Revenge of the Kremlin

SAS #200

by Gérard de Villiers

The 3rd of Gerard de Villiers's novels published by Vintage Canada finds Malko Linge secretly helping the CIA investigate the suspicious death of Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky--a death which may have been ordered by Vladimir Putin himself.
In March 2013, Boris Berezovsky is found dead in his home in Berkshire, apparently the victim of a suicide by hanging. MI5 commences an investigation--until Prime Minister David Cameron orders them to close the case, hoping to avoid endangering British-Russian business relations. Alarmed at the renewal of Russian Cold War tricks, the CIA dispatches Malko Linge to investigate Berezovksy's death and the British cover-up. Betrayals are the order of the day: Berezovsky has betrayed Putin. The Mossad is suspicious of the CIA. And the head of MI5 disobeys the prime minister's orders to stage a secret meeting with the Americans and reveal the truth about what is going on.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Espionage, France

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 2, 2013

About the author

Gérard Adam de Villiers est un écrivain, journaliste et éditeur français.



Gérard Adam de Villiers is a French writer, journalist and publisher.

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the one hand, de Villiers writes a compelling and well-researched story about Russian score-settling and British willful blindness. He gets inside Putin's head pretty darn well.

On the other, there's a ridiculous amount of "getting inside," and I'm not talking thought patterns. The sex scenes are so unlikely that they'd be more at home on 3 AM pay-per-view starring the artificially-enhanced housewife, the musclebound plumber, the tattooed and pierced pizza guy, and the big black cable guy.

Maybe this is the French male's version of the American woman's romance novel, I don't know. Shame though, since I was looking for a classy spy thriller but found an international incident thinly disguising a wankfest. It'd be four stars without the distracting porn (THAT's a phrase I didn't think I'd ever use), but earns two stars with it.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revenge of the Kremlin by Gérard de Villiers is a tightly woven story of suspense and espionage surrounding the suspicious death of exiled oligarch Boris Berezovsky. MI-5 opens the case after it is believed Berezovsky’s death was not a suicide, however no sooner does MI-5 begin poking around when PM Cameron shuts down the official investigation, an act which alarms the CIA, as the fear of old KGB tactics and the new and closer ties between Britain and Russia are formed. The CIA sends Malko Linge to investigate not only Berezovsky’s death but also the alleged cover-up to his death and to search for any involvement the Kremlin may have had in the entire affair. Gérard de Villiers has crafted a taught and action packed book filled with espionage, distrust, assassins, government official and agencies including; Putin, PM Cameron, Mossad, the CIA, MI-5, and the American government, no one is free from scrutiny. Revenge of the Kremlin immediately draws the reader into the ever evolving and twisting plot of murder, mystery, intrigue, agencies distrusting other agencies, countries distrusting each other, and loyalties being tested. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and admit I literally read it from cover to cover. I highly recommend Gérard de Villiers’ Revenge of the Kremlin to all who enjoy books about espionage and suspense and look forward to reading more translated works by this masterful French author.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in Gérard de Villiers’s Malko Linge series that is available in English in the US and Canada. Malko Linge is a very popular series in Europe, but since Gérard de Villiers died a couple of years ago, there won’t be any new books in the series in French.

Revenge of the Kremlin is a typical spy thriller with a lot of action and sex thrown into the mix. The story feels rather formulaic and the characters are pretty flat. The story is somewhat interesting, since it is very current and feasible and the pacing is good. Some of the story elements feel like they have been used for years in everything from James Bond to bad 1960’s spy movies. It was a quick read, and will hold your attention, but be forewarned the sex is rather graphic.

I read Chaos in Kabul last fall, and really liked it, but Revenge of the Kremlin didn’t impress me. I give it 3 Stars out of 5. It’s not bad, but not anything special either. If you want to try out this series, read Chaos in Kabul, it feels much more authentic

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revenge of the Kremlin “A Malko Linge Novel”
By Gerard DeVilliers
Vintage/Black Lizard, U.S.; 2015

In Gerard DeVilliers newest novel “Revenge of the Kremlin” comes another tale that could have been ripped from today’s headlines! Russian citizen Boris Berezovski had been living in London and his very recent death had been declared a suicide. Problem is, not everyone believes he killed himself; rather, that his death had been a well planned execution by the Russians.
When the American CIA call in Malko Linge to investigate, Linge quickly gathers clues - soon putting both himself and his friends in extreme danger. Will Malko Linge be able to solve this incredibly dangerous case - or will he himself be killed before he finally gets his answers?

I received this book for free to review. I am a member of Goodreads, Librarything, and NetGalley, as well as maintain a book blog at http://dbettenson.wordpress.com .

[Eline Rootsaert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Au-revoir SAS De Villiers

Après avoir dévoré une trentaine d’aventures de Malko Linge fin des années 70, voilà que je viens de finir «Vengeance au Kremlin», le 200ème et dernier SAS, écrit en 2013 par Gérard De Villiers (Paris 1929-2013).

La série SAS est sans doute la plus populaire des fascicules à lire dans l'avion et son héros, son altesse sérénissime le prince Malko Linge encore plus machiste que 007.

Pourtant, son père spirituel, l’auteur, monsieur De Villiers, s’est toujours montré excellent journaliste-enquêteur, très bien informé, des fois visionnaire même. [Il évoque un an avant l'assassinat du président égyptien Anouar el-Sadate dans «SAS Complot au Caire»]

De même, dans son dernier SAS, il raconte l'opportunisme insensé de Poutine, ses manigances avec entre autres, David Cameron, Boris Eltsine, les oligarques de Moscou et de Londres, Mikhaïl Khodorkovski, Alexandre Litvinenko, Roman Abramovitch, Boris Berezovsky, … et l'élimination préméditée des "insurgés".

https://www.financialafrik.com/2013/1...

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/03/ma...

https://literary007.com/2014/09/17/th...

[Baptiste Briet · Rating 3 out of 5]

200eme ouvrages de la collection SAS, qui nous plonge dans un complot politique de la Russie sur le territoire Britannique dans les années 2012-2013. Avec comme acteur principale, le FSB (service secret Russe) et ainsi que les millieux proche de V. Poutine. Malko Linge, enquête sur le décès de Berezovski, un oligarque russe caché en Angleterre. Une enquête qui nous mène en Angleterre, Russie passant par Israël. Ce fût le dernier ouvrage de G. De Villiers avant sa mort.
À la fin, des articles de presse nous présente sa collection. Comme étant lu par les sphères politiques, diplomatiques, journalistiques ou par les services secrets eux-mêmes. Petit anecdote, Hubert Védrine, ancien ministre des affaires étrangères (1997-2002), lisait les SAS lorsqu'il se rendait en déplacement dans le monde. Afin de mieux appréhender les problèmes locaux.
J'ai découvert par la description de G. De Villiers, un homme très peu appréciable, par sa façon d'être et par sa mentalité d'un temps révolu. Néanmoins, il avait entretenu des relations dans différents domaines du monde : journalistes, politiques, services de renseignements, barbouzes.... Qui lui permettait d'enrichir ses nombreuses œuvres.

[Paperback Papa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gerard De Villiers wrote 200 Malko Linge espionage novels between 1965 and his death in 2013. This is the fourth one I have read. The books were all written in French and translated into English, but the translations are well done and easy to read.

In this novel, one of De Villiers' last books, Malko Linge investigates the murder of a Russian oligarch in England. It isn't terribly exciting because the stakes don't feel high enough. It's not like people are going to die if he doesn't figure out who murdered the Russian. Still, the tradecraft and double crosses kept me reading. I would call it mediocre. There are better Malko Linge novels.

As a side note, most of the 200 Malko Linge novels were never translated into English. The newer ones (written just before the author died) are pretty easy to find. The old ones (written in the 1960's and 70's) are very expensive on eBay. Once in a great while you might get lucky and find one of the old ones in a used bookstore.

[Viva · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my 3rd Malko Linge book. I like them because they're quick as easy to read, no fluff, no boring parts. They're almost like novellas, nothing deep, nothing major, almost like a surgical spy operation, in and out quickly. Great for an airport wait or a long flight.

This one deals with a Russian oligarch assassination. The Russian oligarch is now in England but killed anyway. Linge is tasked with finding the killer. The plot is based on the real FSB agent Litvinenko who was poisoned in England and the real Boris Berezovsky.

Cons of this story: The ending is a bit meh and there are a lot of dead end side trips and gratuitous sex. The side trips are ok as I can accept that there are a lot of dead ends when doing investigations and it shows how things aren't straightforward. I guess the sex is part of Linge's character.

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not so much the writing quality, it's not a real thriller, it's the plain statements of corruption - PM David Cameron ignoring the murder of oligarchs in London because "it's internal Russian business" and we can't threaten the revenue from all those oligarch penthouse suites. It's an example of China Mieville's The City The City - where you're standing there, it's not even the country you think you're in.

Also, only a French writer would mention Russian Roulette, and have a character say "Yeah, but in this case, it's Belgian roulette" she said sarcastically. "You know, with six bullets in the barrel." Ouch.

Villiers died in 2013, but we're living in his world, and so is Ukraine, right now. :(

[Ellen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Barely made it halfway through the prologue before deciding "nevermind" and quite literally tossing it across the room into my donations basket. If we're gonna start off this book with a 10-page dive into the mind/career of the book's cartoonishly fanatical Russian villain (I assume he's the villain anyway), I really can't see it getting better from there.

Judging by the other reviews, it was probably for the best.

[Minnesinger · Rating 2 out of 5]

I agree with Andy’s review of this book; the espionage and current events aspect was well written, but the sex scenes were so over-the-top that it seemed geared toward male readers only, relics of a bygone era, ie., 1960s-‘70s. It may seem strange for young people today to believe that women had to put up with such appalling attitudes then, but it’s all too true.

[JournalsTLY]

Sophisticated chemistry - using fast acting chemicals to kill . Rough and brutal thuggery in carrying out killings.

Entirely pro western (as in the bad guys are the Russians ) novel about CIA, MI5 and the brutish state apparatus of Putin.

[Theodore Kinni · Rating 1 out of 5]

Chucked it 50 pages in. This guy wrote 200 of these and sold millions?!? My regard for French culture is badly shaken.

[Nikos Chloros · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book with a thin storyline, yet it manages to keep up the suspense.

[Joy (joyous reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are 200 of these Malko Linge novels, but only three of them have been translated to English so far. Often compared to Ian Fleming’s James Bond series, deVilliers’ Linge features a freelancer CIA agent with hardly the advance technological weaponry of MI5, but has all the suave of a debonaire secret agent. DeVillier has been known to jump ahead of the news. Meaning, he seemed to have the premonition for current world affairs even before it happens. You can tell his journalist roots by reading his stories, and this book gave me the chills simply because it seems so oddly relevant.

The Resurgence of Cold War

In this speculative world, Vladimir Putin is well on his way to reunite USSR. For the last eight years, he’s been quietly working his magic behind the scenes. He rules the country with an iron fist, and have slowly been eliminating organizations and people that could potentially be his enemies (including, Pussy Riot).

First on his agenda is to reestablished a defunct agency within the KGB. So clandestine, in fact, that it does not exist. Wink. Wink. SMERSH is the organization that used to assassinate regime opponents. And the first on the “hit list” is the former kingmaker, Boris Berezovsky. To cut the long story short, Berezovsky made Putin king, but got in his way as he was trying to be, a Russian god. Eight long years later, Putin ordered his assassination.

Matryoshka dolls, Stolichnaya, and radioactive poisons.

The Russian style of assassination is very sophisticated nowadays. Also, very discreet and potently effective. However, they didn’t account for an Austrian-born secret agent to unearth the deep-seated roots of their plans. And just how far Putin’s infiltration has come within the UK. In this world, Putin is in cahoots with England’s Prime Minister. Thus, gaining the protection of MI5 and Scotland Yard. While the assassination of an ogli arch bears no importance with the CIA, it still garnered their attention simply because an alliance with Russia and the UK could change the dynamics of the civilized world as we know it.

Follow Malko as he figure out how exactly did the Russians manage to make the assassination look like suicide. Or how they poison people with substances that leave no evidence or trace in a person’s body.

Why you should read this.

When was the last time you’ve enjoyed an honest-to-goodness, edge-of-your seat, sophisticated spy novel? If you’re like me, probably never.

And what’s a spy novel without a sexy woman in the wings? Much as I hate that Gwyneth Robertson used her sexuality as a tool for gaining information, the former CIA handler was also very cunning. However, aside from the fact that she’s using her feminine whiles to gain Malko’s affection, no one really knows what her game plans are. She’s very successful in what she does, so we know she’s not using her femininity to gain power.

When Random House sent this to me, I had no idea what kind of novel I was in for. It’s quite an experience reading this book. Everything is so garishly new and exciting. I enjoyed learning the insides of cloak and dagger organizations such as CIA, MI5 and even, FSB. I really am excited to read the rest of the novels in this series.

[Charles Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Revenge of the Kremlin is the second of De Villiers' Malko Linge novel I have tackled, having previously enjoyed The Madmen of Benghazi. As with 'Benghazi', which was set around the collapse of the Ghadafi regime in Libya, in 'Kremlin' De Villiers takes another real life, contemporary event, this time the death of exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky, and weaves his fictional tale around it.

The result is a somewhat strange book, as it’s an espionage thriller that lacks much in the way of genuine thrills. When it comes to action there is almost none, and whilst attempts (sometimes successful) are made on the lives of various characters as the story unfolds, including Linge himself, the book lends no sensation of genuine danger or real urgency to proceedings. There is no 'ticking clock' plot device here to drive the story forward to a definitive conclusion.

It doesn't help matters that Linge himself remains a rather passive, colourless cipher throughout. Having now read two of De Villiers novels I am struggling to see the appeal of Linge, who is often described as the 'French James Bond'. He certainly lacks the charisma or physical dynamism of Fleming's creation and beyond the fact that he is an Austrian aristocrat and is seemingly irresistibly attractive to all members of the opposite sex we are given next to no insights into his physical appearance or personality. Indeed it difficult to see exactly what unique skills or experience Linge brings to the party, since he doesn’t engage in any physical action and relies on others to do a great deal of the heavy lifting when it comes to investigating Berezovksy’s apparent suicide.

Linge’s lack of genuine presence leaves something of a hole at the heart of the novel, and the book’s only real selling point is the clever and frighteningly plausible conspiracy it weaves around Berezovsky’s demise. It has often been said that De Villier’s extensive contacts in the espionage world gave him insights and knowledge that other thriller writers’ lack, and that feel very much to be true as you read Revenge of the Kremlin. None of the ‘fictional’ events surrounding the oligarch’s demise feel outside the realm of plausibility, and De Villiers descriptions of the murky, morally compromised worlds of espionage and international diplomacy seem all too real.

It all makes for an interesting and through provoking exercise in ‘what-if?’ It doesn’t by itself however, suddenly turn Revenge of the Kremlin into an entirely satisfying and entertaining thriller. Nor does the smattering of graphic, and in one case entirely gratuitous and superfluous sex, scenes that De Villiers always includes in his books. Greater stakes, either personal or political, more incident and a stronger, far more charismatic lead character would be needed for Kremlin to be classed as genuinely good, all round spy thriller. As it is it remains an interesting curio with some significant flaws.

[Kayla A. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book for a class I'm currently in, The Cold War and the Spy Novel. This is the last of 14 books we read, and I was looking forward to it as the only book that mixed contemporary politics with espionage. The book features Vladimir Putin, and the very real death of businessman Boris Berezovsky.

However, I was supremely disappointed. Even though this was the most recently written book featured on the class syllabus, it was the most sexist of them all. Pretty much half the book is devoted to super vulgar, overly-detailed, entirely unnecessary sex scenes. The book is chock full of lines that will make you gag and roll your eyes before tossing the book out of the window, as he describes one character's "f**k-me look" like a "she-cat in heat." Gross. Besides that, the plot has a few holes: the CIA says they're looking into the boyfriend of Berezovsky's lover and then never mention him again, one of Malko Linge's lovers & helpers dies and Linge never even acknowledges this, Linge's fiance takes up half a page and never shows up again. It just makes you wonder, what the f*** is the point of all this?! Probably 2/3 of this book is superfluous.

[Adam McPhee · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't very imaginative or well written or anything, but I liked the 'plucked from the headlines' concept of investigating the Berezovsky killing. And to think de Villiers was pumping five of these out per year at one point! Apparently they're fairly accurate, too, in the sense of the author doing his homework. Evidently he predicted the assassinations of Anwar al Sadat and Indira Gandhi, plus he once accidentally outed the CIA's Madagascar station chief and the fact that he worked from the the fourth floor of the embassy? He'd meant to change the character's name but forgot to do so. So this probably would've been more interesting if I had more interest invested in the Berezovsky killing. Might read his Benghazi book at some point, if I can track it down.

[R.W. Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a dog.

“Hello, Malko!” he said. “We met briefly about two years ago. I’ll be here for another year before I head back to Langley."

“I won’t forget this, Sir George. Do I have your permission to inform Malko himself?”

"What the hell are you going to do in Moscow, anyway?”
“Pull the lion’s tail,” said Malko

"You realize you’re walking into the lion’s den, don’t you?”

She respected him, and he was secretly in love with her.

He hadn’t realized that Irina Lopukin had friends in such high places. I hope she hasn’t gone to complain about me, he thought.

“They took their revenge on her,” said Malko, feeling troubled. He had caused her death, he knew. “I’ll have flowers put on her grave. She was very helpful.”

[nikkia neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

thanks Knopf Doubleday and netgalley for arc.

I've been having good experiences so far with translated books this year. Its crazy to think this was in french first, I guess what they say about the french having a time set aside each day for the bedroom is something this author took to the bank and damn good crime mystery too.

[Magnus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice intrigue and suspense, with some good characters. I don't think I like the current fact/fiction mix (Putin as a character for example), but it wasn't too terrible.

[Yves Panis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben finalement c'est pas mal....je vais en lire d'autres tiens !

[Patrick Schultheis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good vacation read. Typical, light De Villers spy fare