will use an Islamic terror attack as a means of limiting the civil liberties of Germans and immigrants for their own political agenda. The authors set the stage of a recurrent racism, anti-Islamism, and the rise of the Christian right represented by some of the soccer players who argue it is time to fight back. Georg believed this was a recipe for mass unrest since the stadium shooting followed other attacks months before which was unleashing unbridled hatred.
While investigating the shooting at the hospital Georg came across an elderly man who was suffering from dementia who believed that Georg was his father, Horst Miller who had been with the Federal Police, later the Bundesnachrichfendienst (BDN), Germany’s foreign intelligence service. Ackermann would inform Georg that he was responsible for his parent’s deaths and after conducting extensive research concluded that he was a policeman who moonlighted as an executioner for Odessa whose goal was to complete the work Hitler started. In his investigation Georg interviewed Ackermann’s wife Elke who reaffirmed her husband’s actions and ties to Odessa. Georg’s parents were killed when he was ten years old and raised by his elderly grandparents.

The authors are very cognizant of the contemporary shift politically worldwide and use these ideological movements to explain the resurgence of the Odessa, a more sophisticated and powerful rendition than its earlier historical phase. For example, was Odessa ratcheting up the Islamic threat as a means of increasing German right-wing nationalism as the Nazis did with the Communist threat in 1934 culminating in the Reichstag Fire?

Georg’s grandfather, Peter, a well-known journalist in the 1960s and 70s who publicized the Odessa threat, was scared that his grandson’s investigation would make him a target. Peter believed that the organization of ex-SS officers loyalists had never gone away and could not be killed. When Ackermann and his wife are murdered because they disclosed the existence of Odessa, Georg is convinced he is their next target, as is his grandfather Peter.

The plot moves back and forth between Germany and the heart of Washington as the death of Senator Johnson and his replacement by Cole Grisham in the Senate and events in Germany are somehow linked. The authors create an explosive tension that reflects the stakes that are now global. The resurgence of Odessa as a ruthless force infiltrating politics and terror cells worldwide is chillingly plausible. At a time when far-right movements, disinformation and political polarization are only too real, this novel taps into many anxieties and fears. Revenge of Odessa challenges the accepted conclusion that the defeat of Nazi Germany was final, that justice was served, and the horrors ended forever. Instead, the novel chillingly suggests that the defeat was only temporary; ideologies may go underground, but their roots remain.

A parallel story line is developed which involves a plot to Replace President Robert John Bauer’s Vice President with Cole Grisham. Both men are ideological soulmates creating a populist front but have the support of a fringe white supremacist movement in the United States. Their cover is very Donald Trump like – suppposedly standing up for those who feel betrayed by traditional politicians with their own economic agenda. The heart of the novel centers on the link between the two American politicians and Odessa.

The link is partially uncovered by the work of Vanessa Price, the only remaining staffer from deceased Senator Johnson remaining on Grisham’s staff. Two others have already been purged by Katie Braid, Grisham’s Chief of Staff. Vanessa soon learns that an American political action committee – America Tomorrow has been funded by a number of German corporate interests. Further, Vanessa learns that Braid and two other members of Grisham’s staff were also staffers on America Tomorrow since 2018. The key question was “what did a German fund have to gain from a White House administration dominated by Bauer and Grisham?

In this multi-layered historical thriller, the authors have created a number of questionable characters. First and foremost is Ben Klein, a police friend of Georg’s father who once he was killed served as his protector. Another is Scott Brogan, Georg’s god son and former British MI6 agent whose skills, though deplorable, uncover the depth of the Odessa resurgence. We are also introduced to Leo Renner, who may have seen himself as the new Fuhrer or at the very least “a nationalist messiah,” as well as the Krantz brothers who formed the muscle for Odessa. The authors effectively weave events in Stuttgart, Hamburg, and Washington alternating chapters until the various plot lines come together.

REVENGE OF ODESSA is a historical thriller that challenges the accepted conclusion that the defeat of Nazi Germany brought about the destruction of the Third Reich. Instead, the novel chillingly suggests that the defeat was only temporary; ideologies may dissipate, but their ideological core remains. Forsyth and Kent deliver a warning that evil does not always disappear. It asks how many resolved conflicts remain dormant and how many defeated ideologies remain underground to reemerge later. With that being said, the conclusion of the novel is predictable and though it lays the basis for a sequel it does not measure up to the original ODESSA FILE.

[Hanlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When you outlaw the truth, you pave the road to hell."

When I heard about the release of this book, I was over the moon for two reasons. Firstly, many moons ago, I discovered my love for spy thrillers through The Odessa Files, and secondly, Tony Kent is one of my favorite authors, so to me, this was a match made in heaven!
I can honestly say that this book did not disappoint!
It is a fast-paced, action-packed read that captured my attention from the very beginning.
In The Odessa Files, Ben served as our primary protagonist, and he returns in this book, though this time it is his grandson who inadvertently becomes involved with Odessa after being mistaken for his father.

Sixty years before Georg Miller's grandfather Ben infiltrated and exposed Odessa, an underground network of former SS officers dedicated to protecting ex-Nazis, helping them escape justice, and infiltrating postwar society; an organization everyone thought was wiped out, but it seems as though they are as close to power as they have ever been. They were dormant for a very long time, but it seems as though they are still wheeling and dealing and were responsible for the death of Georg's parents.
What are they planning, and will Georg and his godfather, who is called in to help, be able to stop them in time?

I hope we will see a follow-up to this book because you can remove the head of the snake, but remember Cerberus had more than one head....

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaaaaargh!!! It happened again…The second book in a row that has the denouement in the upcoming novel…I detest it when TV series employ a two-part, cliffhanger ending in episodes, and I loathe when authors do the same….Frederick Forsyth and his legacy author, Tony Kent, have done it with the Peter Miller efforts to destroy another Nazi empire through the new Odessa movement…This time, it’s Peter’s grandson, Georg…It’s a good thriller, but it’s only marred by this unfortunate two-part effort!

[Thomas George Phillips · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mr. Forsyth died last year; consequently this Odessa #2 written by a Ghost Writer was not up to Frederick Forsyth's standards.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long time for a sequel.

However, this collaborative novel carries the menace and sense of unease spilling into the modern political dimension where Far Right activism and surge for power continues apace. Odessa is not dead; the seeds of influence have spread and a new Germany is envisaged alongside supportive and likeminded allies.

This book chilled me to the bone. We live in a time of terrorist activities, a divergence towards extreme political parties and a rise of Islamophobia and Antisemitism. Societies seem fragmented; blame seems to be appropriated towards asylum seekers, whether through the influx of justifiable claimants or desperate souls, ignoring borders in uncontrollable illegal immigration.

This is a perfect background for a larger than life fiction. Where ideas from post war Germany resonate with a modern but changing Europe. Where NATO questions its main party, as the USA, led by a determined, off the cuff President appears to be operating unilaterally.

Therefore this latest book is not only relevant. It is both disturbing and thought provoking. It blurs reason and accepted reality blending fact and fiction in real time, without hindsight.

This makes for an uncomfortable read at times. But it is a page-turner in the truest sense.
For this is contemporary fiction that may be both reflective and prophetic.

[Jerry B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Frederick Forsyth was one of our A-/B+ list of favorite authors for the past several decades. Best known for his excellent first novel, the Day of the Jackal, he wrote somewhat sparingly -- if my math is correct, he conferred upon us just over 20 tales of international intrigue and terror over the past 50 years. I feared the worst to see a co-author on this title, somewhat a sequel to the Odessa File published in 1972. Indeed, FF passed away with we suspect little input to this swan song.

Unfortunately, the topic of “Revenge” did not appeal, nor frankly did the plot nor the writing style – accordingly, to leave our last memory as a good one, we abandoned this particular tale after over a third of the book left us uninterested and unmotivated, frankly a rare decision. In looking back, we accorded over 2/3 of his novels either 4- or 5- star ratings, not typically frequently bestowed.

So we wish we had better comments about this book per se, but his bibliography made for many an inspiring and enjoyable reading seesion.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked The Odessa File, which I read a long time ago. Revenge of Odessa was a decent book, good cast of charactors(good/bad), interesting storyline/plot, but the story dragged along till the bullets started to fly. Some good action got the story ramped up and then it died a sudden death at the end. Too many questions were left unanswered and you'll need to wait for the follow up, which I might possibly read.
Thanks to G. P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the ARC of the novel.

[Raymond Soltysek · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not really a Frederick Forsyth novel. Very badly written.

[Javier Bollain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Divertido y entretenido como todos los suyos, no sorprende

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frederick Forsyth’s ‘Odessa File’ was published in 1972 – I read it sometime in the 1970’s but remember little of it, except the premise of the story, which was that far from being defeated in 1945, the Nazi’s were laying low, regrouping and planning a comeback. It was an excellent book and a very popular film too.
‘The Revenge of Odessa’ published in 2025 and written by Forsyth (who passed away in 2025) but with Tony Kent, brings the basic premise right up to date but with a few twists. It is an enjoying and somewhat swashbuckling ride, but in truth lacks depth, perception and credibility. A fun and easy read but essentially lightweight.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A follow-on from the Odessa File which I haven’t read but I saw some reviews of this book calling it disappointing. I agree not because of a comparison but because of the poor quality of some of the writing.

Georg, grandson of a previous scourge of the Nazis, accidentally stumbles across evidence that they are on the rise again. His character is pretty well drawn as is the character of the American staffer, Vaness Price whose story was involving and definitely created a sense of real danger.

I did not feel like I was drawn too far into the world depicted in the book. The fight scenes, for example, came over as written at a distance, clumsy and non involving.

The whole premise of the story is of course, terrifying, especially in this time of history, with the rise of right wing ideology, so perhaps the reader will take it all as a warning.

That said, I sort of enjoyed the read and may read the sequel if there is one, as seems likely given the ‘twist’ at the end.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my kindle. This is my honest opinion after a complete read of the book.

[Elyse Leinweber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too violent imo

[Steve Marshall]

A bit clunky, not on a par with Forsyth’s best such as The Day of the Jackyl

[Carlos Lado · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sin la menor duda, el peor libro de Frederick Forsyth. Es más, tengo serias dudas que esté libro lo escribiese F.F.
La editorial o la familia de F.F. necesitaba hacer caja y sacó el libro.
El argumento es de "teoría de la conspiración ", disparate tras disparate. Nadie en su sano juicio puede creerse esta sucesión de astracanadas.
Es bastante triste que el último libro de un gran escritor como F.F. sea una oda a la mediocridad.

[Mike Broschart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely not written by Forsythe

[A M Bell · Rating 1 out of 5]

One Word: Disappointing

I have read the novels of Frederick Forsyth for more than 50-years and re-read ‘The Odessa File’ in anticipation of reading this sequel and there simply isn’t any comparison

[John Russo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fifty year sequel to the original Odessa File. I am not sure if Frederick Forsyth started this before his passing but it doesn’t feel like his story telling. Georg Miller, grandson of Peter Miller, the protagonist of the original story stumbles across evidence of a resurgence of the Nazi party under the name of Odessa. It’s a wild story as this reporter assisted by an English assassin take down an Odessa plot. The story doesn’t fit together all that well with an American plot line also.