This is the third book of a trilogy and espionage is the name of the game. I am a fan of this genre; however, I found this book to be a little muddled.......lots of characters for the sake of lots of characters. To be candid, I did not read the first two books, and that my color my opinion.

Aiken in Check by Michael Frost Beckner
This is the 3rd in the series of espionage novels following the exploits of Russel Aiken a CIA lawyer turned spy. In this case the over 500 page novel takes place mainly in a single room in Havana Cuba, where Aiken must save the love of his life and find a way for Muir and Bishop to reconcile their differences and save the day. I did not like this book as much as the first two as it has become too repetitive for me.

The movie Spy Game (starring Robert Redford Brad Pitt) is one of my favourites in the genre. It's visually neat and the story offers a solid plot. So, when I found out a trilogy based on the movie was being released, I was really excited about it. The first book in the Aiken series is a prequel set 48 hours before the movie. The other two are sequels happening after the movie.

Overall, my enthusiasm for the books didn't reach the level it did for the movie (but again, with books, you don't have all the movie components like soundtrack to make it fly!). I thought it wasn't easy to follow the complicated plot, and if you can easily rewatch films to grasp all the nuances, it's harder to do with books. But, the concept is still a strong one, so don't hesitate to have a go at it.

This review is for The Aiken Trilogy #1-3:
An excellent spy series. Each book is engaging, and well-written overall. The author created fully formed characters that are interesting to watch. I didn't always enjoy the conversations, but the suspense and strong writing kept me going. Beckner has found a way to write to his strengths.

I really appreciate the free ARCs for review!!