Rostov, Russia War has broken out. Russia has invaded its neighbor. As the world watches in horror, one assassin enters enemy territory to do what must be done.
Washington DC, USA The US President grapples with one burning question. Is Russia preparing to use tactical nukes?
The Fixer by Saul Herzog is the stunning sixth instalment in the series that has taken the publishing industry, and Hollywood rights departments, by storm. This dazzling tour de force is a full standalone novel. From the mind of one of the most creative and versatile writers working in America today, this book will surely go down as a classic of the spy thriller genre. If you read only one book this year, this is it. Action, adventure, rebellion, provocative foreign agents, characters you can sink your teeth into. If you're looking for a new spy thriller series that will stay with you long after you turn the last page, look no further. Recommended for fans of Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp, Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne, and Brad Thor's Scot Harvath.
Have been a big fan of the Lance Spector series but The Fixer left me wanting. First, Lance appears to be an after thought throughout the story line. Second, there is no ending. Literally the book ends with no conclusion to any of the storylines and were left with a message to get the next book to find out what happens. Not why I buy a book. This will be the last Herzog book I purchase.
Up until this book, I was really enjoying the Lance Spector series. On a par with Tom Wood's Victor the Assassin series. The Fixer was a big disappointment, as it clunked along without much excitement, switching from several character perspectives with Lance Spector himself delegated to the back bench. At the end it leaves the reader hanging with the story unfinished, as a kind of Netflix series mechanism to incentivise us to buy the next book. Which, unfortunately, is unlikely to happen. Adding to the irritation was the discovery of at least four spelling errors in the Kindle version that somehow escaped the editors. All in all it seemed like a very hurried production.
Fiction and Truth intertwined in prescient fashion
As the author notes in the afterword ~ He could scarcely believe his eyes. His fiction was becoming a script for Putin’s aggression! A twinge of Tom Clancy’s twin towers, with more detail. Really couldn’t put this book down- much like the previous novels. Lots of loose ends in this one. The bad guys are really, really bad. I anticipate some karmic justice in the near future, please Saul! These guys are the worst since Stalin and Hitler.
The Lance Spector series is well written and remarkably timely. I love political thrillers, but have been disappointed by other writers who don’t do sufficient factual research turning their books from thriller to fantasy. Herzog has enough military, intelligence, and geopolitical knowledge to make his story lines believable and terrifying. Having read 6 books in the series, I would like to see the characters more developed . Tatyana and Laurel are underdeveloped and becoming less believable.
I have enjoyed the entire series, but this edition did not add anything to the overall storyline. There were too many "typos" that should have been caught, and the main characters were mostly absent from the plot. Several new characters did not add to the storyline, and seemed like they were there to add pages. I will most certainly read the next book, but I will expect more.
I object to the lack of any conclusion. In fact on the Kindle, the page after the last says in order to find out what happens next by the next book. I want a book to tell a story. The whole story. If it needs to be long OK - see Tom Clancy Jack Ryan classics.
This book was good. Seems more of a long prolog. A great explanation about why things happen the way they (will) happen. Still got my heart racing at the end. Could really feel the fear and despair and treachery to my core.
While I found the topic pertinent, the overall story just was too much and I couldn’t fully buy into the plot. There were many aspects to the story that seemed far fetched or too extreme. There wasn’t one character I really connected with or was rooting for. So overall, it was just okay.
Sorry, this was a long read and a short story. We know the president is an idoit,and the CIA director ,is corrupt. The enemy is vile. The girls are sexy and the tech is superior. . Lance Spector is absent. It was a bore. I'm done with this series.
Book was very disjointed with tough to follow and was not about Lance. All previously primary characters were secondary in this narrative It is time to retire this series
The series is great, the authors knowledge of Eastern Europe, Russia, it’s customs, and it’s weapons is incredibly detailed, well researched, and very well written. But in the series this is my least favorite book, which isn’t to say it’s terrible, just that Saul Herzog has set himself a mighty high bar previously.
This book starts off with a new arc, that is as infuriating as it is slow to unfold. I’m left hating a character I previously liked, and Laurel and Tatyana’s part in this book seems more of an afterthought and not in service to the plot. The way the book ends will leave you with the reading equivalent of blue spheres.
I do not recommend this as a first Lance Spector book. Because you may not pick up another one, and that would be doing a disservice to yourself. Having read the series, it feels like a lot for very little movement in the series arc.
This book was delayed in its release and I would wager it’s because the author rewrote a ton of it to include relevant and recent news from Ukraine. Which gives the book some heft and is well done.
I loved Saul Herzog’s writing with the first four books, but these last two books have been very disappointing. There was not much of Lance Spector to read about, the main ladies were presented as gophers and no ending to the plot. I thought this book would be a continuation of the last book regarding the bombing and killing of the people at the American embassy in Prague, but there was just a vague mention. Very disappointed in this book as there seemingly was no plot or direction to where this story is headed. Now, I fear the next book will be another disappointment and not follow the storyline…….
Mr. Herzog is an excellent writer. Let’s be clear on that. His imagination is amazing…in fact sometimes too amazing. And I mean that as a compliment. I know he uses a pen name. With that said, I personally would not be at all surprised if one day it came to light that ‘Mr. Herzog’ at some point in his career had held a very (bold, italicized and underlined) high position in some 3-letter agency. His writing oozes personal experience—he’s that good. Follow this guy.
Excellent book in the series. I couldn't put it down. The plot however is pretty much taken from real life life and based on the war in Ukraine, with a few modifications. My only downside is that these books are supposed to be about Lance and he was barely in the book at all! Regardless of that it was still a great book. This one needs to be read in sequence with book 7 the contact as they are intrinsically linked in the plot sequence. Overall great but please make it more about Lance, he didn't even kill many/anyone!
This series gets better with each book, and it started on fire!
One of the more subtle aspects of this series is the dichotomy between front-line operators, leaders, and decision-makers. The questions about doing what is right versus necessary and the never-ending moral struggle to tell the difference.
Hard to read this book and not be intrigued about the possibility of a real-life Lance Spector and Levi Roth battling the darkness.
I love these Lance Spectre Thriller books. There is so much drama, action, and political intrigue that I keep turning the page. The author, Saul Herzog, manages to keep me on the edge of your seat, as I don't know what will happen next, who will live, who will die, and will the US and Russia go to war. Each book continues where the last left off, so I have to keep reading. Good luck Lance Spectre!
This is the third Herzog book I read. It may sound trite, but it seems to me each one was better than the last. In The Fixer, Herzog takes you to tge Russian-Ukrainian conflict and frames it in terms of GRU/Kremlin politics. His characters become real for the reader, and also scary. The action seems like a film or TV program. You can see it in your mind’s eye. I really enjoyed it.
Roth is playing a very dangerous hand in this international “card game”. Lance is on a mission that contradicts Roth’s plans but doesn’t know it. Klara seems to be a place holder… not sure what she is doing but sure of what she wants to do. And Craig Ritter, who seems to know everything he needs to know finds out he doesn’t know enough… Good Book. Lots of plates in the air here!
If you believe Zelenskyy good Putin bad this book is for you
This book was a little more difficult to enjoy than the previous books. Without being a spoiler, the author seems to feel that Zelenskyy is a good guy and Vladimir is a bad guy. If you think they are both bad you may find Herzog’s political leaning a bit hard to handle. Yet, this book is filled with intrigue and a ton of action.
I found the story a bit hard going at first. Got to a certain chapter, and my attitude changed. Wow, what a storyline! Full of lies, deceit, and double crosses.... loved it. Saul Herzog has a knack to keep the readers so interested that it's hard to put the book down!
I enjoy following Lance and his cohorts through their adventures, but this was a hard read to keep me turning pages. I found myself drifting away for a couple of days and then coming back to find what was happening next. I’m hoping that the next book in the series is easier to follow.
I didn't find this book as great as the rest of the series! I didn't like the sexual abuse of the innocent secretaries or how manical the 2nd in power was! I just didn't enjoy reading the cruelty of his character!
I really enjoyed the 5 other books and read them quickly!
Really good reads,I was going to wait till I had read all the series,but no 7 is on order. This is just my type of book ,action ,adventure,violence,spying and intrigue,this book is fiction but is so factual it’s real. The author could have put Putin instead of Molotov.
I read book one almost an a lark. It sounded like it might be interesting and was available from Kindle unlimited. Now after six books I can’t ewait for books 7 and 8. Believable and portrays the Russian psyche in a manner that fits my perception of the world situation and is hauntingly believable as the the American power structure as well.
No ending, characters did not act as expected per previous books, as well their roles were poorly defined. The reader has no choice but to go straighr to book 7 with hopes to fill in the gaps. Story was too nebulous, leaving a feeling of unsatisfaction. Should have been 3 stars, but cannot change it, based only on my feelings for the characters. I hope not to be disappointed with The Contact.
It isn’t hard to be totally disgusted by the arch villain Osip. He oozes poison both figuratively and literally. Just when you think he couldn’t be more reprehensible, he does something more atrocious than ever.
The scary thing about this story is that there is so much plausibility to it.