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The Moscow Whisper
‘Sometimes you have to enter the death zone to save the innocent ’
A top-secret clique of former spies meet for dinner to hatch a plan to murder a competitor, not knowing that they are under surveillance from a covert arm of British Intelligence. Hours later, with bodies strewn across a terrace, a piece of secret intelligence reveals an international plot of colossal magnitude.
For disgraced agent Sean Richardson, this is the beginning of a deniable mission to infiltrate and disrupt a group of Russian mercenaries who are working clandestinely to take over a nation state.
Acting covertly as an illicit arms trafficker, Sean is dropped into a deadly cauldron of terrorists and high-tech weaponry that will take a nation down. As the bullets fly and the chaos rains in, can Sean take down the merchants of death…..or has he finally met his match?
A top-secret clique of former spies meet for dinner to hatch a plan to murder a competitor, not knowing that they are under surveillance from a covert arm of British Intelligence. Hours later, with bodies strewn across a terrace, a piece of secret intelligence reveals an international plot of colossal magnitude.
For disgraced agent Sean Richardson, this is the beginning of a deniable mission to infiltrate and disrupt a group of Russian mercenaries who are working clandestinely to take over a nation state.
Acting covertly as an illicit arms trafficker, Sean is dropped into a deadly cauldron of terrorists and high-tech weaponry that will take a nation down. As the bullets fly and the chaos rains in, can Sean take down the merchants of death…..or has he finally met his match?
- GenresSpy Thriller
320 pages, ebook
Published June 12, 2020
54 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Michael Jenkins
4 books25 followersI started climbing at 13, survived being lost in Snowdonia at 14, nearly drowned at 15, and then joined the Army at 16. Risk and adventure was built into my DNA and I feel very fortunate to have served the majority of my working career as an intelligence officer within Defence Intelligence, and as an explosive ordnance disposal officer and military surveyor within the Corps of Royal Engineers.
I was privileged to serve for twenty-eight years in the British Army as a soldier and officer, rising through the ranks to complete my service as a major. I served across the globe on numerous military operations as well as extensive travel and adventure on many major mountaineering and exploration expeditions that I led or was involved in.
I was awarded the Geographic Medal by the Royal Geographical Society for mountain exploration in 2003 and served on the screening committee of the Mount Everest Foundation charity for many years. It was humbling after so many years of service when I was awarded the MBE for services to counter-terrorism in 2007.
The Failsafe Query is my debut novel, with the second being The Kompromat Kill. My third is called The Moscow Whisper which will be published in the early summer of 2020.
Show Less
I was privileged to serve for twenty-eight years in the British Army as a soldier and officer, rising through the ranks to complete my service as a major. I served across the globe on numerous military operations as well as extensive travel and adventure on many major mountaineering and exploration expeditions that I led or was involved in.
I was awarded the Geographic Medal by the Royal Geographical Society for mountain exploration in 2003 and served on the screening committee of the Mount Everest Foundation charity for many years. It was humbling after so many years of service when I was awarded the MBE for services to counter-terrorism in 2007.
The Failsafe Query is my debut novel, with the second being The Kompromat Kill. My third is called The Moscow Whisper which will be published in the early summer of 2020.
Show Less
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 16, 2020
This is the third book in the Sean Richardson and, boy oh boy was it a cracking read. While the title gives the impression of it being set in Moscow, it is the Russian mercenaries and arms dealers who provide the Moscow link.
This is an absolute cracker of a read and I have to say I feel for Sean as the author really does put him through his paces. Sean is an off the books operative for an exclusive group. Plausible deniability being something that is essential, but it doesn’t mean that Sean is working alone.
In this mission, he has help from old friends, but as this is the world of spies, double agents, rumours and lies, there is always a doubt as to who can be trusted. Money and power lead to corruption and this leads to sold secrets, backhanders and the like.
This is such a fast-paced book that is action from start to finish. Sean is an excellent character ad is teamed up once again with Jack, and an American agent Laura. I just can’t but like Sean and I still do have my doubts about the other two, there is just something about those who make the decisions that leaves an uneasy feeling. Or maybe I am always backing the underdog, and this seems to be Sean’s default setting.
There are some other great characters in this story and I love some of their names, well nicknames. They add a good deal of variety and some have a very unique skill set to boot.
The details that the author brings to this story is so good, tactics and weaponry are just the tip of the ice-berg. When you read the authors bio you can see where his own knowledge adds a massive extra to the storytelling.
This is such an excellent read, fast, action-packed, intense thriller. For me, this book just has it all and I would highly recommend it.
This is an absolute cracker of a read and I have to say I feel for Sean as the author really does put him through his paces. Sean is an off the books operative for an exclusive group. Plausible deniability being something that is essential, but it doesn’t mean that Sean is working alone.
In this mission, he has help from old friends, but as this is the world of spies, double agents, rumours and lies, there is always a doubt as to who can be trusted. Money and power lead to corruption and this leads to sold secrets, backhanders and the like.
This is such a fast-paced book that is action from start to finish. Sean is an excellent character ad is teamed up once again with Jack, and an American agent Laura. I just can’t but like Sean and I still do have my doubts about the other two, there is just something about those who make the decisions that leaves an uneasy feeling. Or maybe I am always backing the underdog, and this seems to be Sean’s default setting.
There are some other great characters in this story and I love some of their names, well nicknames. They add a good deal of variety and some have a very unique skill set to boot.
The details that the author brings to this story is so good, tactics and weaponry are just the tip of the ice-berg. When you read the authors bio you can see where his own knowledge adds a massive extra to the storytelling.
This is such an excellent read, fast, action-packed, intense thriller. For me, this book just has it all and I would highly recommend it.
June 3, 2020
This was an excellent read. Full of fast-paced action and twists and turns that you don't see coming! I love a good spy book and this was definitely one of them.
I loved Sean, Jack and Laura! The latter was particularly funny, making me laugh out loud a few times. She wasn't the only one though, as there were humourous moments involving Jack and Sean too.
I haven't read the first two books in this series and will definitely read those whilst I wait impatiently to meet Sean and Co in the 4th book to come after this, called The Third Avenue.
If you like the spy genre, then this is definitely a book for you. Michael does an excellent job of making you think one thing throughout the story, only to turn everything on it's head by the time you reach the end.
Thank you to The Pigeonhole app and Michael Jenkins for the opportunity to read this book!
I loved Sean, Jack and Laura! The latter was particularly funny, making me laugh out loud a few times. She wasn't the only one though, as there were humourous moments involving Jack and Sean too.
I haven't read the first two books in this series and will definitely read those whilst I wait impatiently to meet Sean and Co in the 4th book to come after this, called The Third Avenue.
If you like the spy genre, then this is definitely a book for you. Michael does an excellent job of making you think one thing throughout the story, only to turn everything on it's head by the time you reach the end.
Thank you to The Pigeonhole app and Michael Jenkins for the opportunity to read this book!
May 28, 2020
This is the third (and hopefully not the last!) instalment of the Failsafe Thrillers series, with our man Sean Richardson, a disgraced former spook for the UK Government, recruited once again by Jack H from The Court - a secretive British Intelligence department - and asked to put his life on the line in another deniable operation.
This time it's to take down an international arms network with Russian connections and, as if that weren't enough for Sean to deal with, unbeknownst to him, he is also being tracked by an old nemesis with murderous intent.
It's really great to see what are now familiar faces in the series; there's Sean's best mate, Swartz; imagery intelligence operator, Jugsy; explosives expert, Phil 'the nose'; and my own personal favourite, dyed-in-the-wool Yorkshireman Billy Phish, the cyber and canine expert (amongst others). If ever there was a bunch of guys I'd love to go out drinking with, it's this lot.
If you haven't come across Michael Jenkins before, he is a truly talented author, with all the prior life experience to write authoritatively in this genre. Michael writes with a perfect balance between all the elements of characterisation, plot development and technical detail where needed.
Michael's stories are eminently plausible in the twenty-first century world of political espionage, and you just know the life and death human and political struggles he conjures up can't be too far removed from reality. And that's what makes his books all the more eye-watering and, if you are of a nervous disposition, thoroughly frightening.
New readers should head over to the first instalment, The Failsafe Query, which is an utterly brilliant opener to the series. The rest of you will have been chomping at the bit for the last twelve months to get your hands on a copy of this third instalment … well, your wait is finally over. ENJOY!
This time it's to take down an international arms network with Russian connections and, as if that weren't enough for Sean to deal with, unbeknownst to him, he is also being tracked by an old nemesis with murderous intent.
It's really great to see what are now familiar faces in the series; there's Sean's best mate, Swartz; imagery intelligence operator, Jugsy; explosives expert, Phil 'the nose'; and my own personal favourite, dyed-in-the-wool Yorkshireman Billy Phish, the cyber and canine expert (amongst others). If ever there was a bunch of guys I'd love to go out drinking with, it's this lot.
If you haven't come across Michael Jenkins before, he is a truly talented author, with all the prior life experience to write authoritatively in this genre. Michael writes with a perfect balance between all the elements of characterisation, plot development and technical detail where needed.
Michael's stories are eminently plausible in the twenty-first century world of political espionage, and you just know the life and death human and political struggles he conjures up can't be too far removed from reality. And that's what makes his books all the more eye-watering and, if you are of a nervous disposition, thoroughly frightening.
New readers should head over to the first instalment, The Failsafe Query, which is an utterly brilliant opener to the series. The rest of you will have been chomping at the bit for the last twelve months to get your hands on a copy of this third instalment … well, your wait is finally over. ENJOY!
June 3, 2020
A fast paced espionage tale. Lots of complications and characters with many twists and turns. Enjoyed the read thanks to the author and pigeonhole and will go back to read the first 2 books to get a better insight into the characters. Enjoyed the scenes set in the Sahara and would have liked more focus on those events. It can be read as a stand-alone thriller.
June 8, 2020
I enjoyed catching up once again with disgraced undercover agent Sean Richardson and his covert team. They are not only great characters individually but their loyalty, trust of each other and their bravery leaves you at times breathless, at other times incredulous, that they actually survive. Although not all of them do in the Double Agent. The detailed plans made in high powered meetings, the amazing technology used, and the fast pace of the operations keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time.
Set in various locations including London, Italy, Mali and Menorca, Sean and his team have to infiltrate a deadly secret organisation ‘Le Cercle’ of arms dealers whilst also trying to smoke out a mole at the highest level. This is a great story with lots of political intrigue, tense action and camaraderie with some brilliant characters to get to know on the way.
Thank you Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read Double Agent not only with other readers but also with the author Michael Jenkins. 5 stars from me.
Set in various locations including London, Italy, Mali and Menorca, Sean and his team have to infiltrate a deadly secret organisation ‘Le Cercle’ of arms dealers whilst also trying to smoke out a mole at the highest level. This is a great story with lots of political intrigue, tense action and camaraderie with some brilliant characters to get to know on the way.
Thank you Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read Double Agent not only with other readers but also with the author Michael Jenkins. 5 stars from me.
June 3, 2020
Arms dealers are an indispensable, if unsavoury, instrument of geopolitics.’ A character states in the first chapter, which sets the stage of this exciting book, crisscrossing countries borders in search of hostiles. Such is ‘The Moscow Whisperer’ by Michael Jenkins, a stunning book that I read on The Pigeonhole app with other readers. It is a riveting storyline, fast paced, breathtaking daring with edge of your seat actions, such believable and lovable characters. The love not knowing and knowing who, the actual enemy, is. Where Sean, the protagonist as one of the heroes fights and struggles against adversaries to win through. I loved reading this book and if possible I’d give it more than a 5 star review.
June 9, 2020
What a way to end a trilogy, I thought that the first 2 books in the Series, The Failsafe Query & Kompromat Kill where absolutely brilliant however The Moscow Whisper has you on the edge constantly. The trilogy is the most realistic series of books I have ever read, tackling many issues facing the world right now.
The Moscow Whisper picks up where the previous book Kompromat Kill left off, before you finish the first few pages you feel as though you have just finished the previous book. This is a great and rare talent for any author.
The realism that Michael Jenkins writes with is second to none. Have you ever watched an action movie and spotted all kinds of goofs and inaccuracies? Well, that is most certainly not the case here. Michael Jenkins has a decorated military career, which is something that gives him the edge over the competition. Plenty of people can write well, but not everyone understands the nuances and technical terms that play such an important role in writing espionage thrillers. Nothing takes a reader out of the story faster than getting the details wrong. It is a cardinal sin that far too many authors make, which is why Michael Jenkins writing is a real treat. He can do both, write and nail all the military details with equal mastery.
Throughout the series Michael Jenkins continually drips in various aspects of the espionage spy game with such realism, that you actually get sucked into the books emotions and intrigue; to the extent you can smell the various locations and want to shout out to protect Sean and the rest of the team. The Moscow Whisper is no different, when ‘The Court’ a secret black operational intelligence unit headed up by Jack, decide to disrupt a Russian arms operation in Africa. For this they need the best in the business, step forward Sean and his band or deniable operators, Swatz, Billy, Jugsy & Phil. Who have once again been pulled in for yet another deniable operation.
The Moscow Whisper has been written so well whilst Sean’s and his team are travelling with them across many continents carrying out their ops, you feel as though you are sitting next to them as they deploy the state of the art technology and infiltrating various terror groups.
The story continually throws a little snippet of a link to something which isn’t clear but tantalising, that you want to know more. Only at the end do you realise that the entire series of books are linked with separate operations but from one storyline.
As with all the series you have a sense of Déjà vu as the storyline is so current with all that is going on in the World right now. The plot moves fast and Michael Jenkins has added a touch of everything into this novel, suspense, twists, espionage, and Sean even – I’d expand on this, but I don’t want to give anything away.
