What do you think?
Rate this book
James Acton Thrillers #11
The Riddle
THE RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER HAS BEEN ASSASSINATED.
THE WORLD STANDS ON THE BRINK OF WAR.
Russia accuses the United States of assassinating their Prime Minister in Hanoi, naming Delta Force member Sergeant Carl “Niner” Sung as the assassin.
Professors James Acton and Laura Palmer, witnesses to the murder, know the truth, and as the Russians and Vietnamese attempt to use the situation to their advantage on the international stage, the husband and wife duo attempt to find proof that their friend is innocent.
It is a desperate race against time as the innocent involved are hunted down without mercy. Facing impossible odds in a country where they have no friends and no hope of rescue, they stand alone.
From USA Today bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy, The Riddle is a heart pounding thrill ride spanning two millennia that pits Professors Acton and Palmer, along with members of the Delta Force’s Bravo Team, against the might of the Vietnamese military and the political machinations of the Kremlin itself.
About the James Acton Thrillers:
"James Acton: A little bit of Jack Bauer and Indiana Jones!"
Though this book is part of the James Acton Thrillers series, it is written as a standalone novel and can be enjoyed without having read any of the previous installments.
THE WORLD STANDS ON THE BRINK OF WAR.
Russia accuses the United States of assassinating their Prime Minister in Hanoi, naming Delta Force member Sergeant Carl “Niner” Sung as the assassin.
Professors James Acton and Laura Palmer, witnesses to the murder, know the truth, and as the Russians and Vietnamese attempt to use the situation to their advantage on the international stage, the husband and wife duo attempt to find proof that their friend is innocent.
It is a desperate race against time as the innocent involved are hunted down without mercy. Facing impossible odds in a country where they have no friends and no hope of rescue, they stand alone.
From USA Today bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy, The Riddle is a heart pounding thrill ride spanning two millennia that pits Professors Acton and Palmer, along with members of the Delta Force’s Bravo Team, against the might of the Vietnamese military and the political machinations of the Kremlin itself.
About the James Acton Thrillers:
"James Acton: A little bit of Jack Bauer and Indiana Jones!"
Though this book is part of the James Acton Thrillers series, it is written as a standalone novel and can be enjoyed without having read any of the previous installments.
- GenresFiction
355 pages, ebook
First published November 19, 2014
177 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
J. Robert Kennedy
100 books297 followersWith over one million books sold, award winning and USA Today bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy has been ranked by Amazon as the #1 Bestselling Action Adventure novelist based upon combined sales. He is the author of over fifty international bestsellers including the smash hit James Acton Thrillers. He lives with his wife and daughter and writes full-time.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 22, 2018
Another Night of Missed sleep, unable to stop reading!
This is yet another wonderful book in the Acton series that will keep you up all night on the edge of your seats. Well written, exciting, informative and, mostly, action packed. I have always been a Vietnam War reader because it was such a horror story, but filled with heroism, extreme trauma, and all for a cause this generation just can't understand. So, when I had a chance to read a book, although fiction, about modern day Vietnam, I jumped, and being a J. Robert Kennedy fan, anyway, I knew it would be full of adventure, and he did not let me down, from Niner getting falsely accused of assinating the Russian 2nd in command to the rest of the Delta Force team having to fight Vietnamese soldiers from overtaking their hotel, and Acton along with Palmer right in the middle, this was another page turner from beginning to end. Thanks for another wonderful thrill read and I can't wait for more!
This is yet another wonderful book in the Acton series that will keep you up all night on the edge of your seats. Well written, exciting, informative and, mostly, action packed. I have always been a Vietnam War reader because it was such a horror story, but filled with heroism, extreme trauma, and all for a cause this generation just can't understand. So, when I had a chance to read a book, although fiction, about modern day Vietnam, I jumped, and being a J. Robert Kennedy fan, anyway, I knew it would be full of adventure, and he did not let me down, from Niner getting falsely accused of assinating the Russian 2nd in command to the rest of the Delta Force team having to fight Vietnamese soldiers from overtaking their hotel, and Acton along with Palmer right in the middle, this was another page turner from beginning to end. Thanks for another wonderful thrill read and I can't wait for more!
November 8, 2021
Yet Another Excellent Read From this Author
I have now read the first eleven books in this series and have enjoyed every one. So much so, I have already downloaded book twelve.
If you enjoy a good, edge of the seat read, then these books are for you. Each is a stand alone read, so you don't have to start at the beginning. I highly recommend this series.
I have now read the first eleven books in this series and have enjoyed every one. So much so, I have already downloaded book twelve.
If you enjoy a good, edge of the seat read, then these books are for you. Each is a stand alone read, so you don't have to start at the beginning. I highly recommend this series.
August 31, 2025
Most Intense in series
While the “thriller “ element in the James Acton series is always superb, this novel is thrilling and particularly intense.
The Secretary of the State is visiting a museum in Vietnam on a goodwill mission.
Coincidentally, the Russian Premier is at the same museum at the same time. He is murdered.
A member of the Delta security team is blamed.
All hell breaks loose.
While the “thriller “ element in the James Acton series is always superb, this novel is thrilling and particularly intense.
The Secretary of the State is visiting a museum in Vietnam on a goodwill mission.
Coincidentally, the Russian Premier is at the same museum at the same time. He is murdered.
A member of the Delta security team is blamed.
All hell breaks loose.
December 21, 2022
They don’t get much better than this.
Wow is about all I can say. From the first sentence to last, suspense and action abound. When I think Mr. Kennedy can’t write a better book, I’m forced to take back my thoughts and opinions as I must say this is the best he is written until of course, I read the next book.
Wow is about all I can say. From the first sentence to last, suspense and action abound. When I think Mr. Kennedy can’t write a better book, I’m forced to take back my thoughts and opinions as I must say this is the best he is written until of course, I read the next book.
November 25, 2023
Book 11
Book 11 was a fun read and had errors throughout. The plot and characters are still interesting and have a few good twists. There are a few parts which dragged throughout the book and the back and forth between points of view could get confusing at times. I look forward to the next book.
Book 11 was a fun read and had errors throughout. The plot and characters are still interesting and have a few good twists. There are a few parts which dragged throughout the book and the back and forth between points of view could get confusing at times. I look forward to the next book.
December 5, 2017
Spell binding , excel!et plot , and fast action
Fast action, excellent plot, and gripping intrigue. Written by the master of the action genre. J Robert Kennedy is right at the top of today's fiction author's.
H
Fast action, excellent plot, and gripping intrigue. Written by the master of the action genre. J Robert Kennedy is right at the top of today's fiction author's.
H
June 26, 2025
Not much archeological action
If you are hoping for archeological action with the professor James Acton and his wife professor Laura Palmer, you will be disappointed, but if you love Delta team action, you will love it.
If you are hoping for archeological action with the professor James Acton and his wife professor Laura Palmer, you will be disappointed, but if you love Delta team action, you will love it.
October 1, 2017
The stories in this series are quite entertaining, but it really would be nice if Mr. Kennedy got some good proof-readers to catch the annoying mistakes.
March 30, 2019
Lynnie
Very great book, keeps you on the edge of your seat. You don’t want to put it down. So excited to read the next in line.
Very great book, keeps you on the edge of your seat. You don’t want to put it down. So excited to read the next in line.
April 15, 2019
love these books action great characters what more do you need
April 22, 2020
My first book by this author. This book was very well written and kept me interested to the very end.
September 23, 2022
Lost for words
This is the 11th James Acton book I have had the pleasure of reading......they just get better, I'm just a little bit lost for words.
This is the 11th James Acton book I have had the pleasure of reading......they just get better, I'm just a little bit lost for words.
December 18, 2022
After getting started, I really enjoyed the merging of two stories. Heart rendering.
January 12, 2024
Wrong place at the wrong time .... again. Revenge is a dish best served cold.
January 22, 2025
Professor James Acton always takes me how to do a picture. This Vietnam adventure is one of the best of the year for me. I love it.
March 13, 2017
I'm not sure about this book. gripping.. yes, enthralling.. yes, action packed... yes. good story line in switch of roles where Acton and Palmer save the day this time. they are the hero's. i liked how a member of the Delta force had to go it alone. not as good as some of his other books. not one of be in a rush to pick up again. not memorable enough x
March 21, 2015
11th in the James Acton series, and the best...by far. The story takes recent headlines and takes us to the brink of WW3. This time Acton and his wife Laura are in Vietnam, touring a museum with an archaeology grad student in Ho Chi Minh City. At the same time, the American Secretary of State is there, whose security detail is the Delta Bravo squad (convenient, but accept it). At the same time the Russian Prime Minister is also visiting the museum. When the Prime Minister is assassinated, the Russians and Vietnamese try to lay the blame on Niner, a member of Delta. Of course he is innocent, but the events lead to the brink of war.
This time, it's up to Acton and Laura to help Delta Squad instead of the other way around. Non-stop action, the usual cast of great characters, and the inclusion of recent events made this book hard to put down. This series just gets better and better
This time, it's up to Acton and Laura to help Delta Squad instead of the other way around. Non-stop action, the usual cast of great characters, and the inclusion of recent events made this book hard to put down. This series just gets better and better
January 4, 2015
Awesome read
I am a big fan of the James Acton series and this installment does not disappoint. Mr. Kennedy blends a nice bit of political intrigue and action.
I am a big fan of the James Acton series and this installment does not disappoint. Mr. Kennedy blends a nice bit of political intrigue and action.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews