I have read The Auschwitz Escape by Joel Rosenberg, so I was familiar with his writing and the style I expected to get when I picked up his newest release The Kermlin Conspiracy. Military thrillers and suspense are not something I usually gravitate toward unless it is Ronie Kendig. She really dives into her characters and their emotions that I have a hard time putting down Kendig's writings. As for Rosenberg, I know he has written a number of stories, which take place in the middle east, but I haven't gotten around to reading them.
I do enjoy how Rosenberg takes his plot ideas for the turmoil effecting our world today. In this story, he focuses on the issues coming out of Russia. This story could actually be true and based on real events. This element made me empathize with the characters more.
The plot for The Kermlin Conspiracy is different. The story is written in a parallel plot lines with two different characters. One character lives and grows in America while the opposite character grows in Russia. For the first seventy percent of the book, I am introduced and follow both characters as they persuade the fathers of the women they love. They both marry and advance in their careers until they reach the top. The climactic moment doesn't occur until about ninety-five percent into the book, and it was well-written with tons of meaning but, in my opinion, felt out of place for the story.
The problem I have with the plot is the ability to actually show me what the threat actually is. I know that Rosenberg is developing the plot to show the characters, but I don't understand what the threat is. It takes until seventy percent of the book to even see how the two characters finally meet and interact. The ending is left in a cliff hanger, which means a second book or a really bad ending for a first book. I still have no idea what the Kermlin Conspiracy was. A little confused on this.
The characters are interesting, but I believe there is really nothing special about them for me to remember long after I have shut the book. No moment of redemption or transformation for either character. I really didn't care about them enough to feel bad or good at the end of the novel.
Overall, The Kermlin Conspiracy by Joel Rosenberg didn't thrill me like a Thriller should do. I felt bored and wanted to know why I was watching these two men lives as they advanced through the years. The tension was downplayed A LOT. I wanted more action and suspense moving through the character's lives. I highly recommend Ronie Kendig if you're a fan of military suspense with tons of bullets flying. She'll keep you on the edge of your seat.
I received a complimentary copy of Joel Rosenberg's The Kermlin Conspiracy from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Outstanding fiction that is built upon real events, The Kremlin Conspiracy is Rosenberg's most chilling and thrilling novel. As I read the book I kept praying, God, please don't let this happen! As is typical with Mr. Rosenberg, the scenarios he creates in fiction began unfolding in real life, hence the chilling. Also typical are the well developed characters who are placed in unimaginable situations, hence the thrilling. But Mr. Rosenberg shocked me with some of his choices, and that's hard to do, since I've read every single book he's written! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what would happen next, and raced to the end...only to discover clear evidence that a sequel is coming. Boo! I want the next novel NOW!

The KREMLIN CONSPIRACY is another epic political thriller by JOEL ROSENBERG. I have read and enjoyed all of Rosenberg's novels, and this one is no exception.
The story starts in Russia in 1999 with a series of bombings where civilians are being killed, and which the acting Russian president, Zacharov Luvanov, attributes to the Chechens. Luvanov, after attacking Chechnya, is seen as the saviour of Mother Russia and is quickly voted into office.
Oleg Kraskin marries Marina, the president's daughter, leaves his partnership in a legal firm and goes to work for his father in law. He sees this as the opportunity of a lifetime.
We are then taken to Colorado in 2001 where we meet Marcus Ryker and his childhood sweetheart, Elena Garcia. Marcus joins the Marines after the Twin Towers tragedy, marries his girl and joins the Secret Service.
These two young men, patriots from opposite sides of the globe, have a lot in common and are destined to meet in very unusual circumstances.
The story will keep you on the edge of your chair! The Author is very well versed in Middle Eastern politics and his descriptions of impending war in the area makes one feel things are going to blow up any minute!
It is a story of courage and patriotism in a volatile situation, with a psychotic madman on one side of the coin, and a president who is loath to stick his neck out on the other.
I really enjoyed the novel and can highly recommend it as being a really exciting read with a strong Christian message.