The story, is packed with action, leading up to a climatic ending will have you glued to your seat. Michael Jenkins writes with the style of Tom Clancy and the action of Robert Ludlum, and The Moscow Whisper proves that Michael Jenkins is a name to watch moving forward.The Moscow Whisper
The Moscow Whisper picks up where the previous book Kompromat Kill left off, before you finish the first few pages you feel as though you have just finished the previous book. This is a great and rare talent for any author.
The realism that Michael Jenkins writes with is second to none. Have you ever watched an action movie and spotted all kinds of goofs and inaccuracies? Well, that is most certainly not the case here. Michael Jenkins has a decorated military career, which is something that gives him the edge over the competition. Plenty of people can write well, but not everyone understands the nuances and technical terms that play such an important role in writing espionage thrillers. Nothing takes a reader out of the story faster than getting the details wrong. It is a cardinal sin that far too many authors make, which is why Michael Jenkins writing is a real treat. He can do both, write and nail all the military details with equal mastery.
Throughout the series Michael Jenkins continually drips in various aspects of the espionage spy game with such realism, that you actually get sucked into the books emotions and intrigue; to the extent you can smell the various locations and want to shout out to protect Sean and the rest of the team. The Moscow Whisper is no different, when ‘The Court’ a secret black operational intelligence unit headed up by Jack, decide to disrupt a Russian arms operation in Africa. For this they need the best in the business, step forward Sean and his band or deniable operators, Swatz, Billy, Jugsy & Phil. Who have once again been pulled in for yet another deniable operation.
The Moscow Whisper has been written so well whilst Sean’s and his team are travelling with them across many continents carrying out their ops, you feel as though you are sitting next to them as they deploy the state of the art technology and infiltrating various terror groups.
The story continually throws a little snippet of a link to something which isn’t clear but tantalising, that you want to know more. Only at the end do you realise that the entire series of books are linked with separate operations but from one storyline.
As with all the series you have a sense of Déjà vu as the storyline is so current with all that is going on in the World right now. The plot moves fast and Michael Jenkins has added a touch of everything into this novel, suspense, twists, espionage, and Sean even – I’d expand on this, but I don’t want to give anything away.
The story, is packed with action, leading up to a climatic ending will have you glued to your seat. Michael Jenkins writes with the style of Tom Clancy and the action of Robert Ludlum, and The Moscow Whisper proves that Michael Jenkins is a name to watch moving forward.The Moscow Whisper
July 24, 2020
The Moscow Whisper is the third outing for Michael Jenkins’ dogged protagonist, Sean Richardson but it can be read as a standalone (although I'd recommend reading both previous books which are excellent thrillers). It's not unusual to see novels described as twisty but The Moscow Whisper takes that to a whole new level and by the end of the story I wasn't even sure if my head was still facing the same way!
There are so many layers to this book that it's hard to know where to begin. For Sean, it's another opportunity to try to find some meaning to his life, tormented as he is by a past which wrongly led to him becoming a disgraced former agent. Hard-drinking, capricious and with decades of brutal memories locked away in the drawers in his mind, Sean is a complex, fascinating character. Although this series is always tense and exciting, Michael Jenkins never ignores the psychological toll which comes from living a covert lifestyle. It's particularly hard for Sean because he and his crew are now mercenaries and rather than being awarded medals for bravery, he understands they are deniable assets. It's a highly dangerous job and this is a tense read where death never seems far away - indeed there are some shocking losses during the course of the book.
The unsettling nature of this thriller doesn’t just come from the action scenes, however and we are also presented with the uncompromising reality of global politics and intelligence here too. In recent years Russia’s involvement in the affairs of other countries has been laid bare but the true extent of how the big players on the international stage - Russia, the USA, China and to a lesser extent, the UK is brought into sharp focus here. Following the ongoing, bloody wars in the Middle East, it’s now Africa and particularly the Sahel region which has come to the attention of the world’s superpowers. With Islamic extremist groups looking to establish a new Caliphate, countries like Mali and Niger are on a knife-edge and have become pawns in a much bigger game.
Sean’s boss, the enigmatic Jack believes now is the time to put his intricate, risky scheme into place but when his plans are compromised, he suspects a mole has infiltrated the seemingly ultra clandestine group he controls within MI5.
With its richly described locations, The Moscow Whisper has an abundance of fiendish plotting and counter-plotting, glamorous deadly women bearing bitter grudges and some nail-biting, visceral scenes which again emphasise why Sean has become such a troubled figure.
Michael Jenkins’ own experiences means this series fizzes with a vivid - and often alarming - authenticity. The Moscow Whisper is another superb international thriller and arguably even better than The Failsafe Query and The Kompromat Kill. Intense, compelling and unpredictable; I thoroughly recommend it.
There are so many layers to this book that it's hard to know where to begin. For Sean, it's another opportunity to try to find some meaning to his life, tormented as he is by a past which wrongly led to him becoming a disgraced former agent. Hard-drinking, capricious and with decades of brutal memories locked away in the drawers in his mind, Sean is a complex, fascinating character. Although this series is always tense and exciting, Michael Jenkins never ignores the psychological toll which comes from living a covert lifestyle. It's particularly hard for Sean because he and his crew are now mercenaries and rather than being awarded medals for bravery, he understands they are deniable assets. It's a highly dangerous job and this is a tense read where death never seems far away - indeed there are some shocking losses during the course of the book.
The unsettling nature of this thriller doesn’t just come from the action scenes, however and we are also presented with the uncompromising reality of global politics and intelligence here too. In recent years Russia’s involvement in the affairs of other countries has been laid bare but the true extent of how the big players on the international stage - Russia, the USA, China and to a lesser extent, the UK is brought into sharp focus here. Following the ongoing, bloody wars in the Middle East, it’s now Africa and particularly the Sahel region which has come to the attention of the world’s superpowers. With Islamic extremist groups looking to establish a new Caliphate, countries like Mali and Niger are on a knife-edge and have become pawns in a much bigger game.
Sean’s boss, the enigmatic Jack believes now is the time to put his intricate, risky scheme into place but when his plans are compromised, he suspects a mole has infiltrated the seemingly ultra clandestine group he controls within MI5.
With its richly described locations, The Moscow Whisper has an abundance of fiendish plotting and counter-plotting, glamorous deadly women bearing bitter grudges and some nail-biting, visceral scenes which again emphasise why Sean has become such a troubled figure.
Michael Jenkins’ own experiences means this series fizzes with a vivid - and often alarming - authenticity. The Moscow Whisper is another superb international thriller and arguably even better than The Failsafe Query and The Kompromat Kill. Intense, compelling and unpredictable; I thoroughly recommend it.
December 14, 2025
This is number 3 in the Sean Richardson series, but it works as a standalone. However, there are certain details from the previous novel included, so it might be best to start at the series beginning.
Relationships and various other things have changed between The Kompromat Kill and The Moscow Whisper. Sean’s been on a downward spiral with his alcoholism–again–and his boss, Jack H, has forced him to see a therapist. But Jenkins does a good job of bringing us up to date on any changes whenever the reader needs to know the information. He's good at doling out information on a need-to-know basis.
Point of view
I particularly appreciate how he uses point of view for this purpose. It seems as though almost every current thriller/suspense novel I’ve encountered is written in either first person or a close third person. (Sometimes it’s an uncomfortably close third person!)
But here, Jenkins employs a third person omniscient. (Is this more common in spy novels than other subgenres in the suspense/mystery/thriller category?) This allows the omniscient narrator to tell us things the focal character doesn’t know: someone’s being followed or betrayed or destined to die sooner than they’d like.
But it’s not indiscriminately omniscient. We’re given slivers of information without the particulars, enough to tantalize us. It’s like discovering there’s a ticking bomb nearby, but not knowing where or when or how this metaphorical (or literal) bomb will detonate.
And let me tell you, when a bomb explodes in a Sean Richardson novel, it’s gonna be big, and picking up the pieces ain’t gonna be easy.
Oh, and if early in a novel a character proclaims that some task will be “easy,” you can rest assured that the job will not be easy. And in the case of Jenkins’ fiction, the job will also be treacherous, entertaining, and disturbingly relevant to our times.
And if a setting appears peaceful and tranquil–say, a dinner party with friends or a pasture with bleating sheep or a sleepy oceanside town–then beware: it won’t remain tranquil for long. Violence lurks around the corner, but you’ll never guess which corner.
Pacing
Jenkins excels at pacing. He knows when to cut from one chapter to the next, darting between locations and characters. I can’t remember how many times I promised myself to stop reading at the end of a chapter, only to have the chapter end at the moment of highest suspense. Of course, I had to read the next chapter . . .
The first third of the book clips along at a steady pace. Jenkins sets up the game board, puts all the players in place, and lays out the stakes. The opening moves include a few surprises. Then midway through the book, the game’s stakes raise to an even higher level, rather as if someone threw down a hefty bet on the outcome. Winner takes all. All losers die–or worse. Then the story takes off. Anyone might be the winner–or the loser.
Once the action started rolling, it never stopped. I was breathless as I raced alongside Sean and other characters. No one was safe. Nothing was off-limits. Anything might happen. It was only when I turned to the acknowledgements page that I knew it was safe to breathe again.
Insider Information
There’s a lot of great insider-type information. There’s no way for me to verify whether the memos, spy techniques, and the like are authentic. (The CIA and MI5 aren’t going to fret over misinformation, whether it’s deliberate or accidental.) But the information feels authentic, and that feeling evokes the mysterious mood that draws me to this genre.
There’s a friendly (or is it?) rivalry/relationship between the CIA and the MI5 played out between Jack and his CIA counterpart, Laura. It lends a bit of humor in otherwise serious and all-too-realistic scenarios. It’s easy to imagine these types of political maneuverings taking place behind closed doors. Easy and a bit frightening, to be honest.
Old school & high tech
I really enjoyed the old-school spy techniques that some characters use. For those who aren’t tech-savvy (um, me), things like dead letter drops and disguises are easier to understand than some of the mind-blowing tech found elsewhere. For me, these old-school techniques harken back to classic spy novels and pique my interest, evoking a feeling of what-might-be: any place I go might be a drop off site . . . any person might be a spy . . . anything might be happening. Anything. It makes me look at the world in a different way. (And after this book, that includes public toilets!) Not in a suspicious way but in a wouldn’t-it-be-cool-if . . .? sort of way.
But Jenkins does a marvelous job with the high tech techniques and devices, too. (At least it’s high tech to me.) And if the future of warfare and ginormous blow-up-in-your-face devices that go boom-bang-crash! interest you, then you need to grab this book. The amount of weaponry in this book would equip an entire army’s personnel and their grandmas. It’s impressive. Jenkins clearly knows what he’s talking about.
A few issues
The few things I tripped up on are relatively trivial writing details, the types of things that matter to me because I read books as a writer, not only as a reader.
Names are overused in dialogue. In many cases, it would be more natural and less noticeable to simply use dialogue tags.
There’s a few too many lengthy fragments. I normally don’t mind fragments. But some of these fragments are too long and that makes them feel more like accidentally incomplete sentences, rather than deliberate stylistic choices. That’s a personal opinion, of course. Others may not read those sections the same way I do.
(I hope this next concern isn’t a spoiler! But I'm marking it as one just in case.)
However, Jenkins is imaginative and he’ll be able to challenge Sean in other ways. From a personal standpoint, both Sean’s relationship with his young son and his colleague Samantha provide plenty of fodder for conflict and plot-complications. His alcoholism, unrelieved grief over his wife’s death, and the changing nature of his relationships with Jack H and Laura are also possible things to exploit for dramatic purposes; they haven't been yet. Jenkins has set up plenty of complicated relationships to explore. At this point, the series could do any number of directions.
One thing I enjoyed . . .
I like that Sean grapples with the moral complexities of his job. Is it right to kill if it saves people’s lives? How? And when? He dislikes killing, though he doesn’t hesitate to fight to the death. He can’t afford to hesitate. But the constant deception and threats and mistrust of others: all of this takes a toll on the mind and body. In this series, Sean isn’t the only one who suffers, but his fragile mental stability means that these questions take on a greater gravity. He does a job that most of us would prefer to remain within the realm of fiction, and he pays a high price for it. It’s sobering to think about this.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Relationships and various other things have changed between The Kompromat Kill and The Moscow Whisper. Sean’s been on a downward spiral with his alcoholism–again–and his boss, Jack H, has forced him to see a therapist. But Jenkins does a good job of bringing us up to date on any changes whenever the reader needs to know the information. He's good at doling out information on a need-to-know basis.
Point of view
I particularly appreciate how he uses point of view for this purpose. It seems as though almost every current thriller/suspense novel I’ve encountered is written in either first person or a close third person. (Sometimes it’s an uncomfortably close third person!)
But here, Jenkins employs a third person omniscient. (Is this more common in spy novels than other subgenres in the suspense/mystery/thriller category?) This allows the omniscient narrator to tell us things the focal character doesn’t know: someone’s being followed or betrayed or destined to die sooner than they’d like.
But it’s not indiscriminately omniscient. We’re given slivers of information without the particulars, enough to tantalize us. It’s like discovering there’s a ticking bomb nearby, but not knowing where or when or how this metaphorical (or literal) bomb will detonate.
And let me tell you, when a bomb explodes in a Sean Richardson novel, it’s gonna be big, and picking up the pieces ain’t gonna be easy.
Oh, and if early in a novel a character proclaims that some task will be “easy,” you can rest assured that the job will not be easy. And in the case of Jenkins’ fiction, the job will also be treacherous, entertaining, and disturbingly relevant to our times.
And if a setting appears peaceful and tranquil–say, a dinner party with friends or a pasture with bleating sheep or a sleepy oceanside town–then beware: it won’t remain tranquil for long. Violence lurks around the corner, but you’ll never guess which corner.
Pacing
Jenkins excels at pacing. He knows when to cut from one chapter to the next, darting between locations and characters. I can’t remember how many times I promised myself to stop reading at the end of a chapter, only to have the chapter end at the moment of highest suspense. Of course, I had to read the next chapter . . .
The first third of the book clips along at a steady pace. Jenkins sets up the game board, puts all the players in place, and lays out the stakes. The opening moves include a few surprises. Then midway through the book, the game’s stakes raise to an even higher level, rather as if someone threw down a hefty bet on the outcome. Winner takes all. All losers die–or worse. Then the story takes off. Anyone might be the winner–or the loser.
Once the action started rolling, it never stopped. I was breathless as I raced alongside Sean and other characters. No one was safe. Nothing was off-limits. Anything might happen. It was only when I turned to the acknowledgements page that I knew it was safe to breathe again.
Insider Information
There’s a lot of great insider-type information. There’s no way for me to verify whether the memos, spy techniques, and the like are authentic. (The CIA and MI5 aren’t going to fret over misinformation, whether it’s deliberate or accidental.) But the information feels authentic, and that feeling evokes the mysterious mood that draws me to this genre.
There’s a friendly (or is it?) rivalry/relationship between the CIA and the MI5 played out between Jack and his CIA counterpart, Laura. It lends a bit of humor in otherwise serious and all-too-realistic scenarios. It’s easy to imagine these types of political maneuverings taking place behind closed doors. Easy and a bit frightening, to be honest.
Old school & high tech
I really enjoyed the old-school spy techniques that some characters use. For those who aren’t tech-savvy (um, me), things like dead letter drops and disguises are easier to understand than some of the mind-blowing tech found elsewhere. For me, these old-school techniques harken back to classic spy novels and pique my interest, evoking a feeling of what-might-be: any place I go might be a drop off site . . . any person might be a spy . . . anything might be happening. Anything. It makes me look at the world in a different way. (And after this book, that includes public toilets!) Not in a suspicious way but in a wouldn’t-it-be-cool-if . . .? sort of way.
But Jenkins does a marvelous job with the high tech techniques and devices, too. (At least it’s high tech to me.) And if the future of warfare and ginormous blow-up-in-your-face devices that go boom-bang-crash! interest you, then you need to grab this book. The amount of weaponry in this book would equip an entire army’s personnel and their grandmas. It’s impressive. Jenkins clearly knows what he’s talking about.
A few issues
The few things I tripped up on are relatively trivial writing details, the types of things that matter to me because I read books as a writer, not only as a reader.
Names are overused in dialogue. In many cases, it would be more natural and less noticeable to simply use dialogue tags.
There’s a few too many lengthy fragments. I normally don’t mind fragments. But some of these fragments are too long and that makes them feel more like accidentally incomplete sentences, rather than deliberate stylistic choices. That’s a personal opinion, of course. Others may not read those sections the same way I do.
(I hope this next concern isn’t a spoiler! But I'm marking it as one just in case.)
However, Jenkins is imaginative and he’ll be able to challenge Sean in other ways. From a personal standpoint, both Sean’s relationship with his young son and his colleague Samantha provide plenty of fodder for conflict and plot-complications. His alcoholism, unrelieved grief over his wife’s death, and the changing nature of his relationships with Jack H and Laura are also possible things to exploit for dramatic purposes; they haven't been yet. Jenkins has set up plenty of complicated relationships to explore. At this point, the series could do any number of directions.
One thing I enjoyed . . .
I like that Sean grapples with the moral complexities of his job. Is it right to kill if it saves people’s lives? How? And when? He dislikes killing, though he doesn’t hesitate to fight to the death. He can’t afford to hesitate. But the constant deception and threats and mistrust of others: all of this takes a toll on the mind and body. In this series, Sean isn’t the only one who suffers, but his fragile mental stability means that these questions take on a greater gravity. He does a job that most of us would prefer to remain within the realm of fiction, and he pays a high price for it. It’s sobering to think about this.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
June 3, 2020
‘Sometimes you have to enter the death zone to save the innocent.’
A top-secret clique of former spies meet for dinner to hatch a plan to murder a competitor, not knowing that they are under surveillance from a covert arm of British Intelligence. Hours later, with bodies strewn across a terrace, a piece of secret intelligence reveals an international plot of colossal magnitude.
For disgraced agent Sean Richardson, this is the beginning of a deniable mission to infiltrate and disrupt a group of Russian mercenaries who are working clandestinely to take over a nation state.
Acting covertly as an illicit arms trafficker, Sean is dropped into a deadly cauldron of terrorism and high-tech weaponry that will take a nation down. As the bullets fly and the chaos rains in, can Sean take down the merchants of death…or has he finally met his match?
The third in a set of spy thrillers that have been expertly crafted with stunning plot lines, magnificent locations, and twists that leave you gasping for air. Perfect for fans of Lee Child, Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancy, and Scott Mariani.
My thoughts about this brilliant 3rd part in the Sean Richardson series was outstanding talented author Michael Jenkins The MosCow Whisper is truly a gripping nail biting action spy thriller that gripped me from the beginning what a fantastic ride when disgraced agent Sean Richardson takes on a another assignment this time he is taking on a group of Russian mercenaries who are working clandestinely to take over a nation state when a group of British Intelligence agents spy on a former spy who is turned into a traitor to sell information to the Russian Government the British Intelligence agency team Die during an explosion that takes place that's when Sean is called in to track down a dangerous nation were terrorists are hiding a cat and mouse chase a race against time to stop the villains who will not stop at nothing to take over a nation what can I say a brilliant blockbuster finale that grips you from the start to the final ending a well written action packed blockbuster that truly is a masterpiece highly recommended I would like to say thank you to the author Michael Jenkins and The team at The Pigeonhole to give me a chance to read and review this hardhiting thriller 💥💥💥💥💥⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A top-secret clique of former spies meet for dinner to hatch a plan to murder a competitor, not knowing that they are under surveillance from a covert arm of British Intelligence. Hours later, with bodies strewn across a terrace, a piece of secret intelligence reveals an international plot of colossal magnitude.
For disgraced agent Sean Richardson, this is the beginning of a deniable mission to infiltrate and disrupt a group of Russian mercenaries who are working clandestinely to take over a nation state.
Acting covertly as an illicit arms trafficker, Sean is dropped into a deadly cauldron of terrorism and high-tech weaponry that will take a nation down. As the bullets fly and the chaos rains in, can Sean take down the merchants of death…or has he finally met his match?
The third in a set of spy thrillers that have been expertly crafted with stunning plot lines, magnificent locations, and twists that leave you gasping for air. Perfect for fans of Lee Child, Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancy, and Scott Mariani.
My thoughts about this brilliant 3rd part in the Sean Richardson series was outstanding talented author Michael Jenkins The MosCow Whisper is truly a gripping nail biting action spy thriller that gripped me from the beginning what a fantastic ride when disgraced agent Sean Richardson takes on a another assignment this time he is taking on a group of Russian mercenaries who are working clandestinely to take over a nation state when a group of British Intelligence agents spy on a former spy who is turned into a traitor to sell information to the Russian Government the British Intelligence agency team Die during an explosion that takes place that's when Sean is called in to track down a dangerous nation were terrorists are hiding a cat and mouse chase a race against time to stop the villains who will not stop at nothing to take over a nation what can I say a brilliant blockbuster finale that grips you from the start to the final ending a well written action packed blockbuster that truly is a masterpiece highly recommended I would like to say thank you to the author Michael Jenkins and The team at The Pigeonhole to give me a chance to read and review this hardhiting thriller 💥💥💥💥💥⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
June 4, 2020
This is the third 'outing' for the main character Sean Richardson; having read and enjoyed the previous two books - The Failsafe Query and The Kompromat Kill- in my opinion, this is the best one yet!
The plot is very much of the 'now', topical and plausible with some great twists and turns in the plotline. The development of some of the characters featured in the previous books is a good addition, adding depth and breadth to the main characters and their 'backstories'.
The movement between the numerous locations of London, Mali, Menorca, Madrid and elsewhere adds a real momentum to the pace of the story, which I personally found very engaging.
The level of detail, where appropriate, indicates that the author Michael Jenkins has either researched the subject matter very thoroughly, or he has walked the path of the main character. If you read the author's bio, you'll quickly realise it to be mainly the latter reason.
Overall a very entertaining read, as mentioned earlier I have read the previous two books but that is not a requirement to enjoy this one. Highly recommended by this reader!
The plot is very much of the 'now', topical and plausible with some great twists and turns in the plotline. The development of some of the characters featured in the previous books is a good addition, adding depth and breadth to the main characters and their 'backstories'.
The movement between the numerous locations of London, Mali, Menorca, Madrid and elsewhere adds a real momentum to the pace of the story, which I personally found very engaging.
The level of detail, where appropriate, indicates that the author Michael Jenkins has either researched the subject matter very thoroughly, or he has walked the path of the main character. If you read the author's bio, you'll quickly realise it to be mainly the latter reason.
Overall a very entertaining read, as mentioned earlier I have read the previous two books but that is not a requirement to enjoy this one. Highly recommended by this reader!
June 6, 2020
This is the third in the trilogy about disgraced and disenfranchised British Agent Sean Richardson and it doesn't disappoint. He is joined by some of the characters from the previous two books and embarks on another dangerous (deniable) mission on behalf of the British Government.
The author, Michael Jenkins is obviously honing his skills as each book seems to be an improvement on the last. If you haven't read the previous books, (The Failsafe Query and The Kompromat Kill) then you should do yourself a favour and get copies of both.
This is the new James Bond, but more earthy and real. More down to earth and realistic. He doesn't rely on gimmicks and gadgets, but more on knowledge, attitude, grit, determination, guts and dogmatic attitude.
A great dynamic page turner of a book. I may just have to read it again in case I missed something by turning the pages too quickly to see what happens next.
Pretty sure there could be a novel about each of the main characters, but for now I am just enjoying the tales and adventures of the leading protagonist, Sean Richardson, and can't wait for the next installment.
The author, Michael Jenkins is obviously honing his skills as each book seems to be an improvement on the last. If you haven't read the previous books, (The Failsafe Query and The Kompromat Kill) then you should do yourself a favour and get copies of both.
This is the new James Bond, but more earthy and real. More down to earth and realistic. He doesn't rely on gimmicks and gadgets, but more on knowledge, attitude, grit, determination, guts and dogmatic attitude.
A great dynamic page turner of a book. I may just have to read it again in case I missed something by turning the pages too quickly to see what happens next.
Pretty sure there could be a novel about each of the main characters, but for now I am just enjoying the tales and adventures of the leading protagonist, Sean Richardson, and can't wait for the next installment.
June 8, 2020
Enjoyed this via The Pigeonhole. Not my usual genre but I was hooked from the beginning. Very fast paced, lots of intrigue. This is the third in the Sean Richardson series but it can be read as a standalone. I have yet to read the first two.
"The court" is a secret group within British intelligence, used for the most secret/dangerous of operations. Sean is one of their operatives, a veteran re-hired by the court's leader Jack. In this book they are investigating secret arms dealing cabal's and Russian involvement in this murky world as Russia uses veteran mercenary groups to deal arms & begin to exert power in Africa under the Jihadi threat as a cover. The court know they have players from this murky world at the top of the British establishment to find whilst also preventing Russia getting a foot into Africa via the threat of a second Islamic caliphate as an excuse.
Sean goes through various missions in this quest, whilst also battling his demons and ptsd from previous missions that had gone awry.
This was a very entralling read, very "current", loved the characterisation, you really wanted Sean to succeed, for him to get his happy ending with Yelena, also really loved the dark (British) sense of humour dotted throughout. I think the fact that I had to wait 24 hours for next installment and it quite often ended on a cliffhanger added to the suspense and my enjoyment.
Will be looking out for the next installment and the first two are already in my "want to read" shelf.
Thank you Michael & pigeonhole for the opportunity again.
"The court" is a secret group within British intelligence, used for the most secret/dangerous of operations. Sean is one of their operatives, a veteran re-hired by the court's leader Jack. In this book they are investigating secret arms dealing cabal's and Russian involvement in this murky world as Russia uses veteran mercenary groups to deal arms & begin to exert power in Africa under the Jihadi threat as a cover. The court know they have players from this murky world at the top of the British establishment to find whilst also preventing Russia getting a foot into Africa via the threat of a second Islamic caliphate as an excuse.
Sean goes through various missions in this quest, whilst also battling his demons and ptsd from previous missions that had gone awry.
This was a very entralling read, very "current", loved the characterisation, you really wanted Sean to succeed, for him to get his happy ending with Yelena, also really loved the dark (British) sense of humour dotted throughout. I think the fact that I had to wait 24 hours for next installment and it quite often ended on a cliffhanger added to the suspense and my enjoyment.
Will be looking out for the next installment and the first two are already in my "want to read" shelf.
Thank you Michael & pigeonhole for the opportunity again.
July 27, 2020
The Moscow Whisper is #3 in the series featuring Sean Richardson, it can be read as a stand-alone (I have read the previous two books).
Sean is a former undercover agent for British intelligence when he is recruited again, by Jack, to work for a very secretive department, putting his life in danger….once again.
Sean travels the world to uncover plots within plot, within plots…..to stop a potential terrorist take over that would have global repercussions. With double agents and so much treachery, it’s difficult to trust anyone…..
Can Sean stop a violent coup?
Wow, what a rollercoaster ride….a twisty, action packed spy thriller, with such a clever, complex plot to keep you guessing. If you like an intelligent, topical spy thriller, then you are going to love this……just brilliantly entertaining from start to a finish that will leave you breathless….
Thank you to Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour, for the promotional material and an eARC of The Moscow Whisper. This is my honest and unbiased review.
Sean is a former undercover agent for British intelligence when he is recruited again, by Jack, to work for a very secretive department, putting his life in danger….once again.
Sean travels the world to uncover plots within plot, within plots…..to stop a potential terrorist take over that would have global repercussions. With double agents and so much treachery, it’s difficult to trust anyone…..
Can Sean stop a violent coup?
Wow, what a rollercoaster ride….a twisty, action packed spy thriller, with such a clever, complex plot to keep you guessing. If you like an intelligent, topical spy thriller, then you are going to love this……just brilliantly entertaining from start to a finish that will leave you breathless….
Thank you to Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour, for the promotional material and an eARC of The Moscow Whisper. This is my honest and unbiased review.
July 29, 2020
The Moscow Whisper by Micheal Jenkins is an absolute blistering rollercoaster of a story!An action packed book. The third book in the Failsafe Thriller Series,of which I have only read this particular book, but it works well as a standalone.
Sean Richardson is again recruited by the boss of The Court, a secretive british intelligence department. Sean is a disgraced former spook and has been used by them previously to take part in deniable missions in which he has put his life on the line.
The Moscow Whisper is primarily a hunt for a mole that also turns into attempting to take down a group of arms dealers as well. This book is as fast paced as they come. We race through the book as the double dealings, espionage, tension and drama whizz by, entertaining us to the max.
I could even imagine these sort of things actually happening the way the governments work these days such is the realism within the book. With thanks to Damp Pebbles Blog Tours for the book and my spot on the blog tour today.
Sean Richardson is again recruited by the boss of The Court, a secretive british intelligence department. Sean is a disgraced former spook and has been used by them previously to take part in deniable missions in which he has put his life on the line.
The Moscow Whisper is primarily a hunt for a mole that also turns into attempting to take down a group of arms dealers as well. This book is as fast paced as they come. We race through the book as the double dealings, espionage, tension and drama whizz by, entertaining us to the max.
I could even imagine these sort of things actually happening the way the governments work these days such is the realism within the book. With thanks to Damp Pebbles Blog Tours for the book and my spot on the blog tour today.
July 29, 2020
The Moscow Whisper is the third in the series and I have now read all three. I am a big fan of Michael Jenkins. His writing is always fast-paced and compelling. The Moscow Whisper is no different. The details, the tension, it kept me glued to the book from beginning to end.
I love that I know the characters well, now. Sean has developed well over these books. I am glad I read them in order. It made the characters feel even more real.
The Moscow Whisper contains many twists and turns. It kept me on the edge of my seat. It was very unpredictable, which is one of my favorite aspects of Michael Jenkins’ novels.
Highly recommended. Don’t miss out!
Rating:
5/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book from BOTBS Publicity in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
I love that I know the characters well, now. Sean has developed well over these books. I am glad I read them in order. It made the characters feel even more real.
The Moscow Whisper contains many twists and turns. It kept me on the edge of my seat. It was very unpredictable, which is one of my favorite aspects of Michael Jenkins’ novels.
Highly recommended. Don’t miss out!
Rating:
5/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book from BOTBS Publicity in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
June 4, 2020
This is the third in the Sean Richardson series by Michael Jenkins, and, I think, the best. Maybe because the characters are now like old friends, but more I think because they have developed into solid people that I can empathise with. With multiple twists and turns, Sean fights against arms dealers and helps in the search to find a mole in the ultra-secret organisation he works for. Everybody is a suspect, everybody has ulterior motives, and nothing is what it seems to be. Exciting and unpredictable, this is non-stop action, and the only reason I didn't read it in one sitting is that I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to read the book by Michael and the Pigeonhole, which releases the book in ten instalments. My thanks to them.
June 29, 2020
The Moscow Whisper
From mini-massacres in Montepulciano, mercenaries in Mali and manhandlings in Marlow, this story has it all!!
The author progressively blitzes you along a hopscotch of a journey that is full of intrigue, suspense, drama, twists and turns. He intertwines with an uncanny knack of cleverly slowing to describe the locations in such effervescent clarity that you actually believe you are there and in on the plot.
The tempo is maintained throughout, pulling you relentlessly towards the crescendo of each unique and unexpected bombshell, to leave you wanting more, forcing you to keep turning the pages as fast as your brain can digest the information extracted from another gritty and compelling read.
From mini-massacres in Montepulciano, mercenaries in Mali and manhandlings in Marlow, this story has it all!!
The author progressively blitzes you along a hopscotch of a journey that is full of intrigue, suspense, drama, twists and turns. He intertwines with an uncanny knack of cleverly slowing to describe the locations in such effervescent clarity that you actually believe you are there and in on the plot.
The tempo is maintained throughout, pulling you relentlessly towards the crescendo of each unique and unexpected bombshell, to leave you wanting more, forcing you to keep turning the pages as fast as your brain can digest the information extracted from another gritty and compelling read.
June 12, 2020
This is another non-stop action spy thriller from Michael Jenkins, and this time his hero, Sean Richardson, is on a mission to infiltrate a group of Russian mercenaries who are trying to take over a nation state in Africa.
What surprises me more than anything, is how much I enjoy these books. I don’t like spy books. I failed miserably to read and enjoy the only James Bond book I picked up. But when I saw this pop up on the options of books to read on The Pigeonhole app, I jumped at the opportunity to sign up. I’ve enjoyed all three of these books in the series. They’re really engaging, well explained for those of us who don’t understand the inner workings of British Intelligence or military, and the characters are highly likeable (or detestable, depending on who they are!).
It’s simply a great read, whether you like spy novels, or if you’ve never tried one. This whole series is so good, and I’m already looking forward to the next one!
What surprises me more than anything, is how much I enjoy these books. I don’t like spy books. I failed miserably to read and enjoy the only James Bond book I picked up. But when I saw this pop up on the options of books to read on The Pigeonhole app, I jumped at the opportunity to sign up. I’ve enjoyed all three of these books in the series. They’re really engaging, well explained for those of us who don’t understand the inner workings of British Intelligence or military, and the characters are highly likeable (or detestable, depending on who they are!).
It’s simply a great read, whether you like spy novels, or if you’ve never tried one. This whole series is so good, and I’m already looking forward to the next one!
June 7, 2020
Fast-paced, action-packed espionage thriller, this book - with its intricate web of network and connections involving covert arm of the British Intelligence, the CIA as well as the KGB - will require the reader's full attention.
This is the third instalment of the Failsafe Thrillers series and involves covert operatives of 'The Court' - secret group of deniable assets within the British Intelligence much like Mission Impossible (IMF) team.
The plot, involving secret arms dealing cabal and top Russian Government involvement, took the readers across the Sahel into Mali. Learning about the Tuareg people was one of the highlights. It was fascinating to learn about this matriarchal society - of how the clans can trace their origin to one common female ancestor.
The story was suspenseful and has an unexpected twist.
The characters in this book would come to life if books one & two of the series were revisited before commencing book 3.
This is the third instalment of the Failsafe Thrillers series and involves covert operatives of 'The Court' - secret group of deniable assets within the British Intelligence much like Mission Impossible (IMF) team.
The plot, involving secret arms dealing cabal and top Russian Government involvement, took the readers across the Sahel into Mali. Learning about the Tuareg people was one of the highlights. It was fascinating to learn about this matriarchal society - of how the clans can trace their origin to one common female ancestor.
The story was suspenseful and has an unexpected twist.
The characters in this book would come to life if books one & two of the series were revisited before commencing book 3.
June 3, 2020
I very much enjoyed this! Thank you to Pigeonhole for the chance to read this in serialised format. Still sad Yelena died, and I think I was holding my breath the entire last quarter of the book! Real edge of your seat stuff, the layers of which are continuously peeled away until you think you’re left with the bare bones... except you’re not.
Very unusual for me to read the third book in a series first, but I will go back and read those too. I don’t think you need to have necessarily read those books first to enjoy this novel, though.
Very unusual for me to read the third book in a series first, but I will go back and read those too. I don’t think you need to have necessarily read those books first to enjoy this novel, though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2020
Well, this was definitely an action-packed thriller! With twists and turns across the globe, it reminded me of the Strikeback TV series on Sky and would certainly make the basis of a great screenplay for a similar series! While it was a good read, I never felt truly invested in the characters - they seemed a little one-dimensional to me. I enjoyed the story, but not enough to go back and read the first two books in the series or to keep a keen eye out for the next, hence 3 stars. Thanks to Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2020
Explosive Thriller!
Another excellent ‘edge of your seat book’ featuring the irrepressible Sean Richardson. A thrilling plot set in the murky world of the Secret Services, black ops, terrorism, covert societies, the weapons trade. Secrets, passion, intrigue, suspense, shocks and twists all expertly weaved together by Michael’s knowledgable and excellent writing. I pre ordered this book from Amazon and I was also lucky enough to be able to read it via the Pigeonhole App and I couldn’t wait for each stave to arrive. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and would highly recommend this book.
Another excellent ‘edge of your seat book’ featuring the irrepressible Sean Richardson. A thrilling plot set in the murky world of the Secret Services, black ops, terrorism, covert societies, the weapons trade. Secrets, passion, intrigue, suspense, shocks and twists all expertly weaved together by Michael’s knowledgable and excellent writing. I pre ordered this book from Amazon and I was also lucky enough to be able to read it via the Pigeonhole App and I couldn’t wait for each stave to arrive. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and would highly recommend this book.
June 18, 2020
Sean is back, he still drinks lots but his girlfriend has left him, cue Jack wanting to send him on a joint mission with the USA and their agent Laura, who I must say does bring some light relief to the story.
As seen by the titles this book is very Russia centred and there is a mole in the court and quite possibly everyone is a suspect. But Sean throws himself into it, and when one of his team is brutally murder he is even more intent on finding the killer.
Sean also manages to fall in love again, and Yelena might just be prefect for him because she is just as messed up as he is. But Sean has another women on his tale and she won’t be happy till he is dead!
What I like about Michael’s book is that though there is some technical wording someone like me with zero military knowledge still manages to understand what is going on. This book pretty much kept me on edge and occupied to the last page.
Another great read, can’t wait for more from Michael as he turns his attention to China...
As seen by the titles this book is very Russia centred and there is a mole in the court and quite possibly everyone is a suspect. But Sean throws himself into it, and when one of his team is brutally murder he is even more intent on finding the killer.
Sean also manages to fall in love again, and Yelena might just be prefect for him because she is just as messed up as he is. But Sean has another women on his tale and she won’t be happy till he is dead!
What I like about Michael’s book is that though there is some technical wording someone like me with zero military knowledge still manages to understand what is going on. This book pretty much kept me on edge and occupied to the last page.
Another great read, can’t wait for more from Michael as he turns his attention to China...
June 3, 2020
An exciting, fast paced thriller featuring the maverick Sean Richardson and his motley crew of ex-army buddies. Recruited again by Jack from an government organisation called "The Court", Sean is tasked with taking down a group of arms suppliers with links to Russia.
Following the death of his best friend at the hands of an unknown assassin linked to the group, Sean will stop at nothing to find out who killed his mate.
Going back now to read books 1 and 2 of the series.
Following the death of his best friend at the hands of an unknown assassin linked to the group, Sean will stop at nothing to find out who killed his mate.
Going back now to read books 1 and 2 of the series.
June 8, 2020
Thank you Michael & PigeonHoleHQ for the advanced read of this novel.
This is the 3rd book in the Sean Richardson canon, and it delivers action, tension, drama, spycraft, double crossings, and double double crossings.
Sean is a character much in the Bond & Bourne roles, but Sean doesnt work alone, he is backed by Phil, Billy Phish, Jugsy, Swartz, Sam and One-Eyed Damon - they are all part of The Court, the governments blunt instruments.
The Moscow Whisper is a hunt for a mole whilst trying to take down a secret cabal of arms dealers. The action is fast paced, you'll be ducking the whizzing bullets as you read, the tension and jeopardy keep the pages turning and you'll be guessing and second guessing the who the where and the why all the way to the denouement.
5 STARS from me - can't wait for the next one!
This is the 3rd book in the Sean Richardson canon, and it delivers action, tension, drama, spycraft, double crossings, and double double crossings.
Sean is a character much in the Bond & Bourne roles, but Sean doesnt work alone, he is backed by Phil, Billy Phish, Jugsy, Swartz, Sam and One-Eyed Damon - they are all part of The Court, the governments blunt instruments.
The Moscow Whisper is a hunt for a mole whilst trying to take down a secret cabal of arms dealers. The action is fast paced, you'll be ducking the whizzing bullets as you read, the tension and jeopardy keep the pages turning and you'll be guessing and second guessing the who the where and the why all the way to the denouement.
5 STARS from me - can't wait for the next one!
June 7, 2020
An excellent spy story with plenty of twists and turns and very humorous too. I haven't read the first two books in the series but I think it worked well as a stand alone. I believe there's a fourth book in the series so I look forward to meeting Sean and friends again. Thanks to the Pigeonhole and the author for the opportunity of reading this book.
June 3, 2020
I've just finished reading this and I'm still trying to control my breathing! What an exciting book, full of twists and turns and heart-in-your-mouth moments. Spy books are not usually my thing but I got a chance to read it through the Pigeonhole and I'm very glad I did. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
June 13, 2020
Simple: loved it! Complicated, engaging and a cast of fantastic characters. My first book by MJ but won’t be my last - I’m going back to read the others and looking forward to The Third Avenue already!
June 30, 2020
This is a fast paced and exciting story following the exploits of disgraced spy Sean Richardson.
Sean has been recruited to the highly secretive Court by spymaster Jack, to undertake a highly secretive operation.
There are plenty of twists and turns along the way, and it is a great story!
Sean has been recruited to the highly secretive Court by spymaster Jack, to undertake a highly secretive operation.
There are plenty of twists and turns along the way, and it is a great story!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews