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Katya #2
Katya the Informer
Katya Petrovna is a risk-taker. It's what led her to leave her job at the Russian Federal Security Service and join the new G8 Intelligence Agency. But her reputation as headstrong and independent precedes her, and G8 wonders if she's ready for their dangerous missions. When a Russian woman is caught at London Heathrow airport with a suitcase full of cash, John Hammond, G8's Director General, assigns Katya her first operation: infiltrate a Russian mafia-run casino on the Black Sea. Katya goes undercover as the daughter of a wealthy ex-KGB officer looking for a good time. But as she delves deeper into the casino's operations, she finds herself out of her depth. The mafia's reach extends all the way to a Chinese Tong Casino in Macau, where they're running a brutal trafficking operation. And with each step, Katya's mistakes put her in even more danger. She tries to recruit Kirill, a casino floor manager who she knew as a street kid in Moscow, as an informant. But as the stakes get higher and the risks greater, she can't be sure if he's on her side or working for the mafia. Katya's descent into the dark world of the high-stakes casino trade is a nightmare of cruelty, torture, and death, but she can't stop now. The girls in the trafficking trade need her to do what she does best: take a gamble.
352 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2024
17 people want to read
About the author
David Bickford
6 books9 followersA former Under Secretary of State and Legal Director to the British Intelligence Agencies, MI5 & MI6.
David spent his working life diving into the cold murky seas of terrorism, espionage and organised crime.
At the forefront of the battle against international terrorism he was among the first to predict its onslaught.
David is recognised, both in the Agencies where he was made Companion Order of the Bath for his work, and in the business he now runs, for his ground-breaking solutions to defeat the terrorists and international organised criminals who threaten us.
David spent his working life diving into the cold murky seas of terrorism, espionage and organised crime.
At the forefront of the battle against international terrorism he was among the first to predict its onslaught.
David is recognised, both in the Agencies where he was made Companion Order of the Bath for his work, and in the business he now runs, for his ground-breaking solutions to defeat the terrorists and international organised criminals who threaten us.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 21, 2025
this book made its way to me via a gift. i don’t read spy fiction ever really (so question the gift haha) but wanted to give it a go. i found the characterisation of katya quite sexist - she was written as feisty, independent, courageous, bolshy, but she also didn’t really have much depth to her. the book is littered with errors and could do with a proof reader. the story was a bit whack, but the ending was shocking. i did audibly gasp.
October 26, 2024
One of the worst books I have ever read.
Formatting errors throughout the book, poor plot, unlikeable characters.
I had been given the next one in the series, but won't bother reading it.
Formatting errors throughout the book, poor plot, unlikeable characters.
I had been given the next one in the series, but won't bother reading it.
September 1, 2024
This book is absolutely littered with grammatical and formatting errors. As well as just other errors in general. Why do some sentences randomly split over two lines? Why do some characters literally change names in the middle of a scene?? Why do we have a recap at the start of each chapter as if I’m not the one bloody reading what’s just happened anyway??? Why are all the Russian words in italics, but then in some sentences the author just forgets to keep doing that???? How did this book make it through editing?????
Don’t even get me started on the plot. The main character is dumb beyond belief. If she can be a a G8 spy, then I’d call myself the bloody CEO of the company. The so-called mafia are equally as stupid. 90% of this stuff would just not happen in real life. Prime example: how can Katya hate Kirill for the whole book because he legitimately sells child prostitutes. And then, within the last 50 pages of the book, suddenly he’s the love of her life?? It’s actually laughable.
Also, we do not need paragraphs of detail describing every single room the characters step into and every single outfit they’re wearing. It’s so unnecessary oh my god. The constant reference to how hot and sexy Katya is, is crazy as well. Like Jesus we get it, every guy wants to sleep with her.
Also this is a textbook example of why we should show and not tell. This book over explains everything and literally gives you the internal thoughts of every single character (even the minor ones!). Absolutely nothing is left to interpretation. We’re also just told that Katya is amazing and special and talented and hardened and tough by all the other characters. Without being shown one action that proves these qualities in any way shape or form.
I’m aware I’m rambling now so I’ll stop because this is the longest bloody review I’ve written. I had to get it all out because there’s just so many things that annoyed me about this one.
EDIT: I’ve just seen this person is quite a new author so I do apologise if this is a bit of a mean review but it was my genuine initial reaction to finishing it 5mins ago and I had to be honest.
Don’t even get me started on the plot. The main character is dumb beyond belief. If she can be a a G8 spy, then I’d call myself the bloody CEO of the company. The so-called mafia are equally as stupid. 90% of this stuff would just not happen in real life. Prime example: how can Katya hate Kirill for the whole book because he legitimately sells child prostitutes. And then, within the last 50 pages of the book, suddenly he’s the love of her life?? It’s actually laughable.
Also, we do not need paragraphs of detail describing every single room the characters step into and every single outfit they’re wearing. It’s so unnecessary oh my god. The constant reference to how hot and sexy Katya is, is crazy as well. Like Jesus we get it, every guy wants to sleep with her.
Also this is a textbook example of why we should show and not tell. This book over explains everything and literally gives you the internal thoughts of every single character (even the minor ones!). Absolutely nothing is left to interpretation. We’re also just told that Katya is amazing and special and talented and hardened and tough by all the other characters. Without being shown one action that proves these qualities in any way shape or form.
I’m aware I’m rambling now so I’ll stop because this is the longest bloody review I’ve written. I had to get it all out because there’s just so many things that annoyed me about this one.
EDIT: I’ve just seen this person is quite a new author so I do apologise if this is a bit of a mean review but it was my genuine initial reaction to finishing it 5mins ago and I had to be honest.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews