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Curtis O'Connor #5
The Russian Affair
Russian President Petrov is determined to restore his country's dominance on the world stage at any price. In order to develop deadlier nuclear weapons, he recruits Ilana Rabinovich, a beautiful but lethal scientist, to infiltrate the Mossad and steal their research. What no one expects is for the Israelis to then assign her an even more dangerous mission of their to penetrate the US nuclear facilities in the deserts of Los Alamos.
If the information falls into the wrong hands the results could be devastating. Especially as in the Hindu Kush, ISIS soldiers are also plotting to acquire nuclear weapons. It's up to CIA agent Curtis O'Connor to stop them before it's too late. From Russia's secret nuclear city of Sarov, across the myriad canals of St Petersburg, to an assault on an ancient castle more impenetrable than Colditz, the chase is on.
But with a corrupt Russian general, a femme fatale double agent and a very unpredictable US president waiting in the wings, is it only a matter of time until a war begins?
If the information falls into the wrong hands the results could be devastating. Especially as in the Hindu Kush, ISIS soldiers are also plotting to acquire nuclear weapons. It's up to CIA agent Curtis O'Connor to stop them before it's too late. From Russia's secret nuclear city of Sarov, across the myriad canals of St Petersburg, to an assault on an ancient castle more impenetrable than Colditz, the chase is on.
But with a corrupt Russian general, a femme fatale double agent and a very unpredictable US president waiting in the wings, is it only a matter of time until a war begins?
Kindle Edition
Published July 2, 2018
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About the author
Adrian d'Hagé
7 books23 followersAdrian d'Hagé was educated at North Sydney Boys High School and the Royal Military College Duntroon (Applied Science). He served as a platoon commander in Vietnam where he was awarded the Military Cross. His military service included command of an infantry battalion, Director of Joint Operations and Head of Defence Public Relations. In 1994 Adrian was made a Member of the Order of Australia. As a Brigadier, he headed Defence planning for counter-terrorism security for the Sydney Olympics, including security against chemical, biological and nuclear threats.
In October 2000 Adrian left the Army to pursue a writing career, moving to Italy to complete The Omega Scroll (Penguin 2005). Now into its sixth printing, The Omega Scroll was voted one of the top 50 books of 2006 (Booklovers Guide) and has been published in ten countries. His next bestselling novel, The Beijing Conspiracy, dealt with biological terrorism and what might happen if smallpox and Ebola are genetically engineered (Penguin 2007). His latest novel, The Maya Codex was published in August 2010.
Adrian also holds an honours degree in Theology, entering as a committed Christian but graduating 'with no fixed religion'. In 2009 he completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Dean's Award) in Oenology or wine chemistry at Charles Sturt University, and he has successfully sat the Austrian Government exams for ski instructor, 'Schilehrer Anwärter'. Adrian is presently a research scholar and tutor at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies (Middle East and Central Asia) at ANU. His doctorate is entitled 'The Influence of Religion on US Foreign Policy in the Middle East'.
In October 2000 Adrian left the Army to pursue a writing career, moving to Italy to complete The Omega Scroll (Penguin 2005). Now into its sixth printing, The Omega Scroll was voted one of the top 50 books of 2006 (Booklovers Guide) and has been published in ten countries. His next bestselling novel, The Beijing Conspiracy, dealt with biological terrorism and what might happen if smallpox and Ebola are genetically engineered (Penguin 2007). His latest novel, The Maya Codex was published in August 2010.
Adrian also holds an honours degree in Theology, entering as a committed Christian but graduating 'with no fixed religion'. In 2009 he completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Dean's Award) in Oenology or wine chemistry at Charles Sturt University, and he has successfully sat the Austrian Government exams for ski instructor, 'Schilehrer Anwärter'. Adrian is presently a research scholar and tutor at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies (Middle East and Central Asia) at ANU. His doctorate is entitled 'The Influence of Religion on US Foreign Policy in the Middle East'.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 25, 2018
The Russian Affair by Adrian d'Hagé reads like a spy thriller, which it is. On reading, though, it proves to be more than that, a point to which I will return.
The spy thriller category is one around which I generally steer a wide berth. On this occasions, the name of the author was incentive enough for me to give this new book a try. d'Hagé was a senior and highly regarded figure in the Australian armed forces and in a position to understand – as well as remain abreast of – the subject about which he writes. Beyond that, he is a highly educated man of fluent speech and, as it turns out, clear writing.
The main people in The Russian Affair are a gung-ho and dramatically unstable American president, Bedford Travers; a ‘good guy’ Irish-American CIA operative, Curtis O’Connor; the inevitably beautiful Russian scientist/spy, Colonel Ilana Rabinovich; disgruntled Los Alamos scientist, Dr Denis Bartok; ISIS General Mahmoud Waheeb; Mossad spymaster, Amos Regev; plus a broad cast of supporting operatives and organisations.
I should say that despite a large cast, all have a reasonably legitimate role. They appear and play their part in order, so no confusion. d'Hagé has the ability to take us back and forth between characters, actions and locations – New York, Moscow, Sydney, the Hindu Kush, Washington, the mountains of Georgia, Dimona in the Negev Desert, and others – while keeping it all flowing.
Dr Bartok has been able to achieve something science still seeks, cold fusion with energy output greater than energy input. The disaffected scientist, who fails to achieve internal recognition for his work, is a prime target for both the Russians and the Israelis.
Russian President, Dmitry Petrov, assigns Ilana Rabinovich the task of bringing him in. She delivers a reactionary speech at Moscow University denigrating her country and her president. This is all part of the plan to have her mysteriously disappear, only to be snapped up by the Israelis. Unknown to them she is a double agent. She gains top level clearance from the Americans and flies in to Los Alamos, planning to ‘honey trap’ Bartok and ensnare him with the promise of huge dollars.
Meanwhile, in the steep valley of the Kunar River in Afghanistan, Curtis O’Connor and a heavily armed American insurgent team have been helicoptered in, tasked with preventing ISIS gaining possession of four portable Strontium-90 powered generators left behind by the Russians. If the extremists are able to gain control of these, they will have dirty material to add to explosive devices they plan to deploy against London, Paris, New York and Sydney. There is a firefight, with the Americans only partly successful in achieving their objective.
The story provides grounds for thought. Principal among these is how the US president, as Commander-in-Chief, has the potential to bring the world to nuclear war, and the jeopardy to the future of mankind consequent on his sole command. It may never eventuate but there have been instances in the past when the Doomsday clock has counted down to two minutes. President Travers is on the cusp of taking it further.
Beyond that is the concern about how much fissile material might be left lying around for those who’d hold the free world to ransom.
It won’t cause any loss of sleep but The Russian Affair, apart from being a darned good read, offers grounds for thought about better ways to maintain peace on Earth.
I hadn’t previously read anything by Adrian d'Hagé, but will now seek more.
The spy thriller category is one around which I generally steer a wide berth. On this occasions, the name of the author was incentive enough for me to give this new book a try. d'Hagé was a senior and highly regarded figure in the Australian armed forces and in a position to understand – as well as remain abreast of – the subject about which he writes. Beyond that, he is a highly educated man of fluent speech and, as it turns out, clear writing.
The main people in The Russian Affair are a gung-ho and dramatically unstable American president, Bedford Travers; a ‘good guy’ Irish-American CIA operative, Curtis O’Connor; the inevitably beautiful Russian scientist/spy, Colonel Ilana Rabinovich; disgruntled Los Alamos scientist, Dr Denis Bartok; ISIS General Mahmoud Waheeb; Mossad spymaster, Amos Regev; plus a broad cast of supporting operatives and organisations.
I should say that despite a large cast, all have a reasonably legitimate role. They appear and play their part in order, so no confusion. d'Hagé has the ability to take us back and forth between characters, actions and locations – New York, Moscow, Sydney, the Hindu Kush, Washington, the mountains of Georgia, Dimona in the Negev Desert, and others – while keeping it all flowing.
Dr Bartok has been able to achieve something science still seeks, cold fusion with energy output greater than energy input. The disaffected scientist, who fails to achieve internal recognition for his work, is a prime target for both the Russians and the Israelis.
Russian President, Dmitry Petrov, assigns Ilana Rabinovich the task of bringing him in. She delivers a reactionary speech at Moscow University denigrating her country and her president. This is all part of the plan to have her mysteriously disappear, only to be snapped up by the Israelis. Unknown to them she is a double agent. She gains top level clearance from the Americans and flies in to Los Alamos, planning to ‘honey trap’ Bartok and ensnare him with the promise of huge dollars.
Meanwhile, in the steep valley of the Kunar River in Afghanistan, Curtis O’Connor and a heavily armed American insurgent team have been helicoptered in, tasked with preventing ISIS gaining possession of four portable Strontium-90 powered generators left behind by the Russians. If the extremists are able to gain control of these, they will have dirty material to add to explosive devices they plan to deploy against London, Paris, New York and Sydney. There is a firefight, with the Americans only partly successful in achieving their objective.
The story provides grounds for thought. Principal among these is how the US president, as Commander-in-Chief, has the potential to bring the world to nuclear war, and the jeopardy to the future of mankind consequent on his sole command. It may never eventuate but there have been instances in the past when the Doomsday clock has counted down to two minutes. President Travers is on the cusp of taking it further.
Beyond that is the concern about how much fissile material might be left lying around for those who’d hold the free world to ransom.
It won’t cause any loss of sleep but The Russian Affair, apart from being a darned good read, offers grounds for thought about better ways to maintain peace on Earth.
I hadn’t previously read anything by Adrian d'Hagé, but will now seek more.
December 28, 2020
ISIS have obtained nuclear weapons and threaten to use them. This books tells the tale of the lead up to this and the aftermath. There are also side stories all of which make for a bit of a disjointed story. These side stories create a very repetitive tale as the Americans and the Russians are after the same thing or the Americans and ISIS are after the same thing and you get both sides. So everything is kind of told twice. Then are some story lines that could have been cut out entirely and it would not have made any difference.
This could have been much better if it had an editor willing to cut out huge parts.
This could have been much better if it had an editor willing to cut out huge parts.
November 26, 2019
This book could have been a great spy/espionage thriller but quickly devolved into 'sexy scientist sleeps with other scientist to seduce state secrets from him' yawn. Oh and she gets to sleep with the president because she is so patriotic that he has to convince her to defect to enemy state and become double agent. The author researched nuclear physics so well but his plot really let him down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2018
I couldn’t finish this book. I got about 10% of the way through it and gave up. I had to re-read certain sentences multiple yimes in order to get the proper meaning/context. There was no urgency within the story itself or like it seemed relevant within the real world events it was supposed to be a part of. Which is disappointing ad I have liked the previous books by this author
December 26, 2025
Well written if a little far fetched in the conclusion. I found the naming and thinly disguised fictional portraits of the characters of US President Travers = Trump and Russian President Petrov = Putin amusing.
September 28, 2018
Surprisingly good read. Lots of great detail to add to the fiction as written by someone that clearly understands. A few too many plot twists but read cover to cover as had time.
September 9, 2021
Not a bad book for accompanying housework and dog walking. Maybe a bit too much military detail and not enough spy craft for my liking but that’s a personal preference.
June 5, 2022
A great read full of action and spying intrigue.
September 1, 2018
Wow, this books story line has it all, an unhinged president of the United States, the exploration and refinement of nuclear arms, the super powers of USA, Russia and Israel, mutually assured destruction, the rush to locate powerful information before it falls into the wrong hands, double agents and the imminent threat of terrorists. Not only did d'Hage tell a brilliant story but I learned quite a lot as he wove in real life intelligence history that simply added to the pace of the story.
I nearly categorised this novel as motivation as there are many warnings and parallels to real life in this story that we should all probably take heed of.
I nearly categorised this novel as motivation as there are many warnings and parallels to real life in this story that we should all probably take heed of.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews