The Persian Gamble by Joel C. Rosenberg is another in his serries featuring Marcus Ryker a brave and fearless Navy Seal and frequent CIA worker. Marcus does whatever it takes and usually risks his life many time in this book and the others in the serries. He cares deeply anout his friends and his country. This book is exciting with a thrilling and satisfying ending. Its perfect for anyone who likes to read adventure stories with strong heros.

A gripping read. Lots of action. A wee bit too much introspection at times, but a really enjoyable thriller that takes Marcus Ryker on his next journey.

I see I'm one of the very, very few who took exception to a few things that bogged the intensity of suspense down to a slow crawl in this story. Of course, the front said that it was the unedited version.

It is not like a Robert Ludlum-Jason Bourne story. There is a lot of action, but there's too much backstory that cuts the tension building and dashes cold water all over the story that's heating up. There is a TON of backstory that really bogs the story down. It isn't necessary. It does not move the story along. There is no need whatsoever to try to instill pathos for someone that will be killed in the next few pages. Suspense thrillers are not that kind of read.

However, I found this book to be extremely engrossing. When the suspense and tension was allowed to build, it built to pressure cooker hot. When that happens you will read far into the night. But... There's also a lot of switching around from American, to Russian, to North Korean, to Iran.... YIKES! I didn't know what part of the world I'd be in when I finally turned the light out. Frankly, I skipped over a lot of that so I could get back to the story. And didn't miss a thing that I had to go back for.

Warning! A RANT: I got it from Netgally, and I'm tired of publishers throwing books on Netgalley without the first bit if editing. Come ON people, give reviewers something to rave about. Don't make us stumble around for something great to say about a story when taking a week to give the thing a first edit would make these books shine like a diamond.

Anyway..
Marcus Ryker is back with a bang! And what a bang! He takes enormous punishment to get the job done, and of course, he does. The suspense is really good -- especially the trip to North Korea. I really like books where the hero has to overcome impossible odds, and this book delivers that kind of ride (if you can wade through all the stuff going on that does not move the story along.

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4 stars for storyline minus a star for too much back story.

Another exciting novel by Rosenberg. I’ve read 4 others so far, and The Persian Gamble continued Rosenberg s streak of impossible-to-put-down stories. Eerily aligned with real world events, The Persian Gamble will not disappoint if you’re looking for fast-paced action. As always, I’m looking forward to the next novel by Rosenberg.

The Persian Gamble is a great addition to the Marcus Ryker series by Joel C Rosenberg. I highly recommend it. I am giving it a well deserved five plus stars.

Wow and wow. This is a super action political thriller that never lets up from the first page to the last. As with all of Joel Rosenberg’s books, this storyline displays his extraordinary understanding of the world’s nations and the political ideologies that drive them. This book is deeply patriotic and honors the men and women who give their lives in the battle against terrorism.

Strong, flawed characters and a riveting storyline made this a book that kept me awake to finish it. It’s a pleasure to read such a strong, action-packed story that that has no foul language and Christian values of redemption and restoration. If you’ve never read any of this author’s books, this would be a great series to read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Persian Gamble is a four part thrill ride! Mr. Rosenberg has done it again by taking current events and mixing in a bit of fiction. The result is a story that makes you have to consciously tell yourself that it is fiction. This particular book plays on the escalating tensions between the U.S., Russians, North Korea, and the Iranians.

The main character is Marcus Ryker, whom most people met in The Kremlin Conspiracy. I must be upfront and say that I had not previously read The Kremlin Conspiracy. In fact I didn't realize that this was even a two part series until I completed the book. I wish I had read the first book but I don't feel like I missed anything in The Persian Gamble by not reading The Kremlin Conspiracy first. I enjoyed The Persian Gamble so much that I am seriously contemplating going back and reading The Kremlin Conspiracy.

If you like political thrillers I think you will enjoy this. It is one of the best that I have read lately.

Yet another superb current events thriller from Rosenberg!

The unthinkable has happened. The Russian president and head of the FSB have just been assassinated! And it was done by the mole that the Americans have been working to get out of Russia. Now it a desperate escape attempt, Marcus Ryker, Oleg Kraskin, and Jenny Morris make it out of Moscow alive, but not for long. The plane is soon shot down by Russian MiGs, but the three manage to jump to safety, but still land on Russian soil. Jenny has been shot and needs medical attention. The United States believes that Marcus and Oleg should be labeled as traitors and Ryker should be tried for treason while Oleg should be handed back over to the Russians. But Marcus has a trick card up his sleeve that he must play to get presidential pardons and it concerns the transfer of Russian nuclear warheads from North Korea to Iran. If what Oleg has said is true, Iran seems to be on a time crunch to launch several nuclear missiles at Israel and the United States. It’s a gamble to be sure, but Marcus and Oleg haven’t lied yet.

Rosenberg continues yet another incredible series. Picking up at the exact spot where the previous book left off, readers focus on Marcus continuing troubles. Now a fugitive from his own country, he must figure out a way to get the group back to safety. Marcus traits as a true leader really emerge in this installment as does his compassion for others. He does what he must when it is kill or be killed, but that is never his motive. Several supporting characters return for this book including Vinetti and Pete Huang. Unfortunately, not everyone will remain alive be the end of this book. Packed with action and a very believable story line that could easily be in tomorrow’s papers, The Persian Gamble is as epic as it gets.

I always recommend his books for readers who love current events and a fantastic story! Pick up a copy of this book as soon as you can!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

3E8817D4-39B3-4210-B206-6D4876D36146


The Persian Gamble

by Joel C. Rosenberg



Tyndale House Publishers


Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Mystery & Thrillers , Politics

Pub Date 12 Mar 2019





I am reviewing a copy of The Persian Gamble through Tyndale House Publishers and Netgalley:



After being shot out of the air in enemy territory while in the midst of the greatest crisis since the Cold War Marcus Ryker a former U.S Secret Service Agent finds himself having to do an impossible task.



Marcus Ryker must somehow elude detection so he doesn’t get captured by Russian Special Forces But he must convince his goverment to grant safe haven to the man who is solely responsible for the global mayhem, assain and rRussian Double Agent Oleg Kraskin. He must do this while frantically negotiating with his contacts in the White House. Marcus soon learns that the unstable North Korean Regime plans to use international chaos as a smokescreen in order to sell nuclear weapons to Iran. With the fate of the entire world on the line. Marcus makes a deal with the U.S. government promising he will go back to work as an international operative and track down the WMDs before they end up in the hands of those with the determined and ready to use them. Marcus and Oleg worked together once before to stop a world war. Can they now find a way to stop world destruction?





If you are looking for an on the edge of your seat suspenseful read, The Persian Gamble is a great choice!



The storyline had me hooked from the first page to the last so I give The Persian Gamble five out of five stars!





Happy Reading!

Joel Rosenberg has a way of ripping stories that are so true to life it is scary.
I could not put this book down. It has all the pulse-pounding action that gets your heart pumping.
Each of these stories that Joel Rosenberg has written from the very first one. Joel Rosenberg has a few Fact-based fiction books that he has written and each of them are hard to stop reading once started.
I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Former U.S. Secret Service agent Marcus Ryker finds himself facing an impossible task of not only somehow eluding detection and capture by Russian special forces, but he must convince his own government to grant safe harbor to the one man responsible for the global mayhem―Russian double agent and assassin Oleg Kraskin. While frantically negotiating with his contacts in the White House, Marcus learns that the unstable North Korean regime plans to use the international chaos as a smokescreen to sell nuclear weapons to Iran.
This book actually seemed more like two books in one to me. The first being the time the characters spent on the run in Russia and the second being the time spent in Eastern Asia. And for some reason it seemed a little disjointed. But still the whole book was very readable. There were a lot of characters to keep track of throughout the book both in the U. S. and throughout the world. But in dealing with governments, I realize that there are always a lot of people involved in the process. Still I found it hard at times to keep them all straight.
I always appreciate the way that the author presents the gospel in his books. I always encourage my friends to read his books since they are so relevant to what is happening in the world today. And they added benefit of having them read the gospel message is wonderful. And I always learn so much about geography when I look up the locations that he uses in his books. Since I am a traveler, I must look all of them up on a map. As to the ending, it was not the cliff hanger that many of his books have but I hope we will find out what happens to Marcus and Oleg going forward.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to purchasing it for our church library. I also thank Netgalley for the read. The above comments are my own.

Joel Rosenberg's new title does NOT disappoint. I found myself wondering which parts of the book were fact, and which were fiction and remained riveted through the full book. At the end, my biggest regret was that it was done, and it left me wondering what comes next. I've already recommended this book to a number of people, and will continue to - along with the other books in this series!

What would happen if Russia, North Korea, and Iran formed an alliance?

Given our current geo-political climate, the timeliness of this book is unsettling and too plausible for comfort. I hope everyone that reads this book takes the threat set forth in the plot seriously. The Persian Gamble has overtaken a couple of Rosenberg’s other books as my new favorite. I stayed up until 1:00 a.m. to finish it because I didn’t want to put it down.

Marcus Ryker returns at the exact point he left us at the end of The Kremlin Conspiracy, the first book in this series, parachuting from a jetliner moments before it is shot down by the Russian military. With him is the Russian double agent turned assassin who is THE one man with all of the information and contacts to stop an attack on the US. There is plenty of action in the story as Ryker tries to get the Russian and himself safely out of Russia and to the US. The question is whether the US leaders believe his story that the threat of nuclear attack is both real and imminent? Or, will they label him as a traitor?

Personal, professional, and national loyalties are questioned and tested. Risks are taken, and the true cost of living in a free nation is shown us through the sacrifices of our nation’s military heroes. The story moves across Russia, North Korea, Iran, and the U.S. as secret alliances are revealed and Ryker risks everything to save his country.

If you did not read the first book in the series, The Kremlin Conspiracy, the author gives you enough information at the beginning of this book to understand the previous story. I hope to see more books in this series as Mr. Rosenberg has set up Marcus Ryker to be a protagonist whose own losses and struggles are interwoven through the story and look to become as interesting as the stories themselves.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Joel C. Rosenberg, and Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Joel C. Rosenberg is back with another political thriller that is quite timely, knowing current geo-political situations. With Marcus Ryker inside Russia, he is on a mission to bring an agent planted inside the Russian Government to safety, where they can discuss much of what he has learned. However, with the recent assassination of the Russian President and head of the FSB, there is a really good chance that this mole (and Ryker) are behind the killings, making the manhunt to find them all the more intense. When even the US Government is leery about helping, Ryker knows that he will have to reveal some of the intel to ensure their safe extraction from the edges of the Russian border region. It would seem that the Russians have made a secret military alliance with the North Koreans, which could help both sides in the event of aggression from other parts of the world. Other intel includes Russia’s plans to annex some of its former Soviet satellite countries, thereby beginning a war with NATO that is surely to devolve into a bloodbath. Add that to the news that the recently neutered Iranians have been covertly communicating with the North Koreans to obtain key pieces necessary to create a nuclear arsenal, and things could not be worse. With nuclear capabilities, the Iranians could be used against Israel, the Americans, and any others who seek to disrupt them. As Ryker fights to help out however he can, he remembers his strong Christian ties and wrestles with the increased amount of violence that will soon take place to end these political nightmares. As he tries to justify it, Ryker is sent to Japan to prepare for another mission, covertly scouting out the North Korean warheads being shipped to their Iranian partners. With bodies piling up all around them, Ryker sees friends and foes alike lose their lives, which only tests his religious beliefs, forcing him to question his role in the entire affair. A well-plotted novel that always takes politics to a new level. Fans of Rosenberg will surely want to get their hands on this piece to devour the political banter, if nothing else.

I always enjoy a good Rosenberg novel, as he is not only on point about the political situation, but has an uncanny way of predicting the future with the plots of his stories. A few past novels have been spot-on with their predictions, leaving the reader with an eerie sense of ‘could it’ as they devour each new book. Marcus Ryker plays an interesting protagonist in this book, struggling to do his job and find a balance with his religious beliefs. Rosenberg does not inculcate the reader too much with this book, but there is mention of biblical scripture and Ryker ponders what it all means. He has lost his family, so there is little but his own life to ponder, making him an unpredictable character in the field. Many of the others around him prove highly entertaining as well, their beliefs and sentimentalities key to keeping the story on track. Rosenberg is masterful at his ability to create strong characters throughout the piece and keep them growing throughout. The plot was not only plausible but also highly in touch with what is going on in various political spheres. There is little chance that Rosenberg is completely off base with some of his ideas, though just how real they could turn out to be is sure to jolt some readers when the time comes. The chapters were quick and kept the reader pushing forward, while never losing interest. One can only hope that there is more to come, be it in the series or with Rosenberg’s writing, as he is able to weave a tale like few others I have seen in all my years of reading. Politically gritty with that softer Christian passivity when it suits the plot, this is an author about whom readers should take note, if they are not already familiar with his work.

Kudos, Mr. Rosenberg, for such a great new piece. I liked much about it, even if I try not to get too bogged down by the Christian aspects of your character development.

THE PERSIAN GAMBLE.. ..by .JOEL...ROSENBERG
A sequel to the Kremlin Conspiracy .A-retired Agent Marcus is called back to service. He teams up with a Russian assassin Oleg son in law to a Russian dictator, code name Raven. Now helping him to defect from Russia after he killed his father in law. Risking his life giving American information. Now with hazard conditions these two are running for their lives. A political thriller with many countries after them. It is a tight twisted plot to the end.Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion by Net Galley and Tyndale.

This is a great book. It’s a political thriller that reads like a Jason Bourne novel. One of the chase scenes was epic and would be great in a movie. It shocked me to think that the events in this book are reality for some of the men and women who protect and defend our country. I can’t imagine living with that kind of stress, danger, and urgency. I’m thankful for them and for all the things I will never know about what they’ve done.
Marcus and his Russian counterpart, Oleg, are willing to do crazy things to try to prevent World War III. Their alliance, unlikely as it is, captures them in a deadly game of cat and mouse. There is a ton of action and suspense. It’s a great read.
This book would be best if read after reading “The Kremlin Conspiracy.” This book starts up right where that one ends. I would highly recommend this book. It’s a page turner. Thank you to Tyndale House for providing me with an e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This is the sequel to the Kremlin Conspiracy so readers will want to read that book before attempting this one. Marcus Ryker makes a dramatic entrance into this new installment. Stakes are high as he along with Oleg Kraskin race to prevent a nuclear event. Lots of action! Recommended!

Retired Secret Service Agent Marcus Ryker has been called back to duty for a special mission. He teams up with a Russian assassin who is the son in law of a Russian dictator.

This wasn’t my favorite book by this author. There are a lot of characters to keep straight, there is a list of over 30 in the front of the book. There was a lot of action and political intrigue but the book just didn’t grab me. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

The Persian Gamble is the sequel to the Kremlin Conspiracy. Book 2 finds retired US Secret Service agent Marcus Ryker teamed up with Oleg Kraskin son in law of the Russian dictator. The two are on the run from both sides and have a limited amount of time to prevent a nuclear holocaust.

I found this book to be edge of my seat, no sleep exciting. The characters are strong and quite believable and the situations they get themselves into are fascinating. My only problem with this book is that I will have to wait a year to find out what happens next. So grab a mug of chai and settle in for a fantastic read!

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

The third installment with a definite swing to the USSR as the old/new evil rather than ISIS and more "grown-up violent scenes depicted.
Markus Ryker is again the star "fate of the world" balancer here between the major players of Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Washington DC. An easy enjoyable read but with a sharper edge than Rosen usually gives in action scenes.