Volk's Game

Alexei "Volk" Volkovoy Mystery #1

by Brent Ghelfi

Volksgame

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Russia, Mystery, Crime, Suspense, Action

320 pages, Hardcover

First published June 12, 2007

Reviews

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

PROTAGONIST: Alexei "Volk" Volkovoy
SETTING: Russia
RATING: 3.5
WHY: This book is about as noir as it gets. Colonel Alexei Volkovoy works undercover for a Kremlin official known as the "General" and for a criminal boss named Maxim. in Russia. His partner and lover, Valya, has been abused physically and emotionally. Together, they are charged with finding a long lost Leonardo da Vinci painting. This is no Russian travelogue. The brutality level in the book is startling. There really isn't a "good guy" in these pages. A tough read, but illuminating about a kind of Russian life that is very hidden.

[Armita Aghamiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

honestly, I love the way Volk talks about Valya and it deeply hurts me when the book ended like that. although maxim and General are true betrayers, somehow I understand the reason behind their betrayal: everyone just thinks about themselves.
many men were killed and honestly, the language of the book was a bit hard to understand due to many advanced level vocabs but I could feel the senses and blood actually splashing lmao.
it took me a long time to read it but tbh I did feel the adrenalin with Volk.

[LJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

VOLK’S GAME (Suspense-Volk-Russia-Cont) - VG
Ghelfi, Brent – 1st book
Henry Holt and Company, 2007, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780805082548
First Sentence: “What do you know about art, Volk?”
*** Alexei Volkovoy, “Volk,” must balance between to masters; Maxim, a Russia mafia kingpin, and The General, to whom Volk is indebted. They command Volk to steal a painting newly found behind another in the basement of the Hermitage. But the theft quickly goes bad. Men are killed, Volk’s lover kidnapped and being tortured. Still Volk must retrieve the painting before they kill his lover.
*** Ghelfi draws a picture of Russia and Red Square that has changed my way of looking at those areas. Alexei Volkovoy, “Volk,” is an interesting protagonist. Ghelfi has also done an excellent job in creating Volk, making him a fully-developed character in spite of brutal nature of the story. Volk may not have many scruples, but he does have them. Volk, and his ladyfriend, Valya, are what life, war and survival have made them. The story is unrelentingly dark and does include torture of women but the characters are not nice, law-abiding people. This is not a pleasant book, but it is a good one and I’m not sorry to have read it.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having a soft spot in my heart for all things Russian, it was relatively easy for me to choose this book while browsing during my lunch hour. I thought the author did an excellent job of setting the book in today's Moscow -- rather than in the Moscow of the 1990s, immediately after the collapse of communism (subtle yet significant differences). I liked the offhand references to Mayor Luzhkov's architectural program and to (former) President Putin. I found the atmosphere, dialogue, and the characters believable. This book tells the story of a complicated chess game between a gangster kingpin and a shadowy figure in the Russian Army. The ostensible subject of the game (if a chess game can be said to have a subject) is some long-lost, incredibly valuable art. The pawn -- and protaganist -- is a hard-bitten, violent and vengeful, yet ultimately sympathetic character called "Volk" (Alexei Volkovoi). Good plot: it kept me guessing and page turning.

[Ingrid Spera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I'd started reading a badly abused copy on a hostel when I was overseas and knew within the first two chapters that I was going to love it so I immediately bought myself a hardback copy and the sequel when I'd come home. The novel didn't disappoint! Full of dark and brooding action, betrayal, and sarcastic wit, this book reads like a good underground anti-hero book should! Absolutely loved it. Volk is definitely someone who you can get behind as just being a human who has been created by the system and does what he has to in order to survive in the world he's found himself in.

[Karie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously not a lot of Quentin Tarantino fans read this book. I didn't find it that violent but I did find the story intriguing. As someone else said, I found myself liking a very unlikable character.

[Gort · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illum itaque rerum. Qui ipsam vero. Soluta delectus ea. Sit libero incidunt ut saepe quis.

[Liana R · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 2/5 stars

This was one of those books that has a plot, but doesn't really have one.

There were multiple time jumps, which confused me, and the story didn't really make sense.

There was also an excessive amount of cursing. It felt too much even for the characters.

The thing that redeemed this book was the relationship between the main character and his girlfriend. It was surprisingly sweet.

But yeah, definitely a dry book.

[William Walter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought it would be something really good, but the ending did not carry through the good stuff from the first half of the book (which was reminiscent of Clockers to me). Too loose, too many dangling threads, and some added chapters that seemed necessary only to explain these unfinished issues in the end.

[David Berzas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't like first person point of view. Too many descriptions, too little action.
Too boring.
Quit after 60 pages.

