The American

Nathan Grant Thriller #1

by Kenneth Rosenberg

Following a distinguished career as an American spy, Nathan Grant is ready to part ways with the CIA. Unfortunately, his adversaries aren't as eager to let him go. After a final mission ends in the deaths of two Russian spies, Grant is a marked man. To stay one step ahead, he must uncover the identity of a mole buried deep within the CIA. After traversing the globe in search of clues, the truth will shock him to his core. Now it is Nathan Grant who will to stop at nothing for revenge.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Ebooks, Amazon, Espionage

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 22, 2021

About the author

Kenneth Rosenberg is a California writer whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Surfer Magazine and other publications. Kenneth attended UCLA where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. When he is not writing, he spends his time surfing, snowboarding and traveling the world on a shoestring.

Reviews

[Rich · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the first book I have read by this author. I think has has some raw talent and should not give up. I just could not get into this book and it was a struggle for me to want to read it and finish it. I thought it was somewhat raw, not that fresh and somewhat over the top. I will say maybe with a better editor the next book might be better. I will not be reading that one. I cant say give it a spin.

[Sean Peters (A Good Thriller) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, first book from this author, and great new character in Nathan Grant.

Great to find a action, fast paced thriller, with a strong story, a clear story an exciting and gripping thriller.

Yes loved this book and already on book 2.

Russian assassins are gunning for him. Nathan Grant will make them pay.

It was supposed to be his last assignment with the CIA, but when two Russian operatives end up dead, Nathan Grant is saddled with the blame. Suddenly, his early retirement just became a lot more complicated. Russian intelligence isn't going to let his change in status stop them from getting their revenge.

After a pair of ruthless assassins comes for Nathan on his honeymoon, it's the last straw. He's going to settle this once and for all, even if it means taking out the man at the very top. His quest will lead him from Lake Como, to Lisbon, to St. Petersburg, and finally back to Washington, DC.

Along the way, Nathan will uncover startling information that leads him to question everything he previously held true. In the end, he must face a dark possibility. Who were the Russians really after, and why?

Great pace, great twists, great shocks

A clear 4 star book for me

[Jocelyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Kenneth Rosenberg's book. This is the first book in the Nathan Grant Thriller series. The world building is interesting, and intriguing. The storyline is fast-paced, and suspenseful. I liked the twists and turns. Alex Freeman did an excellent job with the narration. He has a great voice, pleasant to listen to. I enjoyed it, and I am looking forward for more in the series.

[tburbr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great introduction to a new series. The author did a fantastic job on both the story line and the character work. The narrator did a great job of bringing the story to life. I was hooked from beginning to end.

I received a copy of this audiobook and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Jay Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragedy is the Beginning

Nathan married his lover and left from CIA. In the honeymoon he saw his wife blown in their boat. This is Nathan's effort to locate and kill the assassins. Many surprises are found as the background of his wife and Russian spies are tracked. The writing is engrossing as more comes out. The action keeps exciting. More surprises keep up to the end.

[Adrienne Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosenberg's best book yet. Fast-paced and action-packed, this book will not disappoint anyone who loved a good spy thriller!

[Timothy Jernigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story. Well written and a real page-turner. I just discovered Kenneth Rosenberg and will definitely be reading the rest of his books in the series!

[Harold Kasselman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this counter-espionage escapade. It is the first in a new series featuring CIA agent Nathan Grant. I appreciated the author's effort in drawing up a plot that involved current affairs-Russia's efforts to nurture discord and paranoia among Americans, and to pit groups against each other. There are some intense moments, although a bit predictable, and some plot twists. While, this is not on the level of Brad Thor's novels, it is worth your time.

[P.S. Seaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like the book better without such exhaustive detail about everything. From a thorough recap of everything the hero eats and drinks to what each character is wearing, one loses interest as the plot slows to a crawl. Nathan Grant is given to long periods of questioning everything, feeling guilty about his thoughts and survival, and wondering who he really is. He is a man in his 30s with a work history for the CIA, for Pete's sake, not a teenager first becoming self-aware!
Once the action sequences start, the reader can imagine a movie playing the Bourne-like scenes with Nathan Grant's training as a field agent kicking in, but it takes a while to get to these. Then we go back to the long introspections again.
It becomes a slog to get to the end...

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

After looking at some of the other negative Goodreads reviews, I wondered whether I should spend the time to read this book. I'm glad I did - I enjoyed it very much. It's a spy vs. spy story set in the current day. Many of the story elements have been used before - sleeper cells, false flags, possible traitors in the CIA, double agents, - but Rosenberg keeps it all fresh and interesting. Nathan Grant is experienced and careful, but not at all the super-hero type, which can be hard to believe. This was a terrific first of series and it made me want to keep reading the next one!

[Betsy]

A good spy story, several twists that caught me by surprise. Nathan Grant leaves the CIA to marry his beloved. He gets embroiled in spy stuff and he doesn’t have actual super powers but he thinks fast, moves fast, and doesn’t get caught. Makes you think twice about Russian disinformation and how truly effective it may be these days.

[Bill Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

good story well done!

Good storyline with good development of the characters. Good action throughout an enjoyable read! there were some nice plot twists along the way!

[Shirley Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Nathan Grant series. I was given the recommendation by Edelweiss, so decided to listen to it. This is a great espionage thriller, and Nathan Grant is a refreshing change in this genre. We meet him when he has just gotten married to the love of his life. Nathan takes Gemma to Italy for their honeymoon, and on their first night there a horrific event occurs which takes the life of Jemma. Nathan, who is a recently released CIA operative, vows vengence on the persons responsible for his wife's death. At first he thinks that the hit was meant for him, but as he digs deeper he realizes that there is a backstory here many years in the making. Now just an ordinary citizen, Nathan sets out to find his wife's killers and travels the globe in order to do so. He is at odds with his old employer, friends and relatives, but still he persists. In fact, Nathan turns out to be a one-man wrecking crew. This is an edge-of the-seat thriller that kept me guessing until the end. Use the way I like them. You can bet that I will be watching for Book 2 in this series.

[Sandra Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. This is a "spy" book that is easier to follow than some, nor is it as fast-paced as some. There is more introspection from the main character Nathan Grant. When the book begins, he is a CIA agent. I don't want to give anything away, but things change and he leaves the CIA. When he thinks life is going to be "happily ever after," tragedy hits and his world is turned upside down. He is out for revenge and that is what the bulk of the story is about. I liked the simple hero/villian(s) story and the fact there is no sex, extreme violence, or profanity (except for maybe 2 bad words). There was, however, a bit too much sharing of Nathan's thoughts for my taste. There are some twists and turns in the book and all in all, it's a good read.

[Neelabh Pratap Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A retired CIA operative jumps back into the game when he loses his wife in his honeymoon unprecedented attack, which traces back to his last operation in which he'd come to know that there was a mole in CIA. He goes around the world in the hunt for the mole and stumbles upon a Russian conspiracy that is planning to cause violence and unrest on American soil. The narration is fast paced with a lot of twists and turns. Often espionage thrillers end up with a lot of action but no mystery but this one has right amount of thrill and suspense. Though at places the action sequence looked unbelievable but it's fiction. Not everything got to be real.

[Jeanette · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was hopeful when I started this book. A new author; first time reading his work. The book started out quite interesting.

Then we pop into a wedding, Nathan’s wedding. I found myself skimming a few pages. I struggled with the writing. Nathan wasn’t an appealing character. The conversation between Nathan & Jenna seemed juvenile, particularly for a newly married couple on honeymoon. Then it went downhill for me. I skimmed the entire book. The plot was that simple to follow. Chapters at a time could be passed up and you’ll still crack what’s going on. The ending was exactly as expected. Meh.

[Eric Kahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many coincidences

It's not like I hated the book. The story is interesting but predictable. People show up just as the hero is about to give up. His skill set, while sharp and trained seem lucky as well.
One thing I cannot forgive, the AR-15 is revered to as an assault rifle. Shame on you. The A stands for the manufacturer, Armalite. The R is the designation, Rifle. The '15' is the version. This is NOT an automatic weapon. The assault version is the military M16. Poor research, sir. Worse, you're adding to the controversy and misinformation surrounding the rifle. That alone was worth a one star demotion.

[dennis barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

The American. Kenneth Rosenberg

Nathan Grant, former Army Ranger, CIA operative. His wife of one day, unknown to him a double agent for the CIA. Working as an analyst, as her cover. She is able to obtain extremely valuable information against the Russians. Murdered on her honeymoon by FSB assassins. Her best friend and roommate a Russian spy. The leader of a terrorist team in America. What unfolds is non stop action, suspense, intrigue and betrayal. An excellent read!! Enjoyed immensely!!

[wayne peters]

Review of this book.

A dividing story from beginning to end. The story follows Grant, as he seeks answers to a tragic death. The story has many sub plots and lots of twists and turns. The ending is a real shocker. The author has done excellent work writing this book. His creativity, use of added bits of information, and ability to make the reader feel like they are right there is masterful. I cannot stress how much a reader will enjoy this book. It is a top of the line good read.

[John Morse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nathan Grant retired from the CIA and believed he could leave his violent past behind, get married and live a normal life, a familiar theme in the genre of National Security thrillers. Naïve thinking. Now alone, cut-off from his primary sources of support and information, he wages a one-man war to avenge what he believes is a Russian-backed plot to kill him. Rosenberg weaves a wild story of killing, escape, bizarre prisoner swaps, moles, agents and double agents, and a desperate man driven to find the truth.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope this doesn’t happen, but probably already has.

The story is put together by a good story line, good characters that work. The author gives a few surprises along the way that adds to the story. Nathan doesn’t come across as your super hero that knows everything and can fight his way out of every problem. He comes across as a guy just trying to gets past his wife’s death and find the answers to why. He does get away with a few things that he shouldn’t have, but that is the way the author worked it out. Read and enjoy.

[Michaël Wertenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun ride!

The American is a well-paced, tropey espionage thriller that makes great use of its many locations, including St. Petersburg, Lisbon, Tallinn, Marseille, and Washington D.C.

While the main character, Nathan Grant, is a man of action, the author manages to avoid the stereotypical trappings of the many action characters that came before him. Instead, Nathan Grant has flaws and fears and doubts. But ultimately, he cannot ignore his thirst for justice, his patriotism, and the love he has for his wife. When pushed to the edge, Nathan Grant pushes back!

[David Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

CIA Bound

"The American" is a pretty fast read spy novel. Nathan Grant is a CIA veteran who is ready for marriage after the years in espionage. He is ready to leave that life behind as matters force him to seek revenge and atonement. What follows is much of what we might expect, dealing with death, the Russians and a conspiracy or two. All of the entanglements are maybe a little to easy for Nathan to solve along the way to justice. So if you do not take this story too seriously then you can enjoy what comes next.

[Jo Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I liked the momentum, the suspense his thinking process. Also the setting contemporary, so much like the constant stories we hear every day. There is no doubt in my mind that those people are involved in a lot of the violence in our country. Though this is fiction there is truth and we need to be aware of it. Thank you for an exciting rendition of our times. Good luck with this series. Well done.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nathan Grant has retired from the CIA to marry his best friend and the love of his life. When she is murdered on their honeymoon the chase is on to find the people who were trying to get him and her. Russia is behind the death and he needs to avenge her in any possible way. He has been told by the CIA to stay out of it but he can't.

The chase leads him all over the world and leads him to the most unexpected place!

Good, intense, read!!!

[Rachel Tobey Barrows · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t read this book the way I should have. It was my back up book that I read between book club books. I felt that the pace was pretty slow, but that could have been because of my inconsistency with reading it. I will say, I didn’t expect the ending…
But it was just a hard book to follow - lots of small characters and side plots to remember. Nothing bad or in appropriate about it, just kinda meh.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not sure what makes some thrillers better than others, but this author knows how to do it right. This was a fast read and hard to put down. At the end of the book, chapter 1 of the second book in the series was included. I have mixed feelings about these add-ons but I usually read them if I liked the book I just finished. After reading this extra chapter, which was also compelling, I wanted to read the rest of the next book, which is what I am doing right now.

[Bridgewes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The American is a story about a CIA agent after 10 years of service decides to retire and get married. On his honeymoon his wife is murdered when their boat is blow up. He then tries to find out what happened. Was the bomb meant for him or his wife. He uncovers a deep plot that seems to indicate that his wife may be a foreign agent. The book is fairly well done, but is a little more predictable. I enjoyed reading the story, however and would read more by this author.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. It was a bit of a slog to get through for me because there was no where near the amount of action other reviewers are claiming. I got through to the end to find the biggest flaw of the book......we're NEVER told why things happened the way they did. Who was the target of the explosion?? Nathan? Jenna?? Why were they targeted??? I own a couple more books in the series, but I doubt I'll read them because a story with no actual ending or explanation is a waste of time.

[Pete Ffrench · Rating 5 out of 5]

A satisfying story of sadness and revenge. Nathan has more than his share of grief but decides to get even with the spies besmirching Jenna's name and killing protesters to upset the stability of the people. It's a little bit prophetic in view of the present conflict if only it could be enacted in reality.