Operation Mantis

Max Voronin Thriller #2

by L. G. Wilder

His enemies thought they'd buried him. They were wrong.

After surviving a brutal war against corruption and betrayal in Operation Firefly, Max Voronin hoped he could honor his daughter's memory with something lasting - the Firefly Foundation. But in Russia, good deeds never go unpunished.

Now the oligarch-turned-fighter is back in the storm.

When the foundation becomes the target of ruthless rivals and violent power brokers, Max and his team are pulled deeper into a deadly game of political intrigue, corruption and betrayal that stretches from the dark heart of St. Petersburg to the corridors of power in Moscow and beyond - crossing borders into Finland and the jungles of Mozambique.

Corrupt politicians, brutal crime lords, spies, and imperial ambitions collide, forcing Max to confront a hidden secret buried in the Soviet past that could shatter everything he's fought for. Allies are scarce. Trust is rarer still. And the price of failure could be higher than anything he has faced before.

Operation Mantis is a relentless, globe-spanning thriller packed with razor-sharp twists, complex villains and a flawed but unforgettable hero who must use every weapon in his arsenal to survive. Written by an author with over 30 years of firsthand experience in Russia, it’s not just an explosive page-turner, it’s a brutal exposé of a corrupt regime.✓ High-stakes international conspiracy

✓ Corruption, political intrigue and explosive revelations

✓ Book 2 of the Max Voronin series - perfect for fans of Baldacci, McCloskey, Bradby, and Forsyth.

Start reading now and immerse yourself in a world where power, ambition and justice collide.

Praise for L G Wilder's

"Strikingly original" - says award-winning author Jake Needham (Inspector Tay series)
"A great read" - says best-selling author Oliver Harris (Detective Belsey series)
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Five Star Reader
"Fast paced, great characters, very well written story weaving into modern Russia and its complex politics"
"Packed with twists, turns, and intense fight scenes."
"It moves along at a cracking pace to a climatic conclusion."
"A great read, well paced, plenty of action and intrigue and lots of jeopardy!"
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340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2025

About the author

L. G. Wilder was born in the north of England and raised in the south. At 17, he travelled to the Soviet Union just as the state’s grip in its economy was unraveling. Amid food shortages and long lines for rations, he lost 5 kgs of weight but gained fluency in Russian. He ended up living and working in Russia for over 25 years. Now based in the South of France, he has returned to his lifelong dream: writing.

Reviews

[Teresa Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Operation Mantis is a spellbinding thriller. Mr. Wilder exhibits a wonderful understanding of the Russian people and all the ins and outs of the culture, and it shows through in his writing. The motivations of his characters are complicated, convoluted, and sometimes dark. There is an abundance of action, breath-holding suspense and tension, and a touch of romance without any cringey scenes. Mr. Wilder obviously knows his weapons, his military details, and, as I said, the Russian culture. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series. I also recently realized that Mr. Wilder is the author of another favorite series, Zoya Zozulya. I highly recommend both of these series and anything else Mr. Wilder writes. I received a review copy from the author via BookSirens, and this review reflects my honest and voluntary opinion.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! I love Max. I really do. He's that character you root for, for forever. You always want to see him win. Doesn't mean he's an angel, but still a great character. Kolya & Nastya, yeah they could have my back any day. I love how things have transitioned in this too. Like Kazakh. Truly unexpected. But I love it. The thrill of this, trying to get to the bottom. The root of the evil. It's always exciting and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommend