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Mark Ericksen #2
The Ryzhkov Vendetta
Alexander Leonidovich Ryzhkov, a Russian oligarch and former general in the Russian Military Intelligence Directorate (GRU), runs a covert operation in the Middle East, supplying a Saudi terrorist with four Russian nuclear suitcase bombs and a list of two US cities to target. A CIA operation thwarts the planned attack and kills many Russian agents, including his brother Sergei Ryzhkov. The oligarch is out for revenge. Ryzhkov approaches a former CIA station chief and offers him money in exchange for the CIA operatives' names. Armed with this intelligence, he launched his vendetta, targeting the former CIA operatives Mark Ericksen, now CEO of EyeD4 Systems, his fiancé Kate McDonald, a banking consultant, and Lars Wahlberg, COO of EyeD4 Systems. Ryzhkov's asset also revealed Ericksen, a former Navy SEAL Team-Six officer killed several Russian agents while rescuing McDonald during the CIA operation. Can Ericksen and his former operatives avoid the assassins' poisoning efforts and turn around the deadly game of hunter and prey?
- GenresFiction
164 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2021
3 people are currently reading
1276 people want to read
About the author
Barry L. Becker
4 books54 followersGraduated from San Francisco State University. Military Veteran. Graduate courses and certification: Stanford Graduate Business School, and Columbia Graduate Business School.
1984-1986: Vice-President of Marketing for Eyedentify, Beaverton, Oregon. Company designed, manufactured and marketed the eye-retinal scanning biometrics technology for positive identification.
1986-1991, Vice-President of International Sales.
Targeted customers: Intelligence Agencies, Ministries of Defense and Interior; Aerospace and Defense Contractors; Nuclear Power Plants; and Banks and Financial Institutions. 1987, wrote an article on biometrics for access control. It appeared in the Journal of Defense and Diplomacy.
1991-2013: Consultant within the Biometrics Industry.
http://www.theericksenconnection.com/...
1984-1986: Vice-President of Marketing for Eyedentify, Beaverton, Oregon. Company designed, manufactured and marketed the eye-retinal scanning biometrics technology for positive identification.
1986-1991, Vice-President of International Sales.
Targeted customers: Intelligence Agencies, Ministries of Defense and Interior; Aerospace and Defense Contractors; Nuclear Power Plants; and Banks and Financial Institutions. 1987, wrote an article on biometrics for access control. It appeared in the Journal of Defense and Diplomacy.
1991-2013: Consultant within the Biometrics Industry.
http://www.theericksenconnection.com/...
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 16, 2022
I received a copy of this book from Goodreads in exchange for a reveiw.
I want to start by saying that I haven’t read the first book in the Mark Ericksen thriller series. I found Barry Becker’s writing style to be very ‘procedural’, not that that is a bad thing. In fact, it might enhance this thriller. The Ryzhkov Vendetta was fast-paced and jam-packed with action. The story left me gasping for breath as I tried to keep pace with all that was going on.
I want to start by saying that I haven’t read the first book in the Mark Ericksen thriller series. I found Barry Becker’s writing style to be very ‘procedural’, not that that is a bad thing. In fact, it might enhance this thriller. The Ryzhkov Vendetta was fast-paced and jam-packed with action. The story left me gasping for breath as I tried to keep pace with all that was going on.
September 24, 2022
This is an excellent example of a contemporary action thriller. It has lots and lots of intrigue, action and suspense that kept me reading longer than I intended. Ericksen is a hero that certainly will have more adventures to come. If this is your genre, you'll enjoy this book.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
August 7, 2021
Ryzhkov Vendetta
Exciting plot and once started you can’t put it down. Book #2 in the Mark Ericksen series was not a letdown from book #1.
Keep up the good work.
DavidM
Exciting plot and once started you can’t put it down. Book #2 in the Mark Ericksen series was not a letdown from book #1.
Keep up the good work.
DavidM
May 10, 2023
“The Ryzhkov Vendetta” is author Barry L. Becker’s second novel in the Mark Ericksen thriller series. While book one, “The Ericksen Connection” brought with it nuclear suitcases, book two packs a punch full of cyanide in forms I never knew possible. From California to Russia, Sweden, and scenic stops in between, this quick and thrilling read brought non-stop action page after page.
Despite being the second in the series, “The Ryzhkov Vendetta” read successfully as a standalone. While nary a moment of calm, this second book brought friends from Mossad, the American alphabet of agencies, and Russians, as Ryzhkov sought to carry out his agenda. Kicking off with the wedding of Mark Ericksen and Kate McDonald, the honeymoon ends quickly as Anthony Ferrari soon puts a target on Mark’s, and his friends’ back. Jam packed with assassins, evasive actions, and plans; readers are taken across continents as the spy games continue. From the luxurious Menlo Park to Moscow and many European cities in between, “The Ryzhkov Vendetta” keeps readers on the edge of their seats as Mark hopes to outrun the hit on his head, and that of his friends’, for good.
Becker is so talented at bringing his own behind the scenes knowledge to the forefront of his novels. Whether it be character descriptions, to industry insights, his books read like a movie as the scenes play across the reader’s mind. The political games, adversaries, and acquaintances wind together into a fast-paced espionage thriller. Read this as a perfect complement to book one, or pick it up as a standalone, either way you are sure to enjoy the ride.
Despite being the second in the series, “The Ryzhkov Vendetta” read successfully as a standalone. While nary a moment of calm, this second book brought friends from Mossad, the American alphabet of agencies, and Russians, as Ryzhkov sought to carry out his agenda. Kicking off with the wedding of Mark Ericksen and Kate McDonald, the honeymoon ends quickly as Anthony Ferrari soon puts a target on Mark’s, and his friends’ back. Jam packed with assassins, evasive actions, and plans; readers are taken across continents as the spy games continue. From the luxurious Menlo Park to Moscow and many European cities in between, “The Ryzhkov Vendetta” keeps readers on the edge of their seats as Mark hopes to outrun the hit on his head, and that of his friends’, for good.
Becker is so talented at bringing his own behind the scenes knowledge to the forefront of his novels. Whether it be character descriptions, to industry insights, his books read like a movie as the scenes play across the reader’s mind. The political games, adversaries, and acquaintances wind together into a fast-paced espionage thriller. Read this as a perfect complement to book one, or pick it up as a standalone, either way you are sure to enjoy the ride.
February 16, 2023
Action-packed is an understatement: The Ryzhkov Vendetta moves around the world in staccato bursts, taking us into the seats of power in Washington and Russia in a deadly game of secret operations and assassins in which no mercy is ever shown. Becker's sturdy hero, Mark Ericksen, is targeted by a Russian oligarch in a revenge mission, and the tension mounts as sleeper agents and foreign terrorists have him in their sights.
Becker loads the book with terrific details, everything from wine vintages and hotels to specific addresses and technologies; he has certainly done his homework. Sentences and chapters are short, ramping up the pace as the deadly games and their players move around in Europe, the Middle East and the U.S. over several years. Becker also trades heavily on American politics and a Russian president modeled squarely on Vladimir Putin and his obsession with undermining the West.
The Ryzhkov Vendetta moves like a bullet train; climb aboard and hang on.
Becker loads the book with terrific details, everything from wine vintages and hotels to specific addresses and technologies; he has certainly done his homework. Sentences and chapters are short, ramping up the pace as the deadly games and their players move around in Europe, the Middle East and the U.S. over several years. Becker also trades heavily on American politics and a Russian president modeled squarely on Vladimir Putin and his obsession with undermining the West.
The Ryzhkov Vendetta moves like a bullet train; climb aboard and hang on.
February 19, 2023
Another Spy Thriller. This is a fast paced thriller of a spy and his government who seek for revenge towards the individuals who previously destroyed their master plan to dominate the oil industry. I found it fascinating how different national intelligence from several countries worked together. Very enlightening. I'm guessing this was fiction, but in ways it seemed so realistic. Again another good vs evil thriller.
February 26, 2023
The plot moves & keeps the reader interested, though everything seems to work out too well to be anything but fiction. Was there a reason for mentioning everyone's height when introduced in the narrative? In any case, I was curious enough to consider reading the book that came before. (Maybe people's weights will be mentioned?) I received a Kindle edition from a Goodreads giveaway.
September 4, 2023
The continuation of a tale well told
The Ryzhkov Vendetta is the continuation of author Barry Becker’s excellent two volume Mark Eriksen thriller series.
Both books read like an after action report; just the facts necessary to tell the story. It’s an interesting technique that pulls the reader along without any distractions.
The Ryzhkov Vendetta is the continuation of author Barry Becker’s excellent two volume Mark Eriksen thriller series.
Both books read like an after action report; just the facts necessary to tell the story. It’s an interesting technique that pulls the reader along without any distractions.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews