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Devin Gray #2
Coming Dawn
The dawn of an inconceivable act of treason rises. The stakes for America’s future have never been higher than in a gripping novel of suspense by the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Deep Sleep.
When CIA officer Helen Gray died, her son, Devin, a countersurveillance expert, inherited her paranoia—and the explosive evidence that gave it weight: a vast, previously undetected Russian sleeper network has operated in the United States since the Cold War.
The cells aren’t just embedded in every level of state and federal government. They’ve penetrated corporations that supply crucial technology to the Department of Defense and various intelligence agencies. With the network’s true scope still unknown, the only way to drive a stake through the heart of the conspiracy is to dispatch a covert crew to Moscow and eliminate the oligarch bankrolling it.
Russia’s endgame: inconceivable. Devin’s challenge: stop the greatest threat to national security and world peace in history. The margin for error: nonexistent.
When CIA officer Helen Gray died, her son, Devin, a countersurveillance expert, inherited her paranoia—and the explosive evidence that gave it weight: a vast, previously undetected Russian sleeper network has operated in the United States since the Cold War.
The cells aren’t just embedded in every level of state and federal government. They’ve penetrated corporations that supply crucial technology to the Department of Defense and various intelligence agencies. With the network’s true scope still unknown, the only way to drive a stake through the heart of the conspiracy is to dispatch a covert crew to Moscow and eliminate the oligarch bankrolling it.
Russia’s endgame: inconceivable. Devin’s challenge: stop the greatest threat to national security and world peace in history. The margin for error: nonexistent.
373 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2022
1821 people are currently reading
1876 people want to read
About the author
Steven Konkoly
71 books1,239 followersSteven graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1993, receiving a bachelor of science in English literature. He served the next eight years on active duty, traveling the world as a naval officer assigned to various Navy and Marine Corps units. His extensive journey spanned the globe, including a two-year tour of duty in Japan and travel to more than twenty countries throughout Asia and the Middle East.
From enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq as a maritime boarding officer in the Arabian Gulf, to directing aircraft bombing runs and naval gunfire strikes as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) assigned to a specialized Marine Corps unit, Steven's "in-house" experience with a wide range of regular and elite military units brings a unique authenticity to his thrillers.
He still wakes up at "zero dark thirty" to write for most of the day. When "off duty," he spends as much time as possible outdoors or travelling with his family--and dog.
Steven is the bestselling author of ten novels and several novellas, including a commissioned trilogy of novellas based on the popular Wayward Pines series. His canon of work includes the popular Black Flagged Series, a gritty, no-holds barred covert operations and espionage saga; The Perseid Collapse series, a post-apocalyptic thriller epic chronicling the events surrounding an inconceivable attack on the United States; and The Fractured State series, a near future, dystopian thriller trilogy set in the drought ravaged southwest
You can contact Steven directly by email (stevekonkoly@striblingmedia.com) or through his blog (www.stevenkonkoly.com).
From enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq as a maritime boarding officer in the Arabian Gulf, to directing aircraft bombing runs and naval gunfire strikes as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) assigned to a specialized Marine Corps unit, Steven's "in-house" experience with a wide range of regular and elite military units brings a unique authenticity to his thrillers.
He still wakes up at "zero dark thirty" to write for most of the day. When "off duty," he spends as much time as possible outdoors or travelling with his family--and dog.
Steven is the bestselling author of ten novels and several novellas, including a commissioned trilogy of novellas based on the popular Wayward Pines series. His canon of work includes the popular Black Flagged Series, a gritty, no-holds barred covert operations and espionage saga; The Perseid Collapse series, a post-apocalyptic thriller epic chronicling the events surrounding an inconceivable attack on the United States; and The Fractured State series, a near future, dystopian thriller trilogy set in the drought ravaged southwest
You can contact Steven directly by email (stevekonkoly@striblingmedia.com) or through his blog (www.stevenkonkoly.com).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
October 29, 2022
I was very keen to read this after enjoying the first book in the series - Deep Sleep (which you really need to read first to have hope of following this story). Even so it took me while to catch on but it was certainly a very exciting story!
A company called DEVTEK is developing state of the art missile defence software but there are concerns that one or more of the Russian sleeper agents may be sabotaging it. It is of particular concern to Estonia as the Russians seem to be interested in taking it over. One Russian oligarch, Pichugin, is being watched by the CIA (among others) as it is suspected he may be running a zero day software “factory” to exploit weaknesses in other countries cyber defences. A zero day attack being one that occurs before you even know it is even happening.
The old gang from book 1 is assembled again and this time the stakes are even higher. This story brings together FBI, CIA and private security firms and even Mossad gets involved.
The action never lets up as the scope of the task becomes ridiculously complex. There is no margin for error. This was another action packed, very exciting, edge of your seat, nerve shredding story that was thoroughly entertaining. This book was all about the action but the characters we met in book 1 were further developed in this story.
I don’t know if there will be a book 3 but, if so, I will be very keen to get my hands on it. Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
A company called DEVTEK is developing state of the art missile defence software but there are concerns that one or more of the Russian sleeper agents may be sabotaging it. It is of particular concern to Estonia as the Russians seem to be interested in taking it over. One Russian oligarch, Pichugin, is being watched by the CIA (among others) as it is suspected he may be running a zero day software “factory” to exploit weaknesses in other countries cyber defences. A zero day attack being one that occurs before you even know it is even happening.
The old gang from book 1 is assembled again and this time the stakes are even higher. This story brings together FBI, CIA and private security firms and even Mossad gets involved.
The action never lets up as the scope of the task becomes ridiculously complex. There is no margin for error. This was another action packed, very exciting, edge of your seat, nerve shredding story that was thoroughly entertaining. This book was all about the action but the characters we met in book 1 were further developed in this story.
I don’t know if there will be a book 3 but, if so, I will be very keen to get my hands on it. Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
March 20, 2023
Although the Devin Grey books can be read on their own, this series is almost a sequel in all but name only to the Black Flagged series, and a certain pair of fan-favorite characters from that series finally return, playing a small but pivotal role here in Coming Dawn. As usual, Steven Konkoly combines hardcore mercenary action with a complex conspiracy and espionage plot. This is one of his most realistic and timely stories, involving the Kremlin's imperialist ambitions in the Baltic, Russian mercenaries, a cyber attack, and sleeper agents. Steven Konkoly is a superior thriller writer to Flynn and Thor, he has the technical accuracy of Clancy, and his action scenes are just as intense and visceral as Peter Nealen's or Joshua Hood's. I'm very much looking forward to the third novel in this series, and judging from the title of which, Devin Grey isn't quite finished yet with battling the Russian sleeper network.
September 5, 2023
This has turned out to be a good series. Very believable characters, some you cheer for, others not so much. As shown in his first novel, no character is invulnerable. Knowing this intensifies each major action that takes place. I am looking forward to the next book is this series. It is a worthy read that I would recommend to other.
November 19, 2025
Book is starting on page 13!! Wow I had such high hopes for this book. All of Part 1 was fantastic and then it went sideways and for me, it was too much to follow their surveillance detection route lost me somewhere.
August 25, 2022
I started this year by reading a brand new series about this character Devin Gray and it was a really great surprise. Now it's time for the story to continue in Coming Dawn by Steven Konkoly. If you never heard of him or tried some of his books I say shame on you, he writes some great stories. I saw this series a few years ago on tv called The Americans, it was all about sleeper agents in the USA. This is also about sleepers and one womans struggle to convince the government that they exist. Sadly they wouldn't listen. Devin Gray is her son and he inherits her research and confronts the problem. This is in my mind one of the best series this year and soon you get to read book two in this amazing series. You have some great thrills and even greater action scenes combined with some nefarious plans that feels far to close to the truth these days. I have to thank Netgalley, Amazon publishing and Thomas & Mercer for letting me read and enjoy this great book and Steven Konkoly for his fantastic writing.
May 4, 2023
Devin and company try to convince the CIA and a private contractor that the theory of Devin's mother is real. Fortunately, the Russians help out in that effort by attacking them and levelling a city block. From there, it's a race to find out what the Russians are up to before they enact their nefarious scheme.
The first part of the book is a bit slow, as everyone is surveilling everyone else. Once the action starts, things move rapidly.
Good, but it does seem like a bit of a sophomore slump.
The first part of the book is a bit slow, as everyone is surveilling everyone else. Once the action starts, things move rapidly.
Good, but it does seem like a bit of a sophomore slump.
May 17, 2022
Fast-paced, gripping story.
That’s how I would review and title this novel.
With a very mixed group of characters, some very odd ones, but intriguing, the story kept my attention from start to finish.
I have read none of the author’s books or even the first one in the series, but I had no problem in connection with the main ones. It builds up slowly, with sparks of suspense sprinkled after each chapter, and it holds the final twist and conclusion at the highest level.
I will recommend this story to anyone that enjoys a pulse racing trip.
4.5 stars
Read now NetGalley arc
That’s how I would review and title this novel.
With a very mixed group of characters, some very odd ones, but intriguing, the story kept my attention from start to finish.
I have read none of the author’s books or even the first one in the series, but I had no problem in connection with the main ones. It builds up slowly, with sparks of suspense sprinkled after each chapter, and it holds the final twist and conclusion at the highest level.
I will recommend this story to anyone that enjoys a pulse racing trip.
4.5 stars
Read now NetGalley arc
February 11, 2023
Excellent Intrigue
Mr. Konkoly knows his subjects and the characters that were in his story.
The story line isn't too off base as a believable event.
He must have known as he wrote the story that Putin is a mad man hell bent on on trying to destroy what he can't have.
Mr. Konkoly knows his subjects and the characters that were in his story.
The story line isn't too off base as a believable event.
He must have known as he wrote the story that Putin is a mad man hell bent on on trying to destroy what he can't have.
April 5, 2023
I didn't write a review for Deep Sleep, and I usually don't too often, but Steven Konkoly knows how to write a book that you want to finish in few hours! He even included a few characters from my favorite series he wrote; Black Flagged. If you like this series, you'll surely need to read that one. Awesome read, bang bang shoot em up! Now I have to wait impatiently for the 3rd book, Wide Awake.
Cheers, Steven Konkoly
Cheers, Steven Konkoly
October 13, 2022
Book Review: Coming Dawn (Devin Gray #2) by Steven Konkoly
Published by Thomas & Mercer, October 25, 2022
★★★☆☆ (3.25 Stars)
Flashback to Steven Konkoly's Devin Gray Book 1 "Deep Sleep" (Feb. 1, 2022), which sets the tone.
Enemies from within!
It opens with the promise of a sensational Russian "sleeper" spy program reminiscent of those classic cold war themes a la John le Carré /Richard Condon, decades in development, deeply concealed with training camps in the Ozarks.
Sleeper agents, hundreds upon hundreds over three generations infiltrating into the highest levels of government (the US Senate), the US Defense Industry, and academia.
This was a story, I thought, that had legs, quite relevant and could go far.
However...
Devin Gray Book 2 "Coming Dawn" (October 25, 2022).
Gone is the theme of deep Russian sleeper agent infiltrations.
Instead, what is served in three-quarters of the book is a humdrum protracted skirmish of attrition (nobody wins) between negligible forces, irrelevant in the greater scheme of things.
We are treated to spy-by-committee discussions with indecisive peons - on both sides (what to eat for dinner comes in several times, for God's sake), and learn that the main protagonist, Devin Gray himself, is a teeny blot in the landscape imperiled with jail time with the female Marine helicopter pilot teetered to his belt as an accessory love interest.
Who is writing this stuff?
The prose certainly doesn't feel like a Konkoly adrenalin-pumped military thriller.
We even see the insertion of women's reproductive healthcare rights, sheltering at risk women, the gender-pay-disparity, workplace discrimination. Plus a segue to an obscure country in the Black Sea, certainly in today's headlines with a beleaguered senile excuse for an American C-I-C, the least said of which, the better.
It's as though Steven Konkoly has suddenly decided to pander to a certain readership market alien to his military thriller readers.
Quite a disappointment.
Review based on an advanced reading copy courtesy of Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley.
Published by Thomas & Mercer, October 25, 2022
★★★☆☆ (3.25 Stars)
Flashback to Steven Konkoly's Devin Gray Book 1 "Deep Sleep" (Feb. 1, 2022), which sets the tone.
Enemies from within!
It opens with the promise of a sensational Russian "sleeper" spy program reminiscent of those classic cold war themes a la John le Carré /Richard Condon, decades in development, deeply concealed with training camps in the Ozarks.
Sleeper agents, hundreds upon hundreds over three generations infiltrating into the highest levels of government (the US Senate), the US Defense Industry, and academia.
This was a story, I thought, that had legs, quite relevant and could go far.
However...
Devin Gray Book 2 "Coming Dawn" (October 25, 2022).
Gone is the theme of deep Russian sleeper agent infiltrations.
Instead, what is served in three-quarters of the book is a humdrum protracted skirmish of attrition (nobody wins) between negligible forces, irrelevant in the greater scheme of things.
We are treated to spy-by-committee discussions with indecisive peons - on both sides (what to eat for dinner comes in several times, for God's sake), and learn that the main protagonist, Devin Gray himself, is a teeny blot in the landscape imperiled with jail time with the female Marine helicopter pilot teetered to his belt as an accessory love interest.
Who is writing this stuff?
The prose certainly doesn't feel like a Konkoly adrenalin-pumped military thriller.
We even see the insertion of women's reproductive healthcare rights, sheltering at risk women, the gender-pay-disparity, workplace discrimination. Plus a segue to an obscure country in the Black Sea, certainly in today's headlines with a beleaguered senile excuse for an American C-I-C, the least said of which, the better.
It's as though Steven Konkoly has suddenly decided to pander to a certain readership market alien to his military thriller readers.
Quite a disappointment.
Review based on an advanced reading copy courtesy of Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley.
December 1, 2022
Note: Spoilers in this review (although nothing that seasoned thriller readers wouldn't assume going in).
In Coming Dawn, the second book in the series starring former counterintelligence agent Devin Gray, Devin and his team are continuing their efforts to root out and destroy a decades-long Russian sleeper network that is secretly embedded in important government and industry leadership positions. The mission of the sleeper network is to destroy America's global reputation and weaken its capacity to respond to Putin's global ambitions.
Gray's mother (a former CIA operative) died trying to uncover the plot and she left a massive treasure trove of research on who the sleepers are. Having fully uncovered the plot but unsure who in the government can be trusted, it's up to Gray and his team to put in motion the final stages of a counterintelligence action to stop the Russians.
I have found that most often books in a series like this can stand alone in the sense that a reader can enjoy one book in the series without having read others. That is not the case here. Readers that haven't read the first Devin Gray book will be bewildered by the many references to events that occurred prior to Coming Dawn. For that reason, I don't suggest reading Coming Dawn until you've read the first book in the series - Deep Sleep.
The action starts slowly in Coming Dawn. There are long stretches of set up and planning that are necessary for the plot, but which aren't particularly compelling. But when the action starts it's intense. Two major gun battles - including a wild incursion into the top floors of a high-rise office tower in a major city that involves the team being dropped from a hovering helicopter into a roof top pool and intense close quarters gun battles - happen in the last 20% of the book.
SPOILER - In the end, the good guys win, the Russian sleeper network is destroyed and Putin's efforts to successfully conduct a middle of the night coup with Russian troops in an Eastern European border country are ruined.
Some of the plot is far-fetched but if you like spy thrillers and lots of action, this is a fun series to read.
I struggled a bit through the first 2/3rds of the book, but it's worth it for the end game. Worth a read for those who like a good thriller.
In Coming Dawn, the second book in the series starring former counterintelligence agent Devin Gray, Devin and his team are continuing their efforts to root out and destroy a decades-long Russian sleeper network that is secretly embedded in important government and industry leadership positions. The mission of the sleeper network is to destroy America's global reputation and weaken its capacity to respond to Putin's global ambitions.
Gray's mother (a former CIA operative) died trying to uncover the plot and she left a massive treasure trove of research on who the sleepers are. Having fully uncovered the plot but unsure who in the government can be trusted, it's up to Gray and his team to put in motion the final stages of a counterintelligence action to stop the Russians.
I have found that most often books in a series like this can stand alone in the sense that a reader can enjoy one book in the series without having read others. That is not the case here. Readers that haven't read the first Devin Gray book will be bewildered by the many references to events that occurred prior to Coming Dawn. For that reason, I don't suggest reading Coming Dawn until you've read the first book in the series - Deep Sleep.
The action starts slowly in Coming Dawn. There are long stretches of set up and planning that are necessary for the plot, but which aren't particularly compelling. But when the action starts it's intense. Two major gun battles - including a wild incursion into the top floors of a high-rise office tower in a major city that involves the team being dropped from a hovering helicopter into a roof top pool and intense close quarters gun battles - happen in the last 20% of the book.
SPOILER - In the end, the good guys win, the Russian sleeper network is destroyed and Putin's efforts to successfully conduct a middle of the night coup with Russian troops in an Eastern European border country are ruined.
Some of the plot is far-fetched but if you like spy thrillers and lots of action, this is a fun series to read.
I struggled a bit through the first 2/3rds of the book, but it's worth it for the end game. Worth a read for those who like a good thriller.
November 13, 2022
Definitely plenty of action in this story. Action including what was thought to covert but unexpectedly became news, although the purpose remained confidential. Two major such episodes centered this story and the descriptions were quite entertaining. On the other hand, while foreign country public behavior - Russia in particular - always leaves room for doubt on their lesser known activities, the behavior here appears to be well outside any current version of reality, at least for now.
February 1, 2023
I’d read the first book but I was a little lost re-engaging with the characters and all the Byzantine intrigue going on. It was like reading in a SCIF- lots of compartmentalization. Another epic shootout on the streets of Baltimore with no collateral damage- hard to believe. Then a repeat in a Miami high rise. All a side shoe for the real operation the Russians are about to unleash. Well it all ends happily ever after so I’m intrigued where Book 3 is going to go.
March 25, 2023
A good read
These are not great literature. I know that and you should too. Hence 4 stars and not 5. But man, its an entertaining read. It catches you, holds you, and delivers great action, good characters and a lot of fun. It certainly held me, to the point that i just finished this and am sitting here at 1:00 AM writing a review. Highly recommended if you like action fiction!
OK, now go read War and Peace. Then tell me which one kept you up until 1:00 AM 😎
These are not great literature. I know that and you should too. Hence 4 stars and not 5. But man, its an entertaining read. It catches you, holds you, and delivers great action, good characters and a lot of fun. It certainly held me, to the point that i just finished this and am sitting here at 1:00 AM writing a review. Highly recommended if you like action fiction!
OK, now go read War and Peace. Then tell me which one kept you up until 1:00 AM 😎
December 30, 2022
Tense action well described. Was a little disappointed in the *big scheme" here but there is at least one more book to go.
November 16, 2022
I liked the characters and the ending..
The team so thoroughly dismantling the enemy forces was a tremendous stretch of credibility, thus only 4 stars.
I do love action stories and this story was filled with action.
The team so thoroughly dismantling the enemy forces was a tremendous stretch of credibility, thus only 4 stars.
I do love action stories and this story was filled with action.
June 8, 2022
I have found that I really like this author. He has several series out and I have to admit to feeling quite stupid because it took me longer than I am proud of to realize that they ALL are set in the same world. After the first book in this new series, I realized that this was set in the same world as the Ryan Decker series, but it never even dawned on me that this series is also a spinoff of the original Blacked Flag series. Having read ALL of those books as well - I am embarrassed that it took me so long to put everything together. Crazy, right?
About this book. This book is an immediate continuation of the first book and the story arc that started when Devin Gray's mother (an ex CIA agent) is killed and they find out that even though everyone (her family included) thought she was crazy and had gone off the rails with some paranoid delusion regarding a government conspiracy - she was actually right. 100% right and the truth she uncovered was scary. VERY scary.
She had spent her entire life collecting the proof needed and made the arrangements for Devin to get all of the evidence if something should happen to her. She did this even though the consequences cost her her family and her reputation. In the first book, we see the members of the new team being approached and a team being formed. They are just beginning to put the pieces together and are realizing that there are hundreds and hundreds of Russian sleeper agents embedded in very high positions in the US government and at high levels of important companies - i.e. defense companies, airplane companies, weapon companies, infrastructure companies, etc.
With this book, the action takes off from the very beginning. We see a relationship developing between Devin and Marnie and even though the timing is off, it is nice to see the feelings that are developing between the two. There are also several characters on the team that are secondary characters, but we have come to like and respect them for not only their talents, but their strength of character. The depth of the characters is impressive.
This book is a page turner. Once things get started, there is non stop action and drama. There are the requisite "bad guys" and they are pretty bad. There is the over arching plot that is something that takes most of the book for our good guys to nail down and figure out what the main target or goal is. Once things get down to the wire, I was on the edge of my seat.
So, another winner from Mr. Konkoly. I enjoyed this book and am eager to continue on with whichever series comes out with a new book next.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.
About this book. This book is an immediate continuation of the first book and the story arc that started when Devin Gray's mother (an ex CIA agent) is killed and they find out that even though everyone (her family included) thought she was crazy and had gone off the rails with some paranoid delusion regarding a government conspiracy - she was actually right. 100% right and the truth she uncovered was scary. VERY scary.
She had spent her entire life collecting the proof needed and made the arrangements for Devin to get all of the evidence if something should happen to her. She did this even though the consequences cost her her family and her reputation. In the first book, we see the members of the new team being approached and a team being formed. They are just beginning to put the pieces together and are realizing that there are hundreds and hundreds of Russian sleeper agents embedded in very high positions in the US government and at high levels of important companies - i.e. defense companies, airplane companies, weapon companies, infrastructure companies, etc.
With this book, the action takes off from the very beginning. We see a relationship developing between Devin and Marnie and even though the timing is off, it is nice to see the feelings that are developing between the two. There are also several characters on the team that are secondary characters, but we have come to like and respect them for not only their talents, but their strength of character. The depth of the characters is impressive.
This book is a page turner. Once things get started, there is non stop action and drama. There are the requisite "bad guys" and they are pretty bad. There is the over arching plot that is something that takes most of the book for our good guys to nail down and figure out what the main target or goal is. Once things get down to the wire, I was on the edge of my seat.
So, another winner from Mr. Konkoly. I enjoyed this book and am eager to continue on with whichever series comes out with a new book next.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.
February 4, 2026
I read this one on and off over several months, so I guess it didn't pull me in. I've found this black-ops procedural series to be tedious. There's way too much discussion among the good guys. You feel like you're caught in an endless committee meeting.
Konkoly may be giving us a feel for how these things really go down, the intense discussion and planning that goes into them, the conflicting points of view and interests of different parties. Well and good, a nod to realism, but it doesn't make for fast-moving reading.
Devin Gray's mother Helen was drummed out of the CIA as a crackpot, and later killed, after glomming to a huge Russian sleeper-agent conspiracy. Devin himself could no longer work there, and is now a private security contractor.
His struggle for the truth after her death draws in disparate forces, including mainstream and dissident CIA factions, private contractors we've met before, foreign players, and a private cyber firm whose exact connection I lost track of.
The sleeper agents have been embedded in the federal government steadily over decades, in some cases now representing a second generation, children of the original sleepers, secretly raised to be loyal to Russia.
Meanwhile the Russians have something more kinetic and imminent planned: another invasion of a neighboring state. It's all tied together.
There are a lot of meetings and then some intense action at Gray's late mother's apartment, where her records reside, more meetings at a rural hideaway, and then finally some climactic action as our heroes go after the conspiracy's nerve center.
Konkoly may be giving us a feel for how these things really go down, the intense discussion and planning that goes into them, the conflicting points of view and interests of different parties. Well and good, a nod to realism, but it doesn't make for fast-moving reading.
Devin Gray's mother Helen was drummed out of the CIA as a crackpot, and later killed, after glomming to a huge Russian sleeper-agent conspiracy. Devin himself could no longer work there, and is now a private security contractor.
His struggle for the truth after her death draws in disparate forces, including mainstream and dissident CIA factions, private contractors we've met before, foreign players, and a private cyber firm whose exact connection I lost track of.
The sleeper agents have been embedded in the federal government steadily over decades, in some cases now representing a second generation, children of the original sleepers, secretly raised to be loyal to Russia.
Meanwhile the Russians have something more kinetic and imminent planned: another invasion of a neighboring state. It's all tied together.
There are a lot of meetings and then some intense action at Gray's late mother's apartment, where her records reside, more meetings at a rural hideaway, and then finally some climactic action as our heroes go after the conspiracy's nerve center.
November 29, 2022
This review was originally published on NetGalley.com. I was given an ebook freely by NetGalley and the book’s publisher in return for a voluntary and honest review.
Coming Down
Book #2 in the Devin Gray series.
By Steven Konkoly
Steven Konkoly served eight years in the military and traveled the world. He specializes in writing thrillers. He has several series available dealing with espionage, military and science fiction/ dystopian flavors. This is my first time reading Konkoly.
Coming Down is the second book in a techno espionage thriller. We have a son, Devin Gray carrying his mother’s torch of paranoia. The Russians are here. Yes we found some of the sleeper cells from the 80’s but we missed others. These sleeper agents want to destroy America and Devin takes on the job of stopping them. Of course Devin doesn’t have to do this all by himself but has a multi-agency team to help him.
I didn’t read book 1 so I did feel slightly handicapped by their shared experiences from book 1 but not enough to hamper my enjoyment. It had a slow start to ramp up the story but once it started it became a true page turner.
I enjoyed Coming Down very much and I plan on buying the first book. Here’s to hoping book 3 is around the corner. If you enjoy action, espionage and globe trotting adventures give this a try.
Coming Down
Book #2 in the Devin Gray series.
By Steven Konkoly
Steven Konkoly served eight years in the military and traveled the world. He specializes in writing thrillers. He has several series available dealing with espionage, military and science fiction/ dystopian flavors. This is my first time reading Konkoly.
Coming Down is the second book in a techno espionage thriller. We have a son, Devin Gray carrying his mother’s torch of paranoia. The Russians are here. Yes we found some of the sleeper cells from the 80’s but we missed others. These sleeper agents want to destroy America and Devin takes on the job of stopping them. Of course Devin doesn’t have to do this all by himself but has a multi-agency team to help him.
I didn’t read book 1 so I did feel slightly handicapped by their shared experiences from book 1 but not enough to hamper my enjoyment. It had a slow start to ramp up the story but once it started it became a true page turner.
I enjoyed Coming Down very much and I plan on buying the first book. Here’s to hoping book 3 is around the corner. If you enjoy action, espionage and globe trotting adventures give this a try.
April 30, 2023
Thank you to Good Reads for a free copy of this book.
I had entered this contest as a way to expand the genre of books that interested me. I have never read many spy/political thrillers. Unfortunately, I did not realize that this was a second book in a series until I received it. Nevertheless, I was still looking forward to reading it. As anticipated, it was difficult to pick up on certain threads of the story line, or relationships between the main characters, without reading the first book in the series. The author made some attempt to review what happened in the first book in the series but it still left me lost at time. I would not recommend reading this book without reading the first book in the series.
That being said, the plot - extensive Russian sleeper agents throughout the United States - was intriguing and a bit scary. There were extensive battles between American and Russian agents that were explained in great detail. For me, the descriptions of these scenes were long and tedious, though, admittedly, am not very knowledgeable of this genre. Besides for these extensive battles, the plot moved along at a pretty good pace.
I do not have interest in going back and reading the other books in the series.
I had entered this contest as a way to expand the genre of books that interested me. I have never read many spy/political thrillers. Unfortunately, I did not realize that this was a second book in a series until I received it. Nevertheless, I was still looking forward to reading it. As anticipated, it was difficult to pick up on certain threads of the story line, or relationships between the main characters, without reading the first book in the series. The author made some attempt to review what happened in the first book in the series but it still left me lost at time. I would not recommend reading this book without reading the first book in the series.
That being said, the plot - extensive Russian sleeper agents throughout the United States - was intriguing and a bit scary. There were extensive battles between American and Russian agents that were explained in great detail. For me, the descriptions of these scenes were long and tedious, though, admittedly, am not very knowledgeable of this genre. Besides for these extensive battles, the plot moved along at a pretty good pace.
I do not have interest in going back and reading the other books in the series.
October 18, 2023
Said…
I truly wanted to like this book. It has a few major flaws which could be attributed to both the author and the editor. It is written like it was meant to be a screenplay with a majority the book being dialogue between lots of different characters. It seems like every other sentence is, “said Devon”, “said Marnie,” “said Carl.” I put the annoyance of this on both the author and the editor. I get it, it’s a book, so the authors telling you who is speaking, but why didn’t the editor make some suggestions of different ways to to say the same, repetitive thing over and over again. As for the performance, when it comes to the dialogue, the reader does a very good job of distinguishing the different voices in a realistic manner, and seems to get the contextual aspect of the dialogue, right, however, he is left with said so and so so many times that it is annoying. Also when it comes to the narrative of the book, his tone and inflection is often wrong and annoying. I was going to go on to book 3 of the series, but decided I needed to move to a different author. Since it was included in my unlimited membership, it was OK, but had I paid for this book and the one before it I would be very disappointed.
I truly wanted to like this book. It has a few major flaws which could be attributed to both the author and the editor. It is written like it was meant to be a screenplay with a majority the book being dialogue between lots of different characters. It seems like every other sentence is, “said Devon”, “said Marnie,” “said Carl.” I put the annoyance of this on both the author and the editor. I get it, it’s a book, so the authors telling you who is speaking, but why didn’t the editor make some suggestions of different ways to to say the same, repetitive thing over and over again. As for the performance, when it comes to the dialogue, the reader does a very good job of distinguishing the different voices in a realistic manner, and seems to get the contextual aspect of the dialogue, right, however, he is left with said so and so so many times that it is annoying. Also when it comes to the narrative of the book, his tone and inflection is often wrong and annoying. I was going to go on to book 3 of the series, but decided I needed to move to a different author. Since it was included in my unlimited membership, it was OK, but had I paid for this book and the one before it I would be very disappointed.
November 9, 2022
Whew! What a ride!
A non-stop action eruption, with Devin Gray in the middle, bullets flying overhead and explosions throwing shrapnel too damn close for comfort! Using his mother's data, compiled over several years even after being discredited by the agency she worked for. The compiled information on Pichugin's sleepers, Russian spies in place in key American military and civilian positions, allowed Devin, Marnie and all their associates to crack the plot to invade the former Soviet Baltic States, attempting to regain the western borders of the USSR (or CCCR, in Russian).
The charismatic leads and their crew are a wonderful mix of characters, working, fighting, joking, loving and hating through the running battle with Soviet sleeper agents, mercenaries and Russian troops and agents. Intense action with subtle by-play giving both adrenaline filled sequences and heart-felt wordplay. The storyline blends action and bravery with emotion and compassion. I can't wait for the next installment of Devin Gray's life. This is a great read!
A non-stop action eruption, with Devin Gray in the middle, bullets flying overhead and explosions throwing shrapnel too damn close for comfort! Using his mother's data, compiled over several years even after being discredited by the agency she worked for. The compiled information on Pichugin's sleepers, Russian spies in place in key American military and civilian positions, allowed Devin, Marnie and all their associates to crack the plot to invade the former Soviet Baltic States, attempting to regain the western borders of the USSR (or CCCR, in Russian).
The charismatic leads and their crew are a wonderful mix of characters, working, fighting, joking, loving and hating through the running battle with Soviet sleeper agents, mercenaries and Russian troops and agents. Intense action with subtle by-play giving both adrenaline filled sequences and heart-felt wordplay. The storyline blends action and bravery with emotion and compassion. I can't wait for the next installment of Devin Gray's life. This is a great read!
October 25, 2022
I'm not a huge fan of spy thrillers. But there are some things about Steven Konkoly's books that keep bringing me back to them. He has several series, most centered around the never ending job of keeping our country and her secrets safe. His books remind me of Tom Clancy's series, both have dedicated main characters who must constantly be alert to the challenges presented by our enemies. Konkoly's books are fast paced, full of action and complex enough to keep you looking for the next threat. He uses his military background to insure the accuracy of the scenes and interactions and adds just enough fictional license to keep the pace moving.
This is the 2nd book in the Devin Gray series. It can be read as a stand alone but you'd miss alot of action and many of the reasons Devin does the job his way. There is an overarcing story line involving Devin's mother that explains his driven attitude. I'm just saying, if you are going to read a great spy thriller, why not read 2?
This is the 2nd book in the Devin Gray series. It can be read as a stand alone but you'd miss alot of action and many of the reasons Devin does the job his way. There is an overarcing story line involving Devin's mother that explains his driven attitude. I'm just saying, if you are going to read a great spy thriller, why not read 2?
December 10, 2022
Good book and will finish the series but...
My Last book / series where the west is all moral and great and Russia is evil. In the last 100 years Russia has been attacked by the west be it the french or Germans and supported by the UK and US.
While the west lee by the US has attacked and regime changed numerous countries under the guise of rule of law, it's sickening.
History shows Lenin was bank rolled by wall street and London banks, so for whatever reason the west has hate on for the Russians.
Apologists will say what about Ukraine? I don't know what is the truth but I do know I do not believe a word of western media's narrative. Remember Saddam and his non-existent wmd's?
I am neutral my view is how we, the rest of the world view the conflict.
The west has lost its moral compass and sadly the world is paying dearly for it. But remember karma, you reap what you sow.
My Last book / series where the west is all moral and great and Russia is evil. In the last 100 years Russia has been attacked by the west be it the french or Germans and supported by the UK and US.
While the west lee by the US has attacked and regime changed numerous countries under the guise of rule of law, it's sickening.
History shows Lenin was bank rolled by wall street and London banks, so for whatever reason the west has hate on for the Russians.
Apologists will say what about Ukraine? I don't know what is the truth but I do know I do not believe a word of western media's narrative. Remember Saddam and his non-existent wmd's?
I am neutral my view is how we, the rest of the world view the conflict.
The west has lost its moral compass and sadly the world is paying dearly for it. But remember karma, you reap what you sow.
November 2, 2022
Tom.Clancy 's successor
Stephen Konkoly must be considered a direct successor to Clancy. The primary differences are few but important. Where Clancy had a lot to say between action sequences, Konkoly has lots of action - often very graphic - in between exposition.
This book and the previous Devin Gray book form a story arc about what might happen if long term plotting had placed Russian *sleepers" in our society on a massive scale. The first book reveals the threat, and this one wraps.it up. Along the way, characters that will be familiar to Konmoly readers appear and join in the "fun"
Bloody and graph. Dirty.filled with gallows humor. And painting a picture of lives loved beyond the boundaries of the law, as well as lives loved in what can be easily accepted as the world of Putin's Russia.
Kicks butt!!
Stephen Konkoly must be considered a direct successor to Clancy. The primary differences are few but important. Where Clancy had a lot to say between action sequences, Konkoly has lots of action - often very graphic - in between exposition.
This book and the previous Devin Gray book form a story arc about what might happen if long term plotting had placed Russian *sleepers" in our society on a massive scale. The first book reveals the threat, and this one wraps.it up. Along the way, characters that will be familiar to Konmoly readers appear and join in the "fun"
Bloody and graph. Dirty.filled with gallows humor. And painting a picture of lives loved beyond the boundaries of the law, as well as lives loved in what can be easily accepted as the world of Putin's Russia.
Kicks butt!!
April 30, 2024
This was a really good and entertaining book! How much did I like it? Well, it's basically Part II of the first Devin Gray book, Deep Sleep (which was even better). It's not a sequel, but a continuation of a story that didn't conclude with the first book. This is one of my major pet peeves - buying a book and then being forced to buy another book to finish the story. I really, really hate that. But, Deep Sleep was free on Amazon first reads so I only had to buy the one book, and it was, as I said, really, really good. The remainder of the review is for both Deep Sleep and Coming Dawn because they are one story and should be one book. The theme was extremely clever and well thought out. For those of us that follow what's going on in Russia, the bad guy was clearly the now-dead scumbag Yevgeny Prigozhin, right down to renaming his mercenary army the Wegner Group instead of Wagner Group. As for the action, it was good and mostly believable. It may stray at times into the improbable or even grossly unlikely, but unlike too many action novels these days, it never "jumps the shark," causing the reader to lose faith in the story. I liked it enough to consider buying another Konkoly book.
June 27, 2022
Coming Dawn brings a satisfying close to the Helen Gray life-long pursuit of a far reaching, multi-generational sleeper network on the eve of their attack in support of Putin and Co. re-expansion into western Europe. The story bears uncanny resemblance to Russian Federation designs on Ukraine over the last few months. Followers of the Devin Gray series will not be disappointed as this chapter of the saga closes, we get better acquainted with the characters, and, possibly, the stage is set for the next evolution of Devin Gray's ad hoc special activities team. Or maybe he and Marnie will head off into the sunset along with several other unlikely characters that may or may not couple up? Committed readers will be standing by to see where Konkoly takes us next.
November 22, 2022
I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This story begins with David, Marnie and the rest of his team in a safe location after their last outing in Pennsylvania. They are trying to follow-up with the information that David received from his mother. Her career ended and as a result, David and his group were wanted.
David made arrangements to work with the help of an old friend with the aim of finding Russian Sleeper Agents. At the same time this was happening, other members of David's organization were in Russia following another investigation.
Read to discover what David's team had to do as well as find out what the Russian investigation uncovered. The action will keep your attention and it is a definite book that you will want to read.
This story begins with David, Marnie and the rest of his team in a safe location after their last outing in Pennsylvania. They are trying to follow-up with the information that David received from his mother. Her career ended and as a result, David and his group were wanted.
David made arrangements to work with the help of an old friend with the aim of finding Russian Sleeper Agents. At the same time this was happening, other members of David's organization were in Russia following another investigation.
Read to discover what David's team had to do as well as find out what the Russian investigation uncovered. The action will keep your attention and it is a definite book that you will want to read.
April 6, 2024
Highly recommended.
The second book in the series is almost as good as the first.
There is an action sequence in the middle of the book that seems to go on forever. Simply excellent.
There is a bit of the Mission Impossible series in these stories. If the author were hired as a screenwriter the only thing he'd have to do is condense the dialogue exposition. The action sequences work perfectly already.
His attention to all the details, from flying helicopters to the technology of espionage, shows his dedication to being accurate.
Still, there is some sloppiness to the editing when it comes to keeping track of who is saying what, who has said what when quoted or referred to in later conversations, how many are going on various missions, and who they are.
The second book in the series is almost as good as the first.
There is an action sequence in the middle of the book that seems to go on forever. Simply excellent.
There is a bit of the Mission Impossible series in these stories. If the author were hired as a screenwriter the only thing he'd have to do is condense the dialogue exposition. The action sequences work perfectly already.
His attention to all the details, from flying helicopters to the technology of espionage, shows his dedication to being accurate.
Still, there is some sloppiness to the editing when it comes to keeping track of who is saying what, who has said what when quoted or referred to in later conversations, how many are going on various missions, and who they are.
October 25, 2022
Plenty of the intrigue and action I've come to expect from any Steven Konkoly book. I have to admit I got confused by some of the side "good guys" who have been in other series of his--I had trouble keeping them straight. Devin Gray is probably my second favorite character after Ryan Decker in all these series. I don't know how Konkoly comes up with so many devious plots and despicable bad guys, but I'm glad the good guys triumph in the end.
I had an Advance Reader Copy--thank you for that!
I had an Advance Reader Copy--thank you for that!
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