The Kremlin's Vote

Jayne Robinson #1

by Andrew Turpin

A plot against the US presidential election, born in Moscow . . . Two top US officials are gunned down while visiting London. A trail of deception misleads the CIA. And former intelligence operative Jayne Robinson is viciously targeted during a high-risk foray into Russia.

Robinson, previously a long-term MI6 officer, is covertly deployed by the CIA in a deniable operation to handle one of its biggest assets in the Kremlin and to get to the bottom of a threat that seems likely to engulf the White House—just as the next presidential election looms.

The mission becomes deeply personal for Robinson when it emerges one of the victims is married to one of her best and oldest friends.
But nothing is what it seems in this vortex of deception and deceit. As she gets closer to the truth behind the killings, Robinson finds herself challenged to the core while fending off threats from unexpected directions.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Spy Thriller, Audiobook, Thriller

452 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 30, 2021

About the author

Andrew is a former journalist who has always had a love of writing and a passion for reading good thrillers. Now he has finally put the two interests together.

His first book in the Joe Johnson thriller series, The Last Nazi, was published in August 2017, and the second, The Old Bridge, in January 2018. The third, Bandit Country, followed in February 2018. In January 2019 the fourth, Stalin's Final Sting, was published along with a prequel to the series, entitled The Afghan. Book #5 in the series, The Nazi's Son, appeared in November 2019, followed by book 6, The Black Sea, published in May 2020.

The themes behind these thrillers also pull together some of Andrew’s other interests, particularly history, world news, and travel. They explore the ways in which events and human behaviors deep into the past continue to impact on modern society, politics and business.

All of Andrew's books draw strongly on these themes. They feature Joe Johnson, an ex-CIA officer and former U.S. Nazi hunter with the Office of Special Investigations, part of the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
Johnson has a passion for justice and a drive to investigate unsolved war crimes in different parts of the world.

Andrew studied history at Loughborough University and worked for many years as a business and financial journalist before becoming a corporate and financial communications adviser with several large energy companies.

He originally came from Grantham, Lincolnshire, and lives with his family in St. Albans in Hertfordshire, U.K.

Reviews

[Theo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I very purposefully selected a book at the beginning of a series. After the twelfth complicated background explanation of some character or place, I did more research. Apparently this is the first of a SPIN-OFF series. So prepare to sit back and listen to endless details of previous books for the first quarter of the novel.

I don’t know about the other series, but it seems like this book was written for very naive people. People who would believe a spy from MI6 or the CIA would never kill a person in cold blood. Heavens no, that would be morally wrong. And then the whole premise of this scandal being so surprising to the characters (both politicians and spies). Russia? Trying to influence US politics? Never! Maybe in like 2000 this would’ve been more interesting. Now this is basically what we all know is true so I don’t really understand the shock. And this book was published is 2021. Did the author just read the news?

If the intelligence agency in Russia works the way it’s explained in this book, I have literally no idea why anyone would ever join. Ever. Anytime they’re suspicious of you, they torture you for days? And if you’re clear you just go back to work until the next time they’re going to beat the shit out of you? Not to mention, the reliance on such an unreliable method to gain information. Like, I know working in retail sucks and is “torturous” but it sounds preferable to be electrocuted in your anus. Maybe go into accounting, I don’t know.

The main character in this book, Jane Robinson, is a lot like porridge. Solid, basic, dependable, boring. She was just a vessel for the story, not at all a character of flaws and growth and such. To be fair, the whole story was boring, not just her. It was a formulaic spy novel with nothing interesting or compelling. A porridge spy novel.

And why are female spies always having to go undercover as prostitutes? Even 50+ year old female spies. How do male spies get anything accomplished when they never go undercover as prostitutes, since it seems a requirement of the job as a woman..? It seems like a massive hindrance to employ male spies. (I know male spies could be prostitutes but I have thus far never personally read or watched something that required a male spy to dress up as a prostitute).

Then the resolution was like … wow. What a ridiculously massive coincidence. Like, early on as things revealed themselves I thought, is this going to be the resolution? But then I was like, that would make NO sense because of the extreme nature of coincidence required. This isn’t “I thought about my aunt and then she called me” level of coincidence, this is like “I thought today was the same day as yesterday because every single thing that happened yesterday happened in the precise same order today so I thought I was in one of those time loop situations but it just turned out to be a coincidence” level of coincidence.

The cherry on top of this boring, predictable mess is that the only reason Jane got involved with investigating this is because she was asked by her friend, who didn’t even want the facts revealed. Maybe if you have a secret, don’t ask your super spy friend to investigate it.

[Addy · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing Andrew Turpin's Joe Johnson series last year, I had very high expectations from the Jayne Robinson series as well. Thankfully, he has delivered a rollicking opening with The Kremlin's Vote which is as good as any of his earlier novels. The transformation of Jayne Robinson from playing second fiddle to the protagonist was seamless while Joe Johnson sat at home.

The Ex MI6 spy, now working for CIA embarks on another Russian odyssey into a plot that is devastatingly realistic. Many of the older Russian characters return(including the real life President) and the plot develops at a very satisfying pace and in an immersive manner. The climax, although predictable was top notch as well, again scoring very high on the realism meter. And while the Russians are still the villains, they are given their due and not used as extras.

I have no doubt that Andrew Turpin is the best contemporary spy thriller writer around these days. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
5/5

[David Lowther · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has now turned his attention from the adventures of Joe Johnson to those involving Johnson's one time colleague and now lover Jayne Robinson. It must be difficult sustaining reader interest through a sequence of novels but Andrew Turpin has managed it triumphantly through the Joe Johnson series. In fact his most recent, The Black Sea, was probably his best.

So, we move on to the Jayne Robinson books and it's great to report that there's not been a drop in quality. The Kremlin's Vote is a thrilling five star tale. The novel deals in contemporary issues and is all the more interesting for that. Now we know how Trump won the US Presidential Election in 2016 and maybe how the 2016 EU Referendum in the UK and the General Election in the same country tree years later swung in the way they did. Who knows?

Te Kremlin's Vote has a brilliantly contracted narrative. Attention to detail is spot on. The detective work carried out by both sides is totally credible and the action sequences are excitingly described and the characters are fascinating.

The Kremlin's Vote is a winner on all counts.

David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War and The Summer of '39, all published by Sacristy Press.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engrossing Russian spy saga

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

the kremlins vote

Very reminiscent of Tom Clancy with each chapter leaving you wanting to read on to see what happens next very topical with Russia getting dirty fingers in other countries politics and killing citizens with impunity till Jayne Robinson gets on the case

[Walter Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great start to a spinoff series based on the Joe Johnson series.

I read and enjoyed and posted reviews for all of the Joe Johnson thrillers. Turpin did his research, Joe Johnson followed the clues, and the suspense and action scenes felt grounded in reality, albeit in settings that felt a bit dated in contrast to the present time. But then, Andrew Turpin has been exploring key events in settings that are not very far behind what is happening in the 2020s.
Jayne Robinson has become a key element in the more recent Joe Johnson novels, and the fact that she now has her own spinoff series takes the spotlight off Joe without breaking any of the continuity of the earlier books.
Putin is working to undermine the voting system in the USA. Putin is determined to add the Ukraine to his deranged vision of a restored USSR. And all of a sudden, the events in the novel are very relevant to what is happening in the present world.
I pre-ordered The Kremlin Vote as soon as the title was announced, but was slow to actually read it. So many good books and so little time… But I have purchased The Dark Shah, and preordered The Confessor, the next two in the Jayne Robinson series. Looking forward to Andrew Turpin hijacking my daily routine by dangling such tempting distractions that I will not be able to resist.

[Blair · Rating 2 out of 5]

The exciting first chapter had me hooked. However, that was the end of the excitement. After that the narrative rambled along, replete with all the clichés in the book.
A couple of stylistic gripes. A puzzling overuse of "somewhat", and the use of the Russian word "dermo" in an incorrect context. Russians do not exclaim "shit!" in the same way English speakers do.
And a big one. A timeline is given. 2015. And the USA has a President Ferguson. What??? How can you invent a fictionalised U.S. President but leave the Russian one as the real one?

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

After recently reading the 6th Joe Johnson book, it is a natural progression to then move on to the 1st book in the Jayne Robinson series. It is a continuation of Jayne and Joe's last mission together in Russia.

While Joe is taking time out to be with his sister and children, Jayne is called in to have a look into the death of a US secretary of state who has been killed on UK soil. It is a professional hit, those in the various agencies have suspicions but do not know why. It gets even more confusing when another secretary of state is also murdered.

Jayne has experience working with various agencies around the world, it is something she has done for years, this is the first time she has her own story and series and it is going to be another fabulous one from this author. I would recommend reading the Joe Johnson series as it gives, as I mentioned earlier, a natural progression into this one.

Jayne is soon caught up in the undercover spy, espionage, corruption and conspiracy world, not that she has ever really left it. While Joe does have a guest spot, she is on her own but with the backup of those she trusts in the CIA and MI6 (I think I got the right departments, there are so many 3-letter agencies lol). She has to rely on her contacts, existing and new, as well as reporting to her superiors when possible. This is a dangerous mission for Jayne, but not one that she completely understands as she tries to work out the reasons for the deaths. With the US pitting its wits against Russia with an ex-MI6 agent there is quite a lot at stake for various reasons. The upcoming US election is giving social media and others a chance to have a dig politically.

This is another fast-paced story that once again has its roots based on facts. I adore the fact that the author includes a round-up at the end of his books regarding the facts, his ideas and inspiration and also his research and what he found useful. This story has a theme that is not discovered until much further into the story and I am not mentioning that it would lead to a spoiler. Reading through the progress Jayne makes, those she meets and her thought process is great.

Jayne is a fab character, she comes across as understated and cocky, I prefer this approach and it fits with a stereotypical female Brit. She is not, however, to be underestimated, she knows her job and role as well as knows what she needs to do if necessary.

This is one for those who like fast-paced action, thriller and suspense reads. I do like the way the author uses his protagonist in this series and look forward to reading more. A great start to a new series and one I would definitely recommend.

[John Purvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Andrew Turpin (https://www.andrewturpin.com) published the novel “The Kremlin's Vote” in 2021. Mr. Turpin has published eight novels. This is the first in his ‘Jayne Robinson Thriller’ series. I had the chance to interview the author in September of 2018. You can read the interview here.

I received an ARC of this novel from the author in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of violence and mature situations. The book is set in 2015. The primary character is Jayne Robinson. She was working for MI6 and is now an independent intelligence operative.

Robinson learns that the husband of her good friend Simone Steyn has been murdered. He was the Secretary of State for New Hampshire. As the days pass, more Secretaries of State are killed. The killer seems to have a link to Russia. While this is going on the CIA contracts Robinson for a mission. They want her to slip into Russia and make contact with a double agent.

Not only does the CIA want to establish contact, but they also are looking for answers. Why are US State officials being killed? The Russian plot is somehow tied to the upcoming US presidential election. Of course, Robinson's plans are short-lived. She has been in Russia only a short time before her presence is discovered and a hunt ensues.

Without spoiling the plot it is difficult to say more. So many open questions surround Robinson’s mission. Will she be able to escape Russia? Will she be able to contact the double agent yet keep their identity a secret? Can she discover why the killings are taking place? Can the killer be stopped before more people die?

I enjoyed the 9+ hours I spent reading this 456-page thriller. I have read two books by the author. The first was The Last Nazi. I have enjoyed them both. This book has a very logical flow of events in the plot. There is none of the common ‘super spy’ stuff. This book is very believable fiction. Made more so by allegations of foreign interference surrounding the 2020 election. I like the selected cover art. I give this novel a 4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

[Craig Smedley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet again, Andrew Turpin has produced another story that rings so true to what is happening around the world! In this story, Jayne Robinson heads home to England for a visit, and becomes involved in the murder, of Curtis Steyn, the Secretary Of State for New Hampshire. Simone, an English childhood girlfriend is married to Curtis Steyn who has come to the UK to attend an annual Secretary Of State Convention . The local Constabulary are investigating the shooting of the American south of London in Sussex, seen accidentally by an anonymous witness.
Jayne’s previous boss at the SIS (otherwise known as MI6) visits her for dinner and tells her of the murder of the American. It is then Jayne realises she knows the deceased’s wife, and also the victim. She establishes that the victim, Curtis Steyn was staying in London with another colleague, the Secretary of State for Wisconsin, Gareth Weber, and she undertakes to help Simone without stepping on the toes of the local police. She then finds out when visiting the rented apartment, that Gareth has also been shot!
So the story expands and Jayne returns to the US where yet another Secretary of State is gunned down. With the assistance of the CIA, Jayne heads off to Russia to liaise with Anastasia Schevchenko who she helped recruit as an agent in the previous story. Jayne manages to tie the Russians to the murders and eventually identifies the reason – vote rigging in an upcoming Presidential election in the US.
With plenty of twists and turns along with the usual violence experienced in a thriller, this is another great read, which I cannot recommend highly enough.
Moses

[Neil Spark · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a thriller fan who hasn’t discovered Andrew Turpin yet, you’re missing out on one of the best in the business.

Andrew’s Joe Johnson series, about an ex-CIA agent who investigates war crimes, with a present-day link is a rewarding read. In The Kremlin’s Vote, Joe’s partner, a former MI6 agent Jayne Robinson, is on her own, centre stage.

When the secretary of state of New Hampshire Curtis Steyn is murdered in Sussex, England, the CIA and FBI want to find the killer. And so does Jayne. For her, it’s personal. One of her long-standing friends, Simone, is Steyn’s wife.

As well as the challenge of finding the killer, Jayne has to manage the challenge of spy agency politics. She finds evidence overlooked by the agencies that includes a Russian link.

As the drama unfolds, the assassination count rises and the mystery deepens. What Jayne uncovers threatens US democracy. Jayne has to put her trust in dubious people, including a double agent working for the CIA in Russia.

What starts with a mysterious murder, ends at the highest levels of political power. Andrew Turpin is one of the best thriller writers I’ve read and he’s outdone himself with this skilfully crafted page-turning thriller you won’t want to put down.

Russian interference in US presidential elections is real and although the events in The Kremlin’s Vote are fiction, they could be possible.

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jayne Robinson has appeared several times in the Joe Johnson series, an ex MI6 agent, she is now a freelance investigator.
When she learns that two US Secretaries of State have been killed, one of them the husband of an old friend, she feels compelled to investigate. As she begins to look into the cases she faces all sorts of problems, but she is very determined and quite prepared to step beyond the law to unravel the reason for their deaths.
As with Andrew Turpin's other books, this adventure is a very exciting ride which is enhanced by superbly written characters and some brilliant action passages. The title gives a hint as to the reason for the killings, but there are still lots of surprises to keep the pages turning, especially when Jayne finds that she really doesn't know her friend as well as she thought.
I received an advance copy of this book, but have voluntarily written this honest review.

[Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first page, The Kremlin’s Vote had me hooked tighter than a CIA bug on a Kremlin landline. Andrew Turpin knows exactly how to pull you into a high-stakes world of espionage, deception, and double-crosses.

Jayne Robinson is an absolute force, clever, resourceful, and constantly one step away from danger. The pacing is relentless, the twists are sharp, and the blend of spycraft with political intrigue feels incredibly real. I especially loved how the story keeps you guessing about who can actually be trusted… spoiler: pretty much no one!

If you enjoy Daniel Silva, Tom Clancy, or Vince Flynn, you’ll feel right at home here, except you might find yourself staying up way too late muttering “just one more chapter” like I did.

Highly recommend it to anyone craving an edge-of-your-seat thriller that refuses to let go.

[Bethany Cousins · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It sometimes seems you never really know anyone. Like marbles touching in a jar. Tiny points of contact but the center is never touched."

What a brilliant first installment in Jayne Robinson's own thriller spy series! Deception and secrets abound as Jayne finds herself up against old enemies and new ones both in Russia and in the USA. The threat to the White House is certain, but the motive behind the murders is not fully known. Can Jayne unravel the mystery before it is too late?

Andrew Turpin soars from height to height with each new addition to the Joe Johnson and Jayne Robinson books. The Kremlin's Vote was an absolute thrill, with shocking twists and dark revelations all the way until the end. Bring on the next one!

[Norman Briggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly forgettable book, billed as an action thriller, about an ex-spy, Jane Robinson, foiling a nefarious Russian plot to influence America.

Characterization was average, at times the story plodded along and I didn't see much in the way of clever writing. Just really a middle-of-the-road spy thriller that was entertaining but what I would struggle to call good. One thing I did appreciate was the more realistic way that a spy agency might work, not the ridiculous spy on spy on spy nonsense in modern drama.

The plot, frankly, was stupid. I suspect the author harbors some political opinions I would disagree with, but that aside, it was just a bad device. It felt very similar to recent Bond movie scenarios where Daniel Craig is, for instance, foiling a takeover and extortion related to water rights in Bolivia.

All in all, if you want an average read, this fits the bill.

[James Gavin · Rating 1 out of 5]

A good book in many ways - but it's of a particular class of spy thriller, reconfigured to fit the current narrative of power, gender, etc. There is intelligence in the writing, yet the heroine is not quite believable nor are many of the other characters. They are larger than life - superhuman - and then of course there is the somewhat ludicrous positioning of morality where the good have it and the bad definitely don't. I think of superhero novels and movies where I invest myself in the experience knowing that it is pure fantasy. When I read a spy novel, I don't want to be suspending belief so often that I feel I am in a superhero/heroine thriller. That's not why I chose the book. if you are looking for a lot of fantasy, you will find it in this book.

[Mr Mark Hawksford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Kremlin’s Vote -

I don’t like giving the plot away in my reviews, but all I will say is I think Donald Trump would probably be interested in reading this storyline. To start with it was quite difficult to get a grasp of all the different Russian characters names. However, after a while you got to know the names and characters. The book is full of action and you are always trying to work out if there is a double agent involved or not. I enjoyed the book and have already downloaded the second in the series. I will wait a few weeks until I read it though. 5 out of 5 from me.

[Sasha · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - kindle - had a lot of characters - I can now see why so many character introductions are highlighted at the start of the book. Often referred to unnecessary historical information that just led to confusion. Plot about the American Secretaries of State felt very random compared to the title of Kremlin. Can now see that it’s because a Russian murderered them but still. Really felt like I was missing a lot and starting a series halfway through with the amount of backstory that was given (I think the main character and her bf had a series potentially). Just not great overall, kept falling asleep reading it it was just not worth my time. No idea how this got made a series lol

[L J Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for the Kremlins Vote
I have really enjoyed the Joe Johnson books where Jayne Robinson has played a key role.
Andrew Turpin has an easy to read style and that continues on with the Jane Robinson books. I found the plot extremely interesting considering the events of the past year or so with the latest American election. In fact I wish I had read this book before these elections even if it was just to understand the American system. I’m looking forward to the next book - with the plot centred around either character. Five stars!

[Debbie Trammell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book

Very fast paced and interesting. I love a good spy thiller in any era. Tampering with voting in the US has been of great concern for me it is very scarey. I love the heroine Jayne in this novel she is very knowledgable and fun to read about. Can't wait to read the next books in this series and the ones in Joe series. We truly owe a debt of graitude to people such as these that ward off all these types of things and ones we know nothing about. I recommend this book if you are interested in history, current events and just a good story.

[Scott]

This is a brilliant spy story that's equal to the best le Carré stories.

Andrew Turpin has written a story that's more relevant to American democracy than he could have imagined. Jayne Robinson is a British agent working for the CIA and has been sent in to Russia to retrieve information that can only be given in a face to face meeting. But their meeting is disrupted and from then on Jayne must risk everything to get the information before her extraction. I can't describe how good this book is, I just knew that 5 stars isn't enough. A Fantastic tale from start to finish.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Turpin wrote another great book. This book, like his others, is just like watching a movie. As I read I can see exactly what is happening. At times the action built up so much tension in me that I had to quit reading and just take it easy. It was great seeing a female leading character who is strong, smart, a great investigator and who has a soft side for the man in her life.
Great character development. I would definitely recommend this book.

[Stefan Koziolek · Rating 2 out of 5]

We’ll written — but too much DNC maskirovka

As usual, the book by Andrew Turpin is very well written. Alas, the US politics escape him and he ends up being a mouthpiece for the Democratic National Committee. That’s understandable, however, since I’m guessing that’s what he receives from his slanted news sources. Just would hope more from a writer who spent so much time making a plot lines incredible.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

That literally took me forever to read. Normally I’m good for two or three days on a book this size but no almost two and half weeks. But I did finish it.

For it being an “action” book it moved a little too slowly. And since it referred to previous books, that was somewhat of a let down since this was my first by this author.

Finally towards the end it started to pick up but needless to say I won’t be reading any more from this author. Especially not when it took me so long to read.

[Peter dubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK I love spy books, but I think Russian election interference has been overdone a little bit. That aside, this is actually an extremely credible book for the conspiracy theorist in me. When you think of various lies that are expose in governments, almost daily, the entire premise of the story is very believable, and it gives you time to think as far as what might be going on behind our closed doors IRL.

[Clyde Dewayne Benefield · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not very interesting . Waste of money.

Not very realistic. Very political . Six West Pointers are active in the military, steal from the government and all become Secretary's of a state governmemt.Are you kidding me! Oh and they are gonna cull their voter rolls to help the Russians and Republicans .

[Zoë Routh · Rating 4 out of 5]

female spy heroine takes on Russian subterfuge

I loved the premise and enjoyed the intrigue from Russia through to the UK and USA. Fascinating world with good action sequences, well-researched and very considerate and thorough author’s notes at the end.

Recommended if you want a good contemporary spy thriller.

[Ernie Lavagetto · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tantalizing reimagination of Russia interference in American voting system not by internet trolls or phony votes but my fostering the selective removal of voters from the voting rolls. A thought provoking premise fueled not by local political ideology but by good old fashion greed with some black mail tossed in for good measure. It would make for a good action Streaming series.

[Eleanor Andersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another well written exciting book from Andrew Turpin. I thoroughly enjoyed this, the first of a new series. There was so much interference from Russia, that makes me wonder if they truly were involved in election fraud in USA in 2016.

[Carey Mundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Turpin books and this spin-off novel had me from the start! Very timely, this one involves the Russians meddling in our presidential elections and is action-packed from start to finish. Highly recommend