The Domino Game

by Greg Wilson

When Russian FSB agent Nikolai Aven starts investigating the affairs of Moscow tycoon, Marat Ivankov, he becomes caught in a deadly web of corruption involving the lethal Russian mafia and their powerful and ruthless allies in the Kremlin.

With the lives of his wife and daughter at stake, Nikolai turns to the only person he believes can help, US Embassy attaché, Jack Hartman. But this is Russia. Trust is a commodity that can be bought and sold and nothing is what it seems.

Driven by a primal resolve to protect his twelve year old daughter and exact revenge, Nikolai pursues his betrayers through the crazy, helter-skelter world of modern Moscow to the power bases of the United States, the thriving new frontier of Russian organised crime, in a life & death game he is determined to win.

A masterful thriller packed with intrigue and compelling characters and played out against the backdrop of modern Moscow and New York.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

513 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 18, 2016

About the author

Greg Wilson is an Australian entrepreneur and author.

Through his own development and investment company he has been involved in property development, technology and other business ventures worth hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions often involving complex negotiations with partners, investors, financiers and lawyers spread across four continents.

His first-hand experience in this fascinating fast-paced world of money, deals and extraordinary characters now provides a rich source of material for his intriguing international thrillers.

He lives in Brisbane with his partner, Vicki, dividing his time between providing strategic advice to private clients and pursuing his passion for writing.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an entertaining, action packed thriller which captures the state of Russia. It gives us a harrowing insight into Russian corruption and the Mafia. It is the powerful connections that the Mafia have with figures in the Russian government who protect and support them that is at the heart of this story.

Nikolai Aven finds out exactly what he is up against. Arrested before a deal can be finalised with the CIA, he is convicted of treason and imprisoned. After many years, he manages to escape and using skills acquired in prison, he sets out to seek the truth and gain revenge. The author does a really good job in developing Nikolai's character. It is fascinating to watch him turn into a hard man prepared to do what needs to be done and willing to go further than he ever would have done before prison.

This is a well plotted tale that underlines the bleak state of affairs in Russia. It is packed full of intrigue and twists. The suspense keeps you hooked on to the story. A thrill ride of a story. Thanks to Equis Publishing for an ARC via netgalley.

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love thrillers that employ the international borders and while this is not a spy novel in the traditional sense, it offers as many twists and turns in the story that is found in big name author espionage spy novels.

The author gives us an intimate look into Russia and the backdoor mafia deals. With intricate details and highly descriptive writing, you are thrust right into the world of a good guy caught in a ruthless game. Who do you trust and how do you get back what is yours?

Highly entertaining and packed with suspense-filled twists and turns along with detailed character development, the author makes you feel like you are right in the center of it all. This book is a read that will suck you in and before you know it, hours have gone by.

There is never a dull moment in The Domino Game and the author did a wonderful job in this action packed thriller. And the best part is you are left with a sense of all is right with the world and the good can persevere.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great spy story! When Russian FSB agent Nikolai Aven starts investigating the affairs of Moscow tycoon, Marat Ivankov, he becomes caught in a deadly web of corruption involving the lethal Russian mafia and their powerful and ruthless allies in the Kremlin. With the lives of his wife and daughter at stake, Nikolai turns to the only person he believes can help, US Embassy attaché, Jack Hartman. But this is Russia. Trust is a commodity that can be bought and sold and nothing is what it seems.
This was an excellent book that had me at the first page and continued to grip me all the way through. A very exciting story that is well written, which takes hold and does not let go, well developed characters and a great deal of intrigue and suspense, I did not want it to finish. I had not read any of Greg Wilson's work before but I will now be looking out for more. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Tish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspenseful thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. Kind of a mix of The Count of Monte Cristo and LeCarre: good guy wrongfully imprisoned, escapes, seeks revenge. It was frightening to read about how closely entwined the Russian mafia was with the government and to wonder how much of it could be true, in Russia or the US. Plenty of action and plot twists. Recommended for fans of thrillers.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC of this book.

[Niyati Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! I had to read it against a deadline and I just jumped into it. I've always loved Russia, I felt some connection to it always, and this book caught on to my interest.

So The Domino Game took me back to corrupt politicians and a Russia where things were so veiled and behind the curtain. I have been fascinated with that way of life and for too long I have felt our conversation was dominated by a westernized image of how Russia would be behind the curtains. Though this book was written by an Australian author, it was raw and it took me to a gritty Russia where the communist way of life had led to a sinister underbelly.

I was so taken in by Nicolai and isn't Nicolai just like how we are? Wanting to do good for the world and wanting to see our society become better? Somehow, things distract us, life betrays us and things cloud our vision. This goodwill and good intention gets corrupted by other superficial things which we think are more important. And that is what made me root for him. The sheer sense that life had completely unhooked him apart and taken everything he had.

The end was chilling, and I certainly did not anticipate that. This book leaves me wanting to go and explore Russia with even more vigor.

The book was a complete complete roller coaster of emotions and twists and turns. I did not expect a few things and a few things left me completely stunned when I figured them out! Especially when I figured out the title, it felt like some piece of the puzzle fell in place.

The only issue I had with the book was that it was not formatted well, so it seemed like you were talking about one character and then the narrative suddenly jumped to another character.

Apart from that, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one!

[C. Stuchl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Domino Game
Greg Wilson

5 stars is not enough.
CIA, Russian mafia, and one good Russian cop together in a incredible thriller. Spanning a decade plus, this book follows a CIA operative as he tries to help a young cop and his family defect from Russia. He failed. Quit the CIA and went back to the USA.
The cop is sent to a Russian prison and his story is brutally told. There are so many plot twists and surprises you can't tell the good from the bad. The actions and emotions are thick and the reader will be drawn into each. This is a heart stopping thriller that will leave you wondering if the good guys did win.
Complex characters, fully developed, and strong love of family for one side and greed on the other side, drives them.
The plot does not slow down but keeps the pace till the last page. An international thriller that would make a blockbuster movie.

[Jay Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story traces the development of many characters involved in the emergence of the Russian Mafia after the fall of the communist government. Relationships are key to the surprises along the way, described in writing that enhances the emotion and the action. Plot twists abound as the action moves from Moscow to prisons, back to Moscow, and to the United States. The book is grittily real in depicting the evil that drives so many of the central characters, but doesn't skimp on the role of love and family as motivators. The story leaves the reader hoping there are still the people trying to do what is right as the new religion of Greed takes over the world.

[Sarah Monsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brought to mind the cold war era spy novels I binge read as a teenager. Jack Hartman, the CIA hack, brought to mind John le Carré's master spies and it's impossible not to root for the principled Nikolai Aven.

All in all the book provided great action and suspense with a sprinkling of danger, romance, and family loyalty thrown in. A great vacation read.

I read this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Alyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Domino Game" by Greg Wilson had so many of the elements that I love in a spy novel. There was lots of drama, Russian story line, tightly wound plot, and so on. The only problem that I had was that I had a heck of a time developing a relationship with the characters.

Many thanks to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review of this book.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely written

A master criminal in Russia works with government bigwigs . An investigator for the government comes upon tapes that incriminate his boss .What to do with the information? So starts a well written novel detailing some of the political/criminal/financial dealings in Russia.

[T.J. Burns]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Joann Eaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes spy type plots. Lots of action and plot twists. Characters were interesting.

[Belle Ami · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Domino Game
By Greg Wilson
Let me begin with some superlatives. The Domino Game should be a #1 Bestseller! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Brilliantly laid out, full of surprises at every turn, filled with historical references—I couldn’t put it down. Mr. Wilson knows Moscow better than anyone I’ve ever read, and his tale of post-Soviet Russia is spellbinding. It’s a first-class thriller, and his hero Nikolai Aven shares subtleties to Hugo’s Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. The 19th-century British poet and critic Matthew Arnold said, "A novel by Tolstoy is not a work of art but a piece of life,” and that is just what I felt reading The Domino Game.
The book begins in 1995 after the fall of the Soviet Union. Perestroika and glasnost have brought the once-mighty bear to its knees. The KGB is extinct replaced by the FSB (Federal Security Service of Russia). The hero, Nikolai Aven, with his partner Vari Vlasenko, both FSB, are investigating a Russian oligarch, Marat Ivankov, who has accumulated vast wealth through his ties to both organized crime and top government officials.
Aven doesn’t know it, but he’s opened a can of worms that will threaten his wife and child and destroy whatever belief he may have had in the system. The only way out for him and his family is to get out of Moscow. He turns to an American CIA operative at the US Embassy in Moscow named Jack Hartman, and so begins a roller-coaster ride that will keep you up late at night turning pages.
Every character in this book is fleshed out convincingly--you’ll know and understand them as well as you know the members of your family. So don’t hesitate and DO NOT PASS GO, and read The Domino Game. You won’t regret it.

[CAROL · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know a book is good when the plot skims so close to reality you begin to believe it may really be happening. This book does that. With all the twists and lies in our financial systems these days it becomes so possible to be infiltrated by foreign players all with the willing, greedy help of politicians. This book is well written, with fully developed characters and plot and sub-plots that carry you through to the very end. So good, but frightening also. I will look for other books by this author.

[George Lichman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nikolai Aven worked in the financial industry in post-Cold War Russia and did very well for himself, his wife Natalia, and their young daughter, Larissa. Nikolai was an optimist, he wanted to do some good for his country and fight the corruption that was becoming rampant. So he quit his job and became an agent with the FSB, the replacement KGB. But it wasn’t long before he learned that fighting corruption in a system that thrives on it isn’t easy, and found himself with with video evidence that got his source killed within a day of turning it over. He can’t go to the company that the evidence was stolen from and can’t go to his bosses, as they’re implicated. So, trusting his FSB partner, he turned to the United States CIA and their offer of a new life and new identity in America in exchange for the evidence. Station Chief Jack Hartman gave his word, but before the deal can be made, Nikolai is arrested, tried, and convicted of treason. He is sent to a Russian prison and endures unthinkable acts during the nine years he spends there before his escape. Once out, he’s ready to get answers and settle scores. And he does both by combining his intelligence, financial and investigative skills, and the ruthlessness he developed in prison.
Greg Wilson’s The Domino Game is a well-told international espionage thriller providing readers with an idea of life, government, and industry in post-Cold War Russia. The story is topical, a warning that the events in Russia should not be ignored.
Mr. Wilson did best writing the events leading to Nikolai’s fall and subsequent time in prison. The character was a good, honest, altruistic man turned into a hard, ruthless killer in order to survive. But the good guy was not entirely lost, even after the life and family he knew was stolen from him. The transition of the Nikolai Aven character was well done.
Mr. Wilson provided a strong and thrilling ending. The last hundred pages were so intense I found myself wanting to skim ahead to find out what happened, but not able to skip a single word!
The Domino Game is not a short book. At over five hundred pages, even with a powerful beginning and thrilling ending there was a lull in the middle, particularly when describing how the money trail and laundering process worked. Even with time taken to explain it, I was still somewhat confused about how the Russian oligarchs were infiltrating American businesses and what dangers that infiltration represented.
Despite the development of Nikolai Aven, other characters in the book were lacking. Some started strong, like Tom Hartman’s daughter, Kelly, but fizzled as the book progressed. Others that played significant roles in the book seemed more like extras, which discounted their betrayal.
The Domino Game is a good book with a strong story that could have been great with some extra attention to editing and character development.

[Madelon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've tackled a thriller set in Russia. THE DOMINO GAME starts out a bit slow, but definitely not plodding, and isn't bogged down with polysyllabic Russian names. I have often found Russian names to be unpronounceable while reading and have had to teach my brain to sight read through them, but not this time. The first chapters lay the groundwork of shady economic dealings at the highest levels as a lead up to the murder and mayhem that follows. This is no murder mystery but a tale of the corruption in post-Soviet Russia that led to murder and so much more. In fact, the cold, calculating corruption on an international scale makes the killing an afterthought.

A lot of research goes into a book like this to provide reality to the fiction. I have found that history, whether dealing with things that happened long ago or activities more modern, can be more understandable when embedded in a story. Every now and again, while reading a book such as this, I find myself going to Google to fact-check a thing or two.

THE DOMINO GAME has it all… corrupt politicians, organized crime and crime lords, murder, mayhem and money laundering. The news can sometimes be filled with stories of money laundering that are confusing to a mere mortal like myself who still thinks a million dollars is a lot of money. International money laundering is happening in this book on a mind-boggling scale. I can't say I understand the ins and outs of laundering cash, but I do have a little better understanding of who is doing it and why.

THE DOMINO GAME is well written, and well edited… it IS a good read. I rather liked the way that Greg Wilson transitioned from scene to scene without fanfare. No spaces or numbers or fancy figures separating them. It is rather like a scene in a movie or TV sh9ow where the actor is opening a gate outdoors and walks into a room. You, the viewer, are spared the intervening boring bit.

I would definitely be inclined to read more by this author.

I obtained this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

[Travis Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read with the twists you can count on at the right time. Just what you would expect from an American based thriller, but set in Russia, so be ready for the different names and settings than you're used to.

[Marbea Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

10STARS!! This was one epic suspense drama. I'd thought Vari was a snake from the get go, but something's made so much sense. The author knows how to keep the reader on edge and seeking more insight. What a awesome adventure. I am really glad justice was served. Nicholai is my fav fiction character of 2017 in mystery genre!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Domino Game is a definite thriller that keeps the reader intrigued and interested. Involving political corruption, the Russian Mafyia, murder, the CIA and international finance. With well developed characters, an intricate plot with surprising twists and turns, this book will keep you reading to find out what happens next.

FSB agent Nikolai Aven and his partner are investigating a Russian businessman for crimes against the state. Nikolai has an informant inside who he is hoping will get him the hard evidence to nail his quarry. When his informant turns up dead after delivering the evidence, Nikolai is put in touch with the CIA by his partner Vari Vlasenko. Arrangements are made to spirit Aven and his family out of Russia to the US. Those arrangements fall through, and Aven ends sentenced to jail as a traitor.

Ten years later Aven escapes, and begins searching for his family. His old partner, Vari, helps him reunite with what remains of his family, and get him out of the country. But Aven has unknowingly become involved in an intricate plot orchestrated by the Russian businessman he was investigating.

If you enjoyed Gorky Park, then you should definitely read The Domino Game, an international thriller that doesn’t disappoint.

I received a copy of The Domino Game from the publisher through NetGalley for an honest unbiased review.

[Big Time Book Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband read this book after downloading a free copy of this novel and so, he felt he wanted to leave a review, but asked if I'd post it so he didn't have to create a name and everything for one review.

According to him, The Domino Game, the first he's read by Greg Wilson, was well plotted, tightly written and pulled him into the story immediately. The author provides a lot of detail into the Russian mafia and how they operate, especially as pertains to the fall of the communist government and the chaotic time afterward.

The characters were extremely well developed and the descriptions such that a reader could easily feel as if they were seeing and experiencing what was being described. My husband will be reading other books by this author.

[Gina Burgess · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried. I really, really tried to get into this book. I loved Gorky Park, and some other Russian-based stories, but this one was difficult to get into because I couldn't establish a rapport with any of the characters. I just didn't care about anyone of them. As I started to grow close to one, the story would flip to another unknown. Then it all became a jumble because there were just too many characters to untangle. The story objective was unclear from the very first. Perhaps it is just me, and that I am used to better story organization. I gave it 2 stars because it does have potential for anyone who can assimilate all the characters.

[Rebecca Bacino · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read a book by this author before and enjoyed it; however this was not that book. I found myself dreading going back to read it and ultimately did not finish it. I read half the book which is a lot longer than I usually give (usually about 100 pages) and finally I decided enough was enough. I like this genre and was terribly disappointed. Maybe it just wasn't my taste. There could be many of you out there that enjoy the book. I'm actually surprised to see the high rating it received, but then again, I felt I couldn't make it through the entire book.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy novelization of the perils of the Russian mob- one of the more destructive and pervasive criminal organizations operating today. Be aware that there is distasteful activity but that's consistent with the problems. Wilson has a good writing style for a thriller and this flows well. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Pick this if you are looking for a good plot driven thriller for travel or just an afternoon in the armchair. I'm going to look for Wilson's next book.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good spy thriller. I cannot get interested in the Middle Eastern terrorists and spy stories of the region.

This was a good book even though I had a little of a hard time at first with the names, after I got settled into the book, everything fell into place.

You won't be sorry that you read this book.

I will definitely be watching this author for future books.

[Vicki Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A top draw thriller. Great plot. Excellent characterizations. Didn't want it to end!

[Michael Skerrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most enjoyable read. Thoroughly recommend this book.