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Judd Ryker #4
The Shadow List
A cutting-edge novel of international crime and its consequences, from Nigeria to Russia to Washington, from the former deputy assistant secretary of state.
We laugh when it pops up in our inbox: the scam letter promising a windfall. We wonder: How does anybody fall for these things? But it is no laughing matter. It is one of the biggest organized crime rackets in the world, it is deadly - and State Department crisis manager Judd Ryker has fallen right into the middle of it.
The disappearance of a young American in London sends Ryker into the heart of a corruption scandal in Nigeria, at the same time his CIA agent wife Jessica finds herself chasing a Russian master criminal known as the Bear. Unknown to either of them, they are pulling at two ends of the same lethal thread, a staggeringly vicious enterprise of piracy, extortion, and murder.
The world is messy and dangerous, Jessica warns her husband.More dangerous than you know. But he is about to find out.
We laugh when it pops up in our inbox: the scam letter promising a windfall. We wonder: How does anybody fall for these things? But it is no laughing matter. It is one of the biggest organized crime rackets in the world, it is deadly - and State Department crisis manager Judd Ryker has fallen right into the middle of it.
The disappearance of a young American in London sends Ryker into the heart of a corruption scandal in Nigeria, at the same time his CIA agent wife Jessica finds herself chasing a Russian master criminal known as the Bear. Unknown to either of them, they are pulling at two ends of the same lethal thread, a staggeringly vicious enterprise of piracy, extortion, and murder.
The world is messy and dangerous, Jessica warns her husband.More dangerous than you know. But he is about to find out.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published September 5, 2017
13 people are currently reading
334 people want to read
About the author
Todd Moss
10 books61 followersTodd Moss, formerly the top American diplomat in West Africa, draws on his real-world experiences inside the U.S. Government to bring to life the exhilaration—and frustrations—of modern-day diplomacy. His first novel, THE GOLDEN HOUR (Putnam/Penguin), was originally inspired by the August 2008 coup d’état in Mauritania. Todd was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State at the time and was dispatched by Secretary Condoleezza Rice to negotiate with the junta leader General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.
Just weeks after Todd completed the first draft of THE GOLDEN HOUR about an army takeover in Mali, the real President of that country was overthrown in a coup. Within days, the northern half of the country was overrun by Tuareg separatists and Islamist extremists, a threat to Africa and the world that was only ended by a French military invasion in early 2013.
The sequel, MINUTE ZERO (Putnam/Penguin), about an election in Zimbabwe that goes awry, was released Sept 2015.
Todd is also the author of several non-fiction books on African development and economics. He currently works as Senior Fellow and Chief Operating Officer at the Center for Global Development, a think-tank in Washington DC and lives in Maryland with his family. He is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and has taught at the London School of Economics (LSE) and at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). He holds a PhD from SOAS and a BA from Tufts University.
Just weeks after Todd completed the first draft of THE GOLDEN HOUR about an army takeover in Mali, the real President of that country was overthrown in a coup. Within days, the northern half of the country was overrun by Tuareg separatists and Islamist extremists, a threat to Africa and the world that was only ended by a French military invasion in early 2013.
The sequel, MINUTE ZERO (Putnam/Penguin), about an election in Zimbabwe that goes awry, was released Sept 2015.
Todd is also the author of several non-fiction books on African development and economics. He currently works as Senior Fellow and Chief Operating Officer at the Center for Global Development, a think-tank in Washington DC and lives in Maryland with his family. He is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and has taught at the London School of Economics (LSE) and at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). He holds a PhD from SOAS and a BA from Tufts University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 7, 2019
I hate reviews with spoilers so you won't read any here. All you'll get is my humble opinion about the quality of this novel.
I'm new to this author, but I throughly enjoyed the book, even though it's fourth in a series. I found that I was able to enjoy the characters and the story. The main characters are a married couple who are trying to separate their personal lives from their challenging careers that are now intersecting. The plot is suitably complex but fairly easy to follow. Plenty of action in this one. This is another excellent representation of the genre.
I was chosen to read an advance copy of this book as part of the Penguin's First to Read program. The opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
I'm new to this author, but I throughly enjoyed the book, even though it's fourth in a series. I found that I was able to enjoy the characters and the story. The main characters are a married couple who are trying to separate their personal lives from their challenging careers that are now intersecting. The plot is suitably complex but fairly easy to follow. Plenty of action in this one. This is another excellent representation of the genre.
I was chosen to read an advance copy of this book as part of the Penguin's First to Read program. The opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
July 4, 2018
'The Shadow List' was a bit of a disappointment. It has a somewhat interesting plot involving both CIA guy Judd Ryker and his wife Jessica, also a spy in a different unit. Although their respective assignments are continents apart, there ends up being a connection.
Todd Moss clearly knows the Africa milieu and does a nice job on the 'spy' stuff. His writing is fine in general but his dialogue, which I find often makes or breaks a book for me, is weak and stands in the way of an otherwise decent story.
I've read the 1st and 4th installments in the Ryker series and now think I need to backtrack to check out the other two. It's a good series in my favorite genre.
Todd Moss clearly knows the Africa milieu and does a nice job on the 'spy' stuff. His writing is fine in general but his dialogue, which I find often makes or breaks a book for me, is weak and stands in the way of an otherwise decent story.
I've read the 1st and 4th installments in the Ryker series and now think I need to backtrack to check out the other two. It's a good series in my favorite genre.
September 12, 2017
Una lectura ligera -la pluma del autor te permite leer rápido-, pero los personajes me parecieron un poco planos, en general es un libro para una tarde de ocio y que seguro te va a hacer pensar un rato.
October 25, 2017
Interesting current story line,but not worth wading through the terrible language, to find out the ending.
August 28, 2017
I think this is one of those books you really need to read from book one of the series to really appreciate. I felt the relationships were not well developed, there were too many characters to keep them straight and I was left a little adrift at the end. I might check out the previous ones to see if I can fit the pieces. The story was engaging however and the main characters were likeable.
August 21, 2017
I was lucky enough to snag an ARC. This is 100% honest and based on my personal experience with the book.
This is the fourth story of the Ryder couple, though the first I have read. While it was readable as a stand-alone there were clearly references made to past books and characters that made me feel out of the loop. They author would try to give brief summaries of missed plots where applicable, but these often seemed irrelevant or lacking. Basically, I feel like I should read the previous books as that would have made this one better.
Otherwise, I really enjoyed the plot. While parts of it were pretty predictable (oh they're arguing about ___ so obviously ___ will happen in the future), there were enough twists and turns to keep me flipping through pages.
In some cases I felt like the plots were over-entwined. Too many characters all with very different stories that the author tried to connect through the bigger plot. Perhaps leaving out one of those would have streamlined everything a bit and requires less suspension of disbelief.
When all is said and done, it was a pleasurable read and great for a day of travel or waiting in a jury lounge.
This is the fourth story of the Ryder couple, though the first I have read. While it was readable as a stand-alone there were clearly references made to past books and characters that made me feel out of the loop. They author would try to give brief summaries of missed plots where applicable, but these often seemed irrelevant or lacking. Basically, I feel like I should read the previous books as that would have made this one better.
Otherwise, I really enjoyed the plot. While parts of it were pretty predictable (oh they're arguing about ___ so obviously ___ will happen in the future), there were enough twists and turns to keep me flipping through pages.
In some cases I felt like the plots were over-entwined. Too many characters all with very different stories that the author tried to connect through the bigger plot. Perhaps leaving out one of those would have streamlined everything a bit and requires less suspension of disbelief.
When all is said and done, it was a pleasurable read and great for a day of travel or waiting in a jury lounge.
October 4, 2017
So this novel is really fast-paced. There are a lot of characters and there's a lot going on, so you really need to stay focused. It was quite easy to follow in spite of my complete lack of background on the series. However, I would recommend that interested readers start from the beginning so that they can have a better understanding of the story and characters. While the story was interesting, I found that it was a little too convoluted. There were too many angles and too many things going on that didn't tie up as well as I wish they would have. Even though the author chose a really interesting topic to base the story on, I felt my interest wane as too many things were thrown in and not enough was explored at times; it just felt like it was missing some depth. I had no problem with pacing or character development. But if I had to compare this to the Sigma Force series, then I would definitely prefer the Sigma Force series. For me, this novel was just okay and I would give it a 2.5/5 rounded to 3 stars.
Thank you to Penguin Random House and the First to Read program for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews, visit: www.veereading.wordpress.com
Thank you to Penguin Random House and the First to Read program for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews, visit: www.veereading.wordpress.com
August 30, 2017
Another novel I got From First to Read that I wasn’t aware was part of a series beforehand. The Shadow List has a lot of moving parts and characters. Considering I hadn’t read the previous books, the author did a fairly good job of not bogging book #4 down with details to explain references to previous events, but it also left me wondering what they were talking about sometimes. It didn’t really detract from the story too much, but I probably would have enjoyed it more if I’d read from Book #1. There’s a lot corruption, espionage, kidnapping and fast paced action. So many different threads from different characters were tied together at the end to paint a cohesive picture, but I did spend a lot of the book wondering how the disparate chapters were related to each other. Strong character building, nice tidy ending with enough left to lead to a next book, and a satisfying plot. Worth a read.
October 4, 2017
‘The Shadow List’ provides a complex story for Judd and Jessica Ryker. This is the 4th novel in the Judd Ryker series. From the very beginning there are many different plot lines that ultimately blend into one satisfying conclusion.
Judd, from the State Department, travels to Nigeria to help find an American who seems to have been scammed and kidnapped while on a trip to England. While in Nigeria, he is also tasked with saving an NBA player who was kidnapped while dedicating a hospital. In addition, Judd rescues a judge who needs to escape from Nigeria where a target has been placed on his back.
Meanwhile …
Jessica, a CIA agent posing as an assassin, heads to Russia to meet a mobster and collect enough info to put him away. To prove herself, she accepts an assignment from “The Bear” to kill a judge the next day in … NIGERIA. Guess which judge.
And, so it goes … one strange twist after another. Wonderfully written and hard to put down.
Judd, from the State Department, travels to Nigeria to help find an American who seems to have been scammed and kidnapped while on a trip to England. While in Nigeria, he is also tasked with saving an NBA player who was kidnapped while dedicating a hospital. In addition, Judd rescues a judge who needs to escape from Nigeria where a target has been placed on his back.
Meanwhile …
Jessica, a CIA agent posing as an assassin, heads to Russia to meet a mobster and collect enough info to put him away. To prove herself, she accepts an assignment from “The Bear” to kill a judge the next day in … NIGERIA. Guess which judge.
And, so it goes … one strange twist after another. Wonderfully written and hard to put down.
September 13, 2017
When Jason Saunders received a letter with an offer too good to refuse, his first impression is that it is a scam. However, the letter contained personal information that was not generally known. When Jason responds it results in his disappearance. Judd Ryker, working for the State Department, is assigned to find Jason. The trail leads to Nigeria, where many such letters originate.
Judd's wife Jessica works for the CIA. As Judd travels to Nigeria, Jessica travels to St. Petersburg, posing as an assassin who does jobs for the Russian mafia. She is given the job of eliminating an official in Nigeria, where their assignments cross and the action takes off. Greed, manipulation, corruption, kidnapping and some memorable characters make this an exciting read.
I received this book from First to Read in exchange for a review.
Judd's wife Jessica works for the CIA. As Judd travels to Nigeria, Jessica travels to St. Petersburg, posing as an assassin who does jobs for the Russian mafia. She is given the job of eliminating an official in Nigeria, where their assignments cross and the action takes off. Greed, manipulation, corruption, kidnapping and some memorable characters make this an exciting read.
I received this book from First to Read in exchange for a review.
January 30, 2018
Judd Ryker has done it again, this time I'm Nigeria. Moss is making Africa cool again and the State department, too. Probably one of the best lines is early on in the book when S/CRU starts to get a reputation as sexy, for those idealistic or eager enough.
Just when you learn more about Judd Ryker's gentle, academic ways and his true role in the State Crisis Reaction Unit, another, much darker side of him emerges. Moss's writing is getting better, and the characters are becoming more shapely. (All but Espinoza, at least. She still feels wooden.) This novel had more in common with The Americans than previous ones due to intersection between husband-wife and job affairs.
I'm still eagerly awaiting a tale from Jessica's point of view. Maybe also the Professor who matched them.
Keep at it, Todd!
(I have read all the books in the Judd Ryker series in order of publication)
Just when you learn more about Judd Ryker's gentle, academic ways and his true role in the State Crisis Reaction Unit, another, much darker side of him emerges. Moss's writing is getting better, and the characters are becoming more shapely. (All but Espinoza, at least. She still feels wooden.) This novel had more in common with The Americans than previous ones due to intersection between husband-wife and job affairs.
I'm still eagerly awaiting a tale from Jessica's point of view. Maybe also the Professor who matched them.
Keep at it, Todd!
(I have read all the books in the Judd Ryker series in order of publication)
August 18, 2017
The Shadow List is the fourth book in the Judd Ryker series. This is the first book written by Todd Moss that I have read so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was a well written espionage thriller. There is some violence.
