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The Tinderbox Plot
A Russian team of ex-KGB agents, led by experienced spymaster Andrei Grushkov, smuggle a nuclear device into the US with the intention of mass destruction. The multilayered Russian plot involves satellite teams across the US weaponizing the Internet for digital espionage to undermine American societal divisions, culminating in civil war and the ultimate destruction of capitalist ideology.
In the race against Grushkov is his ex-lover, American Dr Lynda Chester, major NSA operative. Using satellite imaging technology that she herself created, Lynda becomes instrumental in unearthing the plot and discovering the location of the bomb. However, in addition to well-orchestrated Russian espionage, she has to negotiate a cumbersome American bureaucracy undermined by egos and hidden agendas
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The Tinderbox Plot is a sweeping spy thriller that keeps the reader guessing until the final pages, and a remarkable look at a divided America exploited by foreign and domestic terrorists. Turf wars, a cumbersome bureaucracy, and latent insurrectionist objectives of a variety of American hate groups combine with a well-planned cyber and nuclear attack by Russian operatives to move America towards civil war.
In the race against Grushkov is his ex-lover, American Dr Lynda Chester, major NSA operative. Using satellite imaging technology that she herself created, Lynda becomes instrumental in unearthing the plot and discovering the location of the bomb. However, in addition to well-orchestrated Russian espionage, she has to negotiate a cumbersome American bureaucracy undermined by egos and hidden agendas
.
The Tinderbox Plot is a sweeping spy thriller that keeps the reader guessing until the final pages, and a remarkable look at a divided America exploited by foreign and domestic terrorists. Turf wars, a cumbersome bureaucracy, and latent insurrectionist objectives of a variety of American hate groups combine with a well-planned cyber and nuclear attack by Russian operatives to move America towards civil war.
291 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 21, 2021
The Tinderbox Plot is a tour de force novel in its presentation of evidently well-researched aspects of nuclear weapons, the dark reaches of internet platforms, U.S. border security issues, departmental infighting in U.S. agencies, and social and political technologies. Strong female protagonists populate this story and lend their brilliance and bravery in attempts to discovery the plot and thwart the worst possible outcome; i.e., the release of a nuclear weapon in Wichita, Kansas.
The Russian spy, Grushkov, has conceived a plot intended to push the United States into a devastating civil war from which it would never recover to continue as the democratic foe of Russia. Grushkov, a complex character, also hopes the success of the plot will result in reunification of the Soviet Union. Among other strands of Grushkov’s Tinderbox Plot, the novel details that Grushkov established a cell of spies in New York and another cell in California. The spies are wildly successful in achieving their goals of spreading disinformation and conspiracy theories to millions in the U.S. Grushkov’s communications with the spies and their relationships with each other demonstrate that the internet can be weaponized and render our democracy vulnerable to attack from without and within. Dr. Lynda Chester, a respected NSA official, is the first to detect that a possible plot is in the works. Her efforts are buttressed by other strong female characters. The voice and style in this novel are exceptional, and the action is non-stop. Tension arises from the credibly-presented events. I stop here so that I need not include spoiler alerts.
The Russian spy, Grushkov, has conceived a plot intended to push the United States into a devastating civil war from which it would never recover to continue as the democratic foe of Russia. Grushkov, a complex character, also hopes the success of the plot will result in reunification of the Soviet Union. Among other strands of Grushkov’s Tinderbox Plot, the novel details that Grushkov established a cell of spies in New York and another cell in California. The spies are wildly successful in achieving their goals of spreading disinformation and conspiracy theories to millions in the U.S. Grushkov’s communications with the spies and their relationships with each other demonstrate that the internet can be weaponized and render our democracy vulnerable to attack from without and within. Dr. Lynda Chester, a respected NSA official, is the first to detect that a possible plot is in the works. Her efforts are buttressed by other strong female characters. The voice and style in this novel are exceptional, and the action is non-stop. Tension arises from the credibly-presented events. I stop here so that I need not include spoiler alerts.
January 17, 2022
I like mysteries, especially ones that have a spy twist to them. I found a familiarity with this novel after years in the military Communications Security.
Because of that background, I found myself searching for clues as I read, and the author included great clues that enhanced the story.
The second reading was because I loved the story line. I found myself rooting for the villain, Andrei, hoping that he would change allegiances and become a USA asset.
What all this means is that I had to read the book twice, once for the exceptional story line and the second time for security facts. The author is deeply knowledgeable about security issues, and had seemingly true unclassified documents to back up the plot and this made the story seems like today’s news.
There is a determination in Andrei and he waited years for some of his plans to come to fruition. He found people who would fit his plan when they were in college and trained them and had them in place to act. Friendships made in their youth were exploited years later when least expected. Andrei had my attention from the very beginning, and I liked how the author slowly built his personality and his abilities. This was done slowly and sometimes shockingly when Andrei would kill someone without a blink. To say the least I absolutely enjoyed the book story line.
One should read this book for the enjoyment of a spy novel and with an eye to the security issues America has. I hope the author writes a sequel and resolves a few issues he left unresolved in this novel
Because of that background, I found myself searching for clues as I read, and the author included great clues that enhanced the story.
The second reading was because I loved the story line. I found myself rooting for the villain, Andrei, hoping that he would change allegiances and become a USA asset.
What all this means is that I had to read the book twice, once for the exceptional story line and the second time for security facts. The author is deeply knowledgeable about security issues, and had seemingly true unclassified documents to back up the plot and this made the story seems like today’s news.
There is a determination in Andrei and he waited years for some of his plans to come to fruition. He found people who would fit his plan when they were in college and trained them and had them in place to act. Friendships made in their youth were exploited years later when least expected. Andrei had my attention from the very beginning, and I liked how the author slowly built his personality and his abilities. This was done slowly and sometimes shockingly when Andrei would kill someone without a blink. To say the least I absolutely enjoyed the book story line.
One should read this book for the enjoyment of a spy novel and with an eye to the security issues America has. I hope the author writes a sequel and resolves a few issues he left unresolved in this novel
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews