Revenge of Odessa

Odessa #2

by Frederick Forsyth, Tony Kent

Their greatest weapon is fear…

Years after the events of The Odessa File, Peter Miller’s grandson, Georg, a successful podcaster living in Berlin, stumbles across evidence that the Odessa – a Nazi network whose goal is to return the Nazis to power and resume their murderous regime – has resurfaced.

Georg picks up their trail and charts an organisation so insidious that it seems unstoppable. Hunted by the Odessa’s agents, he learns that a series of recent terrorist atrocities are just the first step on their path to retribution. And their next attack could change the course of history.

The race for answers takes Georg across continents, from the forests of Germany to the heart of Washington and into the hallowed halls of the White House itself. There, he finds a new generation of Nazis, on the brink of obtaining world power, who won’t stop until democracy falls.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Espionage, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Historical Fiction

448 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 12, 2025

About the author

Frederick Forsyth, CBE was a English author and occasional political commentator. He was best known for thrillers such as The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Dogs of War, The Devil's Alternative, The Fist of God, Icon, The Veteran, Avenger, The Afghan, and more recently, The Cobra and The Kill List.

The son of a furrier, he was born in Ashford, Kent, educated at Tonbridge School and later attended the University of Granada. He became one of the youngest pilots in the Royal Air Force at 19, where he served on National Service from 1956 to 1958. Becoming a journalist, he joined Reuters in 1961 and later the BBC in 1965, where he served as an assistant diplomatic correspondent. From July to September 1967, he served as a correspondent covering the Nigerian Civil War between the region of Biafra and Nigeria. He left the BBC in 1968 after controversy arose over his alleged bias towards the Biafran cause and accusations that he falsified segments of his reports. Returning to Biafra as a freelance reporter, Forsyth wrote his first book, The Biafra Story in 1969.

Forsyth decided to write a novel using similar research techniques to those used in journalism. His first full length novel, The Day of the Jackal, was published in 1971 and became an international bestseller and gained its author the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel. It was later made into a film of the same name.

Reviews

[Mª Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5⭐️

Es difícil leer este libro sin que la sombra de "Odessa" la original única e irrepetible, no planee sobre la lectura. Dicho eso, esta secuela cumple sin más.

Se desenvuelve a buen ritmo, no está mal hilada y contiene mucha acción. La trama se desarrolla en la actualidad y a dos bandas, una en Alemania protagonizada por el nieto de Peter Miller y otra en EEUU. Está bien hilada sin ser tampoco para echar cohetes. Su principal valor reside en que hoy, más que nunca, lo que narra suena muy real.

Por contra los personajes me han parecido clichés manidos, especialmente los matones de Odessa. Es el aspecto de la novela que menos me gustó.

El final correcto.

En conclusión. Un thriller entretenido. No hacía ninguna falta esta segunda parte, pero se deja leer.

[Dave Young · Rating 1 out of 5]

Frederick Forsyth is my favorite author, and when I heard there would be a sequel to Odessa File, I was looking forward to one final dose of Forsyth. I was disappointed. There is a link through Peter Miller and his grandson, but this was not a Forsyth book. It was quickly obvious that somebody else wrote it.
There is no inside information. There are no interesting backstories to give depth to the characters. Forsyth could create wonderful characters. The Jackal was a criminal and a killer but also brilliant and meticulous. Hasan Rahmani (Fist of God) worked for a tyrant but we could see his humanity, his hopes and his fears. Andrew Drake (Devil's Aleternative) became a terrorist but we saw first that he was a patriot who wanted to liberate Ukraine from Russian oppression. His motives are still valid 45 years later. The Badger (Avenger) chose loyalty to his friend over loyalty to his nation. These were real and complex characters.
Revenge of Odessa had nothing like that. This book was like the plot for an action movie where the bad guys threaten violence and murder so the "good" guys commit violence and murder and we are expected to be OK with that.
A massive disappointment. Will not read again.

[Guy Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deeply disappointing, lacking in any originality.
It seems this may have been languishing in Forsyth's bottom drawer (with good reason) and his literary executors saw a money making opportunity .
I found the entire premise of the new badder and more demonic Odessa , biding its time since the original Forsyth book to remerge boring.
The use of the original character grandson and the peopling of the book with older versions from the original Odessa file virtually cut and paste with wrinkles.
I have always enjoyed Forsyth's books as original, well researched and a gold standard in thriller writing.
This book could not be further from that.

[Sabina · Rating 4 out of 5]

mucha acción, ha estado súper entretenido.

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

**. 2 1/2 Stars: A Very Uneven Thriller - interesting In Its Concept, Disappointing In Its Execution And Cohesion!

I was very much looking forward to reading this book because it’s written by Frederick Forsyth (one of my all-time favorite thriller writers) in collaboration with Tony Kent; and more importantly because it’s to be marketed as a sequel to Forsyth’s classic thriller, The Odessa File.

I won’t take your time summarizing the plot of Revenge Of Odessa, as this can be read about in the Goodreads or Amazon Book Description. My review will focus on why this book - scheduled to be released on November 18th - is not one I’d highly recommend to thriller lovers.

I felt the book’s attempt to merge the different writing styles of the two authors was ambitious in scope but weak in execution. This fusion of styles didn’t work for me because Forsyth’s usual meticulous, well-researched, deliberate storytelling style often seemed to clash with Kent’s brisk, action-driven approach.

One result of this clash in styles is that the pacing often wavered - too slow in the buildup then suddenly rushed through key confrontations. Another key result is that character development was mostly one-dimensional. Further, while the protagonists seemed competent and compelling in moments, they much more often seemed like archtypes rather than fully realized individuals. Finally, the dialogue often seemed stilted, wavering between taut and overly explanatory. It’s as if the authors were tugging the narrative in two directions - Forsyth toward realism and restraint, Kent toward a cinematic feel.

Despite my criticisms, Revenge Of Odessa is likely to deliver enough suspense to satisfy long-term fans of the genre. The books underlying themes - revenge, legacy and the lingering shadow of history - are potent even if the execution doesn’t always match the ambition.

[Charlie Hasler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The quality is not in the same league as the first book.

Good fun in parts but overall quite disappointing. 2.5 stars

[Montse #SeguiréLeyendo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaaaaargh!!! It happened again…The second book in a row that has the denouement in the upcoming novel…I detest it when TV series employ a two-part, cliffhanger ending in episodes, and I loathe when authors do the same….Frederick Forsyth and his legacy author, Tony Kent, have done it with the Peter Miller efforts to destroy another Nazi empire through the new Odessa movement…This time, it’s Peter’s grandson, Georg…It’s a good thriller, but it’s only marred by this unfortunate two-part effort!

[Jane Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay and did improve in pace and excitement towards the end, but not as good as Frederick Forsythe, and I feel his name was used merely to attract readers who liked him and he had nothing to do with this book.

[Hanlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When you outlaw the truth, you pave the road to hell."

When I heard about the release of this book, I was over the moon for two reasons. Firstly, many moons ago, I discovered my love for spy thrillers through The Odessa Files, and secondly, Tony Kent is one of my favorite authors, so to me, this was a match made in heaven!
I can honestly say that this book did not disappoint!
It is a fast-paced, action-packed read that captured my attention from the very beginning.
In The Odessa Files, Ben served as our primary protagonist, and he returns in this book, though this time it is his grandson who inadvertently becomes involved with Odessa after being mistaken for his father.

Sixty years before Georg Miller's grandfather Ben infiltrated and exposed Odessa, an underground network of former SS officers dedicated to protecting ex-Nazis, helping them escape justice, and infiltrating postwar society; an organization everyone thought was wiped out, but it seems as though they are as close to power as they have ever been. They were dormant for a very long time, but it seems as though they are still wheeling and dealing and were responsible for the death of Georg's parents.
What are they planning, and will Georg and his godfather, who is called in to help, be able to stop them in time?

I hope we will see a follow-up to this book because you can remove the head of the snake, but remember Cerberus had more than one head....

[Jerry B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Frederick Forsyth was one of our A-/B+ list of favorite authors for the past several decades. Best known for his excellent first novel, the Day of the Jackal, he wrote somewhat sparingly -- if my math is correct, he conferred upon us just over 20 tales of international intrigue and terror over the past 50 years. I feared the worst to see a co-author on this title, somewhat a sequel to the Odessa File published in 1972. Indeed, FF passed away with we suspect little input to this swan song.

Unfortunately, the topic of “Revenge” did not appeal, nor frankly did the plot nor the writing style – accordingly, to leave our last memory as a good one, we abandoned this particular tale after over a third of the book left us uninterested and unmotivated, frankly a rare decision. In looking back, we accorded over 2/3 of his novels either 4- or 5- star ratings, not typically frequently bestowed.

So we wish we had better comments about this book per se, but his bibliography made for many an inspiring and enjoyable reading seesion.

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frederick Forsyth’s ‘Odessa File’ was published in 1972 – I read it sometime in the 1970’s but remember little of it, except the premise of the story, which was that far from being defeated in 1945, the Nazi’s were laying low, regrouping and planning a comeback. It was an excellent book and a very popular film too.
‘The Revenge of Odessa’ published in 2025 and written by Forsyth (who passed away in 2025) but with Tony Kent, brings the basic premise right up to date but with a few twists. It is an enjoying and somewhat swashbuckling ride, but in truth lacks depth, perception and credibility. A fun and easy read but essentially lightweight.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A follow-on from the Odessa File which I haven’t read but I saw some reviews of this book calling it disappointing. I agree not because of a comparison but because of the poor quality of some of the writing.

Georg, grandson of a previous scourge of the Nazis, accidentally stumbles across evidence that they are on the rise again. His character is pretty well drawn as is the character of the American staffer, Vaness Price whose story was involving and definitely created a sense of real danger.

I did not feel like I was drawn too far into the world depicted in the book. The fight scenes, for example, came over as written at a distance, clumsy and non involving.

The whole premise of the story is of course, terrifying, especially in this time of history, with the rise of right wing ideology, so perhaps the reader will take it all as a warning.

That said, I sort of enjoyed the read and may read the sequel if there is one, as seems likely given the ‘twist’ at the end.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my kindle. This is my honest opinion after a complete read of the book.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked The Odessa File, which I read a long time ago. Revenge of Odessa was a decent book, good cast of charactors(good/bad), interesting storyline/plot, but the story dragged along till the bullets started to fly. Some good action got the story ramped up and then it died a sudden death at the end. Too many questions were left unanswered and you'll need to wait for the follow up, which I might possibly read.
Thanks to G. P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the ARC of the novel.

[Elyse Leinweber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too violent imo

[Steve Marshall]

A bit clunky, not on a par with Forsyth’s best such as The Day of the Jackyl

[Carlos Lado · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sin la menor duda, el peor libro de Frederick Forsyth. Es más, tengo serias dudas que esté libro lo escribiese F.F.
La editorial o la familia de F.F. necesitaba hacer caja y sacó el libro.
El argumento es de "teoría de la conspiración ", disparate tras disparate. Nadie en su sano juicio puede creerse esta sucesión de astracanadas.
Es bastante triste que el último libro de un gran escritor como F.F. sea una oda a la mediocridad.

[Raymond Soltysek · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not really a Frederick Forsyth novel. Really badly written.

[David Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a somewhat belated follow-up to 'The Odessa File' which I read many years ago. The first book was a great read and quite believable. It was well written in the style of most of the other books Forsyth wrote in the latter years of the 20th Century. This one is not as good and the style is somewhat different from FF. It starts fairly slowly (two stars) and it is probably only in the second half that things get more interesting (four stars). I would be interested to know if the author (Tony Kent) had any contact with FF before the latter died.

So whilst I would recommend any FF original I probably wouldn't read another written in the name of.....

[Gregory Beaman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Clearly not written by Frederick Forsyth. The book is lazy and lacks the depth of a Frederick Forsyth novel. The simplistic virtue signalling and identity politics further betrays the excellence of Frederick Forsyth's work.

A massive disappointment.

[Simon Pitman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant page turner and excellent sequel to The Odessa File

[Martin Warner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tony Kent is not Frederick Forsyth

This was embarrassingly bad and a very pale imitation of one of the great thriller writers of the 20th century.

Really, really poor

[bryan fothergill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read. A great follow up to The Odessa File. This book leaves you wanting more, and hopefully there will be.

[Detlef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dies ist der lange erwartete zweite Band des in den 1980er Jahren erschienenen Romans »Die Akte Odessa« vom Großmeister der Spionagethrille Frederick Forsyth . Allerdings hatte sich Frederick Forsyth wegen seines Alters bereits einen Co-Autoren hinzugeholt, der ihn bei der Fertigstellung unterstützt. Dieser Co-Autor ist kein geringerer als der britische Thriller-Autor Tony Kent. Es ist sehr bedauerlich, dass der Großmeister das Erscheinen dieses zweiten Teils der ODESSA-Akten nicht mehr erleben kann. Denn er verstarb im Juni 2025, kurz vor dem Erscheinungstermin. Möge er in Frieden ruhen.

Die Fäden des ersten Teils, der im Spannungsfeld des kalten Krieges in den 1960er Jahren in Deutschland spielt, wurden bestens aufgegriffen und in die heute Zeit transformiert. Protagonist des zweiten Teils Georg Miller, ist der Enkel des Protagonisten Peter Miller aus dem ersten Band. Auch Georg ist in die Fußstapfen seines Greoßvaters gestiegen und Journalist geworden. Er arbeitet für das Hamburger Magazin „Komet“. (Ein Schelm, wer dabei an den „Stern“ denkt. )

Der Roman führt die Leser zunächst in die Räume des amerikanischen Senators Jack Johnson. Johnson hat sein ganzes Leben versucht, ehrlich und offen zu sein. Doch an diesem Abend steht eine Praktikantin Spohie aus seinem Team in seiner Wohnung. Sie möchte eigentlich einen Job in der Politik, aber vielleicht auch mehr. Doch Johnson wehrt sich. Da explodiert seine Wohnung und sowohl der Senator als auch die Praktikantin kommen dabei ums Leben. Aber einen Nachfolger auf dem Posten des Senators gibt es bereits.

Dann schwingt die Handlung nach Deutschland in ein Fußballstadion. Es spielen der VfB Stuttgart gegen den TSC Hoffenheim. Das Plätze im Stadion sind ausverkauft. Während die Fußballfans jubeln oder enttäuscht sind, gibt es plötzlich Detonationen und es werden Schüsse auf die Zuschauer abgefeuert. Unter „Allauh Akbar“-Rufen werden viele Menschen getötet. Es ist ein Terroranschlag noch nie dagewesenen Ausmaßes in Deutschland.

Gregor Miller, Reporter beim Hamburger „Komet“, war wegen einer Fußballreportage anwesend und fühlt sich nun berufen, eine Reportage über den Anschlag zu machen. Doch, was er dabei aufdeckt, hätte er nie erwartet. Denn manche Informationen betreffen ihn und seine Familie ganz persönlich.

Vielle echte Fakten aus der heutigen Zeit wurden mit der Handlung verknüpft, die im September 2025 spielt. Die AfD und ihr Erstarken bei den Wahlen und Umfragen spielt eine wesentliche Rolle, um die Existenz von ODESSA zu erklären. Aber auch der Terroranschlag zu Weihnachten 2024 in Magdeburg und die zunehmende Ausländerfeindlichkeit in Deuschland bieten Erklärungen. Das wird alles hervorragend in die Dramaturgie des Thrillers eingebunden.

Schließlich spielt im Rahmen der Dramartugie auch die Manipulation des amerikanischen Präsidenten eine Rolle. Die Organisation ODESSA hat sich nicht nur Deutschland als Ziel vorgenommen, sondern will endlich, nachdem es beim Zweiten Weltkrieg nicht geklappt hat, das Dritte Reich erschaffen und macht vor Amerika nicht halt.

Damit stellt sich Frederick Forsyth erneut ganz klar auf die Seite der Mahner, wie er es schon vor Jahrzehnten gemacht hat. Die Menschen, egal welcher Nation, sollen wachsam bleiben, wann immer es darum geht, eine Weltmacht zu erschaffen.

Auch wenn wie im ersten Teil der Protagonist zunächst etwas naiv wirkt, so lernt er schneller als damals sein Großvater. Schließlich hat er diesen jetzt auch an seiner Seite. Und da beiden klar ist, dass sie den Gegner nicht ohne Gewalt bezwingen können, holen sie sich mächtige Hilfe.

Deshalb können sich Leser dieses Romans nicht nur auf konsequente Ermittlungen freuen, sondern ihnen wird auch eine gehörige Portion Action geboten. Bei dem Terroranschlag im Fußballstadion bleibt es schließlich nicht, denn es gilt einen viel größeren Terroranschlag abzuwehren. Und dabei kommen jede Menge hart ausgebildete Söldner zum Einsatz. Der Wechsel zwischen den Handlungen in USA und denen in Deutschland macht genauso Spaß wie der Wechsel von Ermittlungen und Action.

Revenge of Odessa ist ein fantastischer und würdevoller Nachfolger und zweiter Teil von Die Akte Odessa. Und natürlich macht mich die letzte Anmeldung, dass ODESSA nie stirbt, ein wenig hoffnungsvoll, noch mehr darüber zu erfahren. Ein toller und spannender Roman!!!

© Detlef Knut, Düsseldorf 2025

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give you one piece of advice before reading this book, it would be this; read The Odessa File first. It is not essential – this can be reads as a standalone – but it gives the story far more context, that and it is a really great book. That said, this is not a Frederick Forsyth book as such, nor does it try to be. Tony Kent has been given a premise for the story by the late thriller master himself, Frederick Forsyth, he’s even been given leave to use one of the key characters from the original story, and with very good reason. But this is a thriller for the twenty first century and whilst some of the themes might be a touch familiar – depressingly so in the context of the modern political sphere – this is most certainly a Tony Kent thriller. Action, intrigue and perhaps one of most up to date renderings of the battle between good and evil, should you believe that such things truly exist. You only have to look at the headlines on a daily basis to know that they do.

The book begins in very dramatic style with what can only be the murder of an American politician, a terrorist atrocity in Germany and the 21st centuries answer to journalism – a podcaster working to get to the root of the story and finding himself in the right place at the right and wrong time. Right place as in it is going to lead him to the story of his life. Right and wrong time because of that very fact and that being in the hospital after the terrorist attack will bring him face to face with a man who is going to change the course of his life completely. Or maybe not so much a change as a hastening of the inevitable, for reasons that will become clear in all that comes to be revealed. The podcaster in question is Georg Miller, grandson of The Odessa File’s protagonist, Philip Miller. He is fully aware of his grandfather’s past, but not of how close to it becoming his own reality it is.

This book is packed with brilliant action, the like of which Mr Kent totally excels at. It is inevitable that there is a political slant to this book, given that it has links to a group, The Odessa, which originated in a bid to re-establish the Nazi party within Germany following their defeat in World War II. You would hope that, given all that was learned during and following the war, that the idea of such a party gaining any traction in the modern world would be mere fallacy, and yet you can turn on any television, radio or podcast and hear stories of the rise of the extreme right wing parties in any number of countries across the globe, our own included, so at times this book has an air of depressing realism that, in the hands of a different writer, could just move a reader to a point of melancholy. But, Tony Kent always delivers and not only is Georg Miller a brilliant protagonist, albeit one perhaps a little bit out of his depth – although not as much as his Grandfather had been – but he is joined by an old friend of Georg’s father, and Georg’s own godfather, Scott Brogan. Former SAS and MI6 agent and all action. Think Tony Kent’s Joe Dempsey, only a little older and with literally no-one, and no military or government agency, to limit how far he is willing to go.

There are so many absolutely nail-bitingly brilliant moments in this book that it had me completely hooked right from the start, holding my attention fast, finding myself turning the pages at speed and pulling me right to the edge of my seat. There are scenes that create such tension as we wonder just how Georg will make it out alive, and so many times where you wonder just who, if anyone, you should trust within our protagonists circle of friends. Expect deceit, double crossing and subterfuge – and these are just some of the ‘kinder’ tactics of a foe who would sacrifice seemingly anyone to gain the ultimate in political power. And, if you were paying attention to the start of this review, or even have read the blurb, you might have an inkling as to what that political ambition might be this time around.

There are scenes towards the end of the book where the action really is at fever pitch and which really mark this out as. Tony Kent led novel. Expect Gun fire, sacrifice and maybe just the tiniest bit of justice. Scott Brogan, as effectively a mercenary for hire, has many contacts and surprisingly some of these made a mark really very quickly. I found myself rooting for them and not just because I perceived them to be on the right side of history. Tony kent has a knack of being able to establish character’s very quickly, and making you care about them, even if on occasion they might seem to be a throw away character just there to drive the action on. His ability to create humour, tension and meaning in the story he is telling is what draws me back to his novels again and again, and this was no exception.

There are quite a few surprising characters in this book, including the unlikeliest of heroes whose moral character completely stands out in their specific line of work. The easiest option for them would be to simply step back and ignore what they are witnessing, but at great personal risk, they risk everything and I really liked and respected them for that. But that is one of the great things that this book conveys. That in the face of overwhelming political darkness, the like of which we are all currently living through, there are still those who put the needs of the many over their own personal gain or safety. That idea of people willing to do what is right, not what is easy, is something we could all do with a little of right now, and this book delivers that in spades. Definitely recommended.

[Andy Wormald · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first heard about this book excitement levels went into overdrive for two main reasons:

One being we all know Frederick Forsyth to be one of the greatest thriller writers there has been with books like The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Dogs of War, secondly I consider Tony Kent to be one of todays foremost thriller writers ever since I first read Killer Intent I knew I was in the presence of a special author. So to read a book where the pair have collaborated on was always going to be something special and so it has proved.

Do you have to have the read the Odessa file first, I would say not, it stands up on its own merits, though I suspect many will read it if not before certainly after, This is a read which brings the original story bang up to date but not as an homage to the original but as a freshly unique modern take, it is its own story

Revenge of Odessa ripples with the power of a torpedo, explosive in hitting the spot

I have kept away from any plot or scene spoilers so you the reader can discover the joy of this book for yourself

A read which is undercut throughout with a heady cocktail of tension, suspense and heart stopping drama

Having finished the book I was struck with the overriding thought as to how startlingly relevant a read it is in today’s geo-political world where in certain places you can see the far right having being dormant for so long now becoming more prevalent. The story line plays on this and then some it takes it a step further and poses the question did the Nazis ever disappear?

The opening prologue not only sets out to shock in its magnitude, but sets an early marker for what is to follow showing the levels of reach that have been built up secretly over many years and the extraordinary levels to which these ideologists are prepared to go, talk about playing the long game, the sting and the the twist in the tale though…

The overall plotting has such a hallmark of Frederick Forsyth the attention to detail, the keen eye on todays political world, that well crafted thriller but then you see Tony Kents influence in taking that and stamping his own footprint on the action thriller, pacey pulling no punches, but don’t be fooled into thinking this is just an action thriller, its way more rich and subtle than that, this is an intelligently deeply thought provoking read where the plot is shrouded in intrigue and mystery

The plotting is so intricately layered designed in a way so that your never sure where the story is going to take you or to what the outcome will ultimately be, a race against time where the stakes are at their highest. Peter Miller has kept hidden a secret from his grandson for his own protection, now the truth will out

A wonderfully character driven read I felt as though the characters within the book were on a journey of discovery and finding themselves Georg is certainly is going to find plenty out about himself, you can see an inner struggle going on initially but then reality takes over and he is forced o face down the deadliest of foes. With Brogan you get a no-nonsense action first, ask questions second type of guy, hard hitting and unflinching he only has one thought to protect Georg. Then on the other side Vanessa who is in someways thrown into things by circumstance and chance, out of her depth with no where to turn, but she does have a steely determination to do the right thing, however, that is not without its risks.

All the charcacters within the book have that feeling of authenticity and belonging, there are not many blurred lines, written with a great level of detail, for some you can the exhilaration etched on their faces, for others the fear

The action unfolds relentlessly in its pursuit of the truth, the pages oozing in suspense and tension. A read which I found hard to put down it’s a heart pounding adrenaline fuelled thriller, That said it is not without its heartfelt moments of emotion. As a read it has plenty of twists and turns and moments which just totally surprise you. As a thriller the actions scene are written with a total air f believability, superbly set up and drawn out mixed with those heart stopping moments. As you read you realise everything is set to build into an explosive finale

Compelling as it is entertaining, from first to last I was totally hooked with it chilling story etched in realism and total plausability

This is a powerful read, one of those where you need to take your time with it, take it all in let things percolate around in your thought processes fully digest what you are reading, because you are reading a masterpiece of a thriller, born in the past, played out out in the present. The way the authors have a created a story etched in realism where you will ask yourself could this happen is to be applauded it’s takes two writers of real quality

The ending well……. (find out for yourself)

I read to be entertained, this book does that in spades, I cannot recommend this highly enough

[Mary Picken · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Odessa File (1972) chased a fugitive Nazi in the post-war shadows. Revenge of Odessa brings us a nightmare for a new generation. There are new manoeuvres, fresh brutality, and a lingering sense that history isn’t quite being relived, but the old horrors are evolving. The novel feels less like nostalgia and more like a grim foretelling: the old horrors may lie dormant, but they have never truly vanished.

Revenge of Odessa isn’t just a thriller — it’s a treatise on memory, legacy, and the danger of forgetting. The revived threat of the shadowy organisation ODESSA —a post-war Nazi network — embodies the idea that evil doesn’t end; it simply changes to suit the circumstances of the times. By bringing ODESSA out of the past and reviving it as a living menace with global reach, Forsyth and Kent force us to confront the possibility that evil can be dormant but not dead.

Georg Miller, a sharp-witted journalist-podcaster, slowly picks apart a string of deaths — a US senator burnt to death in Washington, gunmen mowing down football fans in Berlin, a quiet killing in a German dementia ward. The Revenge of Odessa deftly sets up a chain of horror that refuses to let you look away.

This is excellent plotting, spare and powerful. Each atrocity feels isolated, but as Georg begins to connect the dots, you can sense the slow tightening of a trap. The growing sense of paranoia — that there is no safe place, no moment of respite — is handled deftly. By the time the narrative has spanned from Germany to the heart of Washington, the tension has turned into something explosive: the stakes are now global.

Our protagonist, Georg Miller is resourceful and determined. He is a worthy heir to his grandfather, the journalist from the original The Odessa File, Peter Miller, and he continues a legacy of investigation and seeking the truth.

This is a thriller with tension that grips hard. The resurgence of the old SS network (ODESSA) is a revived and ruthless force infiltrating politics and terror cells worldwide. It feels chillingly plausible. At a time when far-right movements, disinformation and political polarisation are only too real, this novel taps into my genuine anxieties.

Revenge of Odessa challenges the accepted conclusion that the defeat of Nazi Germany was final, that justice was served, and the horrors ended forever. Instead, the novel chillingly suggests that the defeat was only temporary; ideologies may go underground, but their roots remain.

Verdict: In Revenge of Odessa, Forsyth and Kent deliver more than a gripping page-turner; they issue a warning. Evil may sleep, but it can be woken. As a thriller, it is terrific: there’s tension, fast pacing, and an evil conspiracy with sky-high stakes. This book doesn’t just offer thrills, though — it also issues a warning. It asks how many resolved conflicts are only dormant. How many defeated ideologies quietly survive in dark corners? That’s what will keep me up at night now that I have read it.

[Mark taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Risky Sequel – But a Worthy One

Approaching Revenge of Odessa inevitably feels like a leap of faith. The Odessa File remains one of the great political thrillers of the 20th century, and sequels written decades later rarely capture the power of the original. Add to that the fact that Forsyth was 87 when the novel was announced passing away just before the book was published, and expectations were understandably mixed.

So, does it live up to its predecessor?

In short: yes.

Not only is it a worthy continuation of the story, it stands comfortably among Forsyth’s stronger works.

Themes: The Persistence of Ideology

While both novels function as gripping thrillers, the underlying theme is more sobering. The ideology that fuelled the ODESSA organisation has not simply vanished with time. The novel argues that extremist beliefs do not disappear, they evolve, adapt, and resurface unless challenged with vigilance.

It’s a theme that feels particularly relevant in today’s political climate, lending the story an unsettling immediacy.

A Believable Premise

One of Forsyth’s greatest strengths has always been his ability to take real-world events and push them just far enough to create fiction that feels entirely plausible. That skill remains firmly intact here.

Revenge of Odessa reads at times less like speculation and more like tomorrow’s headlines. The political landscape, technological elements, and geopolitical tensions all feel convincingly grounded in reality.

Research vs. Storytelling

Forsyth’s reputation for meticulous research is well deserved. His earlier novels sometimes leaned heavily into technical detail, occasionally at the expense of pace.

Here, the balance is handled more smoothly. The research underpins the narrative without overwhelming it. There is no sense of information dumping; instead, the detail enhances credibility while the story and suspense remain front and centre.

Character Development

Historically, character depth has not been Forsyth’s strongest suit. His protagonists are often defined more by competence and moral clarity than by emotional complexity.

Interestingly, Georg Miller feels more developed than many previous Forsyth leads. Whether that is due to Tony Kent’s influence or simply the benefit of linking him to Peter Miller’s legacy is open to interpretation. Readers familiar with The Odessa File may naturally project some of Peter’s qualities onto Georg, but even taken on his own terms, he is a compelling modern protagonist.

Action and Tone

As with much of Forsyth’s work, the action scenes are precise and controlled rather than cinematic or flamboyant. They can occasionally read more like a professional briefing than a Hollywood set piece. That said, they feel sharper and more violent than in the original novel, reflecting the harsher realities of the contemporary setting.

Can It Be Read as a Standalone?

While prior knowledge of The Odessa File certainly enriches the experience, particularly in spotting subtle connections and references, it is not essential.

Readers who know the original well will not need to revisit it before starting this sequel. Equally, newcomers should be able to follow the narrative without difficulty. However, rereading the first novel beforehand does enhance appreciation of the generational parallels and thematic echoes.

Final Thoughts

Revenge of Odessa is both a respectful continuation and a powerful modern thriller in its own right. It captures the spirit of Forsyth’s classic style while adapting it to a contemporary world.

Perhaps the most poignant aspect of the novel is that it was published shortly after Frederick Forsyth’s death. Although he was involved in its creation, he did not live to see its release. In many ways, the book feels like a fitting final statement from one of the masters of the political thriller.

For long-time fans, it is a worthy sequel. For new readers, it is a timely and intelligent thriller that stands confidently on its own.

Rating: Highly Recommended

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revenge of Odessa is a rock-solid winner. The late Frederick Forsyth and accomplished British thriller writer Tony Kent have partnered to give us a contemporary follow-up to the best selling The Odessa File. Frederick Forsyth has been one of my favorite authors since the publication of the classic thriller The Day of the Jackel. Forsyth followed with The Odessa File in 1972. Fifty plus years later Revenge of Odessa skips a generation of the Miller family going from investigative reporter Peter Miller searching out illegal post-nazi activity following Germany’s WWII failure to grandson podcaster/journalist Georg Miller. Why? Georg’s parents were killed in a car accident leaving grandfather Peter to raise him.

Forsyth’s trademark intricate plotting brings alive two seemingly unrelated catastrophic events in Washington DC and Stuttgart, Germany, into a compelling page-turner. A terrorist attack during a soccer match sends Georg to Stuttgart to interview victims and witnesses in the city’s main trauma hospital. A chance encounter with a patient in the memory care wing rattles Georg to his core. A follow-up encounter with the patient’s wife leads to Georg, Peter, and others to uncover a geopolitical plot by the Odessa group attempting to destabilize the German and American governments.

The action and tension ratchet up as police and federal police set out to arrest Georg for murder. He is also being hunted by neo-Nazis who want to eliminate him. Georg’s grandfather enlists the help of an old British SAS friend to help Georg navigate through this geopolitical plot from a rebuilt Odessa organization planning that has inserted key members into the highest positions in government and industry. Georg doesn’t know who to trust as he comes across sleeper agents in government, law enforcement, and industry, white supremists and antisemites committed to restoring the Reich to its proper place in Germany and globally. Georg’s investigation uncovers a major plot Odessa has planned to wipe out all of Germany’s high ranking politicians. A small group of mercenaries led by Peter’s ex-SAS friend are called upon to stop the planned massive terrorist attack. As usual with a Forsyth novel I kept turning the pages right to the completely unsettling ending. Forsyth’s outstanding final work reminds us of what a major contributor he has been to his thriller fans by his suspenseful storytelling.

Thanks to G. P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this outstanding publication.

[Martin Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

ODESSA is alive and well.

The sequel to The Odessa File, "Revenge of the Odessa" opens in the Summer of 2025. A US senator dies in a fire at his Washington townhouse. At the same time in Berlin, gunmen kill supporters at a football match, and an old man dies in the dementia ward of a German hospital. What connects these three, murderous, incidents? When journalist and podcaster Georg Miller starts joining the dots, he finds himself the target of professional killers. His investigation soon reveals they are from an organisation known as Odessa, a powerful group of Nazis intent on regaining their former power.

And so, with the echoes of the original Odessa File book ringing in our ears, we embark on a fast-moving and dark story. The Odessa of the first book has not only not gone away, it has grown and now infiltrates many levels of government across the world. Georg is clearly Peter Miller in a 2025 suit, and in fact, it's easy to picture Jon Voight doing his thing. Like Peter, Georg always seems slightly out of his depth, but manages to pull through. The story moves along nicely, with more action scenes than Forsyth himself usually delivered. As is often the case nowadays, the book does read more like a movie screenplay than a novel, but the action carries it through. There's quite a bit of reflection on the growth of fascism in Europe, and Germany in particular which makes for uncomfortable reading.

Clearly, Frederick Forsyth did not write this book - author Tony Kent took Forsyth's premise and wrote his own book. I've not read any of his other works, but this book, on its own merits, came across as an enjoyable, fast-moving thriller In fact, the prose often flows better than some of Forsyth's stilted sections. That said, some sections did seem more lengthy than the plot required. Although a stand-alone novel, it would probably help to have read The Odessa File for background colour.

Whether or not Frederick Forsyth fans will enjoy this, thriller fans definitely will.