[Fixie Nice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty interesting character development, picked up at a free library near me , the plot is a bit disconnected

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This beginning of a new thriller series from 2007 is a wild ride in the life of Russian Alexei Volkovoy and his beautiful and dangerous 18 year-old sidekick/girlfriend Valka. They are bound by a tough past in the brutal repression of the Chechnian rebellion. Alexei plays a special role as a can-do operative of a corrupt Moscow general in his alternating wars and alliances with other factions both in the organized crime underworld and competing agencies of the state. The balance he achieves through his skilled favors falls way out of kilter when he is tasked to steal an unknown Rembrandt hidden behind another painting in the basement of St. Petersburg's Hermitage Museum. He ends up experiencing successive levels of betrayals analogized to the nesting dolls of folk art fame. In tough circumstances he proves a serious bad-ass, responsible for a large body count. But unlike typical heroes and most anti-heroes, he crosses the line for me to commit torture and assassinations when pressed, and he makes money from drug dealing and teen porn. Yet the writing is good enough to make the reader concerned for Alexie's soul. Given his empathy for the downtrodden, I have some hopes his character will evolve toward the light in subsequent installments in the series.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ex-military and now a Russian gangster, main character Volk is someone you would not want to meet in a dark alley. There were parts of this fast-paced novel that I really enjoyed - the setting in Russia, the suspense of the mystery involving daVinci paintings, and the fact that the novel was so quickly paced. There were also parts I didn't like and what led me to give only two stars. I never really liked the main character Volk. Just when he was becoming a really unpleasant person, he would do something redeeming in my eyes. But this did not happen often enough. I also had trouble keeping track of all of the various background characters at first and I don't know if this was because of their Russian names or because there were so many of them. I also felt the violence and sexual situations were too frequent and over the top. I'm not opposed to violence or other situations in general, but this just seemed too much and just for shock value (which the story didn't need to carry it, in my opinion).

Overall the novel is quickly paced with a lot of action. If you don't like graphic violence or sexual situations, then it would be difficult to get through.

[Viccy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tad formulaic, this debut novel features Alexei Volkovoy who is a very bad man, playing both sides of the street in Putin’s Moscow. A brutal killer maimed in Chechnya, he has his own agenda: to maximize his returns while trying to save Mother Russia from herself. As both a major player in the black market and a covert agent for the Russian military, Volk serves two masters: Maxim, a psychotic Azeri mafia kingpin with hordes of loyal informers; and a man known only as the General, to whom Volk is mysteriously indebted. Volk is induced to steal a previously unknown painting of Leda and the Swan by Leonardo. His team includes his lover, the beautiful assassin, Valya. Betrayed during the middle of the heist from the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Volk must recapture the painting whose radiance haunts him and free Valya from her captors. The bullets fly and car chases abound; the writing is crisp and Volk is a most original anti-hero, who lives, and is willing to die for, his own personal brand of honor.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex Volkovoy, "Volk" is a mercenary. He was active in the Chechnya War.

Now he deals with the Russian criminal world. He works with a man named Maxim, a psychotic Mafia kingpin and another man who is known as The General.

Volk receives a number of propositions as the story begins, his criminal associates have an idea about diamonds, which Volk thinks about. Then there is speculation about a lost Da Vince painting.

The novel is filled with dark characters, one worse than another and betrayal is everywhere. One person who Volk hesitated to work with tried to have him assassinated. Volk escaped and gave the man another chance to live.

Valya is Volk's girlfriend who is also a bodyguard. He is also friends with another woman who he met at a clinic for amputees.

For the reader who is a fan of Dostoevsky and enjoys dark novels centered in Russia, this would be an entertaining read. Volk is more than just an underworld criminal, he leads a double life but the reader must find what that second life is all about.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit thrown by the comparisons to Dostoyevsky et al in the book blurbs; the connection didn't hold for me at all. That was my initial attraction to the book, as well as the fact that I love all Russian literature and am fascinated with the dirty little art world. However, this is not a book for wimps (which I am; I don't watch scary movies and I don't ride scary roller coasters). It is brutal and mean in many ways, but it is a rather stunning portrait of contemporary Russia- not that it would make you want to visit anytime soon- and there is a humanity to it (in the protagonist Volk and Valya, his girlfriend) that is belied by the constant violence. I couldn't decide whether to give it two stars (due to the wimp factor) or three or four(because it is memorable and extremely written). You decide; but be prepared for graphic gore. I'm not sorry I read it...now, if someone can just stop the nightmares I'll be okay.

[Kelv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read - book was well laid out with a continuous story. No backwards steps or time jumping, which could have happened due to volks trouble when he was in Chechnya. Volks female partner - Valya was a bit disappointing. She started strong; she was a swift, champion marksman and fighter; only to find myself not caring about her - this is unlike the character Lisbeth in 'The girl with the dragon tattoo' - where the author makes you feel for her.

The relevance of Volk 'still' being a colonel in the army is not apparent until the end - knowing this fact earlier may help tie down feelings between the General and Maxim.

The painting - is it real? Do I care that it's real? Do I care that Volk thinks it's real? I think the author has made a excellent attempt at a story based around a painting. Also, the Russian background was a good drop for non stop killing. If this story was based in say, New York, it would soon become a movie with lots of over the top action scenes.

[Rick Bylina · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Volk's Game" by Brent Ghelfi has the kind of plot twists that thriller readers will love, but that's where the love stops. VG is grim, violent, and with many events (the impromptu NYC to Moscow trip comes to mind) that snap the suspension of disbelief. The hero knows how to find anyone. He can go anywhere unimpeded or disappear into the shadows at will. And it is hard to root for a trained psychotic killer, existing in a world of paranoid, sick, and ruthless people. Despite some nice attempts to give us the feel of Moscow and St. Petersburg, and some past and recent history that shapes Russia, he sparks no desire in me to travel to such a cold, drab place where, seemingly, everyone is corrupt, bitter, or just plain evil. And though the author tries to show the human side of the protagonist, it's crumbs at the feet of a starving man. No one is left unscarred by the end of the book. Thriller lovers may like it, but it's a 3 from me.

[Jeffrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This thriller set in Post Soviet Russia features Volk, a Russian soldier who runs drugs and various other illegal substances for the General, an unnamed dwarf who is a powerful figure in the Government. Volk and his lover Volya find themselves involved in a plot to steal an alleged masterpiece painted by the Da Vinci from the Hermitage. There is enough double crossing, murder, torture and bloodshead for several books. Volk is an interesting character -- he is an amputee who was tortured by CHechean rebels who crushed his foot, he limps but his real prosthetic is a miracle of modern design and he is able to move fast and hit hard.

This book is not for the squeamish, but in the end I would rather not have had to read all of the killing and torture.

I have the next 2 books in this series and I will report back on the as well.

[Alejandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

It really disappoints me when I grab a book that has fabulous blurbs and that I have heard many good things about only to find that it was a huge waste of time. Barely 300 pages long (actually 302) it never, ever caught my attention. I actually felt that the few glimmers of action were caused by excess gore and violence. Add to all this the fact that it takes place in Russia and honestly who can keep up with Russian names and places? It´s really annoying to keep going back pages to recheck who Dubinin, Strahov and Vyugin were. In short, the plot centres around a dangerous art heist involving a long lost Da Vinci painting. I can´t believe this book got me stuck for 10 days! I was doing superbly good on my Goodreads challenge! Gah. My recommendation? Skip it. Moving along...

[Bryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

For some reason I cannot quite place, I just couldn't really get into this book. The characters just seemed to come in and out of the story. I didn't quite care for the main character, and not because he was a very bad guy. In fact, the darkness of the main character was a significant reason that I could even finish the book. But that was where it ended... The author tried to give the main character some depth. However, even during these internal struggles, I really didn't care what was the outcome.

I would pass on recommending this book to anyone.

[Alberto Jacobo Baruqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

En el marco de la oligarquía rusa, dos de los mejores espías, y amantes entre sí, tendrán que valorar las consecuencias de traicionar a uno de los dos mafiosos mas importantes del mundo.
Una aventura inesperada de dimensiones geográficas gigantes y giros dignos de llevarse a la pantalla grande que nos tendrán atentos en cada página a los caprichos de los conos que decida su autor. Siempre entretenida, alegre e interesante. AJB

[M.W. Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volk's Game is the first novel by Brent Ghelfi. Excellently done. Setting is wonderfully created. The plot full of suspense and action. Very violent so be warned. The protagonist is an antihero, and a well done antihero as well. I felt pulled into the underworld of Russia. A good read and fun.

I listened to the audio book by Stephen Hoye from Tantor Audio Books. Hoye's reading is excellent, and recommended.

[Bill Thibadeau · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent debut novel. I enjoyed the story but I think some parts of the story are rewrites of things I have read before. The characters are not developed sufficiently for me to relate to. Having been to St Petersburg, I enjoyed reading about places I have visited.

The book, if even remotely accurate of the crime in Russia, should make any westerner rethink visiting Russia.

I will look for the author's next book in the hope that he develops.

[Denorris · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was decent, however I think because it was about Russians and their culture a bit of it went over my head. Too many characters which I couldnt understand their names. I think if I were more exposed to their culture I would be better suited for a book like this. However it was still good and I wouldnt complain. Worth the read if its one of the only ones you have around.

[Cynthia Sinsap · Rating 1 out of 5]

I chose this because it involved discovery of new works by an artist and art theft. There was way too much violence, which often seemed just for the sake of violence rather than plot advancement. The art theft took a back seat to all the murder. Main character was a murderer as well-- too much so for me to feel any sympathy for him.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Violent, brutal, and cold - this is what being a thug is really about (or closer, anyway). Volk's not exactly the guy you'd bring home to mom, but he is the guy you want at your back in a fight. Especially a fight with someone you want to see suffer.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

ouch. harsh. Fast moving, brutal. I was intrigued with my sympathy for this rather unsympathetic character. Little too blody for me. probably will not read the next one, but that's just because I don't like the unremorseful killer attitude.

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a book for the squeamish. Alexei Volkovoy, former Russian Spetsnaz and decorated war hero, now a one-legged producer of porn movies, dealer in stolen personal information and other illegal enterprises.

[Mom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Violent, dreary Russian story where the theft of immensely valuable art and jewels is worthless to anybody and the hero's dearly held but mostly misplaced values lead him to reject his only love for no reason I could comprehend.