What do you think?
Rate this book
A Wild Justice
From the bestselling author of Playing with Cobras comes a mesmerizing new thriller. With the help of a Russian police inspector, an ex-CIA agent pieces together the connection between two seemingly unrelated events, unleashing a deeply sinister force of murderous greed in Russia.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
4 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Craig Thomas
87 books92 followersDavid Craig Owen Thomas was a Welsh author of thrillers, most notably the Mitchell Gant series.
The son of the Western Mail rugby union writer, JBG Thomas, Craig was educated at Cardiff High School. He graduated from University College, Cardiff in 1967, obtaining his M.A. after completing a thesis on Thomas Hardy. Thomas became an English Teacher, working in various grammar schools in the West Midlands, and was Head of English at the Shire Oak School, Walsall Wood.
After unsuccessfully trying script writing for radio, Thomas wrote part-time, with his wife as editor, in two fields: philosophical thoughts in books of essays; and techno-thriller genre, which although invention is often attributed to the better-known Tom Clancy, many feel that Thomas was its true originator. Most of Thomas's novels are set within MI.6 and feature the characters of Sir Kenneth Aubrey and Patrick Hyde.
His best-known novel which brought him to global prominence, Firefox became a successful Hollywood film, both directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. After writing his third novel, 1960s Cold War espionage thriller Wolfsbane, he left teaching altogether in 1977. His later books include Snow Falcon and A Different War. Shortly before his death he finished a two-volume commentary on German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.
Thomas and his wife Jill had lived near Lichfield, Staffordshire, but moved to Somerset in 2010. He died on April 4, 2011 from pneumonia, following a short battle with acute myeloid leukemia. He was 68.
The son of the Western Mail rugby union writer, JBG Thomas, Craig was educated at Cardiff High School. He graduated from University College, Cardiff in 1967, obtaining his M.A. after completing a thesis on Thomas Hardy. Thomas became an English Teacher, working in various grammar schools in the West Midlands, and was Head of English at the Shire Oak School, Walsall Wood.
After unsuccessfully trying script writing for radio, Thomas wrote part-time, with his wife as editor, in two fields: philosophical thoughts in books of essays; and techno-thriller genre, which although invention is often attributed to the better-known Tom Clancy, many feel that Thomas was its true originator. Most of Thomas's novels are set within MI.6 and feature the characters of Sir Kenneth Aubrey and Patrick Hyde.
His best-known novel which brought him to global prominence, Firefox became a successful Hollywood film, both directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. After writing his third novel, 1960s Cold War espionage thriller Wolfsbane, he left teaching altogether in 1977. His later books include Snow Falcon and A Different War. Shortly before his death he finished a two-volume commentary on German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.
Thomas and his wife Jill had lived near Lichfield, Staffordshire, but moved to Somerset in 2010. He died on April 4, 2011 from pneumonia, following a short battle with acute myeloid leukemia. He was 68.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 18, 2010
great thriller- bit confusing at times- as there are no separations except regular paragraphs spaces between action taking place in DC and action in Siberia- so need to check each paragraph to see if you are in sunny Virginia or storym Siberia- but intense read- good
February 19, 2021
I used to love the author's older books but the newer ones like this book is a bit flat to begin with. Craig could rival authors like Frederick Forsyth or John Ie Carre when it comes to the cold war topic but as newer topic like post cold war era novel, the author is sadly lacking. This book is but one example. I took two months just to finish it as I keep putting it off but then again I can never fully justify not finishing what I begun.
The core of the story ravel around a small Siberian town and Washington DC. A small town russian police Major Alexei Voronsyev was investigating the murder of an American oil executive while in Washington John Lock a state department and former CIA operative was devastated when his sister Elizbeth and her husband Billy Grainger was murdered in their home. This led John to seek justice for his sister at all cost which brings him to the small Siberian town and team up with Alexei to confront the man who is the head mafia behind it all. It all ends in a WILD JUSTICE after all.
The core of the story ravel around a small Siberian town and Washington DC. A small town russian police Major Alexei Voronsyev was investigating the murder of an American oil executive while in Washington John Lock a state department and former CIA operative was devastated when his sister Elizbeth and her husband Billy Grainger was murdered in their home. This led John to seek justice for his sister at all cost which brings him to the small Siberian town and team up with Alexei to confront the man who is the head mafia behind it all. It all ends in a WILD JUSTICE after all.
January 3, 2018
This book is primarily about revenge but also a very good commentary on both resentment towards the US and those who capitalised on opportunities presented by the funding of rogue state militaries by the CIA through drug trafficking. Whether there is any truth in this, I have no idea but it sure led to an intriguing premise for the novel.
There is heaps of action and that seems to be where the author excels, I found in the non-action parts, the storyline was a little confusing and not helped by long chapters with few separators for parts.
All in all, I enjoyed the read.
There is heaps of action and that seems to be where the author excels, I found in the non-action parts, the storyline was a little confusing and not helped by long chapters with few separators for parts.
All in all, I enjoyed the read.
September 1, 2022
Mediocre bordering on poor. This storyline has been told in various versions over the past 60 years and has become worn through use. This one was an attempt to update it, as then in 1994 was, to a tale of a power struggle involving the then rise of the Russian billionaire biznizman and the old-style American oil tycoon. All the old cliches are there and are woven together rather unconvincingly. How the hell the Telegraph could call this a masterpiece of menace and explosive action and admirably suspenseful eludes me completely.
June 1, 2017
It was hard to understand in the beginning with the back and forth between lives, but once it came together in the end it was interesting.
October 29, 2010
• A WILD JUSTICE by Craig Thomas, Harper Collins
455 pps. 107,000 words in 14 chaps, prelude & postlude.
Set in the Yeltsin era in USA & USSR, this thriller deals with the corruption in high places in the oil industry as it explores the newly opened fields in Russia. Starting with a bang, it slows a little before moving on apace to the inevitable violent conclusion. It’s a well told tale with good, clear characterisations and a cast of people who are believable regardless of whether they’re evil or good. Excellent motivation for the protagonists and generally good dialogue, though this is the one area where it was a little lacking. A good read; recommended for thriller lovers.
455 pps. 107,000 words in 14 chaps, prelude & postlude.
Set in the Yeltsin era in USA & USSR, this thriller deals with the corruption in high places in the oil industry as it explores the newly opened fields in Russia. Starting with a bang, it slows a little before moving on apace to the inevitable violent conclusion. It’s a well told tale with good, clear characterisations and a cast of people who are believable regardless of whether they’re evil or good. Excellent motivation for the protagonists and generally good dialogue, though this is the one area where it was a little lacking. A good read; recommended for thriller lovers.
August 4, 2013
I normally like thrillers but this one bored me I gave up about 150 pages in and it didn't improve :(.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews