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Covert Action
Subversive Action
After a seemingly random terrorist bombing in the former Soviet Union kills two American spies, the CIA brings contract operative Avery back into the fold in this novel of global action and intrigue.
Avery requires little convincing to take on the job. Among the casualties is a friend and former teammate. His search for answers will take him from the front lines of conflict in eastern Ukraine to the Caucasus Mountains, where a secret campaign is already underway to prepare the battlefield and destabilize an important NATO partner.
The forces arrayed against Avery and his team include Russian spymasters, battle-tested mercenaries, and an army of highly trained and dedicated terrorists led by a dangerous new adversary.
SUBVERSIVE ACTION takes readers deep into the shadowy realm of hybrid warfare and is sure to please fans of Vince Flynn and Andy McNab.
Avery requires little convincing to take on the job. Among the casualties is a friend and former teammate. His search for answers will take him from the front lines of conflict in eastern Ukraine to the Caucasus Mountains, where a secret campaign is already underway to prepare the battlefield and destabilize an important NATO partner.
The forces arrayed against Avery and his team include Russian spymasters, battle-tested mercenaries, and an army of highly trained and dedicated terrorists led by a dangerous new adversary.
SUBVERSIVE ACTION takes readers deep into the shadowy realm of hybrid warfare and is sure to please fans of Vince Flynn and Andy McNab.
411 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2020
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53 people want to read
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September 13, 2019
AGENT OF CHAOS
“'We will chase terrorists everywhere. If in an airport, then in the airport. So if we find them in the toilet, excuse me, we'll rub them out in the outhouse. And that's it, case closed.” – Ex FSB Director Vladimir Putin.
“We’re not feeling edgy; the system is feeling nervous.” – Red Army Faction terrorist group.
The Caucus has been the quintessential home of bandits, brigands, terrorists and wars since the days when Joseph Stalin was a bank robber. A part of the world where banditry is still a way for life, the Caucus and Central Asia continue to be the geopolitical chess board that few hear about. It’s on this chessboard that thriller writer Ross Sidor makes the stage for his series of espionage novels. Centring around the real-life Global Response Service of the CIA, the star of the show is a mercenary by the name of Avery. Formerly a Special Activities Division officer, Avery has since become a hired gun for his masters at the Company, putting out fires where need be. In this story, an inferno begins to erupt in the Caucus with the rise of a terrorist organization gunning for Russia’s enemies in the region. After the killing of a CIA officer, Avery is put on the case and soon finds himself in a tangled catch 22 that not even Moscow may be able to untangle. Now to the review, what happens when enemies get too close for comfort?
We begin our story in Georgia. Two American Covert Operatives are tooling around Tiblisi, Georgia. Tension is in the air and Georgia is seemingly under threat from the biggest wave of terrorism to hit it since the days when Stalin was a bank robber. Shortly after an asset – meet, the Americans proceed to earn the dubious distinction of being the second and third CIA employees killed in Georgia with an I.E.D unceremoniously blowing up their SUV with them inside. On an entirely different continent, our hero, Avery is informed of the terrorist attack by his Langley handler, Culler. The attack hits close to home as one of the victims was a friend and a fellow ‘SCORPION’ the guardians and sentinels who protect CIA employees.
Knowing that a storm is coming in the wake of a devastating demolition derby of asset networks around the former USSR, Culler assigns Avery to hunt the FSB spymaster responsible, dispatching Avery and two S.A.D Paramilitary Officers to the violent Donbass Region of Ukraine. And Avery and his colleagues begin waging their own covert battle in an active warzone, a mysterious non state actor, begins setting events in motion that would make Moscow happy. With a methodical, precise use of terrorism, deception and surprise, this operative, sets in motion a scheme to decapitate a government and complete the unfinished business of Putin’s first great power play. And by the time Avery finds his new nemesis, racing from Eastern Ukraine, to the forests of Georgia not even the FSB would be able to stop the will of this single terrorist.
In Terms of plot Scorpion 2 is a unique spy novel. At first glance, it’s the usual bang bang post 9/11 novel. But there’s a lot more behind the cover than the usual gun battles and perpetual covert wars against America’s enemies. The author, Ross Sidor. His writing style is what one could imagine Frederick Forsyth writing if Forsyth hadn’t gone into semi – retirement and still had enough in the tank to write at peak form. With rich real world detail, characters who are all competent pros but pros who find themselves doing surprising things that not even they expected, and a focus on a region of the world which, while shrouded in unpleasant stereotypes, is home to geopolitically important nations, Sidor’s Scorpion Series sufficiently distinguishes itself from the pack and provides quite a few surprises in the bargain and Scorpion 2 is no exception with some well thought out gambits and trope subversions waiting to be sprung on the reader.
Action and setting? Decent. Due to the nature of the author’s writing style, setting does take a bit of a back seat save for a few highlights. But you needn’t worry about the action department. There’s a lot to revel in. From a massive siege in a crumbling Donbass apartment block where an army of FSB Vympel operators with helicopter gunships face off against our out gunned protagonists, to a dicey cross border raid into Southern Ossetia and even a daring terrorist attack on a critical piece of Georgian Infrastructure aimed at causing the worst ecological disaster in the Caucus, Scorpion 2 is packed with thrills that trump many run of the mill mainstream published thrillers. Now, for settings, the author does bring to life vividly some interesting locations. From the modernist Parliament of Georgia, located in a place few would expect, to the muddy Ossetia borderlands where a criminals, terrorists and villainy stalk the land, to the misery of the Donbass Republic that barely holds itself together with Russian Money, Scorpion 2 shines when taking us to unique, unexplored locations and capturing the atmosphere.
Research? Excellent. The author is an avid real-world details kind of writer and he knows how to deploy it to create a sort of realism atmosphere full of detail that the great modern crime drama director Michael Mann was able to do in his glory years. Whether it be the hardware Avery brings to bear in a gun battle, the complex ventures of the ostensibly domestic Security focused FSB in the former USSR border regions that the SVR does not tread, or how the Donbass Separatist Republic was site of some of the worst war crimes in Europe since the Balkan Wars of the 90s, Sidor captures the nuances of the violent geopolitics and covert wars of the 2010s far better than most.
A highlight for me in Scorpion 2 was the author touching on the infamous, clannish politicking of the Caucasian states. As it turns out, Georgia has made far more enemies over the years than Russia. Another highlight is a chilling, accurate take on what would be the worst active measures Russia’s spies could bring to bear. In this case, the active measure comes in the form of a unique non – state actor that is supposed to be the perfect agent of chaos.
Well equipped, autonomous and unable to be recalled. And combined with Russia’s legendary world leading paramilitary expertise, chaos ensures. The author uses this realism in the fashion Forsyth did, grasping the cruel, violent realities that have been successful in destroying the idealism of the turn of the century, a world where the good guys are fighting a struggle that might crush them and a world where only the professionals stand a chance in living to die another day.
Characters? Solid. But there are some highlights and two big surprises. I’ll focus on them, Avery, Khuseyn Dimayev and Yulia First, Avery. Avery is a true ‘Gray Man’, an unofficial title given to the most skilled of America’s Covert Operatives. He’s an enigmatic fellow whose past is shrouded in mystery. What we do know about him is that he’s a competent professional whether conducting close protection missions, gathering intelligence in hostile, backwater environments and hunting down America’s enemies. He’s not an omnipotent fellow who doesn’t put a step wrong, nor can he do a clean sweep of an opposition who brings overwhelming firepower against him, but what he lacks in luck, he makes up in being a persistent professional of the Forsyth school. Avery doesn’t give up or give in no matter what and keeps his cool. The sequel to Scorpion 2 looks to shed light on Avery and I look forward to learning more about how he came to be the man we see in the present.
Next, we have Khuseyn Dimayev. Khuseyn Dimayev is the primary target of the piece. Once a young Russian MVD trooper, he won the lottery and was conscripted into one of the legendary Spetsnaz GRU battalions staffed by Chechens. But after suffering a family tragedy that was the result of a Georgian counter – attack against Russia’s meddling, Dimayev was selected for a special project run by Moscow Centre, to become the perfect terrorist. A driven, competent adversary who despite his age is quite the gifted operations planner, Dimayev, using the venture capital given to him by Moscow, wages a sophisticated asymmetric warfare campaign throughout the Caucus, pushing the buttons of Russia’s neighbours here and kicking them in the face when they’re vulnerable. He doesn’t have any WMDs that could end the world, but what he does have is an understanding of applying the right amount of violence at the right moment to make a country he hates squeal.
Finally, we have Yulia. Yulia is a local Ukraine Asset Avery meets early on in the story. A member of a Neo Nazi tied militia that is doing most of the grunt work in the Donbass, Yulia is one of the most intriguing characters of Scorpion 2. Understandably cynical about American power since the last decades of missteps, she and Avery have a cool, professional relationship which turns to mutual respect as the story goes on. Despite being an amateur with limited combat experience compared to the Agency types she acts as the tour guide to, Yulia has an eye for detail that allows her to set up an ad hoc infrastructure of sorts without which would have led to Avery’s doom. She’s also not a shrinking violet or hysterical damsel type. In the massive gun battle that ends the first act of the book, she chips in and acquits herself despite the overwhelming odds.
Constructive criticism? Not much that I can say, aside from try to continue to work on and improve characterization. While the main players of the story are fleshed out, some of them, including the greater scope villains (GRU and FSB spymasters) did seem a bit colourless. Aside from that I have no complaints. Scorpion 2 was a satisfying indie published spy novel that pulled the rug from under my feet at times.
In this genre, the most ingenious, high tech and insidious threats to life and limb are popular. Bioweapons, nukes, a cyberwarfare computer virus, MOAB vacuum bombs. But sometimes, the old ways are the best and can have just as great power and devastation. It’s not about the means of violence but the moment and the opportunity to inflict that violence and Ross Sidor uses Georgia, the country of Josef Stalin and his Armenian Assassin Koba, a nation that is no stranger to political extremists as an excellent backdrop to make that point in his novel, Scorpion 2. With a plot that gradually speeds to an intense climax with each chess like gambit springing another twist in the tale, visceral action in places ranging from active war zones to geopoliticaly important infrastructure, and a cast of competent characters who are compelling and don’t play things stupid or rash, Scorpion 2 shows the maturity and refinement of Ross Sidor’s writing. Possessing an excellent grasp of the threats that seek to destroy what’s left of global stability, I cannot wait to see what he has in store for the next book which will see Avery in Saudi Arabia and Yemen and dealing with a personal threat close to home, an old Company enemy.
VERY RECOMMENDED.
“'We will chase terrorists everywhere. If in an airport, then in the airport. So if we find them in the toilet, excuse me, we'll rub them out in the outhouse. And that's it, case closed.” – Ex FSB Director Vladimir Putin.
“We’re not feeling edgy; the system is feeling nervous.” – Red Army Faction terrorist group.
The Caucus has been the quintessential home of bandits, brigands, terrorists and wars since the days when Joseph Stalin was a bank robber. A part of the world where banditry is still a way for life, the Caucus and Central Asia continue to be the geopolitical chess board that few hear about. It’s on this chessboard that thriller writer Ross Sidor makes the stage for his series of espionage novels. Centring around the real-life Global Response Service of the CIA, the star of the show is a mercenary by the name of Avery. Formerly a Special Activities Division officer, Avery has since become a hired gun for his masters at the Company, putting out fires where need be. In this story, an inferno begins to erupt in the Caucus with the rise of a terrorist organization gunning for Russia’s enemies in the region. After the killing of a CIA officer, Avery is put on the case and soon finds himself in a tangled catch 22 that not even Moscow may be able to untangle. Now to the review, what happens when enemies get too close for comfort?
We begin our story in Georgia. Two American Covert Operatives are tooling around Tiblisi, Georgia. Tension is in the air and Georgia is seemingly under threat from the biggest wave of terrorism to hit it since the days when Stalin was a bank robber. Shortly after an asset – meet, the Americans proceed to earn the dubious distinction of being the second and third CIA employees killed in Georgia with an I.E.D unceremoniously blowing up their SUV with them inside. On an entirely different continent, our hero, Avery is informed of the terrorist attack by his Langley handler, Culler. The attack hits close to home as one of the victims was a friend and a fellow ‘SCORPION’ the guardians and sentinels who protect CIA employees.
Knowing that a storm is coming in the wake of a devastating demolition derby of asset networks around the former USSR, Culler assigns Avery to hunt the FSB spymaster responsible, dispatching Avery and two S.A.D Paramilitary Officers to the violent Donbass Region of Ukraine. And Avery and his colleagues begin waging their own covert battle in an active warzone, a mysterious non state actor, begins setting events in motion that would make Moscow happy. With a methodical, precise use of terrorism, deception and surprise, this operative, sets in motion a scheme to decapitate a government and complete the unfinished business of Putin’s first great power play. And by the time Avery finds his new nemesis, racing from Eastern Ukraine, to the forests of Georgia not even the FSB would be able to stop the will of this single terrorist.
In Terms of plot Scorpion 2 is a unique spy novel. At first glance, it’s the usual bang bang post 9/11 novel. But there’s a lot more behind the cover than the usual gun battles and perpetual covert wars against America’s enemies. The author, Ross Sidor. His writing style is what one could imagine Frederick Forsyth writing if Forsyth hadn’t gone into semi – retirement and still had enough in the tank to write at peak form. With rich real world detail, characters who are all competent pros but pros who find themselves doing surprising things that not even they expected, and a focus on a region of the world which, while shrouded in unpleasant stereotypes, is home to geopolitically important nations, Sidor’s Scorpion Series sufficiently distinguishes itself from the pack and provides quite a few surprises in the bargain and Scorpion 2 is no exception with some well thought out gambits and trope subversions waiting to be sprung on the reader.
Action and setting? Decent. Due to the nature of the author’s writing style, setting does take a bit of a back seat save for a few highlights. But you needn’t worry about the action department. There’s a lot to revel in. From a massive siege in a crumbling Donbass apartment block where an army of FSB Vympel operators with helicopter gunships face off against our out gunned protagonists, to a dicey cross border raid into Southern Ossetia and even a daring terrorist attack on a critical piece of Georgian Infrastructure aimed at causing the worst ecological disaster in the Caucus, Scorpion 2 is packed with thrills that trump many run of the mill mainstream published thrillers. Now, for settings, the author does bring to life vividly some interesting locations. From the modernist Parliament of Georgia, located in a place few would expect, to the muddy Ossetia borderlands where a criminals, terrorists and villainy stalk the land, to the misery of the Donbass Republic that barely holds itself together with Russian Money, Scorpion 2 shines when taking us to unique, unexplored locations and capturing the atmosphere.
Research? Excellent. The author is an avid real-world details kind of writer and he knows how to deploy it to create a sort of realism atmosphere full of detail that the great modern crime drama director Michael Mann was able to do in his glory years. Whether it be the hardware Avery brings to bear in a gun battle, the complex ventures of the ostensibly domestic Security focused FSB in the former USSR border regions that the SVR does not tread, or how the Donbass Separatist Republic was site of some of the worst war crimes in Europe since the Balkan Wars of the 90s, Sidor captures the nuances of the violent geopolitics and covert wars of the 2010s far better than most.
A highlight for me in Scorpion 2 was the author touching on the infamous, clannish politicking of the Caucasian states. As it turns out, Georgia has made far more enemies over the years than Russia. Another highlight is a chilling, accurate take on what would be the worst active measures Russia’s spies could bring to bear. In this case, the active measure comes in the form of a unique non – state actor that is supposed to be the perfect agent of chaos.
Well equipped, autonomous and unable to be recalled. And combined with Russia’s legendary world leading paramilitary expertise, chaos ensures. The author uses this realism in the fashion Forsyth did, grasping the cruel, violent realities that have been successful in destroying the idealism of the turn of the century, a world where the good guys are fighting a struggle that might crush them and a world where only the professionals stand a chance in living to die another day.
Characters? Solid. But there are some highlights and two big surprises. I’ll focus on them, Avery, Khuseyn Dimayev and Yulia First, Avery. Avery is a true ‘Gray Man’, an unofficial title given to the most skilled of America’s Covert Operatives. He’s an enigmatic fellow whose past is shrouded in mystery. What we do know about him is that he’s a competent professional whether conducting close protection missions, gathering intelligence in hostile, backwater environments and hunting down America’s enemies. He’s not an omnipotent fellow who doesn’t put a step wrong, nor can he do a clean sweep of an opposition who brings overwhelming firepower against him, but what he lacks in luck, he makes up in being a persistent professional of the Forsyth school. Avery doesn’t give up or give in no matter what and keeps his cool. The sequel to Scorpion 2 looks to shed light on Avery and I look forward to learning more about how he came to be the man we see in the present.
Next, we have Khuseyn Dimayev. Khuseyn Dimayev is the primary target of the piece. Once a young Russian MVD trooper, he won the lottery and was conscripted into one of the legendary Spetsnaz GRU battalions staffed by Chechens. But after suffering a family tragedy that was the result of a Georgian counter – attack against Russia’s meddling, Dimayev was selected for a special project run by Moscow Centre, to become the perfect terrorist. A driven, competent adversary who despite his age is quite the gifted operations planner, Dimayev, using the venture capital given to him by Moscow, wages a sophisticated asymmetric warfare campaign throughout the Caucus, pushing the buttons of Russia’s neighbours here and kicking them in the face when they’re vulnerable. He doesn’t have any WMDs that could end the world, but what he does have is an understanding of applying the right amount of violence at the right moment to make a country he hates squeal.
Finally, we have Yulia. Yulia is a local Ukraine Asset Avery meets early on in the story. A member of a Neo Nazi tied militia that is doing most of the grunt work in the Donbass, Yulia is one of the most intriguing characters of Scorpion 2. Understandably cynical about American power since the last decades of missteps, she and Avery have a cool, professional relationship which turns to mutual respect as the story goes on. Despite being an amateur with limited combat experience compared to the Agency types she acts as the tour guide to, Yulia has an eye for detail that allows her to set up an ad hoc infrastructure of sorts without which would have led to Avery’s doom. She’s also not a shrinking violet or hysterical damsel type. In the massive gun battle that ends the first act of the book, she chips in and acquits herself despite the overwhelming odds.
Constructive criticism? Not much that I can say, aside from try to continue to work on and improve characterization. While the main players of the story are fleshed out, some of them, including the greater scope villains (GRU and FSB spymasters) did seem a bit colourless. Aside from that I have no complaints. Scorpion 2 was a satisfying indie published spy novel that pulled the rug from under my feet at times.
In this genre, the most ingenious, high tech and insidious threats to life and limb are popular. Bioweapons, nukes, a cyberwarfare computer virus, MOAB vacuum bombs. But sometimes, the old ways are the best and can have just as great power and devastation. It’s not about the means of violence but the moment and the opportunity to inflict that violence and Ross Sidor uses Georgia, the country of Josef Stalin and his Armenian Assassin Koba, a nation that is no stranger to political extremists as an excellent backdrop to make that point in his novel, Scorpion 2. With a plot that gradually speeds to an intense climax with each chess like gambit springing another twist in the tale, visceral action in places ranging from active war zones to geopoliticaly important infrastructure, and a cast of competent characters who are compelling and don’t play things stupid or rash, Scorpion 2 shows the maturity and refinement of Ross Sidor’s writing. Possessing an excellent grasp of the threats that seek to destroy what’s left of global stability, I cannot wait to see what he has in store for the next book which will see Avery in Saudi Arabia and Yemen and dealing with a personal threat close to home, an old Company enemy.
VERY RECOMMENDED.
March 27, 2019
Enigmatic paramilitary contractor Avery returns in the third entry in Ross Sidor's Scorpion series, SCORPION II.
The setting returns to the former Soviet Union. The mission is personal: one of Avery's comrades has perished at the hands of a terrorist commanded by an FSB foe with whom Avery tangled in the first SCORPION novel. To track down that foe, Avery is tasked with an operation that is as covert as it comes: infiltrate the hotly contested Ukrainian province of Donbass and rendition an FSB commander. The action quickly brings Avery to Georgia, and specifically South Ossetia, plunging him into the geopolitical quagmire as the stakes rapidly escalate.
I'll start off with my improves and then lead into my sustains.
Improves:
-I dislike how the book ends on a sudden halt. This could just be a personal style preference, but for me, I like a wind-down chapter after the final action scene, allow the reader to calm down after quickening their pulses. Like VIPER before it, SCORPION II ends immediately after its final action scene.
-Missing opportunities for character moments in exchange of advancing the plot faster. I've beaten this one to death on Sidor's works, so I won't pontificate here.
Now, for the sustains:
-Sidor is a master of research. I consider myself a walking open-source/outsider special operations encyclopedia. I've read a plethora of books and articles regarding American special operations. He managed to teach **me** something I didn't know on the subject. I was simultaneously taken aback and impressed.
-Despite the missed opportunities, Sidor does delve deeper into Avery's background throughout the novel, teaching us a bit more about his background, his upbringing, and even touching on some of his doubts and insecurities
-the action scenes are as crisp as ever. Whether making an Alamoesque last stand in a safe house, or an in-extremis assault on a terrorist camp, or conducting a HALO jump, Sidor is an expert in putting the reader firmly in the shoes of the scenes' central characters and immersing them in the experience.
Ross Sidor is a thriller virtuoso who can write with the best of them. I eagerly await the publication of the fourth Scorpion novel and anticipate watching him continue to hone his craft.
The setting returns to the former Soviet Union. The mission is personal: one of Avery's comrades has perished at the hands of a terrorist commanded by an FSB foe with whom Avery tangled in the first SCORPION novel. To track down that foe, Avery is tasked with an operation that is as covert as it comes: infiltrate the hotly contested Ukrainian province of Donbass and rendition an FSB commander. The action quickly brings Avery to Georgia, and specifically South Ossetia, plunging him into the geopolitical quagmire as the stakes rapidly escalate.
I'll start off with my improves and then lead into my sustains.
Improves:
-I dislike how the book ends on a sudden halt. This could just be a personal style preference, but for me, I like a wind-down chapter after the final action scene, allow the reader to calm down after quickening their pulses. Like VIPER before it, SCORPION II ends immediately after its final action scene.
-Missing opportunities for character moments in exchange of advancing the plot faster. I've beaten this one to death on Sidor's works, so I won't pontificate here.
Now, for the sustains:
-Sidor is a master of research. I consider myself a walking open-source/outsider special operations encyclopedia. I've read a plethora of books and articles regarding American special operations. He managed to teach **me** something I didn't know on the subject. I was simultaneously taken aback and impressed.
-Despite the missed opportunities, Sidor does delve deeper into Avery's background throughout the novel, teaching us a bit more about his background, his upbringing, and even touching on some of his doubts and insecurities
-the action scenes are as crisp as ever. Whether making an Alamoesque last stand in a safe house, or an in-extremis assault on a terrorist camp, or conducting a HALO jump, Sidor is an expert in putting the reader firmly in the shoes of the scenes' central characters and immersing them in the experience.
Ross Sidor is a thriller virtuoso who can write with the best of them. I eagerly await the publication of the fourth Scorpion novel and anticipate watching him continue to hone his craft.
November 2, 2017
ANOTHER GREAT READ FROM ROSS SIDOR
For fans of Clancy, Thor, Flynn and Marc Cameron, we have a new author that has now put out three great reads! Quit Reading reviews and click the "BUY IT NOW BUTTON!"- RIGHT NOW!
I don't know about you all, it I have been waiting for a new author to come around to produce some new, enjoyable reads and now overground him. Go back and pick up Scorpion, Viper and then this, Scorpion II. I PROMISE, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!
Tons of action, well written characters. Military thrillers full of tier
-one operators doing what they do. But to say these books are just non-stop action would not do them justice. The "thriller" in Military Thriller is very much present as well. Please, do yourself a favor and go back and purchase the first book. While you are at it, you might as well pick up the second and third installment s because you'll be right back to Amazon purchasing them as soon as you finish Scorpion!
On a side note, I recently wrote a review for a book and months later saw there was a comment to my review that accused me of being paid for my review. So from now on I decided to add the following disclaimer to all my reviews: "I do not know a single author, never mind an author who has published a book and offered it for sale on Amazon or any website. I just read the book and try to write a review that I personally would want to see if I were searching for my next read. Ross Sidor doesn't know me from the next guy and if his books were not as entertaining as they are, I would not be taking the time to write a review."
Well done Mr. Side, well done again!
For fans of Clancy, Thor, Flynn and Marc Cameron, we have a new author that has now put out three great reads! Quit Reading reviews and click the "BUY IT NOW BUTTON!"- RIGHT NOW!
I don't know about you all, it I have been waiting for a new author to come around to produce some new, enjoyable reads and now overground him. Go back and pick up Scorpion, Viper and then this, Scorpion II. I PROMISE, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!
Tons of action, well written characters. Military thrillers full of tier
-one operators doing what they do. But to say these books are just non-stop action would not do them justice. The "thriller" in Military Thriller is very much present as well. Please, do yourself a favor and go back and purchase the first book. While you are at it, you might as well pick up the second and third installment s because you'll be right back to Amazon purchasing them as soon as you finish Scorpion!
On a side note, I recently wrote a review for a book and months later saw there was a comment to my review that accused me of being paid for my review. So from now on I decided to add the following disclaimer to all my reviews: "I do not know a single author, never mind an author who has published a book and offered it for sale on Amazon or any website. I just read the book and try to write a review that I personally would want to see if I were searching for my next read. Ross Sidor doesn't know me from the next guy and if his books were not as entertaining as they are, I would not be taking the time to write a review."
Well done Mr. Side, well done again!
May 30, 2023
The third Avery novel and coincidentally the third I have read. I started this one after the fifth although, the order does not matter too much. What is more relevant with regards to chronology is real world events having overtaken the narrative. In this story's case, Avery's visit to Ukraine and Russian occupied Crimea before the Russian invasion puts this in the historical fiction basket. However, that sequence did not age poorly at all and is worthwhile as a reminder of what the situation in Crimea was like just a couple of years ago. In fact, the whole novel is worthwhile as a backgrounder on the relationship between Russia, Georgia and Ukraine. The author's treatment of the setting is reminiscent of Forsyth in the level of detail and the discussions among the characters about the geopolitics of the region are authentic both in the sense of being accurate to the character and consistent with reality.
The majority of the novel is action set piece after action set piece. All of them are grounded in the sense that while the setup and execution is consistent with reality, there are some bits that require a minor suspension of disbelief but help make the scenes stand out. I cannot think of many authors that can describe action scenes as well as Sidor and I never had any issue getting my head around who was doing what and the spatial relationship between all the different moving parts. The two hostage rescue sequences late in the novel leave Rainbow Six for dead.
If I had any issue it would be a lack of much development for the characters. Some of them are certainly interesting, especially the villain and the two Ukrainians Avery works with early in the novel. Their motivations are fleshed out and consistent with the setting. However, among the protagonist and his posse, no one really has an arc and character moments are pretty sparse. On the other hand many fans of the genre will appreciate the focus on exotic locales and detailed action scenes.
The majority of the novel is action set piece after action set piece. All of them are grounded in the sense that while the setup and execution is consistent with reality, there are some bits that require a minor suspension of disbelief but help make the scenes stand out. I cannot think of many authors that can describe action scenes as well as Sidor and I never had any issue getting my head around who was doing what and the spatial relationship between all the different moving parts. The two hostage rescue sequences late in the novel leave Rainbow Six for dead.
If I had any issue it would be a lack of much development for the characters. Some of them are certainly interesting, especially the villain and the two Ukrainians Avery works with early in the novel. Their motivations are fleshed out and consistent with the setting. However, among the protagonist and his posse, no one really has an arc and character moments are pretty sparse. On the other hand many fans of the genre will appreciate the focus on exotic locales and detailed action scenes.
December 16, 2023
This review was originally written on 27 March 2019, for a previous edition of this novel. Minor changes have been made where appropriate.
Enigmatic paramilitary contractor Avery returns in the third entry in Ross Sidor's Covert Action series, Subversive Action.
The setting returns to the former Soviet Union. The mission is personal: one of Avery's comrades has perished at the hands of a terrorist commanded by an FSB foe with whom Avery tangled in the first Covert Action novel. To track down that foe, Avery is tasked with an operation that is as covert as it comes: infiltrate the hotly contested Ukrainian province of Donbas and rendition an FSB commander. The action quickly brings Avery to Georgia, and specifically South Ossetia, plunging him into the geopolitical quagmire as the stakes rapidly escalate.
I'll start off with my improves and then lead into my sustains.
Improves:
-I dislike how the book ends on a sudden halt. This could just be a personal style preference, but for me, I like a wind-down chapter after the final action scene, allow the reader to calm down after quickening their pulses. Like Target Viper before it, SUBVERSIVE ACTION ends immediately after its final action scene.
-Missing opportunities for character moments in exchange of advancing the plot faster. I've beaten this one to death on Sidor's works, so I won't pontificate here.
Now, for the sustains:
-Sidor is a master of research. I consider myself a walking open-source/outsider special operations encyclopedia. I've read a plethora of books and articles regarding American special operations. He managed to teach **me** something I didn't know on the subject. I was simultaneously taken aback and impressed.
-Despite the missed opportunities, Sidor does delve deeper into Avery's background throughout the novel, teaching us a bit more about his background, his upbringing, and even touching on some of his doubts and insecurities
-the action scenes are as crisp as ever. Whether making an Alamoesque last stand in a safe house, or an in-extremis assault on a terrorist camp, or conducting a HALO jump, Sidor is an expert in putting the reader firmly in the shoes of the scenes' central characters and immersing them in the experience.
Ross Sidor is a thriller virtuoso who can write with the best of them. I eagerly await the publication of the fourth Covert Action novel and anticipate watching him continue to hone his craft.
Enigmatic paramilitary contractor Avery returns in the third entry in Ross Sidor's Covert Action series, Subversive Action.
The setting returns to the former Soviet Union. The mission is personal: one of Avery's comrades has perished at the hands of a terrorist commanded by an FSB foe with whom Avery tangled in the first Covert Action novel. To track down that foe, Avery is tasked with an operation that is as covert as it comes: infiltrate the hotly contested Ukrainian province of Donbas and rendition an FSB commander. The action quickly brings Avery to Georgia, and specifically South Ossetia, plunging him into the geopolitical quagmire as the stakes rapidly escalate.
I'll start off with my improves and then lead into my sustains.
Improves:
-I dislike how the book ends on a sudden halt. This could just be a personal style preference, but for me, I like a wind-down chapter after the final action scene, allow the reader to calm down after quickening their pulses. Like Target Viper before it, SUBVERSIVE ACTION ends immediately after its final action scene.
-Missing opportunities for character moments in exchange of advancing the plot faster. I've beaten this one to death on Sidor's works, so I won't pontificate here.
Now, for the sustains:
-Sidor is a master of research. I consider myself a walking open-source/outsider special operations encyclopedia. I've read a plethora of books and articles regarding American special operations. He managed to teach **me** something I didn't know on the subject. I was simultaneously taken aback and impressed.
-Despite the missed opportunities, Sidor does delve deeper into Avery's background throughout the novel, teaching us a bit more about his background, his upbringing, and even touching on some of his doubts and insecurities
-the action scenes are as crisp as ever. Whether making an Alamoesque last stand in a safe house, or an in-extremis assault on a terrorist camp, or conducting a HALO jump, Sidor is an expert in putting the reader firmly in the shoes of the scenes' central characters and immersing them in the experience.
Ross Sidor is a thriller virtuoso who can write with the best of them. I eagerly await the publication of the fourth Covert Action novel and anticipate watching him continue to hone his craft.
December 7, 2020
Great book
Really enjoyed this book, good author, who certainly researched his subject on weapons, tactics and geography. The characters certainly felt very real
Really enjoyed this book, good author, who certainly researched his subject on weapons, tactics and geography. The characters certainly felt very real
May 7, 2020
AGENT OF CHAOS
“'We will chase terrorists everywhere. If in an airport, then in the airport. So if we find them in the toilet, excuse me, we'll rub them out in the outhouse. And that's it, case closed.” – Ex FSB Director Vladimir Putin.
“We’re not feeling edgy; the system is feeling nervous.” – Red Army Faction terrorist group.
The Caucus has been the quintessential home of bandits, brigands, terrorists and wars since the days when Joseph Stalin was a bank robber. A part of the world where banditry is still a way for life, the Caucus and Central Asia continue to be the geopolitical chess board that few hear about. It’s on this chessboard that thriller writer Ross Sidor makes the stage for his series of espionage novels. Centring around the real-life Global Response Service of the CIA, the star of the show is a mercenary by the name of Avery. Formerly a Special Activities Division officer, Avery has since become a hired gun for his masters at the Company, putting out fires where need be. In this story, an inferno begins to erupt in the Caucus with the rise of a terrorist organization gunning for Russia’s enemies in the region. After the killing of a CIA officer, Avery is put on the case and soon finds himself in a tangled catch 22 that not even Moscow may be able to untangle. Now to the review, what happens when enemies get too close for comfort?
We begin our story in Georgia. Two American Covert Operatives are tooling around Tiblisi, Georgia. Tension is in the air and Georgia is seemingly under threat from the biggest wave of terrorism to hit it since the days when Stalin was a bank robber. Shortly after an asset – meet, the Americans proceed to earn the dubious distinction of being the second and third CIA employees killed in Georgia with an I.E.D unceremoniously blowing up their SUV with them inside. On an entirely different continent, our hero, Avery is informed of the terrorist attack by his Langley handler, Culler. The attack hits close to home as one of the victims was a friend and a fellow ‘SCORPION’ the guardians and sentinels who protect CIA employees.
Knowing that a storm is coming in the wake of a devastating demolition derby of asset networks around the former USSR, Culler assigns Avery to hunt the FSB spymaster responsible, dispatching Avery and two S.A.D Paramilitary Officers to the violent Donbass Region of Ukraine. And Avery and his colleagues begin waging their own covert battle in an active warzone, a mysterious non state actor, begins setting events in motion that would make Moscow happy. With a methodical, precise use of terrorism, deception and surprise, this operative, sets in motion a scheme to decapitate a government and complete the unfinished business of Putin’s first great power play. And by the time Avery finds his new nemesis, racing from Eastern Ukraine, to the forests of Georgia not even the FSB would be able to stop the will of this single terrorist.
In Terms of plot Scorpion 2 is a unique spy novel. At first glance, it’s the usual bang bang post 9/11 novel. But there’s a lot more behind the cover than the usual gun battles and perpetual covert wars against America’s enemies. The author, Ross Sidor. His writing style is what one could imagine Frederick Forsyth writing if Forsyth hadn’t gone into semi – retirement and still had enough in the tank to write at peak form. With rich real world detail, characters who are all competent pros but pros who find themselves doing surprising things that not even they expected, and a focus on a region of the world which, while shrouded in unpleasant stereotypes, is home to geopolitically important nations, Sidor’s Scorpion Series sufficiently distinguishes itself from the pack and provides quite a few surprises in the bargain and Scorpion 2 is no exception with some well thought out gambits and trope subversions waiting to be sprung on the reader.
Action and setting? Decent. Due to the nature of the author’s writing style, setting does take a bit of a back seat save for a few highlights. But you needn’t worry about the action department. There’s a lot to revel in. From a massive siege in a crumbling Donbass apartment block where an army of FSB Vympel operators with helicopter gunships face off against our out gunned protagonists, to a dicey cross border raid into Southern Ossetia and even a daring terrorist attack on a critical piece of Georgian Infrastructure aimed at causing the worst ecological disaster in the Caucus, Scorpion 2 is packed with thrills that trump many run of the mill mainstream published thrillers. Now, for settings, the author does bring to life vividly some interesting locations. From the modernist Parliament of Georgia, located in a place few would expect, to the muddy Ossetia borderlands where a criminals, terrorists and villainy stalk the land, to the misery of the Donbass Republic that barely holds itself together with Russian Money, Scorpion 2 shines when taking us to unique, unexplored locations and capturing the atmosphere.
Research? Excellent. The author is an avid real-world details kind of writer and he knows how to deploy it to create a sort of realism atmosphere full of detail that the great modern crime drama director Michael Mann was able to do in his glory years. Whether it be the hardware Avery brings to bear in a gun battle, the complex ventures of the ostensibly domestic Security focused FSB in the former USSR border regions that the SVR does not tread, or how the Donbass Separatist Republic was site of some of the worst war crimes in Europe since the Balkan Wars of the 90s, Sidor captures the nuances of the violent geopolitics and covert wars of the 2010s far better than most.
A highlight for me in Scorpion 2 was the author touching on the infamous, clannish politicking of the Caucasian states. As it turns out, Georgia has made far more enemies over the years than Russia. Another highlight is a chilling, accurate take on what would be the worst active measures Russia’s spies could bring to bear. In this case, the active measure comes in the form of a unique non – state actor that is supposed to be the perfect agent of chaos.
Well equipped, autonomous and unable to be recalled. And combined with Russia’s legendary world leading paramilitary expertise, chaos ensures. The author uses this realism in the fashion Forsyth did, grasping the cruel, violent realities that have been successful in destroying the idealism of the turn of the century, a world where the good guys are fighting a struggle that might crush them and a world where only the professionals stand a chance in living to die another day.
Characters? Solid. But there are some highlights and two big surprises. I’ll focus on them, Avery, Khuseyn Dimayev and Yulia First, Avery. Avery is a true ‘Gray Man’, an unofficial title given to the most skilled of America’s Covert Operatives. He’s an enigmatic fellow whose past is shrouded in mystery. What we do know about him is that he’s a competent professional whether conducting close protection missions, gathering intelligence in hostile, backwater environments and hunting down America’s enemies. He’s not an omnipotent fellow who doesn’t put a step wrong, nor can he do a clean sweep of an opposition who brings overwhelming firepower against him, but what he lacks in luck, he makes up in being a persistent professional of the Forsyth school. Avery doesn’t give up or give in no matter what and keeps his cool. The sequel to Scorpion 2 looks to shed light on Avery and I look forward to learning more about how he came to be the man we see in the present.
Next, we have Khuseyn Dimayev. Khuseyn Dimayev is the primary target of the piece. Once a young Russian MVD trooper, he won the lottery and was conscripted into one of the legendary Spetsnaz GRU battalions staffed by Chechens. But after suffering a family tragedy that was the result of a Georgian counter – attack against Russia’s meddling, Dimayev was selected for a special project run by Moscow Centre, to become the perfect terrorist. A driven, competent adversary who despite his age is quite the gifted operations planner, Dimayev, using the venture capital given to him by Moscow, wages a sophisticated asymmetric warfare campaign throughout the Caucus, pushing the buttons of Russia’s neighbours here and kicking them in the face when they’re vulnerable. He doesn’t have any WMDs that could end the world, but what he does have is an understanding of applying the right amount of violence at the right moment to make a country he hates squeal.
Finally, we have Yulia. Yulia is a local Ukraine Asset Avery meets early on in the story. A member of a Neo Nazi tied militia that is doing most of the grunt work in the Donbass, Yulia is one of the most intriguing characters of Scorpion 2. Understandably cynical about American power since the last decades of missteps, she and Avery have a cool, professional relationship which turns to mutual respect as the story goes on. Despite being an amateur with limited combat experience compared to the Agency types she acts as the tour guide to, Yulia has an eye for detail that allows her to set up an ad hoc infrastructure of sorts without which would have led to Avery’s doom. She’s also not a shrinking violet or hysterical damsel type. In the massive gun battle that ends the first act of the book, she chips in and acquits herself despite the overwhelming odds.
Constructive criticism? Not much that I can say, aside from try to continue to work on and improve characterization. While the main players of the story are fleshed out, some of them, including the greater scope villains (GRU and FSB spymasters) did seem a bit colourless. Aside from that I have no complaints. Scorpion 2 was a satisfying indie published spy novel that pulled the rug from under my feet at times.
In this genre, the most ingenious, high tech and insidious threats to life and limb are popular. Bioweapons, nukes, a cyberwarfare computer virus, MOAB vacuum bombs. But sometimes, the old ways are the best and can have just as great power and devastation. It’s not about the means of violence but the moment and the opportunity to inflict that violence and Ross Sidor uses Georgia, the country of Josef Stalin and his Armenian Assassin Koba, a nation that is no stranger to political extremists as an excellent backdrop to make that point in his novel, Scorpion 2. With a plot that gradually speeds to an intense climax with each chess like gambit springing another twist in the tale, visceral action in places ranging from active war zones to geopoliticaly important infrastructure, and a cast of competent characters who are compelling and don’t play things stupid or rash, Scorpion 2 shows the maturity and refinement of Ross Sidor’s writing. Possessing an excellent grasp of the threats that seek to destroy what’s left of global stability, I cannot wait to see what he has in store for the next book which will see Avery in Saudi Arabia and Yemen and dealing with a personal threat close to home, an old Company enemy.
VERY RECOMMENDED.
“'We will chase terrorists everywhere. If in an airport, then in the airport. So if we find them in the toilet, excuse me, we'll rub them out in the outhouse. And that's it, case closed.” – Ex FSB Director Vladimir Putin.
“We’re not feeling edgy; the system is feeling nervous.” – Red Army Faction terrorist group.
The Caucus has been the quintessential home of bandits, brigands, terrorists and wars since the days when Joseph Stalin was a bank robber. A part of the world where banditry is still a way for life, the Caucus and Central Asia continue to be the geopolitical chess board that few hear about. It’s on this chessboard that thriller writer Ross Sidor makes the stage for his series of espionage novels. Centring around the real-life Global Response Service of the CIA, the star of the show is a mercenary by the name of Avery. Formerly a Special Activities Division officer, Avery has since become a hired gun for his masters at the Company, putting out fires where need be. In this story, an inferno begins to erupt in the Caucus with the rise of a terrorist organization gunning for Russia’s enemies in the region. After the killing of a CIA officer, Avery is put on the case and soon finds himself in a tangled catch 22 that not even Moscow may be able to untangle. Now to the review, what happens when enemies get too close for comfort?
We begin our story in Georgia. Two American Covert Operatives are tooling around Tiblisi, Georgia. Tension is in the air and Georgia is seemingly under threat from the biggest wave of terrorism to hit it since the days when Stalin was a bank robber. Shortly after an asset – meet, the Americans proceed to earn the dubious distinction of being the second and third CIA employees killed in Georgia with an I.E.D unceremoniously blowing up their SUV with them inside. On an entirely different continent, our hero, Avery is informed of the terrorist attack by his Langley handler, Culler. The attack hits close to home as one of the victims was a friend and a fellow ‘SCORPION’ the guardians and sentinels who protect CIA employees.
Knowing that a storm is coming in the wake of a devastating demolition derby of asset networks around the former USSR, Culler assigns Avery to hunt the FSB spymaster responsible, dispatching Avery and two S.A.D Paramilitary Officers to the violent Donbass Region of Ukraine. And Avery and his colleagues begin waging their own covert battle in an active warzone, a mysterious non state actor, begins setting events in motion that would make Moscow happy. With a methodical, precise use of terrorism, deception and surprise, this operative, sets in motion a scheme to decapitate a government and complete the unfinished business of Putin’s first great power play. And by the time Avery finds his new nemesis, racing from Eastern Ukraine, to the forests of Georgia not even the FSB would be able to stop the will of this single terrorist.
In Terms of plot Scorpion 2 is a unique spy novel. At first glance, it’s the usual bang bang post 9/11 novel. But there’s a lot more behind the cover than the usual gun battles and perpetual covert wars against America’s enemies. The author, Ross Sidor. His writing style is what one could imagine Frederick Forsyth writing if Forsyth hadn’t gone into semi – retirement and still had enough in the tank to write at peak form. With rich real world detail, characters who are all competent pros but pros who find themselves doing surprising things that not even they expected, and a focus on a region of the world which, while shrouded in unpleasant stereotypes, is home to geopolitically important nations, Sidor’s Scorpion Series sufficiently distinguishes itself from the pack and provides quite a few surprises in the bargain and Scorpion 2 is no exception with some well thought out gambits and trope subversions waiting to be sprung on the reader.
Action and setting? Decent. Due to the nature of the author’s writing style, setting does take a bit of a back seat save for a few highlights. But you needn’t worry about the action department. There’s a lot to revel in. From a massive siege in a crumbling Donbass apartment block where an army of FSB Vympel operators with helicopter gunships face off against our out gunned protagonists, to a dicey cross border raid into Southern Ossetia and even a daring terrorist attack on a critical piece of Georgian Infrastructure aimed at causing the worst ecological disaster in the Caucus, Scorpion 2 is packed with thrills that trump many run of the mill mainstream published thrillers. Now, for settings, the author does bring to life vividly some interesting locations. From the modernist Parliament of Georgia, located in a place few would expect, to the muddy Ossetia borderlands where a criminals, terrorists and villainy stalk the land, to the misery of the Donbass Republic that barely holds itself together with Russian Money, Scorpion 2 shines when taking us to unique, unexplored locations and capturing the atmosphere.
Research? Excellent. The author is an avid real-world details kind of writer and he knows how to deploy it to create a sort of realism atmosphere full of detail that the great modern crime drama director Michael Mann was able to do in his glory years. Whether it be the hardware Avery brings to bear in a gun battle, the complex ventures of the ostensibly domestic Security focused FSB in the former USSR border regions that the SVR does not tread, or how the Donbass Separatist Republic was site of some of the worst war crimes in Europe since the Balkan Wars of the 90s, Sidor captures the nuances of the violent geopolitics and covert wars of the 2010s far better than most.
A highlight for me in Scorpion 2 was the author touching on the infamous, clannish politicking of the Caucasian states. As it turns out, Georgia has made far more enemies over the years than Russia. Another highlight is a chilling, accurate take on what would be the worst active measures Russia’s spies could bring to bear. In this case, the active measure comes in the form of a unique non – state actor that is supposed to be the perfect agent of chaos.
Well equipped, autonomous and unable to be recalled. And combined with Russia’s legendary world leading paramilitary expertise, chaos ensures. The author uses this realism in the fashion Forsyth did, grasping the cruel, violent realities that have been successful in destroying the idealism of the turn of the century, a world where the good guys are fighting a struggle that might crush them and a world where only the professionals stand a chance in living to die another day.
Characters? Solid. But there are some highlights and two big surprises. I’ll focus on them, Avery, Khuseyn Dimayev and Yulia First, Avery. Avery is a true ‘Gray Man’, an unofficial title given to the most skilled of America’s Covert Operatives. He’s an enigmatic fellow whose past is shrouded in mystery. What we do know about him is that he’s a competent professional whether conducting close protection missions, gathering intelligence in hostile, backwater environments and hunting down America’s enemies. He’s not an omnipotent fellow who doesn’t put a step wrong, nor can he do a clean sweep of an opposition who brings overwhelming firepower against him, but what he lacks in luck, he makes up in being a persistent professional of the Forsyth school. Avery doesn’t give up or give in no matter what and keeps his cool. The sequel to Scorpion 2 looks to shed light on Avery and I look forward to learning more about how he came to be the man we see in the present.
Next, we have Khuseyn Dimayev. Khuseyn Dimayev is the primary target of the piece. Once a young Russian MVD trooper, he won the lottery and was conscripted into one of the legendary Spetsnaz GRU battalions staffed by Chechens. But after suffering a family tragedy that was the result of a Georgian counter – attack against Russia’s meddling, Dimayev was selected for a special project run by Moscow Centre, to become the perfect terrorist. A driven, competent adversary who despite his age is quite the gifted operations planner, Dimayev, using the venture capital given to him by Moscow, wages a sophisticated asymmetric warfare campaign throughout the Caucus, pushing the buttons of Russia’s neighbours here and kicking them in the face when they’re vulnerable. He doesn’t have any WMDs that could end the world, but what he does have is an understanding of applying the right amount of violence at the right moment to make a country he hates squeal.
Finally, we have Yulia. Yulia is a local Ukraine Asset Avery meets early on in the story. A member of a Neo Nazi tied militia that is doing most of the grunt work in the Donbass, Yulia is one of the most intriguing characters of Scorpion 2. Understandably cynical about American power since the last decades of missteps, she and Avery have a cool, professional relationship which turns to mutual respect as the story goes on. Despite being an amateur with limited combat experience compared to the Agency types she acts as the tour guide to, Yulia has an eye for detail that allows her to set up an ad hoc infrastructure of sorts without which would have led to Avery’s doom. She’s also not a shrinking violet or hysterical damsel type. In the massive gun battle that ends the first act of the book, she chips in and acquits herself despite the overwhelming odds.
Constructive criticism? Not much that I can say, aside from try to continue to work on and improve characterization. While the main players of the story are fleshed out, some of them, including the greater scope villains (GRU and FSB spymasters) did seem a bit colourless. Aside from that I have no complaints. Scorpion 2 was a satisfying indie published spy novel that pulled the rug from under my feet at times.
In this genre, the most ingenious, high tech and insidious threats to life and limb are popular. Bioweapons, nukes, a cyberwarfare computer virus, MOAB vacuum bombs. But sometimes, the old ways are the best and can have just as great power and devastation. It’s not about the means of violence but the moment and the opportunity to inflict that violence and Ross Sidor uses Georgia, the country of Josef Stalin and his Armenian Assassin Koba, a nation that is no stranger to political extremists as an excellent backdrop to make that point in his novel, Scorpion 2. With a plot that gradually speeds to an intense climax with each chess like gambit springing another twist in the tale, visceral action in places ranging from active war zones to geopoliticaly important infrastructure, and a cast of competent characters who are compelling and don’t play things stupid or rash, Scorpion 2 shows the maturity and refinement of Ross Sidor’s writing. Possessing an excellent grasp of the threats that seek to destroy what’s left of global stability, I cannot wait to see what he has in store for the next book which will see Avery in Saudi Arabia and Yemen and dealing with a personal threat close to home, an old Company enemy.
VERY RECOMMENDED.
February 20, 2019
Action, sEction and more action!
Very good plot, great characters, and good story line. Hard to put down, screams for sequel and sure they are coming. Recommend this book
Very good plot, great characters, and good story line. Hard to put down, screams for sequel and sure they are coming. Recommend this book
July 31, 2020
A great espionage tale with phenomenal research
Ross Sidor came up with an amazing plot that feels fresh and ripped-of the headlines. His best work to date!
Ross Sidor came up with an amazing plot that feels fresh and ripped-of the headlines. His best work to date!
June 6, 2020
Brutal series
A well researched and written set of books about ex special services and their support for the right side in conflict in many countries. Very graphic, very violent, very descriptive of the tensions between individuals and governments and official armed services. I was disappointed with poor spelling, occasional typos, takes the flow away.
A well researched and written set of books about ex special services and their support for the right side in conflict in many countries. Very graphic, very violent, very descriptive of the tensions between individuals and governments and official armed services. I was disappointed with poor spelling, occasional typos, takes the flow away.
January 18, 2021
Hmmm. The author spins a pretty good tale and seems to do his research on the hot-spots of the world and attempts to be detailed to the nth degree. BUT he isn't! So many little things let these stories down. In this story he twice left plot holes when he allowed the protagonist to not deal with the escape helicopters in search of poetic licence. The ending of this book was particularly stupid and left me thinking 'huh?' Worst of all is the lack of proof reading. In all three books so far there are misspelled words, random words inserted and incorrect words such as preened instead of peered and graced rather than grazed. It really spoils the reading experience as you are constantly stopping to check the sentences again. Now to my biggest bug. His grammar sucks. He constantly uses 'a couple X' instead of 'a couple of X'. Just plain bad English. I think he must use a speech to text system. In his review section he's compared to Vince Flynn. Long way before he's anywhere near that level of story telling and penmanship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2023
Subversive Action is one heck of an action packed thrill ride!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Subversive Action and highly recommend it to anyone who loves nail biting spy thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat from A to Z! Grab your copy today and let the thrill ride begin…
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Subversive Action and highly recommend it to anyone who loves nail biting spy thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat from A to Z! Grab your copy today and let the thrill ride begin…
June 21, 2022
Subversive Action
A brilliant written trilogy of books,an excellent writer with a very knowledgeable imagination,perhaps an ex special ops soldier,looking forward to reading about Every again
A brilliant written trilogy of books,an excellent writer with a very knowledgeable imagination,perhaps an ex special ops soldier,looking forward to reading about Every again
November 13, 2020
Awesome read
Read them all you will not regret it. I am hoping that he writes more in this group. Very good author.
Read them all you will not regret it. I am hoping that he writes more in this group. Very good author.
February 17, 2021
All action
Great plot and subplots plus the usual action you expect from Avery an Co, good technical knowledge of weapons and military planning makes it a realistic read.
Great plot and subplots plus the usual action you expect from Avery an Co, good technical knowledge of weapons and military planning makes it a realistic read.
March 31, 2021
Great action story
This is another great read in this series. It has the main character taking on help to free the Georgian President.
This is another great read in this series. It has the main character taking on help to free the Georgian President.
May 5, 2021
great
great book with tons of action and awesome story telling. I am on to the next book in the series
great book with tons of action and awesome story telling. I am on to the next book in the series
October 25, 2022
Grabbed me by the Throat
This was a thriller in every sense. Magnificent character development, engaging plot and blood-racing action. Will need to read more Ross Sidor.
This was a thriller in every sense. Magnificent character development, engaging plot and blood-racing action. Will need to read more Ross Sidor.
March 26, 2024
A 5 Hour Barrage Of Hot Avaricious Lethal Action!
This is better than 99.9% of any other comparable action books out there. The standards are simply ultra high in all aspects.
This is better than 99.9% of any other comparable action books out there. The standards are simply ultra high in all aspects.
February 23, 2025
Action non stop
Avery chases a Russian check across Europe and the. Middle east. The bad guy always find a way to escape or does he.
Avery chases a Russian check across Europe and the. Middle east. The bad guy always find a way to escape or does he.
March 1, 2025
Another excellent book from Ross Sidor
January 25, 2019
Solid read
Great 3rd book. Really needs an editor. Lots of misspelled words and bad punctuation. Still great read. Lots of blood and guts.
Great 3rd book. Really needs an editor. Lots of misspelled words and bad punctuation. Still great read. Lots of blood and guts.
February 25, 2019
An interesting war story which drug in a little to long
A good story line about efforts to track down the people who killed friends for no apparent reason other than political gain
A good story line about efforts to track down the people who killed friends for no apparent reason other than political gain
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews