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The Fourth Courier
A Fast Paced Espionage Thriller for Alan Furst Fans Set In Post-Cold War Poland.
It is 1992 in Warsaw, Poland, and the communist era has just ended. A series of grisly murders suddenly becomes an international case when it's feared that the victims may have been couriers smuggling nuclear material out of the defunct Soviet Union. The FBI sends an agent to help with the investigation. When he learns that a Russian physicist who designed a portable atomic bomb has disappeared, the race is on to find him—and the bomb—before it ends up in the wrong hands.
Smith’s depiction of post-cold war Poland is gloomily atmospheric and murky in a world where nothing is quite as it seems. Suspenseful, thrilling, and smart, The Fourth Courier brings together a straight white FBI agent and gay black CIA officer as they team up to uncover a gruesome plot involving murder, radioactive contraband, narcissistic government leaders, and unconscionable greed.
It is 1992 in Warsaw, Poland, and the communist era has just ended. A series of grisly murders suddenly becomes an international case when it's feared that the victims may have been couriers smuggling nuclear material out of the defunct Soviet Union. The FBI sends an agent to help with the investigation. When he learns that a Russian physicist who designed a portable atomic bomb has disappeared, the race is on to find him—and the bomb—before it ends up in the wrong hands.
Smith’s depiction of post-cold war Poland is gloomily atmospheric and murky in a world where nothing is quite as it seems. Suspenseful, thrilling, and smart, The Fourth Courier brings together a straight white FBI agent and gay black CIA officer as they team up to uncover a gruesome plot involving murder, radioactive contraband, narcissistic government leaders, and unconscionable greed.
285 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2019
48 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Timothy Jay Smith
7 books92 followersFrom an early age, Timothy Jay Smith developed a ceaseless wanderlust that has taken him around the world many times. En route, he’s found the characters that people his work. Polish cops and Greek fishermen, mercenaries and arms dealers, child prostitutes and wannabe terrorists, Indian Chiefs and Indian tailors: he’s hung with them all in an unparalleled international career that’s seen him smuggle banned plays from behind the Iron Curtain, maneuver through Occupied Territories, represent the U.S. at the highest levels of foreign governments, and stowaway aboard a ‘devil’s barge’ for a three-day crossing from Cape Verde that landed him in an African jail.
Tim brings the same energy to his writing that he brought to a distinguished career, and as a result, he has won top honors for his novels, screenplays and stage plays in numerous prestigious competitions. Fire on the Island won the Gold Medal in the 2017 Faulkner-Wisdom Competition for the Novel. Another novel, The Fourth Courier, set in Poland, will be published in spring 2019 by Skyhorse Publishing. Previously, he won the Paris Prize for Fiction (now the Paris Literary Prize) for his novel, A Vision of Angels. Kirkus Reviews called Cooper’s Promise “literary dynamite” and selected it as one of the Best Books of 2012.
Tim was nominated for the 2017 Pushcart Prize. His stage play, How High the Moon, won the prestigious Stanley Drama Award, and his screenplays have won competitions sponsored by the American Screenwriters Association, WriteMovies, Houston WorldFest, Rhode Island International Film Festival, Fresh Voices, StoryPros, and the Hollywood Screenwriting Institute. He is the founder of the Smith Prize for Political Theater.
https://www.instagram.com/timothyjays...
www.facebook.com/TimothyJaySmith/
Tim brings the same energy to his writing that he brought to a distinguished career, and as a result, he has won top honors for his novels, screenplays and stage plays in numerous prestigious competitions. Fire on the Island won the Gold Medal in the 2017 Faulkner-Wisdom Competition for the Novel. Another novel, The Fourth Courier, set in Poland, will be published in spring 2019 by Skyhorse Publishing. Previously, he won the Paris Prize for Fiction (now the Paris Literary Prize) for his novel, A Vision of Angels. Kirkus Reviews called Cooper’s Promise “literary dynamite” and selected it as one of the Best Books of 2012.
Tim was nominated for the 2017 Pushcart Prize. His stage play, How High the Moon, won the prestigious Stanley Drama Award, and his screenplays have won competitions sponsored by the American Screenwriters Association, WriteMovies, Houston WorldFest, Rhode Island International Film Festival, Fresh Voices, StoryPros, and the Hollywood Screenwriting Institute. He is the founder of the Smith Prize for Political Theater.
https://www.instagram.com/timothyjays...
www.facebook.com/TimothyJaySmith/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
September 12, 2019
”He’d walked enough of Warsaw’s gray streets and grim underground passages, glancing at the faces of passersby--each a map of a wounded country--and wondered if what he considered his rebelliousness, bred in America’s suburban comfort, could have survived what they had endured. Or would he have resigned himself to the half-empty glass of their existence?”
FBI Agent James ‘Jay’ Porter has been dispatched to Warsaw, Poland, to find out why dead men keep appearing on the river bank, each with the knob of a sixth finger and hands that light up a geiger counter like the fireworks celebrating Wianki.
This is 1992, and the Soviet Union has very recently imploded. The major concern that the US and their allies have after this collapse is, how secure is the massive stockpiles of nuclear material the Russians developed during the Cold War? The rush to embrace capitalism in Russia has consolidated the economy into the hands of the few who are strong enough to control it. In other words, Russia has become a Mafia state where everything is for sale. What better way to make a few million dollars quick than to smuggle some of this nuclear material to somebody with the ambition to use it, or threaten to use it, to leverage his way to power?
That person turns out to be General Drako Mladic, the head of Yugoslavia Secret Services, who dreams of the power that owning the most dangerous weapon ever created will bring him. He has made contact with a Russian scientist, Dr. Sergej Ustinov, who has developed a portable nuclear bomb. He also has a long term relationship with the Director of Organized Crime, Basia Husarska, in his pocket and, when he requires it, in his bed. He feels Poland is the perfect place to make the exchange for what he wants. He just needs to get Ustinov and Husarska together.
Husarska is a classic femme fatale. ”Her fur coat hung open to reveal long legs sheathed by black stockings. She looked as glossy and sexy as if she’d stepped off the page of one of his girlie magazines. Dravko had sent that black-clad angel of seduction for him. Sergej raised a hand and feebly waved.” She knows there is no better time to score big than when a country is in flux while it is struggling to discover a new identity. She is willing to do anything to escape Poland, as long as she can figure out a way to leave with enough money to live in the style she wishes to become accustomed to. Time is short, and her desperation is forcing her to take more and more chances that will either land her in prison for the rest of her life, get her dead, or fly her away to an island escape.
Mladic is a complicated, conflicted man, who wants to be with men but loathes his own desires.“He could masquerade for others, but Basia had known him for too long. When the stunts he wanted her to perform turned demeaning, she recognized it for what it was: degradation of women as permission to desire men.” CIA agent Kurt Crawford knows perfectly how to handle Mladic. Crawford is black, gay, lethal, and built like a Greek God. He is willing to do anything it takes to keep Mladic from acquiring what he wants.
This is a tale of double-crosses within double-crosses, seasoned with a healthy mix of murder. There are dead couriers, with slashed faces, and more to join them, as a diabolic plan starts to unravel. Porter and Crawford may be one step ahead of the game, but with each new revelation, the board flips from Monopoly to Clue to Risk. Will they lose on one of the last major moves of the Cold War, leaving the world in a permanent state of jeopardy at the hands of an ambitious, ruthless man?
Timothy Jay Smith perfectly captures the gloomy, atmospheric uncertainty of Poland in the upheaval of the 1990s. Opportunities, unique possibilities, and even dreams are opening up for the Polish people for the first time in more than a generation. Smith’s depiction of his amoral characters are fully developed, fully fleshed creatures, who force people of principle to change the rules of engagement if they have any hopes of stopping them. While reading this book, I was able to relive my own anxieties from the 1990s, when I, too, was worried about the dissolution of the Soviet Union and what that meant to the security of their nuclear arsenal. I was in particular reminded of the nightmare events of the 1997 movie The Peacemaker, starring George Clooney and Nicole Kidman.
Just before Timothy Jay Smith got in touch with me about reading his book, I’d just watched the strange, ambiguous, very unsettling movie Dark Crimes (2018 release in the US), starring Jim Carrey, which is based off a true story by David Grann. This movie depicts a Poland still suspended in a distant past, with many people worried about an uncertain future, and the effects the “perversities of freedom,” sex, drugs, and outside culture, would have on the emerging, new Poland.
Need a great thriller? Look no further. Smith delivers.
I want to thank Timothy Jay Smith and Arcade Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
FBI Agent James ‘Jay’ Porter has been dispatched to Warsaw, Poland, to find out why dead men keep appearing on the river bank, each with the knob of a sixth finger and hands that light up a geiger counter like the fireworks celebrating Wianki.
This is 1992, and the Soviet Union has very recently imploded. The major concern that the US and their allies have after this collapse is, how secure is the massive stockpiles of nuclear material the Russians developed during the Cold War? The rush to embrace capitalism in Russia has consolidated the economy into the hands of the few who are strong enough to control it. In other words, Russia has become a Mafia state where everything is for sale. What better way to make a few million dollars quick than to smuggle some of this nuclear material to somebody with the ambition to use it, or threaten to use it, to leverage his way to power?
That person turns out to be General Drako Mladic, the head of Yugoslavia Secret Services, who dreams of the power that owning the most dangerous weapon ever created will bring him. He has made contact with a Russian scientist, Dr. Sergej Ustinov, who has developed a portable nuclear bomb. He also has a long term relationship with the Director of Organized Crime, Basia Husarska, in his pocket and, when he requires it, in his bed. He feels Poland is the perfect place to make the exchange for what he wants. He just needs to get Ustinov and Husarska together.
Husarska is a classic femme fatale. ”Her fur coat hung open to reveal long legs sheathed by black stockings. She looked as glossy and sexy as if she’d stepped off the page of one of his girlie magazines. Dravko had sent that black-clad angel of seduction for him. Sergej raised a hand and feebly waved.” She knows there is no better time to score big than when a country is in flux while it is struggling to discover a new identity. She is willing to do anything to escape Poland, as long as she can figure out a way to leave with enough money to live in the style she wishes to become accustomed to. Time is short, and her desperation is forcing her to take more and more chances that will either land her in prison for the rest of her life, get her dead, or fly her away to an island escape.
Mladic is a complicated, conflicted man, who wants to be with men but loathes his own desires.“He could masquerade for others, but Basia had known him for too long. When the stunts he wanted her to perform turned demeaning, she recognized it for what it was: degradation of women as permission to desire men.” CIA agent Kurt Crawford knows perfectly how to handle Mladic. Crawford is black, gay, lethal, and built like a Greek God. He is willing to do anything it takes to keep Mladic from acquiring what he wants.
This is a tale of double-crosses within double-crosses, seasoned with a healthy mix of murder. There are dead couriers, with slashed faces, and more to join them, as a diabolic plan starts to unravel. Porter and Crawford may be one step ahead of the game, but with each new revelation, the board flips from Monopoly to Clue to Risk. Will they lose on one of the last major moves of the Cold War, leaving the world in a permanent state of jeopardy at the hands of an ambitious, ruthless man?
Timothy Jay Smith perfectly captures the gloomy, atmospheric uncertainty of Poland in the upheaval of the 1990s. Opportunities, unique possibilities, and even dreams are opening up for the Polish people for the first time in more than a generation. Smith’s depiction of his amoral characters are fully developed, fully fleshed creatures, who force people of principle to change the rules of engagement if they have any hopes of stopping them. While reading this book, I was able to relive my own anxieties from the 1990s, when I, too, was worried about the dissolution of the Soviet Union and what that meant to the security of their nuclear arsenal. I was in particular reminded of the nightmare events of the 1997 movie The Peacemaker, starring George Clooney and Nicole Kidman.
Just before Timothy Jay Smith got in touch with me about reading his book, I’d just watched the strange, ambiguous, very unsettling movie Dark Crimes (2018 release in the US), starring Jim Carrey, which is based off a true story by David Grann. This movie depicts a Poland still suspended in a distant past, with many people worried about an uncertain future, and the effects the “perversities of freedom,” sex, drugs, and outside culture, would have on the emerging, new Poland.
Need a great thriller? Look no further. Smith delivers.
I want to thank Timothy Jay Smith and Arcade Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
March 6, 2019
Timothy Jay Smith sets his espionage thriller in the tense and fearful atmosphere of Warsaw's dark, dingy, cold and icy streets and alleys. It is 1992, and the recent collapse of the Soviet Union poses threats with its porous borders, poorly protected nuclear arsenal, and the badly paid or now redundant nuclear scientists and military. The head of Yugoslav secret services, Serbian nationalist, General Drako Mladic has ambitions that he is willing to realise with a chilling and deadly plan that worries the Americans. Mladic is a narcissist, pederast, a torturer, in particular of boys, and burdened with a sexual ambivalence that he is ashamed of. A fourth body has been found on the sludgy banks of the Vistula river, and joining Detective Kulski on the investigation is recently arrived FBI agent Jay Porter. The latest body is that of an elderly man, with the same MO as previous victims, his face is slashed, his hands show the high radiation, and he is related to them because he shares the same genetic sixth finger stub with them too. It is speculated that all the victims are Russian. Who is the fourth courier?
The new Russia is a haven for criminals with its various mafia organisations, they have become the elite, the new nomenklatura, owning and running everything in the nation, making it well nigh impossible for legitimate business to thrive. Basia Husarka is the Director of the Bureau for Organised Crime in Warsaw, taking a close and personal interest in the case, the classic femme fatale in espionage. She is a woman with dreams of a future and she is willing to use sex and her body as currency to attain her objectives. Dr Sergej Ustinov is a highly valued and closely controlled nuclear scientist at the covert nuclear facility of Kosmonova, where it appears there are discrepancies in records of dangerous materials. Dr Ustinov has claimed to have developed a portable bomb for which there are likely to be a number of interested parties willing to pay in the flourishing and dangerous post-Soviet lucrative black market. Jay Porter is operating from the American Embassy with CIA operative, the black gay Kurt Crawford, a man who is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure the stability of the region as he ruthlessly targets Mladic's weaknesses.
Smith writes an action packed espionage thriller that drips with the details and rich descriptions of this era in Eastern Europe and Russia, such as the food shortages, insecurities and fears, depicting the region facing the nightmare fallout from the break up of the creaking Soviet empire and the murderous nationalists willing to play with fire to gain political power. This is a compelling story of corruption, tangled murders, double crosses within double crosses, smugglers, and a drug ring. Those interested in this period of history, spies, and in the Poland, and Russia of the time will find this a fascinating and illuminating read. Many thanks to Skyhorse Publishing for an ARC.
The new Russia is a haven for criminals with its various mafia organisations, they have become the elite, the new nomenklatura, owning and running everything in the nation, making it well nigh impossible for legitimate business to thrive. Basia Husarka is the Director of the Bureau for Organised Crime in Warsaw, taking a close and personal interest in the case, the classic femme fatale in espionage. She is a woman with dreams of a future and she is willing to use sex and her body as currency to attain her objectives. Dr Sergej Ustinov is a highly valued and closely controlled nuclear scientist at the covert nuclear facility of Kosmonova, where it appears there are discrepancies in records of dangerous materials. Dr Ustinov has claimed to have developed a portable bomb for which there are likely to be a number of interested parties willing to pay in the flourishing and dangerous post-Soviet lucrative black market. Jay Porter is operating from the American Embassy with CIA operative, the black gay Kurt Crawford, a man who is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure the stability of the region as he ruthlessly targets Mladic's weaknesses.
Smith writes an action packed espionage thriller that drips with the details and rich descriptions of this era in Eastern Europe and Russia, such as the food shortages, insecurities and fears, depicting the region facing the nightmare fallout from the break up of the creaking Soviet empire and the murderous nationalists willing to play with fire to gain political power. This is a compelling story of corruption, tangled murders, double crosses within double crosses, smugglers, and a drug ring. Those interested in this period of history, spies, and in the Poland, and Russia of the time will find this a fascinating and illuminating read. Many thanks to Skyhorse Publishing for an ARC.
Read
April 7, 2019DNF - 49%/NR
Part of it was me and part of it was the writing style. All of it was 100% disappointing because I love suspense thrillers and was virtually bouncing up and down to read this. To be fair, Smith clearly knows Poland and that shows in the writing.
What I had anticipated was a good, juicy thriller that I could sink my teeth into but this is more focused on creating an atmosphere rather than the investigative aspects of the genre that I enjoy. I found the pacing glacial, so I threw the towel in, something I strive to avoid with ARCs but I just don't care how this ends. Additionally, the head hopping was too much for me. Dr. Ustinov was particularly grating with his endless "Ha!"ing.
Jay is an FBI agent sent to assist the Polish police/government in its investigation of a series of murders, one of whom was found with radioactive residue on his hands. Up to this point, Jay has made exactly one trip to Polish police headquarters and two to his own when I threw the towel in at nearly half way!
Jay seems far more interested in hooking up with Lilka than finding a killer. How are you going to help solve a series of murders whilst enjoying Madame Butterfly or getting blotto with Lilka's family? Doesn't seem like an efficient use of one's time to me. And as long as I'm touching on the sex, all of it made me low-grade uncomfortable either because of the casual misogyny tossed around by multiple characters or the awkwardness of the act itself or simply the crassness with which it is discussed. None of it's explicit but it still somehow felt gratuitous. Perhaps it's in an effort to fully realize these characters but it backfired for me and made me dislike them.
There also seems to be an underlying bigotry against Russians which I understand given the time period but I can't shake the feeling that it could've been finessed better.
There are gay characters sprinkled throughout the narrative which is how it was marketed to the blog but I will say the one that's mentioned in the blurb has, thus far, introduced himself as the Acting Regional Security Officer which translates to him being a CIA operative. Great! At their second meeting, in 1992 post Cold War Poland, which is still mostly communist, he casually outs himself to Jay. I'm not saying it couldn't happen but... really? Really? '92 is still tail end of the AIDS epidemic and you're right next door to mother Russia who are still surveilling everything AND why out yourself to some random? I mean, good for him for owning it but... *side eyes* #weirdness
However, reviews thus far are mostly positive so I clearly read it wrong. Not recommended but my opinions are my own and YMMV.
An ARC was provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Part of it was me and part of it was the writing style. All of it was 100% disappointing because I love suspense thrillers and was virtually bouncing up and down to read this. To be fair, Smith clearly knows Poland and that shows in the writing.
What I had anticipated was a good, juicy thriller that I could sink my teeth into but this is more focused on creating an atmosphere rather than the investigative aspects of the genre that I enjoy. I found the pacing glacial, so I threw the towel in, something I strive to avoid with ARCs but I just don't care how this ends. Additionally, the head hopping was too much for me. Dr. Ustinov was particularly grating with his endless "Ha!"ing.
Jay is an FBI agent sent to assist the Polish police/government in its investigation of a series of murders, one of whom was found with radioactive residue on his hands. Up to this point, Jay has made exactly one trip to Polish police headquarters and two to his own when I threw the towel in at nearly half way!
Jay seems far more interested in hooking up with Lilka than finding a killer. How are you going to help solve a series of murders whilst enjoying Madame Butterfly or getting blotto with Lilka's family? Doesn't seem like an efficient use of one's time to me. And as long as I'm touching on the sex, all of it made me low-grade uncomfortable either because of the casual misogyny tossed around by multiple characters or the awkwardness of the act itself or simply the crassness with which it is discussed. None of it's explicit but it still somehow felt gratuitous. Perhaps it's in an effort to fully realize these characters but it backfired for me and made me dislike them.
There also seems to be an underlying bigotry against Russians which I understand given the time period but I can't shake the feeling that it could've been finessed better.
There are gay characters sprinkled throughout the narrative which is how it was marketed to the blog but I will say the one that's mentioned in the blurb has, thus far, introduced himself as the Acting Regional Security Officer which translates to him being a CIA operative. Great! At their second meeting, in 1992 post Cold War Poland, which is still mostly communist, he casually outs himself to Jay. I'm not saying it couldn't happen but... really? Really? '92 is still tail end of the AIDS epidemic and you're right next door to mother Russia who are still surveilling everything AND why out yourself to some random? I mean, good for him for owning it but... *side eyes* #weirdness
However, reviews thus far are mostly positive so I clearly read it wrong. Not recommended but my opinions are my own and YMMV.
An ARC was provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2019
Thanks to NetGALLEY and Skyhorse publishing for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.
In an effort to further increase my genre landscape, I decided it was time for another espionage thriller. But around the 50% mark, I seemed to be floating above myself watching me try to get into the book. It was really low on the spy stuff but I liked the premise of Poland in 1992 when the West and the East still had so many doubts. Maybe I just like my spies more dark and twisty?
In an effort to further increase my genre landscape, I decided it was time for another espionage thriller. But around the 50% mark, I seemed to be floating above myself watching me try to get into the book. It was really low on the spy stuff but I liked the premise of Poland in 1992 when the West and the East still had so many doubts. Maybe I just like my spies more dark and twisty?
March 26, 2019
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Timothy Jay Smith, and Skyhorse Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
After having been asked to read this book by the author, I could not wait to see just what Timothy Jay Smith had in store for his readers. This thriller, set in 1992 Poland, has all the elements of a Cold War classic without the Iron Curtain. However, remnants of the Soviet-era dominance remain, both in the story’s setting and its narrative delivery. The story focuses on a group of recently slain individuals who appear to have been smuggling nuclear material from the former USSR out of the country to help build weapons. While this would seem to be a local matter, FBI Agent Jay Porter arrives when the fourth victim is discovered, killed in much the same matter as the others. These victims or ‘couriers’ seem to have been contracted to help smuggle items out and deliver them to a physicist. Unfortunately, the scientist has also disappeared, making it all the more important to locate him and learn of the intended destination of the nuclear material. General Drako Mladic of the Yugoslav Secret Police soon hits Porter’s radar. Mladic is sadistic and ready to kill anyone who stands in his way, as well as residing in one of Europe’s most unstable regions. Porter will have to work alongside the most unlikely of partners to end the courier route and stop what could be a new international disaster. In a story that mixes thrills, espionage, and the darkest of characters, Smith offers the reader a glimpse into something terrifying, had it actually come to pass. Well-written and captivating, anyone with an interest in Cold War spy thrillers will likely want to add this to their reading list.
I will be the first to admit that I had troubles connecting to the book at times. While Smith is a great writer and keeps the reader enthralled, I found myself weaving in and out of complete comprehension, though the gist did come to me and by the end. FBI Agent Jay Porter proves to be an interesting addition to the story, offering some interesting ‘American flavour’ to the newly freed Polish setting. His attention to detail as he struggles to get his feet under him proves to be highly entertaining to the attentive reader, not to mention the odd pairing he has when investigating. This is a case that challenges traditional police work and being in a foreign country only adds further hurdles. But, Porter pushes onwards and uses some odd connections to help reveal clues to point him in the right direction, even if it will take a miracle to close this case swiftly. Other characters help to shape an already interesting plot, adding conflicting personalities to a dark tale, which can muddy the waters unless the reader is able to focus their attention throughout. A decent premise keeps the story moving forward and the intrigue high. I was never a Cold War thriller reader, but I can see the allure, as there are so many layers to comprehend and many pieces to fit together. Smith does this well and keeps the reader wondering what is to come, as well as seeking to keep an eye peeled for anyone lurking in the shadows. I’ll surely keep an eye open for more by the author and may return to try this book again down the road to see if it leaves more of an impact.
Kudos, Mr. Smith, for a well-paced piece that kept my attention throughout. I hope many discover some of the nuances I missed this time around.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
After having been asked to read this book by the author, I could not wait to see just what Timothy Jay Smith had in store for his readers. This thriller, set in 1992 Poland, has all the elements of a Cold War classic without the Iron Curtain. However, remnants of the Soviet-era dominance remain, both in the story’s setting and its narrative delivery. The story focuses on a group of recently slain individuals who appear to have been smuggling nuclear material from the former USSR out of the country to help build weapons. While this would seem to be a local matter, FBI Agent Jay Porter arrives when the fourth victim is discovered, killed in much the same matter as the others. These victims or ‘couriers’ seem to have been contracted to help smuggle items out and deliver them to a physicist. Unfortunately, the scientist has also disappeared, making it all the more important to locate him and learn of the intended destination of the nuclear material. General Drako Mladic of the Yugoslav Secret Police soon hits Porter’s radar. Mladic is sadistic and ready to kill anyone who stands in his way, as well as residing in one of Europe’s most unstable regions. Porter will have to work alongside the most unlikely of partners to end the courier route and stop what could be a new international disaster. In a story that mixes thrills, espionage, and the darkest of characters, Smith offers the reader a glimpse into something terrifying, had it actually come to pass. Well-written and captivating, anyone with an interest in Cold War spy thrillers will likely want to add this to their reading list.
I will be the first to admit that I had troubles connecting to the book at times. While Smith is a great writer and keeps the reader enthralled, I found myself weaving in and out of complete comprehension, though the gist did come to me and by the end. FBI Agent Jay Porter proves to be an interesting addition to the story, offering some interesting ‘American flavour’ to the newly freed Polish setting. His attention to detail as he struggles to get his feet under him proves to be highly entertaining to the attentive reader, not to mention the odd pairing he has when investigating. This is a case that challenges traditional police work and being in a foreign country only adds further hurdles. But, Porter pushes onwards and uses some odd connections to help reveal clues to point him in the right direction, even if it will take a miracle to close this case swiftly. Other characters help to shape an already interesting plot, adding conflicting personalities to a dark tale, which can muddy the waters unless the reader is able to focus their attention throughout. A decent premise keeps the story moving forward and the intrigue high. I was never a Cold War thriller reader, but I can see the allure, as there are so many layers to comprehend and many pieces to fit together. Smith does this well and keeps the reader wondering what is to come, as well as seeking to keep an eye peeled for anyone lurking in the shadows. I’ll surely keep an eye open for more by the author and may return to try this book again down the road to see if it leaves more of an impact.
Kudos, Mr. Smith, for a well-paced piece that kept my attention throughout. I hope many discover some of the nuances I missed this time around.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
July 6, 2022
Real Rating: 3.5* of five, rounded down for misdirection
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Atmospheric, dark thriller about the immediate aftermath of the USSR's fall, its consequences for the former Warsaw Pact countries (especially Poland), and a morally ambiguous story of how the balance of power stays balanced.
I was unsurprised to see the homophobia of the Eastern Bloc countries brought into focus...remember Swimming in the Dark? Nationalist Love?...but was quite surprised to see it used to make a US spy into a honey trap for a General known to be, um, susceptible. It's such a realpolitik maneuver that I've always assumed it was simply unknown. Silly me. If something can provide leverage, of course it's been used by both sides.
Kurt, our gay character, is both Black and a CIA honey trap for the self-loathing General. He's...fine with it. He uses his body, its beauty and power, to further the interests of his chosen side. This means he's not a good gay, or a good guy. This being Reality I'm all down with this in theory. In practice, as it's handled in this story, it's a bit more like prostitution than it is noble self-sacrifice. I'm not criticizing here but analyzing what it is that the two things have in common: Exchange of value. The sheer mercenary chill of Kurt giving the General what he craves is perfectly appropriate, if distasteful.
Again, the consummation of the act isn't explicit. It's more detailed than it was in Fire on the Island. It's staged in a shower, and that made me chuckle...let's keep it clean, boys!...and the ending, which is indeed Happy, is somewhat heavy-handedly made into a political commentary. But I wasn't anywhere near as creeped out as I routinely am in these sorts of situations when it's a woman using her body to get a man to do something for her side. My primary issue is: That's it. That's what Kurt's there to do, he does it, and buh bye now!
As with all the gay characters in the book, they serve a role and vacate the scene when it's fulfilled. I found Jay, straight and narrow Jay, uninteresting really. He was an investigator who didn't investigate but ran across answers. It's not like that is unknown in thrillerdom. It just doesn't endear him to me. And honestly I just do not care about his ex-wife or about his borning relationship with Lilka the Polish lady, which yet again (see review above) is clearly stated as Not Going Anywhere.
Nowhere near as much fun to read as Fire on the Island, but I wanted to finish the read. I was involved, I was entertained, and yet still I was unsatisfied because Kurt was underutilized. Why tell me about him at all if all he was there to do was fuck one guy and then melt down the shower drain with his jizz?
I don't doubt that straight people will like it more than I did.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Atmospheric, dark thriller about the immediate aftermath of the USSR's fall, its consequences for the former Warsaw Pact countries (especially Poland), and a morally ambiguous story of how the balance of power stays balanced.
I was unsurprised to see the homophobia of the Eastern Bloc countries brought into focus...remember Swimming in the Dark? Nationalist Love?...but was quite surprised to see it used to make a US spy into a honey trap for a General known to be, um, susceptible. It's such a realpolitik maneuver that I've always assumed it was simply unknown. Silly me. If something can provide leverage, of course it's been used by both sides.
Kurt, our gay character, is both Black and a CIA honey trap for the self-loathing General. He's...fine with it. He uses his body, its beauty and power, to further the interests of his chosen side. This means he's not a good gay, or a good guy. This being Reality I'm all down with this in theory. In practice, as it's handled in this story, it's a bit more like prostitution than it is noble self-sacrifice. I'm not criticizing here but analyzing what it is that the two things have in common: Exchange of value. The sheer mercenary chill of Kurt giving the General what he craves is perfectly appropriate, if distasteful.
Again, the consummation of the act isn't explicit. It's more detailed than it was in Fire on the Island. It's staged in a shower, and that made me chuckle...let's keep it clean, boys!...and the ending, which is indeed Happy, is somewhat heavy-handedly made into a political commentary. But I wasn't anywhere near as creeped out as I routinely am in these sorts of situations when it's a woman using her body to get a man to do something for her side. My primary issue is: That's it. That's what Kurt's there to do, he does it, and buh bye now!
As with all the gay characters in the book, they serve a role and vacate the scene when it's fulfilled. I found Jay, straight and narrow Jay, uninteresting really. He was an investigator who didn't investigate but ran across answers. It's not like that is unknown in thrillerdom. It just doesn't endear him to me. And honestly I just do not care about his ex-wife or about his borning relationship with Lilka the Polish lady, which yet again (see review above) is clearly stated as Not Going Anywhere.
Nowhere near as much fun to read as Fire on the Island, but I wanted to finish the read. I was involved, I was entertained, and yet still I was unsatisfied because Kurt was underutilized. Why tell me about him at all if all he was there to do was fuck one guy and then melt down the shower drain with his jizz?
I don't doubt that straight people will like it more than I did.
June 8, 2019
The Fourth Courier is a stunningly great hardboiled espionage tale set in post-Communist Poland. The setting is a stroke of genius. The Iron Curtain has fallen and gray bureaucratic Warsaw is coming slowly to grips with Western capitalism and cooperation with the Americans. War is brewing in the former Yugoslavia, a war that would eventually become not only deadly but dirty and desperate. Nuclear scientists are at loose ends in Soviet Russia. And, the FBI has been called in for consultation on a series of riverside murders in Warsaw. Are they Russians who are being murdered? What is going on?
This is not for the most part a who-done-it although there is a murder mystery. It is a nasty sexy hardboiled story of murder, deception, betrayal, and spy versus spy. There’s a sexy woman running around in a fur coat and thigh highs turning every man’s head as she walks in her heels. And, seducing every man she meets. There’s a million bucks in a suitcase and dreams of leaving gray Warsaw where It’s still Winter in April.
Tough, nasty, and action-Packed. This is crime fiction and espionage fiction at its best.
This is not for the most part a who-done-it although there is a murder mystery. It is a nasty sexy hardboiled story of murder, deception, betrayal, and spy versus spy. There’s a sexy woman running around in a fur coat and thigh highs turning every man’s head as she walks in her heels. And, seducing every man she meets. There’s a million bucks in a suitcase and dreams of leaving gray Warsaw where It’s still Winter in April.
Tough, nasty, and action-Packed. This is crime fiction and espionage fiction at its best.
April 8, 2019
I was approached by the author to read and review his latest novel 'The Fourth Courier' which I was very happy to do.
This is a spy thriller set in Warsaw, Poland in 1992 at the end of the communist era. A number of gruesome murders becomes an international case when it's feared that the victims may have been couriers smuggling nuclear material out of the Soviet Union. FBI agent Jay Porter is sent to help the investigation and when he discovers that a Russian physicist who designed a portable atomic bomb has disappeared, the race is on to find him and the bomb before it ends up in the wrong hands.
This is an action packed novel that not only entertained me but also gave me a good insight into the period and ways in Poland at that time. Good characters, lots of action and a very good plot.
I would like to thank Timothy Jay Smith and Net Galley for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This is a spy thriller set in Warsaw, Poland in 1992 at the end of the communist era. A number of gruesome murders becomes an international case when it's feared that the victims may have been couriers smuggling nuclear material out of the Soviet Union. FBI agent Jay Porter is sent to help the investigation and when he discovers that a Russian physicist who designed a portable atomic bomb has disappeared, the race is on to find him and the bomb before it ends up in the wrong hands.
This is an action packed novel that not only entertained me but also gave me a good insight into the period and ways in Poland at that time. Good characters, lots of action and a very good plot.
I would like to thank Timothy Jay Smith and Net Galley for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2019
If you're looking for a book full of mystery, thrills and deceit then The Fourth Courier by Timothy Jay Smith might be for you!
This book was action packed, fast paced and full of intriguing characters (all of which seem to meet at the final climax of the book). Not only that, but Timothy Jay Smith had such a way with words that it was hard to put down! To just quote the opening lines of the book, "their steel girders booed thunderously" had me hooked, and his way with his prose continued to be spotless and marvelous!
In this book, we follow Jay Porter the FBI agent while he is in Poland. Dead men are popping up everywhere and they all have very specific pieces of evidence about them suggesting there's a murderer on the loose. Throw in the 90s setting with Russia, Poland and nuclear weapons, and you've got yourself a great start to a thrilling mystery novel. Along the way we meet characters who seem to belong to the mafia, a lovely lady named Basia who feels like a Bond girl, and lots and lots of deceit.
This book gave me Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and James Bond vibes. It's really intriguing and dark yet still made me feel totally hooked on the book. I read it all in one sitting because I NEEDED to know how it ended. To top it off, having the incredible writing style of Timothy was just amazing! It was enchanting to read the story and see it happening in front of my eyes so well! He's so descriptive!
If I had to give this book a rating, it would be R. There's blood, guns and sex (lots of sex, among different genders too!).
If I had to list some of the "cons" of this book, it would be as followed:
1. There's a lot of small side plot/comments that may throw some readers off. For example, Jay's trouble with his ex-wife and son pop up briefly a few times. It's not totally necessary to know all of that information to know about Jay, but it's there. I could see that being a distraction for some readers.
2. Jay and Lilka had more chemistry than Jay had murder-solving capabilities, in my humble opinion. I would have liked to see him work a little harder on his crime solving abilities or flesh out the romance full out. But that's just me - I like romance novels and I like mystery novels and I find them hard to mix together.
Overall, this is one great addition to your mystery and thriller shelf! I would 100% recommend this book if you like a good mystery novel or want something to spice of your reading! And, it's relatively short! The copy I received was under 300 pages which made it nice and quick for me!
Four out of five stars!
I received a free copy of this book from the author, Timothy Jay Smith, in exchange for an honest review.
This book was action packed, fast paced and full of intriguing characters (all of which seem to meet at the final climax of the book). Not only that, but Timothy Jay Smith had such a way with words that it was hard to put down! To just quote the opening lines of the book, "their steel girders booed thunderously" had me hooked, and his way with his prose continued to be spotless and marvelous!
In this book, we follow Jay Porter the FBI agent while he is in Poland. Dead men are popping up everywhere and they all have very specific pieces of evidence about them suggesting there's a murderer on the loose. Throw in the 90s setting with Russia, Poland and nuclear weapons, and you've got yourself a great start to a thrilling mystery novel. Along the way we meet characters who seem to belong to the mafia, a lovely lady named Basia who feels like a Bond girl, and lots and lots of deceit.
This book gave me Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and James Bond vibes. It's really intriguing and dark yet still made me feel totally hooked on the book. I read it all in one sitting because I NEEDED to know how it ended. To top it off, having the incredible writing style of Timothy was just amazing! It was enchanting to read the story and see it happening in front of my eyes so well! He's so descriptive!
If I had to give this book a rating, it would be R. There's blood, guns and sex (lots of sex, among different genders too!).
If I had to list some of the "cons" of this book, it would be as followed:
1. There's a lot of small side plot/comments that may throw some readers off. For example, Jay's trouble with his ex-wife and son pop up briefly a few times. It's not totally necessary to know all of that information to know about Jay, but it's there. I could see that being a distraction for some readers.
2. Jay and Lilka had more chemistry than Jay had murder-solving capabilities, in my humble opinion. I would have liked to see him work a little harder on his crime solving abilities or flesh out the romance full out. But that's just me - I like romance novels and I like mystery novels and I find them hard to mix together.
Overall, this is one great addition to your mystery and thriller shelf! I would 100% recommend this book if you like a good mystery novel or want something to spice of your reading! And, it's relatively short! The copy I received was under 300 pages which made it nice and quick for me!
Four out of five stars!
I received a free copy of this book from the author, Timothy Jay Smith, in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2019
2019 really has set the bar for these spy thriller/mysteries and
The Fourth Courier
is keeping that momentum alive. With the crash of the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe is a complete disaster. The United States and its Western allies are nervous that with the USSR's crash, that corrupt leaders in it's satellites will be able to uncover nuclear materials. Yugoslavia is going through it's own civil war, with each of the ethnic groups currently at war with each other. FBI agent Jay Porter is assigned to Warsaw, Poland, to investigate Russia's interference with it's weapons of mass destruction. As Jay investigates cold cases on mysterious deaths in Warsaw linked to Russian mafias, he uncovers a strange connection between Russian leadership and the leader of Yugoslavia's secret services, Drako Mladic. As Porter does a deeper dive into Drako's life and teams up with CIA agent Kurt Crawford. With Kurt by Porter's side, the two will stop at nothing at keeping Drako at bay—even if they play his worst insecurities against him.
The Fourth Courier is an action-packed adventure that is medal-to-the-meddle fun. It's atmospheric in both setting and time period, and you'll really feel that you transported to post-Cold War Eastern Europe. We really don't get a lot of period pieces about this time, and we never get a main character representing the LGBTQ+ community. The portrayal of the gay characters is tastefully done, and the story is intriguing. While at times, I felt the narrative was too surface level, I did find that the plot was fun to read along. If you're a fan of historical fiction, you'll really enjoy this fun, fast-paced espionage, historical fiction.
The Fourth Courier is an action-packed adventure that is medal-to-the-meddle fun. It's atmospheric in both setting and time period, and you'll really feel that you transported to post-Cold War Eastern Europe. We really don't get a lot of period pieces about this time, and we never get a main character representing the LGBTQ+ community. The portrayal of the gay characters is tastefully done, and the story is intriguing. While at times, I felt the narrative was too surface level, I did find that the plot was fun to read along. If you're a fan of historical fiction, you'll really enjoy this fun, fast-paced espionage, historical fiction.
April 14, 2019
If you want to know what the story is, don’t expect me to give details : first because I don't like to spoil, but mostly because I have no idea. It’s kind of an espionage thriller based in Poland in the early nineties, with Jay Porter, an FBI agent, sent to help, with the additional aid of a CIA agent, the Polish police to solve the death of several men who are likely Russian and may be connected to the smuggling of nuclear weapons.
There’s a lot going on, but I couldn’t put every piece together to make it coherent and flawless. Just like when you try to make a puzzle but with no idea what the result should look like and wondering whether the pieces randomly handed are coming from the same box. Side note : it may have felt random for me as most chapters started while I hadn't figure out the previous one…
Not being able to catch up, even tough I could follow the general line of the story, I really felt disconnected to the story, the plot and the characters. But for one thing : it’s kind of “atmospheric” and I think that the author made a good job when creating a sense of place.
Bad timing or simply something that is not to my taste ? Don’t know, but the struggle was real despite what I assumed could be entertaining for me.
ARC of “The Fourth Courier” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
There’s a lot going on, but I couldn’t put every piece together to make it coherent and flawless. Just like when you try to make a puzzle but with no idea what the result should look like and wondering whether the pieces randomly handed are coming from the same box. Side note : it may have felt random for me as most chapters started while I hadn't figure out the previous one…
Not being able to catch up, even tough I could follow the general line of the story, I really felt disconnected to the story, the plot and the characters. But for one thing : it’s kind of “atmospheric” and I think that the author made a good job when creating a sense of place.
Bad timing or simply something that is not to my taste ? Don’t know, but the struggle was real despite what I assumed could be entertaining for me.
ARC of “The Fourth Courier” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
So let me start off here by clarifying that this story is not a romance, but a historical thriller. I chose this one because the blurb mentions that the book “brings together a straight white FBI agent and gay black CIA officer as they team up to uncover a gruesome plot” and the book was pitched to me by the author as one where the “gay factor is key to solving the case.” So while this isn’t our normal fare, I thought it might be interesting to explore a fiction story that featured a prominent gay character, especially one that is a historical set in Poland soon after the fall of Communism. However, I will say that both the blurb and the pitch kind of overstate things as these guys don’t really “team up” as Jay is very much the main character and lead investigator here and Kurt, our CIA agent, is one of many side characters. He does, in fact, play a key role in breaking the case (as do others), but the so-called “gay factor” boils down to him seducing a male suspect for evidence (something that doesn’t actually require one to be gay, fwiw). I guess I was expecting him being gay to play a more significant role in the story, as well as to get more of an exploration of his character, particularly as a gay (and black) man living in post-Communist Poland. Now, none of this is necessarily a negative reflection on the book (aside from perhaps the blurb overstating Kurt’s importance to the story) and I didn’t factor that into my rating, but be aware this doesn’t really offer much of an LGBTQ focus from the story if that is what you are after.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
So let me start off here by clarifying that this story is not a romance, but a historical thriller. I chose this one because the blurb mentions that the book “brings together a straight white FBI agent and gay black CIA officer as they team up to uncover a gruesome plot” and the book was pitched to me by the author as one where the “gay factor is key to solving the case.” So while this isn’t our normal fare, I thought it might be interesting to explore a fiction story that featured a prominent gay character, especially one that is a historical set in Poland soon after the fall of Communism. However, I will say that both the blurb and the pitch kind of overstate things as these guys don’t really “team up” as Jay is very much the main character and lead investigator here and Kurt, our CIA agent, is one of many side characters. He does, in fact, play a key role in breaking the case (as do others), but the so-called “gay factor” boils down to him seducing a male suspect for evidence (something that doesn’t actually require one to be gay, fwiw). I guess I was expecting him being gay to play a more significant role in the story, as well as to get more of an exploration of his character, particularly as a gay (and black) man living in post-Communist Poland. Now, none of this is necessarily a negative reflection on the book (aside from perhaps the blurb overstating Kurt’s importance to the story) and I didn’t factor that into my rating, but be aware this doesn’t really offer much of an LGBTQ focus from the story if that is what you are after.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
February 2, 2019
From Publishers Weekly:
"When three unidentified bodies with mutilated faces turn up on the banks of the Vistula River in 1992 Warsaw, the police initially assume that they are dealing with a serial killer in this solid thriller from Smith (A Vision of Angels). Later, they determine that the victims are Russian and carry traces of radioactivity. The possibility of smuggled Soviet-era nuclear materials raises its head. FBI agent Jay Porter, who has family connections to the Manhattan Project, joins the Warsaw police on the case. The perpetrators, chief among them a Serbian nationalist general with delusions of grandeur, are known to the reader early on, and coincidence plays a key role in moving things along. Interest lies in watching how various strands of the straightforward plot gradually converge as events play against a moody picture of daily life in post–Cold War Poland. Sharply drawn characters, rich dialogue, and a clever conclusion bode well for any sequel."
"When three unidentified bodies with mutilated faces turn up on the banks of the Vistula River in 1992 Warsaw, the police initially assume that they are dealing with a serial killer in this solid thriller from Smith (A Vision of Angels). Later, they determine that the victims are Russian and carry traces of radioactivity. The possibility of smuggled Soviet-era nuclear materials raises its head. FBI agent Jay Porter, who has family connections to the Manhattan Project, joins the Warsaw police on the case. The perpetrators, chief among them a Serbian nationalist general with delusions of grandeur, are known to the reader early on, and coincidence plays a key role in moving things along. Interest lies in watching how various strands of the straightforward plot gradually converge as events play against a moody picture of daily life in post–Cold War Poland. Sharply drawn characters, rich dialogue, and a clever conclusion bode well for any sequel."
June 8, 2019
2.5 stars rounded up for the authenticity of this early 1990's period in Poland after the collapse of the USSR.
It was the people themselves, more than the plot or the progression that almost made me give it a 2 star. Evil for the most part, and just so endlessly cruel that I lost interest in them by the half way point. It's also too long and the continuity at points becomes lost. And not just because of the naming and association drops or voids either.
Exceedingly joyless and holds some of the most loveless and poisoned (sick and hate loaded) sex acts which at points were completely gratuitous, IMHO. Jay and his love interest were the only two humans in the book of those that became complex developed- that didn't seem to have black souls or none at all. I would not recommend this book for the spy slant either.
It does depict a Warsaw existence for change/ wanting out/ confusion to identity- as it was. That's why it got the third star.
It was the people themselves, more than the plot or the progression that almost made me give it a 2 star. Evil for the most part, and just so endlessly cruel that I lost interest in them by the half way point. It's also too long and the continuity at points becomes lost. And not just because of the naming and association drops or voids either.
Exceedingly joyless and holds some of the most loveless and poisoned (sick and hate loaded) sex acts which at points were completely gratuitous, IMHO. Jay and his love interest were the only two humans in the book of those that became complex developed- that didn't seem to have black souls or none at all. I would not recommend this book for the spy slant either.
It does depict a Warsaw existence for change/ wanting out/ confusion to identity- as it was. That's why it got the third star.
May 5, 2019
The fourth courier is a slow-paced espionage/thriller so if you are expecting James Bond stuff, you will be disappointed; the tone of the story is more in the lines of Red Sparrow (which I believed to be brilliant). The main character is Jay Porter, an FBI agent sent to Poland to help investigate the murders of these couriers and the concerns around the smuggling of nuclear agents, but there is also a CIA agent (Kurt), a local detective (Kulski) and the director Basia Husarka. It is really hard to go into details without spoiling things, but I actually enjoyed the dynamics between the characters, even if it was a little bit too “lucky” at times for things to have happened that way. Sometimes a little bit too convenient for the plot to meet the right people, however suspending my disbelief I found myself enjoying this novel.
The backdrop is a grey Poland, still struggling post-communist era and seeing these people trying to cope with the new reality made this novel even more important because their issues felt very real. The writing was good and I prefer a to-the-point style of writing and Timothy Jay Smith delivered. The heaviness of the subject was interspersed with dark jokes, revealing more of the bleakness of their lives, and moment of joy. It is clear that the author has a great knowledge of Poland not just as a nation, but also about the people.
On the other side, initially the sex scenes didn’t make much sense, I could not see why it matters, but for these characters, in the end, it mattered very much and it had logic. As already said, the plot is very slow and I not a lot is happening in the first half, then things start to pick up, but even so, it felt like convenience and luck that helped solve the case rather than actual policing. I am not sure I am believing in Jay’s skills as an FBI agent because I haven’t seen much of that.
Overall though, I recommend this book if you like slow-paced, character-based espionage thrillers, especially if you are interested in post-communist Poland.
The backdrop is a grey Poland, still struggling post-communist era and seeing these people trying to cope with the new reality made this novel even more important because their issues felt very real. The writing was good and I prefer a to-the-point style of writing and Timothy Jay Smith delivered. The heaviness of the subject was interspersed with dark jokes, revealing more of the bleakness of their lives, and moment of joy. It is clear that the author has a great knowledge of Poland not just as a nation, but also about the people.
On the other side, initially the sex scenes didn’t make much sense, I could not see why it matters, but for these characters, in the end, it mattered very much and it had logic. As already said, the plot is very slow and I not a lot is happening in the first half, then things start to pick up, but even so, it felt like convenience and luck that helped solve the case rather than actual policing. I am not sure I am believing in Jay’s skills as an FBI agent because I haven’t seen much of that.
Overall though, I recommend this book if you like slow-paced, character-based espionage thrillers, especially if you are interested in post-communist Poland.
November 27, 2019
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
Under all the politics that is divulged to society lies a web of secrets that is often beyond our control as key figures use their powers to accomplish their most evil wishes, whether their intention is for the greater good or not. It is through espionage fiction that we often untangle these conspiracies and understand the complexity of this political and governmental machine that can sometimes feel so grand and untouchable. From the award-winning writers of A Vision of Angels, author Timothy Jay Smith looks to explore an international plot where deception and murder meet face to face as nuclear power is set loose and only time can tell if an FBI agent and a CIA agent can stop it all before it’s too late.
What is The Fourth Courier about? Set in 1992, following the end of a period marked by communism as Poland enters a post-Cold War era, a couple of unusual murders lead authorities to believe that an international smuggling ring for nuclear material has been developed with the help of couriers. As this case becomes of international interest, FBI agent Jay Porter is sent in to investigate these murders only to understand that a portable atomic bomb is on the market and he needs to hunt it down before it falls into the hands of ill-intentioned individuals. Straight out of the defunct Soviet Union, this espionage thriller explores the intricate atmosphere of an era where change has finally reached a country’s doorstep while treachery remains ubiquitous within all.
In what was supposed to be a fast-paced espionage thriller, I found myself mildly confused by the direction and the execution of this tale. There is no doubt that Timothy Jay Smith renders an atmospheric setting that beautifully captures Warsaw, Poland in 1992 as it suffers an identity crisis where its societal traits are fragile enough for any event to come transform the system in a traumatic fashion. However, this story essentially focuses on its characters to truly depict the era in which the author wanted to unveil his criticism of its people and the political landscape in which they have lived in for far too long. Unfortunately, these characters were not fleshed out to my taste despite being drawn up with enough flavour to despise them for who they are and strive to be. Their raw coldness didn’t allow me to have a particular interest in their escapade, even when the author takes the time to explore both points of view, good and evil.
While expectations did play a role throughout my reading experience, it is worth mentioning that there is unusually heavy attention to sexuality throughout this adventure as Timothy Jay Smith looks to turn it into a key component to the mystery. This focus led characters to be molded according to their sexual preferences and desires, forcing the story to loosen its grasp on the intrigue by inserting unnecessary sexual acts and romantic colloquies that I wasn’t looking for in the stories I read. It should be mentioned that the dialogues were thus difficult to connect with as they could never really capture my attention and instead further fed my need for mystery and suspense as I hoped that the protagonist would show more professionalism or proficiency as an FBI agent. Although the chaotic plotting kept me on the edge of my seat, it became harder for the story to impress me as I progressed through the narrative.
The Fourth Courier is an unorthodox espionage thriller set in a post-Cold War Poland where peculiar characters reign over the straight-forward mystery at hand.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy for review!
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
March 13, 2019
Finished reading: March 13th 2019
"It's not death that we fear but being erased by history if we leave nothing behind."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Arcade in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
March 30, 2019
Agent Jay Porter of the FBI is sent to the US Embassy in Poland to assist with an Investigation, joining CIA agent Kurt Crawford, where 4 murders have been carried out wherein bodies have been dumped by the same river and victims have nuclear radiation on their hands and a slash to the face. It is 1992, and the recent collapse of the Soviet Union poses threats with its porous borders, poorly protected nuclear arsenal, and the badly paid or now redundant nuclear scientists and military. General Drako Mladic, head of security of Yugoslavia sees his chance to resurrect Serbia, and hatches a plan with brilliant nuclear scientist, Dr. Sergev Ustinov to smuggle enhanced uranium into Poland to build a nuclear weapon in exchange for 1 million US dollars. Assisted by Director Husarka Basia the corrupt Chief of Organised Crime, a sneaky mischievous, old school villain, and drug dealer Jasek, they arrange the crossings of the couriers carrying the Uranium and the safe arrival of Dr. Ustinov, but things obviously don’t go as planned. So who is the fourth courier?
for full review please visit www.bibliogyan.com
for full review please visit www.bibliogyan.com
March 29, 2019
The fourth courier is a crime fiction set in 1992. The story is about Jay Porter, a special agent and his gay CIA agent to investigate a Russian physicist who is missing. He is specialized in making atomic bombs and so that gives them the intuition of a big problem.
The thriller story also contained some history, politics and architectural description. Based on the stories setting, it being after the seismic fall of communism in Eastern Europe, I found the story to contain depth and relativity to real people. When Jay befriends a Polish family, it was easy to see how lives used to be based on the political environment in the communist era.
I found the literature to be worded strong and have a fast pace to it. The story was action packed and based on its descriptive nature had the reader senses a certain thrill and mystery while they read it.
The characters were exclusively singular in their personality and growth. I think that was what made the story amusing and stand out amongst its genre.
I would recommend this book to people who are crime fiction fans and enjoy reading thriller novels.
The thriller story also contained some history, politics and architectural description. Based on the stories setting, it being after the seismic fall of communism in Eastern Europe, I found the story to contain depth and relativity to real people. When Jay befriends a Polish family, it was easy to see how lives used to be based on the political environment in the communist era.
I found the literature to be worded strong and have a fast pace to it. The story was action packed and based on its descriptive nature had the reader senses a certain thrill and mystery while they read it.
The characters were exclusively singular in their personality and growth. I think that was what made the story amusing and stand out amongst its genre.
I would recommend this book to people who are crime fiction fans and enjoy reading thriller novels.
February 8, 2019
I have to start my review by saying how refreshing it was to read this novel. Everything about this novel was thrilling and exciting to read. I enjoyed the attention to detail regarding the Polish native tongue, to the post-cold war changes that the country experienced. I think my favorite character was the doctor for sure and a good second was Kurt. I read this book in less than a day, that's how good it was! I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves a good mystery thriller with characters who aren't afraid to break the rules!
April 6, 2019
The author personally contacted me to read his novel and I agreed immediately after reading the synopsis. Everything that has to do with history is something I need to read. I love history and even though this book isn’t historical fiction or a true-story it still talks about the time of the post-cold war. And to be honest this synopsis screamed at me that I would absolutely love this book and in the end, I may not have loved it but still liked it a lot to give it four stars. But I won’t annoy you further with the why I accepted to review this book and we will immediately move on to the actual review!
What I liked
First of all, I found the plot to be really interesting. I don’t think that I ever read a book about espionage in the mystery/thriller scene and I really loved this. Especially because we got to know what was happening through different point of views. This was interesting because even if you were aware of the bad guys you still didn’t know what was going to happen and you still find yourself wondering what’s really going to happen next. I think that the best word would be being on edge. I sometimes found myself gripping my iPad harder because I had absolutely no clue what was going to happen or didn’t want something to happen. It’s like watching an NCIS episode. You can never be sure about something!
The Turns and Twists weren’t bad either and I sometimes wondered why I didn’t see it coming but then again would it be a real twist if I saw it coming? No, right? Coming back to the plot twists there were some and they were throughout the whole book. So not just at the end of the book.
The Fourth Courier is also very action-packed which is obviously a must for a mystery/thriller novel. If a book in that genre isn’t full of action I will be disappointed and I wouldn’t categorize it as a thriller. I personally like it if my thriller books are action-packed and can’t get enough of it. There could have been a little bit more of these scenes for my personal taste but I’m not going to complain. The action was fine.
The writing style was okay I guess. Not something I usually fall for but still very easily readable. What I want to say with that sentence is that you don’t get bored easily while reading it. Below you will see that I had some troubles while reading this novel but I have to admit that after getting through the first few chapters I didn’t encounter any problems with it afterwards. I just had to be fully emerged in the story to start to like it.
What I didn’t like
I have to be honest with you guys. I had some troubles getting into the book. Then again, this is probably my fault for scheduling way too many review copies reviews in April. I just had a few days to read it and so I put a lot of pressure in it. I’m sure that if I reread it again in the future that I won’t have so many troubles with the beginning.
In some reviews, I’ve read that the book was very fast-paced but I have to say that for me it wasn’t fast-paced enough. I had the feeling that the pace was very slow at some times. But again I’m probably a bit too difficult when it comes to defining a book as fast-paced or not.
Favourite Character
No one, while I enjoyed some of the descriptions I couldn’t find myself getting attached to the characters. The main character was likeable but I wouldn’t say that I was attached to him.
Overall I’d recommend this book to every mystery lover and to those who love it when their thrillers/mystery are set during historical important times.
* a review copy of this book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!
What I liked
First of all, I found the plot to be really interesting. I don’t think that I ever read a book about espionage in the mystery/thriller scene and I really loved this. Especially because we got to know what was happening through different point of views. This was interesting because even if you were aware of the bad guys you still didn’t know what was going to happen and you still find yourself wondering what’s really going to happen next. I think that the best word would be being on edge. I sometimes found myself gripping my iPad harder because I had absolutely no clue what was going to happen or didn’t want something to happen. It’s like watching an NCIS episode. You can never be sure about something!
The Turns and Twists weren’t bad either and I sometimes wondered why I didn’t see it coming but then again would it be a real twist if I saw it coming? No, right? Coming back to the plot twists there were some and they were throughout the whole book. So not just at the end of the book.
The Fourth Courier is also very action-packed which is obviously a must for a mystery/thriller novel. If a book in that genre isn’t full of action I will be disappointed and I wouldn’t categorize it as a thriller. I personally like it if my thriller books are action-packed and can’t get enough of it. There could have been a little bit more of these scenes for my personal taste but I’m not going to complain. The action was fine.
The writing style was okay I guess. Not something I usually fall for but still very easily readable. What I want to say with that sentence is that you don’t get bored easily while reading it. Below you will see that I had some troubles while reading this novel but I have to admit that after getting through the first few chapters I didn’t encounter any problems with it afterwards. I just had to be fully emerged in the story to start to like it.
What I didn’t like
I have to be honest with you guys. I had some troubles getting into the book. Then again, this is probably my fault for scheduling way too many review copies reviews in April. I just had a few days to read it and so I put a lot of pressure in it. I’m sure that if I reread it again in the future that I won’t have so many troubles with the beginning.
In some reviews, I’ve read that the book was very fast-paced but I have to say that for me it wasn’t fast-paced enough. I had the feeling that the pace was very slow at some times. But again I’m probably a bit too difficult when it comes to defining a book as fast-paced or not.
Favourite Character
No one, while I enjoyed some of the descriptions I couldn’t find myself getting attached to the characters. The main character was likeable but I wouldn’t say that I was attached to him.
Overall I’d recommend this book to every mystery lover and to those who love it when their thrillers/mystery are set during historical important times.
* a review copy of this book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!
April 3, 2019
I love a good espionage thriller, having a soft spot for such stories that results in me diving in whenever one catches my eye. With Timothy Jay Smith’s The Fourth Courier, we have an espionage thriller that caught my attention instantly. It promised so many things I really enjoy, and I powered through the story.
Without a doubt, The Fourth Courier was one that kept me turning the pages. I was sucked in, curious to see how everything came together, and was happy to keep reading. It was an interesting tale, one that brings the history to life and shows how much the author knows about the time and location, yet personal preference prevented me from loving this in the way I had hoped to.
Note I said personal preference, meaning this will not apply to all.
With my mysteries and thrillers, I love the whole unknown aspect. Not only of the how things come together, but of the who is behind things. With The Fourth Courier, we have one of those thrillers where we follow both sides of the story – we get to see what both the good and the bad are up to. There is nothing wrong with this, it simply isn’t the way I favour my stories to be told.
Despite the fact the way the story unfolded wasn’t to my preference, I did enjoy watching the way everything came together. The different elements played out well, and we were sucked deep into the time in which the story played out.
Overall, The Fourth Courier was a story that easily kept my attention.
Without a doubt, The Fourth Courier was one that kept me turning the pages. I was sucked in, curious to see how everything came together, and was happy to keep reading. It was an interesting tale, one that brings the history to life and shows how much the author knows about the time and location, yet personal preference prevented me from loving this in the way I had hoped to.
Note I said personal preference, meaning this will not apply to all.
With my mysteries and thrillers, I love the whole unknown aspect. Not only of the how things come together, but of the who is behind things. With The Fourth Courier, we have one of those thrillers where we follow both sides of the story – we get to see what both the good and the bad are up to. There is nothing wrong with this, it simply isn’t the way I favour my stories to be told.
Despite the fact the way the story unfolded wasn’t to my preference, I did enjoy watching the way everything came together. The different elements played out well, and we were sucked deep into the time in which the story played out.
Overall, The Fourth Courier was a story that easily kept my attention.
April 19, 2019
For a mystery/thriller book, the author blew my mind away with his ability to interweave history, romance, betrayal, and murder in one book!
In the beginning, the author presents the situation in Poland towards end of WWII. The desolation and financial hardships of the people living in Poland are masterfully presented. They are simply trying to survive! Romance factors are placed throughout the book consistently with details.
I love how the crime progresses gradually rather than suddenly. I personally cannot stand a mystery/thriller book that cuts off the story to solve the crime.
---> As the investigation carry forward, the perpetrators act more vigilant, agitated, guilty, and desperate as shown through their actions.
I love how the author builds the main characters from the beginning to end. The changes can be noticed as more of their personality/strength compliment their role in solving crime or participating in crime. No unnecessary characters were presented. Everyone played a role!
All I can say is that this is a well balanced book that integrates history, crime, and family values. Blog post to come!
In the beginning, the author presents the situation in Poland towards end of WWII. The desolation and financial hardships of the people living in Poland are masterfully presented. They are simply trying to survive! Romance factors are placed throughout the book consistently with details.
I love how the crime progresses gradually rather than suddenly. I personally cannot stand a mystery/thriller book that cuts off the story to solve the crime.
---> As the investigation carry forward, the perpetrators act more vigilant, agitated, guilty, and desperate as shown through their actions.
I love how the author builds the main characters from the beginning to end. The changes can be noticed as more of their personality/strength compliment their role in solving crime or participating in crime. No unnecessary characters were presented. Everyone played a role!
All I can say is that this is a well balanced book that integrates history, crime, and family values. Blog post to come!
April 2, 2019
“Are you suggesting someone is trying to put together an atomic bomb?”
The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, brought about many opportunities — for some. Since the dissolution, post-communist Poland had become a freeway for unlawful trafficking. However, when three bodies turned up — each showing signs of torture and a bullet in the heart, alarm bells started to ring. This was not the work of a serial killer. This was the work of something much worse.
With the disappearance of a Russian physicist, the International Community has to get involved, for this physicist has designed a portable atomic bomb. It is feared that this bomb will find its way into the wrong hands and if it does, the consequences do not bear thinking about.
The race is on to find the killer, and hopefully, the bomb — before it is too late.
From the banks of the Vistula to the glamour of the Ambassador’s residence, The Fourth Courier by Timothy Jay Smith is one of the most tense, powerful and utterly compelling historical thrillers that I have ever read.
This action-packed, adrenaline induced, thriller of a story grabbed me from the opening sentence and did not let up until the last first stop, by which time I finally managed to catch my breath and utter “Wow! What a book!” I was immediately drawn into the world that Smith has created. It is a world filled with danger and uncertainty. It is very obvious that Smith has spent many hours researching this period in Polish and Russian history.
Smith has chosen to tell his story from both sides, which I thought was refreshing. So not only do we get to follow the “good guys” we also get to follow those who want the bomb for their own sordid purposes. I thought this approach worked incredibly well.
Smith certainly has a novelist eye for human detail, and nothing is beyond his telling. We meet some very degenerate individuals through the course of this novel and one very memorable narcissistic. Smith, it seems, has a visceral understanding of what makes a good villain. Likewise, Smith has created some really notable protagonists. I particularly liked FBI agent, Jay Porter. Porter is a wonderfully delightful character who I immediately took to. His relationship with Lilka gave his character creditability, and his failure to find a decent cup of coffee was a source for some light entertainment. Lilka was another character that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about. Her situation is precarious, to say the least. However, she is a very strong and courageous woman, a good match for Jay. There is a rather large cast of characters in this book, and they all help to drive the story forward. Sometimes, with such an extensive cast, the reader can become confused, but not so in this case. Smith has a masterful control over them all, and as they have such distinct characteristics, it was easy to keep up with whom they all were.
There can be no doubt that Smith writes with a great deal of imagination and energy. The Fourth Courier is one of those books that is very hard to put down. This is the kind of novel that will keep you turning the pages into the early hours of the morning.
The Fourth Courier has everything a good historical mystery thriller should have. It is full of cliff-hanger tension. It has enough plot twists to satisfy the most hardened of critics, and it has a cast of unforgettable characters.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.
The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, brought about many opportunities — for some. Since the dissolution, post-communist Poland had become a freeway for unlawful trafficking. However, when three bodies turned up — each showing signs of torture and a bullet in the heart, alarm bells started to ring. This was not the work of a serial killer. This was the work of something much worse.
With the disappearance of a Russian physicist, the International Community has to get involved, for this physicist has designed a portable atomic bomb. It is feared that this bomb will find its way into the wrong hands and if it does, the consequences do not bear thinking about.
The race is on to find the killer, and hopefully, the bomb — before it is too late.
From the banks of the Vistula to the glamour of the Ambassador’s residence, The Fourth Courier by Timothy Jay Smith is one of the most tense, powerful and utterly compelling historical thrillers that I have ever read.
This action-packed, adrenaline induced, thriller of a story grabbed me from the opening sentence and did not let up until the last first stop, by which time I finally managed to catch my breath and utter “Wow! What a book!” I was immediately drawn into the world that Smith has created. It is a world filled with danger and uncertainty. It is very obvious that Smith has spent many hours researching this period in Polish and Russian history.
Smith has chosen to tell his story from both sides, which I thought was refreshing. So not only do we get to follow the “good guys” we also get to follow those who want the bomb for their own sordid purposes. I thought this approach worked incredibly well.
Smith certainly has a novelist eye for human detail, and nothing is beyond his telling. We meet some very degenerate individuals through the course of this novel and one very memorable narcissistic. Smith, it seems, has a visceral understanding of what makes a good villain. Likewise, Smith has created some really notable protagonists. I particularly liked FBI agent, Jay Porter. Porter is a wonderfully delightful character who I immediately took to. His relationship with Lilka gave his character creditability, and his failure to find a decent cup of coffee was a source for some light entertainment. Lilka was another character that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about. Her situation is precarious, to say the least. However, she is a very strong and courageous woman, a good match for Jay. There is a rather large cast of characters in this book, and they all help to drive the story forward. Sometimes, with such an extensive cast, the reader can become confused, but not so in this case. Smith has a masterful control over them all, and as they have such distinct characteristics, it was easy to keep up with whom they all were.
There can be no doubt that Smith writes with a great deal of imagination and energy. The Fourth Courier is one of those books that is very hard to put down. This is the kind of novel that will keep you turning the pages into the early hours of the morning.
The Fourth Courier has everything a good historical mystery thriller should have. It is full of cliff-hanger tension. It has enough plot twists to satisfy the most hardened of critics, and it has a cast of unforgettable characters.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.
March 26, 2019
I quite enjoyed this book. It is a nice feeling when an author sends you a book to read and you have no idea what you are going in to but then find yourself caught up in this web of mystery and intrigue.
The characters were well fleshed out and they had just enough backstory to let the reader know all the details they needed to for the story to progress.
There is a heavy influence of LGBTQ+ in this book which I wasn't expecting from this type of genre but I must say I am happy in the way it was used and glad that genres are branching out and including this type of representation.
I felt myself wanting to know what would happen next and kept myself up late at night to just get through the next chapter.....and then the next one.....and so on. This made me pretty tired at work for a couple of days as it was a recurring situation :P.
Polish is also a part of my ancestry so it was interesting to read a book that was set in Poland. I had never really thought about the country or what it looks like over there but the book gave me a pretty good visual image of the economy and what it takes to survive day to day in such a place.
Overall, it wasn't perfect. It had its little flaws where I would questions a character's decisions sometimes but it was a solid novel with an intense sequence of events and I would be happy to read more by this author in the future.
The characters were well fleshed out and they had just enough backstory to let the reader know all the details they needed to for the story to progress.
There is a heavy influence of LGBTQ+ in this book which I wasn't expecting from this type of genre but I must say I am happy in the way it was used and glad that genres are branching out and including this type of representation.
I felt myself wanting to know what would happen next and kept myself up late at night to just get through the next chapter.....and then the next one.....and so on. This made me pretty tired at work for a couple of days as it was a recurring situation :P.
Polish is also a part of my ancestry so it was interesting to read a book that was set in Poland. I had never really thought about the country or what it looks like over there but the book gave me a pretty good visual image of the economy and what it takes to survive day to day in such a place.
Overall, it wasn't perfect. It had its little flaws where I would questions a character's decisions sometimes but it was a solid novel with an intense sequence of events and I would be happy to read more by this author in the future.
April 2, 2019
I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy, and have an even bigger pleasure of recommending this book with all my heart.
If you like such subjects as espionage, spies, the Cold War, Europe in turmoil, intelligent games played by the intelligence, go fot it - you will not be disappointed.
The book is set in 1992 in Warsaw. The city is grey, cold, confused - barely out of the hands of the communist regime. It is also depicted in a very true, believable fashion - Mr. Smith has spent quite a few years during that period living and working in Poland, and it shows. He does not imagine the situation, nor does he base his research on press articles or third-hand stories, but he writes from personal experience.
The plot focuses on the smuggling of nuclear weapons from Russia. There are corpses, of course, but the living are even more interesting. A Polish femme fatale in a fur coat, a FBI agent delegated to help with the investigation, a handsome black gay CIA agent, and a Yugoslav general. Guess who the good guys are...
The story pulls you in and does not let go until you reach the last words.
Set aside some time, get a comfy chair or hammock, put up a "Do not disturb" sign and fall into this story, headlong. This will be time well spent.
If you like such subjects as espionage, spies, the Cold War, Europe in turmoil, intelligent games played by the intelligence, go fot it - you will not be disappointed.
The book is set in 1992 in Warsaw. The city is grey, cold, confused - barely out of the hands of the communist regime. It is also depicted in a very true, believable fashion - Mr. Smith has spent quite a few years during that period living and working in Poland, and it shows. He does not imagine the situation, nor does he base his research on press articles or third-hand stories, but he writes from personal experience.
The plot focuses on the smuggling of nuclear weapons from Russia. There are corpses, of course, but the living are even more interesting. A Polish femme fatale in a fur coat, a FBI agent delegated to help with the investigation, a handsome black gay CIA agent, and a Yugoslav general. Guess who the good guys are...
The story pulls you in and does not let go until you reach the last words.
Set aside some time, get a comfy chair or hammock, put up a "Do not disturb" sign and fall into this story, headlong. This will be time well spent.
April 7, 2019
I did like this book. It has the vein of a really, good thriller. There is intrigue, action, and plenty of movement to keep the story from becoming "stale". So, why did I not "love" this book? Well that is because I struggled to find my footing with the characters. There were many and yet none of them fully grabbed me where I could form a strong connection with them. Therefore, it does not matter how good a storyline a book can have; if I the reader can not form a connection with the characters who are supposed to tell and live the story, than, the rest fall to the wayside.
I will admit that the main lead Jay, was engaging. There were times that I did find myself really getting into this book and other times I could become easily distracted. It was like a roller coaster. If I had become fully engaged in this book, I can tell you that it would have been a five star read for me. Thus, I would read another book from this author. Just because I did not love this book does not mean that other readers should not check it out.
I will admit that the main lead Jay, was engaging. There were times that I did find myself really getting into this book and other times I could become easily distracted. It was like a roller coaster. If I had become fully engaged in this book, I can tell you that it would have been a five star read for me. Thus, I would read another book from this author. Just because I did not love this book does not mean that other readers should not check it out.
January 17, 2022
Part spy thriller, part murder mystery, this atmospheric and gripping novel takes its reader to pst-Cold War Poland: The year is 1992, the Soviet Union newly dissolved, and a series of brutally murdered couriers appear to have been smuggling nuclear material through Warsaw, intended for parts unknown - and now there's a portable nuke missing somewhere in the city. An FBI agent sent in to deal with the matter teams up with a locally stationed CIA officer to track it down, find out who's behind the smuggling and the murders, and put a stop to the whole grisly endeavour, by whatever means necessary.
A complex plot with continually ratcheting up suspense combined with equally complex, interesting characters and an intriguing, very well realized setting make this a great read for fans of the genre. It really ought to pass through the hands of a competent editor to filter out the handful of errors that made it through into the version I read, but there weren't anywhere near enough of them to hinder my enjoyment while reading.
*** I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
A complex plot with continually ratcheting up suspense combined with equally complex, interesting characters and an intriguing, very well realized setting make this a great read for fans of the genre. It really ought to pass through the hands of a competent editor to filter out the handful of errors that made it through into the version I read, but there weren't anywhere near enough of them to hinder my enjoyment while reading.
*** I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
March 13, 2019
1992 Warsaw, shortly after the Soviet Break up, Spring is beginning in Poland but the weather is cold and streets are paved in ice.
4 murders have been carried out, bodies dumped by the same river, victims have nuclear radiation on their hands and a slash to the face. Agent Jay Porter of the FBI is sent to the US Embassy in Poland to assist with the Investigation.
With the borders to Poland now open from Russia, Sadistic General Drako Mladic, head of security of Yugoslavia sees his chance to resurrect Serbia, and hatches a plan with brilliant nuclear scientist, Dr Sergev Ustinov to smuggle enhanced uranium into Poland to build a nuclear weapon in exchange for 1 million US dollars.
Assisted by Director Husarka Basia the corrupt Chief of Organised Crime, a sneaky mischievous, old school villain, and drug dealer Jasek ,they arrange the crossings of the couriers carrying the Uranium and the safe arrival of Dr Ustinov, but things don’t always go to plan with criminals and a million dollars involved.
Porter along with his counterpart at the US Embassy, Kurt Crawford from
The CIA, team up to solve the mystery of these dead couriers and to stop
Mladic’s horrendous plan and they go to any lengths to do so.
Warsaw is described as a cold, dark, gloomy place to live, with food shortages , meat and bread doubling in price daily and very little money around,it’s all told with fantastic attention to detail.
This is an espionage thriller, full of atmosphere, packed with corruption, double crossing and murder , drug dealers and plenty of dastardly criminals and unsavoury villains and a backdrop laced with uncertainty and darkness.
The Finale is entertaining and action packed and a suggestion this is the first book in the series of Jay Porter and Kurt Crawford, which would be a great thing.
A fast paced , thrilling book, the writing is both excellent, and thoroughly interesting. It’s exciting and very easily one of the best books I’ve read so far this year.
4.5/5
Thank you to Net Galley for the free a Review copy, as ever this has not influenced my review in any way
4 murders have been carried out, bodies dumped by the same river, victims have nuclear radiation on their hands and a slash to the face. Agent Jay Porter of the FBI is sent to the US Embassy in Poland to assist with the Investigation.
With the borders to Poland now open from Russia, Sadistic General Drako Mladic, head of security of Yugoslavia sees his chance to resurrect Serbia, and hatches a plan with brilliant nuclear scientist, Dr Sergev Ustinov to smuggle enhanced uranium into Poland to build a nuclear weapon in exchange for 1 million US dollars.
Assisted by Director Husarka Basia the corrupt Chief of Organised Crime, a sneaky mischievous, old school villain, and drug dealer Jasek ,they arrange the crossings of the couriers carrying the Uranium and the safe arrival of Dr Ustinov, but things don’t always go to plan with criminals and a million dollars involved.
Porter along with his counterpart at the US Embassy, Kurt Crawford from
The CIA, team up to solve the mystery of these dead couriers and to stop
Mladic’s horrendous plan and they go to any lengths to do so.
Warsaw is described as a cold, dark, gloomy place to live, with food shortages , meat and bread doubling in price daily and very little money around,it’s all told with fantastic attention to detail.
This is an espionage thriller, full of atmosphere, packed with corruption, double crossing and murder , drug dealers and plenty of dastardly criminals and unsavoury villains and a backdrop laced with uncertainty and darkness.
The Finale is entertaining and action packed and a suggestion this is the first book in the series of Jay Porter and Kurt Crawford, which would be a great thing.
A fast paced , thrilling book, the writing is both excellent, and thoroughly interesting. It’s exciting and very easily one of the best books I’ve read so far this year.
4.5/5
Thank you to Net Galley for the free a Review copy, as ever this has not influenced my review in any way
April 4, 2019
It felt as though this book had a sense of timelessness to it; and you totally forget that you're reading about a period after WW2 where Poland is still recovering from the after effects. I really enjoyed the writing; even though the story itself didn't really stick with me - I'm likely to read another book by this author. I got an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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