Cover Image: The Russian

The Russian

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Review by 2shay..........🌟🌟🌟..........

I’m a sucker for books about the military or ex-military service members, so this one felt perfect for me. Unfortunately, it fell a little short. From the beginning, there were too many scene changes, too many point-of-view changes and far too little character development. I learned more about weapons and various aircraft than the people.

There is a lot of action, and that’s what kept me reading. I was rooting for Rob Tacoma all the way, even though I found his skill set a little over blown. I did learn a little about his military training, but it was mostly about the brutality he was forced to endure.

In fact, the whole book is brutal and cold. With a single exception, there is no perception of feeling at all, about all the death or anything else. Does Rob have a girlfriend? Has he ever? Does he have a friend with benefits? Is he gay? Who knows? We weren’t told.

Still, the book is readable and will be perfect for those who shun stories with a hint of emotion. If you’re that reader, pick up a copy and...

Enjoy!

Arc graciously provided by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an honest and voluntary

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Ben Coes is back with a fantastic new series starting with The Russian. Well constructed characters, plot, and action sequences.

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Just finished “the Russian“ by Ben Coes.Rated it five stars. It has the “wow” factor, and my only problem was not being able to turn the pages fast enough. It’s going to be a great new series, and I’ll look forward to the next book. Thank you for allowing me to review an advance copy.

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Mr Coes knocks it out of the park again. If you're a fan of Dewey you'll love his latest effort even though Dewey only plays a minor role.

Smart authors know when they've gone on long enough with a character and Mr Coes has chosen to put Tacoma in the spotlight this go round.

Personally I hope Dewey makes a comeback but it's definitely nice to see someone get some of the limelight.

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Compelling spinoff of the Dewey Andreas series, although I was a little let down by Dewey his own bad (ass) self showing up at the end to (help?) save the day after 300+ pages with Tacoma rocking and rolling on his own.

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I often like action/suspense novels, but even with plot-based books, I want to care about SOMEBODY. Unfortunately, the way Coes construes character is by telling us what color skin they have, what party they vote for, what kind of shoes they wear, and what kind of car they drive. That’s an OK start, but it’s not the same thing as complex characters. If I don’t care about the characters, I don’t care if they succeed, even if they are the good guys trying to save the world.

Fortunately, I didn’t squander any money on this cookie-cutter boredom fest because NetGalley was kind enough to send me an advance copy to review. The book RELEASES JULY 30, 2019.

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An excellent start to a new series. Enough action for the greediest thrill seekers, but allowing enough room for the main character to grow along with his support team. The Russian mafia has its tentacles in much of America, but when they kill a senator and a presidential candidate, Who you gonna call? None other than Ben Coes’ new superhero, Rob Tacoma. The very fast-paced story leaves me eager for the next installment already to see how the loose ends are tied up.

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A great start to a new series. If you like action packed fast moving stories in this genre then you are going to enjoy this book. Good story line and a pleasure to read.

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I am a big fan of Ben Coes and the Dewey Andreas novels. It was fun to see him try another character, this one named Tacoma. I read the novel as soon as the publisher and NetGalley made it available. I did enjoy it. That said, I think that there is still work to be done. Not everything flows smoothly. Using Dewey in that last scene seemed uncalled for. Either Tacoma succeeds without him, or they might as well make the two partners.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

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I've been on an action and adventure kick lately in my reading and so I'm searching for new authors to me and anything that has military, paramilitary, or former military is always a winner. This book fits it all.

I gave it three stars because I had a hard time getting going in the story and then it would switch back to another character's part and it would take me too long to get caught back up. Once I was about forty percent through the book though it moved along at an excellent pace with not so much time between point of views.

I will definitely be reading this series as it goes along and going back to catch up on the Andreas series this author previously wrote.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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The Russian by Ben Coes- Starts off running and doesn't quit! I liked the setup and there's plenty of action. Could use some editing at times. Sometimes situations seemed rushed or too far-fetched, but if you just roll with it a fun/escapist read.

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This was a solid 4.5 stars raised to a 5. It is also the start of a new series. Rob Tacoma, ex-Seal and CIA Agent, is called back to a special assignment with one more former Agent. When he gets to the man’s house to meet him he sees that he has been brutally murdered. It is also believed that two people running for President were also murdered and that Russian monsters are behind it. It is well plotted and well written and the reader will find himself reading when he should be doing other things. Lots and lots of action. Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC for an honest review.

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The Russian is a fast paced thriller that is action packed. The writing could use a bit adjusting,but overall it is a good book. Interesting characters and a good storyline.

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Review with possible spoilers*****

I enjoyed reading this much anticipated if a bit choppy new start of the Rob Tacoma series. I was quickly immersed in the story and couldn't put it down. Read it in one sitting!
For those of us who have read the previous Dewey Andreas series many familiar characters return including Dewey, Calibrisi, Katie, Igor. Rob Tacoma, himself, was pretty much consistent with previous depictions. Still, there was something missing in his interactions with other characters. The character interactions felt forced, almost uncomfortable.
There were jarring moments with other characters when I felt that a particular character (Katie) would not behave the way its was portrayed. I found myself yelling at the book, "Katie would never get that emotional, she's a woman of brains, logic and action! She doesnt cry! She solves problems!"
Dewey's cameo left me feeling sad and the scene felt artificial. It damaged his image and made him look like a loser. He and Rob are both pro's. They would not make those kinds of mistakes that led to the final chapters. They are better than that. And really, the author missed an opportunity there towards the end, instead of plugging in Dewey he could have introduced a new character that could grow and be a foil for Tacoma. That would have been a great hook for the next book.
There were parts of the book that felt like they weren't written by Ben Coes but by Ben Coes Lite. In short, the book felt "dumbed down" compared to previous ones. Now its like all the others. I miss the depth and complexity of previous works. I want the REAL Ben Coes! It doesnt feel like the author's heart was in this book.
I hated the ending!
Understandably, its not easy starting another series after so many years spent with a much loved character. I'm hoping the next book will hit its stride and smooth out the rough patches started in this one.
So here's to hoping the next book returns to Ben Coes quality because as long as Mr. Coes writes it. I'll buy it.
Like Dewey and Tacoma, he is a badass and we love them!

***I received a copy of this book from netgally for an honest review

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In Greaney et al's 600+-page Red Metal (Penguin Group 2019), we follow the carefully orchestrated and brilliant Russian plot to simultaneously strike Western Europe, Taiwan, and East Africa with the goal of taking over several Rare Earth mineral mines in Africa that they believe will give the Russians control over America if not the West. Told through the eyes of different parties, each involved in different ways--a Polish civilian warrior who has barely enough training to fire her weapon, two Russian commanders--one eager to make his mark and the other fearful of what a world war will do to his beloved Rodina, an almost-retired French Intelligence Officer (and his son) who just happen upon clues that they can't resist but to follow, two American Intelligence Officers who try valiantly to get their American agencies to take the series of seemingly disconnected clues seriously. The events seem far-flung but in the fullness of the story, come together to create a top-notch geopolitical thriller.

The detail of the Naval war strategies is impressive, thorough, and believable. Like this:

"The carrier strike group used submarines as its outer most ring to serve as the eyes and ears of the task force by venturing out from the CSGs to find enemy shipping. The next ring was an array of frigates. The workhorse of the fleet, they screened for enemy submarines."

If Greaney and Rawlings weren't sitting at the elbow of the officers in charge of America’s Pacific Fleet, they should be--that's how consuming the facts are. It takes a while to determine who the main character(s) is/are, if there is even one or two. I become so vested in all of the characters, they could all be the protagonist. I must confess, I've read all of Greaney's Gray Man novels, always know that Gray Man is the operator no matter what is happening in the story or where in the world I am. This is different.

Let me close with a high recommendation: If you loved Tom Clancy’s iconic war novels, this is a perfect story for you. Not just the incredible detail and depth of knowledge but the way Greaney and Rawlings are able to bring these characters to life in dramatic life-and-death circumstances.

--to be reviewed on my blog, WordDreams 8-9-19

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I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It is my first book read by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.

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If you enjoy formulaic tough-guy heroes duking it out with Russian mafia bad guys, this one will be readable, but it needs more editing to tighten up some inconsistencies and shaky plot twists. I liked the protagonist and was able to finish the book, but there are other series that do this genre much better.

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I couldn't help but think that The Russian is like the TV show Scandal, but for dudes. Remember B613, that show's super-secret government black ops agency? Protagonists Billy Cosgrove and Rob Tacoma are running an operation that's a bit like that. I imagine The Russian as an account of what Rowan, Jake, Huck, and Charlie were doing on the days when they weren't interacting with Olivia Pope's Gladiators.

It was definitely action-packed. I think Tacoma assassinates more unsavory characters than 24's Jack Bauer :) Personally, I like a bit more intrigue mixed into my thrillers, but your preferences may vary.

I would have enjoyed The Russian more if a few research issues were addressed, particularly in the beginning. The Florida guy who's promising "Tough Leadership for a Better America" is supposedly a Democrat, and the New York Irishman is allegedly a Republican. There are also a few senators who are described with highly unlikely profiles (Connecticut hasn't had a Republican in the Senate since the 1980s).

Why all the political "unicorns"? I think these changes are an effort to make these minor characters sound interesting, but they fall flat because they just add unnecessary cognitive dissonance to the storyline.

Speaking of politics, the section with the weird hijinks with the US Constitution bugged me, too. Pulling a "secret" part of the document out of a fancy safe was silly and unneeded. Plenty of presidents have signed executive orders that have been hidden from the public. Many, many pages could have been cut by simply signing a document and calling in the Gang of Eight.

Another unexplained oddity was CBS covering a run of the mill political rally. (They don't really do that.) Why not make the reporter from a cable news network?

While the writing in The Russian could be tightened up a bit, if you wish Scandal had a lot more of B613 in it, then it may be for you. Three stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a DRC of this novel, which will be available for purchase on July 30th.

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The first book in the new Rob Tacoma Series started the series off on a high note. Full of action, suspense, danger and plenty of drama. If you like the thrill of mafia stories, you'll love this book about the Russian mafia. Rob Tacoma is our new hero and former Navy seal and ex-CIA. This story takes you into the action of the underworld. Quite a page-turner. Well-written with strong characters and an engaging storyline. I read an arc via Net Galley and voluntarily chose to review

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