The book blurb adequately describes the storyline so I'm not going to repeat all of that info here. Overall, this book is about Judd and his wife Jessica and their jobs unknowingly overlapping. As usual not everyone or everything is as it seems. While the storyline is somewhat predictable, there are enough twists and turns to keep you reading all the way to the end.
I received a copy of the book from First To Read and chose to leave a review for other readers. I hope that the author continues to write more book in this series!
The book blurb adequately describes the storyline so I'm not going to repeat all of that info here. Overall, this book is about Judd and his wife Jessica and their jobs unknowingly overlapping. As usual not everyone or everything is as it seems. While the storyline is somewhat predictable, there are enough twists and turns to keep you reading all the way to the end.
I received a copy of the book from First To Read and chose to leave a review for other readers. I hope that the author continues to write more book in this series!
August 31, 2017
Well that was exciting.
So we have Judd Ryker, a State Department problem solver and his CIA assassin wife, Jessica. They jet set around the world and rescue kidnapped NBA players, infiltrate the Russian mob, and take down corrupt politicians, separately, of course, each on different harrowing missions until their seemingly unconnected cases bring them together for a harrowing finale.
I enjoyed this, probably a lot more than I thought I would. Diplomatic thrillers are not exactly my usual reads but I would definitely look into this series again especially if I'm looking for something quick and entertaining and filmically exciting and action-packed to take my mind off things.
I read this book through Penguin's First to Read program.
So we have Judd Ryker, a State Department problem solver and his CIA assassin wife, Jessica. They jet set around the world and rescue kidnapped NBA players, infiltrate the Russian mob, and take down corrupt politicians, separately, of course, each on different harrowing missions until their seemingly unconnected cases bring them together for a harrowing finale.
I enjoyed this, probably a lot more than I thought I would. Diplomatic thrillers are not exactly my usual reads but I would definitely look into this series again especially if I'm looking for something quick and entertaining and filmically exciting and action-packed to take my mind off things.
I read this book through Penguin's First to Read program.
September 25, 2017
This was the first of the Judd Ryker series that I've read. It was more plot based rather than character based so there was a ton of action and just enough character building to keep you interested and caring.
The pacing was good and gained speed towards the end, with everything coming to a head. I liked how all of the threads entwined, though I wasn't sure how everything would come together I was enjoying the ride so I was okay with that. I appreciated that Judd and Jessica had a good relationship despite their challenges. I've read so many books with couples growing to hate each other or having problems that it was nice to see them clearly look towards each other for strength/guidance.
I received a review copy.
The pacing was good and gained speed towards the end, with everything coming to a head. I liked how all of the threads entwined, though I wasn't sure how everything would come together I was enjoying the ride so I was okay with that. I appreciated that Judd and Jessica had a good relationship despite their challenges. I've read so many books with couples growing to hate each other or having problems that it was nice to see them clearly look towards each other for strength/guidance.
I received a review copy.
August 24, 2017
This is the 4th book in the Judd Ryker series, but my introduction to this character. Judd Ryker heads the crisis unit for State Department in the US, while his wife Jessica (unknown to him) is a CIA agent. In this read, Judd is tasked to rescue a kidnapped Wall Streeter and then a pro basketball player, while Jessica is sent on a mission to discover more about a Russian nicknamed "the Bear." Surprisingly the couples' paths cross in Nigeria after many twists in the plot. As one is often reminded in this fast paced book, "The world is messy and dangerous."
Thanks to First to Read- Penguin Books USA for the free copy of this book.
Thanks to First to Read- Penguin Books USA for the free copy of this book.
September 4, 2017
Super fast-paced action, and, as this is my first read in this series, I thought the introduction of characters went pretty well. I had no trouble following it and I liked the main characters, Judd and Jessica. It was a quick, enjoyable read with interesting details and great creative character sketches at every turn. It clearly set itself up for a sequel, though -- so many things left undone that it felt incomplete as a novel, but I suppose that's to keep you coming back for more.
I got a free copy to review from First to Read.
I got a free copy to review from First to Read.
September 5, 2017
Thank you to Penguin First to Read for the review copy of this book! This was my first introduction to this series, but it stood alone pretty well. I love a twisty diplomatic story, and this was certainly a very twisty one. The characters were intriguing, especially Judd and Jessica Ryker-- a married couple; though I might have been more invested if I'd read from the start of the series. A fun, fast-paced thriller for anyone who enjoys the inner workings of the State Department or international relations.
September 21, 2017
This was a very good thriller and recommend to anyone that enjoys that genre. A person goes missing that is tied to a scam ring originating out of Nigeria. the two main characters are married one being CIA and the other working for the state department. They try to keep their jobs separate but as the story progresses their paths cross in a deadly way. I liked the flow of the story and they set up the plot to continue very nicely at the end of the book. Looking forward to the next book. 4 star rating
December 20, 2017
Another fine entry is this series. If it is not quite as good a story as in The Golden Hour and Minute Zero, it is still a diverting story. Life and corruption in Nigeria go under the microscope. where what you see is not always what is the reality. Waste no pity though on young Jason Saunders! Recommended. If you are new to the series, highly recommended to start with the first Judd and Jessica, the superb The Golden Hour.
September 12, 2017
Although this is the fourth book in the Ryder series (Jessica and Judd Ryder being the protagonists), it is the first I've read. It is a fast paced and engaging read - alternating through chapters about the individual key players, with the various threads seeming to spin out of control until it all comes together. Quite enjoyable, and I would recommend it to fans of political and espionage thrillers by authors such as Tom Clancy, David Baldacci, and Frederick Forsyth.
With thanks to the author, Todd Moss, and the publisher, G.P. Putnam for the advanced reader copy.
With thanks to the author, Todd Moss, and the publisher, G.P. Putnam for the advanced reader copy.
November 7, 2017
The best of the series so far - with so many moving parts, it was hard to keep up, but I loved learning more and more about Jessica, and seeing her in such a badass role. Also loved seeing more of Isabella; sad no Bull Durham in this one though.
All that being said, I feel like the ending left me unsatisfied. I guess I'll have to wait for the next one to get all my answers.
All that being said, I feel like the ending left me unsatisfied. I guess I'll have to wait for the next one to get all my answers.
March 4, 2018
Picked this up from the library out of the blue (admittedly had no idea it was part of a bigger series of novels - Judd Rykers series, haha). A fascinating political and diplomatic thriller it kept me turning page after page. Not a flawless score because I think there are some unfinished plotlines in the story. Highly recommend!
April 28, 2019
Came across this at the library, started reading it, and then realized it involved characters I read about in Golden Hour. This is a fun action book that focuses on a State Department husband and CIA wife traveling the world and solving problems. This book takes them to Russia and Africa. Nothing amazing, but I'm going to read the other two books in the series I missed.
April 13, 2021
I'm curious to see where Todd Moss takes this series in the future. While some of the story line is utterly not plausible, the relationship dynamic is intriguing. Partnerships are complicated, I like how this is interwoven through the bigger plot. I'll keep reading simply for the relationship narrative. I do like the stories, even if they are a bit outlandish.
August 8, 2017
Could not put this page turner down until the end. Exciting, captivating and intriguing.
Espionage at its best. Terrific writing, fabulous detail oriented story with twists, turns and many surprises. A VERY GOOD READ.
Espionage at its best. Terrific writing, fabulous detail oriented story with twists, turns and many surprises. A VERY GOOD READ.
September 3, 2017
I was given this book to read from First to Read in return for a review.
Twists, turns, lots of violence and bad language. Not much of a storyline, too unbelieveable.
No depth to characters. Same story of the Cold War- U.S. and Russia
Twists, turns, lots of violence and bad language. Not much of a storyline, too unbelieveable.
No depth to characters. Same story of the Cold War- U.S. and Russia
September 25, 2017
The Shadow List is book #4 in the Judd Ryker series, but this was my first installment. I enjoyed the premise. There was a lot going on, but the characters felt flat to me.
*thank you to Penguin Random House First to Read for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review
*thank you to Penguin Random House First to Read for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review
January 25, 2018
Quick, fun read... spanning three continents the couple Judd and Jessica Ryder take on the Russian mafia and corruption in Nigeria and DC. The characters weren't too deep, but the action is really what makes the story.
March 29, 2022
Got to the last page and said WHAT. It just stopped and left you hanging. A good way to make you read the next book to see what t
Judd and jessica decided to do with their careers her the CIA n Judd the justice department. A fast paced book kept you going right to the end.
Judd and jessica decided to do with their careers her the CIA n Judd the justice department. A fast paced book kept you going right to the end.
August 24, 2017
A thrilling novel about international crimes. It's vividly written and full of surprising developments.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews