1. Gerard De Villiers Templar

In this gripping, tightly plotted tale of espionage, Malko Linge investigates the suspicious death of a Russian oligarch in London. Boris Berezovsky is living in exile in London to avoid the wrath of Vladimir Putin. One morning, the unlucky oligarch is found dead in his bathroom, an apparent suicide.

Their suspicions aroused, MI5 opens an investigation—but Prime Minister David Cameron orders the case closed. Alarmed at the renewal of Russian Cold War tricks and Moscow’s increasingly close ties to London, the CIA dispatches Malko Linge to investigate Berezovsky’s death and the British cover-up. With help from an alluring former CIA handler, Malko dives into the search for hard evidence of the Kremlin’s involvement in the affair—putting himself directly in the crosshairs of the world’s most efficient assassins. READ an excerpt here. Malko Linge is assigned to tail a novice terrorist who has a plot to blow up Air Force One—and the weapons to make it happen.

In New Jersey, Parviz Amritzar is mourning for his family—killed by a U.S. Airstrike back in Pakistan—and vowing revenge against his adoptive country. He devises a plan to shoot down Air Force One and gets a lucky break when he reaches a terrorist contact who knows how he can obtain a surface-to-air missile from the Russians.

When the CIA picks up on the rumors of this plot, they call on Malko Linge to carefully observe the would-be terrorist. But as soon as Malko thinks he has a handle on the situation, things become more unpredictable and much more dangerous. READ an excerpt here. In Chaos in Kabul, Malko is summoned to Washington by the White House National Security Advisor and asked to carry out the assassination of Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai. President Obama is desperate to get all American troops out of Afghanistan by December 2014, but the country's always unpredictable president has proven to be a major obstacle. After accepting the mission and traveling to Kabul, Malko is kidnapped and nearly killed on the order of Karzai's entourage.

It soon becomes clear that a renegade CIA officer has informed Karzai of the plot against him. After managing to escape, Malko finds himself alone and running for his life in a hostile city. Now available in trade paperback!At a benefit dinner, Austrian playboy and CIA freelancer Malko Linge meets an intriguing woman, Zhanna Khrenkov, who has an unusual proposal. She will disclose everything she knows about her husband Alexei's business if Malko will get rid of Alexei's younger, British mistress. Appalled, Malko refuses-until Zhanna reveals her husband's real job: head of a ring of Russian spies operating undercover inside the U.S. For Malko's CIA contacts, this is a highly necessary job; for Malko, it is a highly sensitive one.

He will move cautiously from Vienna to London to Moscow, trying to find the right balance of winning Zhanna's trust without compromising his moral integrity. Boris Berezovsky is living in exile in London to avoid the wrath of Vladimir Putin. One morning, the unlucky oligarch is found dead in his bathroom, an apparent suicide.Their suspicions aroused, MI5 opens an investigation—but Prime Minister David Cameron orders the case closed.

Alarmed at the renewal of Russian Cold War tricks and Moscow’s increasingly close ties to London, the CIA dispatches Malko Linge to investigate Berezovsky’s death and the British cover-up. With help from an alluring former CIA handler, Malko dives into the search for hard evidence of the Kremlin’s involvement in the affair—putting himself directly in the crosshairs of the world’s most efficient assassins.Read more here.

The 3rd of Gerard de Villiers's novels published by Vintage Canada finds Malko Linge secretly helping the CIA investigate the suspicious death of Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky-a death which may have been ordered by Vladimir Putin himself.In March 2013, Boris Berezovsky is found dead in his home in Berkshire, apparently the victim of a suicide by hanging. MI5 commence The 3rd of Gerard de Villiers's novels published by Vintage Canada finds Malko Linge secretly helping the CIA investigate the suspicious death of Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky-a death which may have been ordered by Vladimir Putin himself.In March 2013, Boris Berezovsky is found dead in his home in Berkshire, apparently the victim of a suicide by hanging. MI5 commences an investigation-until Prime Minister David Cameron orders them to close the case, hoping to avoid endangering British-Russian business relations. Alarmed at the renewal of Russian Cold War tricks, the CIA dispatches Malko Linge to investigate Berezovksy's death and the British cover-up. Betrayals are the order of the day: Berezovsky has betrayed Putin. The Mossad is suspicious of the CIA. And the head of MI5 disobeys the prime minister's orders to stage a secret meeting with the Americans and reveal the truth about what is going on.

On the one hand, de Villiers writes a compelling and well-researched story about Russian score-settling and British willful blindness. He gets inside Putin's head pretty darn well.On the other, there's a ridiculous amount of 'getting inside,' and I'm not talking thought patterns.

The sex scenes are so unlikely that they'd be more at home on 3 AM pay-per-view starring the artificially-enhanced housewife, the musclebound plumber, the tattooed and pierced pizza guy, and the big black cable guy.Mayb On the one hand, de Villiers writes a compelling and well-researched story about Russian score-settling and British willful blindness. He gets inside Putin's head pretty darn well.On the other, there's a ridiculous amount of 'getting inside,' and I'm not talking thought patterns. The sex scenes are so unlikely that they'd be more at home on 3 AM pay-per-view starring the artificially-enhanced housewife, the musclebound plumber, the tattooed and pierced pizza guy, and the big black cable guy.Maybe this is the French male's version of the American woman's romance novel, I don't know. Shame though, since I was looking for a classy spy thriller but found an international incident thinly disguising a wankfest.

It'd be four stars without the distracting porn (THAT's a phrase I didn't think I'd ever use), but earns two stars with it. Revenge of the Kremlin is the second of De Villiers' Malko Linge novel I have tackled, having previously enjoyed The Madmen of Benghazi. As with 'Benghazi', which was set around the collapse of the Ghadafi regime in Libya, in 'Kremlin' De Villiers takes another real life, contemporary event, this time the death of exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky, and weaves his fictional tale around it.The result is a somewhat strange book, as it’s an espionage thriller that lacks much in the way of gen Revenge of the Kremlin is the second of De Villiers' Malko Linge novel I have tackled, having previously enjoyed The Madmen of Benghazi. As with 'Benghazi', which was set around the collapse of the Ghadafi regime in Libya, in 'Kremlin' De Villiers takes another real life, contemporary event, this time the death of exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky, and weaves his fictional tale around it.The result is a somewhat strange book, as it’s an espionage thriller that lacks much in the way of genuine thrills. When it comes to action there is almost none, and whilst attempts (sometimes successful) are made on the lives of various characters as the story unfolds, including Linge himself, the book lends no sensation of genuine danger or real urgency to proceedings.

There is no 'ticking clock' plot device here to drive the story forward to a definitive conclusion.It doesn't help matters that Linge himself remains a rather passive, colourless cipher throughout. Having now read two of De Villiers novels I am struggling to see the appeal of Linge, who is often described as the 'French James Bond'. He certainly lacks the charisma or physical dynamism of Fleming's creation and beyond the fact that he is an Austrian aristocrat and is seemingly irresistibly attractive to all members of the opposite sex we are given next to no insights into his physical appearance or personality. Indeed it difficult to see exactly what unique skills or experience Linge brings to the party, since he doesn’t engage in any physical action and relies on others to do a great deal of the heavy lifting when it comes to investigating Berezovksy’s apparent suicide.Linge’s lack of genuine presence leaves something of a hole at the heart of the novel, and the book’s only real selling point is the clever and frighteningly plausible conspiracy it weaves around Berezovsky’s demise. It has often been said that De Villier’s extensive contacts in the espionage world gave him insights and knowledge that other thriller writers’ lack, and that feel very much to be true as you read Revenge of the Kremlin. None of the ‘fictional’ events surrounding the oligarch’s demise feel outside the realm of plausibility, and De Villiers descriptions of the murky, morally compromised worlds of espionage and international diplomacy seem all too real.It all makes for an interesting and through provoking exercise in ‘what-if?’ It doesn’t by itself however, suddenly turn Revenge of the Kremlin into an entirely satisfying and entertaining thriller. Nor does the smattering of graphic, and in one case entirely gratuitous and superfluous sex, scenes that De Villiers always includes in his books.

Greater stakes, either personal or political, more incident and a stronger, far more charismatic lead character would be needed for Kremlin to be classed as genuinely good, all round spy thriller. As it is it remains an interesting curio with some significant flaws. Revenge of the Kremlin “A Malko Linge Novel”By Gerard DeVilliersVintage/Black Lizard, U.S.; 2015In Gerard DeVilliers newest novel “Revenge of the Kremlin” comes another tale that could have been ripped from today’s headlines! Russian citizen Boris Berezovski had been living in London and his very recent death had been declared a suicide. Problem is, not everyone believes he killed himself; rather, that his death had been a well planned execution by the Russians.When the American CIA call in Malk Revenge of the Kremlin “A Malko Linge Novel”By Gerard DeVilliersVintage/Black Lizard, U.S.; 2015In Gerard DeVilliers newest novel “Revenge of the Kremlin” comes another tale that could have been ripped from today’s headlines! Russian citizen Boris Berezovski had been living in London and his very recent death had been declared a suicide.

Problem is, not everyone believes he killed himself; rather, that his death had been a well planned execution by the Russians.When the American CIA call in Malko Linge to investigate, Linge quickly gathers clues - soon putting both himself and his friends in extreme danger. Will Malko Linge be able to solve this incredibly dangerous case - or will he himself be killed before he finally gets his answers?I received this book for free to review. I am a member of Goodreads, Librarything, and NetGalley, as well as maintain a book blog at.

Gerard De Villiers Templar

One of the worst books I've ever read. The writing is terrible and every 1-2 chapters de Villiers throws in an equally badly written pornographic sex scene because his main character is a self-insert for dudes reading his book who fantasize about having wild sex with nymphomaniac Russian women.

The entire thing is straight up Male Gaze shit. When his Bond knockoff male lead isn't having sex, he's probably rattling off a laundry list of every stereotype about Russia and Russians that has ever exi One of the worst books I've ever read. The writing is terrible and every 1-2 chapters de Villiers throws in an equally badly written pornographic sex scene because his main character is a self-insert for dudes reading his book who fantasize about having wild sex with nymphomaniac Russian women. The entire thing is straight up Male Gaze shit. When his Bond knockoff male lead isn't having sex, he's probably rattling off a laundry list of every stereotype about Russia and Russians that has ever existed. The entire premise of the plot is played-out, uninteresting, and unrealistically written.

This book is garbage and I would have stopped reading by the end of the prologue (if I ever picked it up at all) if my prof hadn't assigned it. If I could give negative stars, I would.

There are 200 of these Malko Linge novels, but only three of them have been translated to English so far. Often compared to Ian Fleming’s James Bond series, deVilliers’ Linge features a freelancer CIA agent with hardly the advance technological weaponry of MI5, but has all the suave of a debonaire secret agent.

DeVillier has been known to jump ahead of the news. Meaning, he seemed to have the premonition for current world affairs even before it happens. You can tell his journalist roots by readi There are 200 of these Malko Linge novels, but only three of them have been translated to English so far. Often compared to Ian Fleming’s James Bond series, deVilliers’ Linge features a freelancer CIA agent with hardly the advance technological weaponry of MI5, but has all the suave of a debonaire secret agent. DeVillier has been known to jump ahead of the news. Meaning, he seemed to have the premonition for current world affairs even before it happens. You can tell his journalist roots by reading his stories, and this book gave me the chills simply because it seems so oddly relevant.The Resurgence of Cold WarIn this speculative world, Vladimir Putin is well on his way to reunite USSR.

For the last eight years, he’s been quietly working his magic behind the scenes. He rules the country with an iron fist, and have slowly been eliminating organizations and people that could potentially be his enemies (including, Pussy Riot).First on his agenda is to reestablished a defunct agency within the KGB. So clandestine, in fact, that it does not exist. SMERSH is the organization that used to assassinate regime opponents. And the first on the “hit list” is the former kingmaker, Boris Berezovsky. To cut the long story short, Berezovsky made Putin king, but got in his way as he was trying to be, a Russian god.

Eight long years later, Putin ordered his assassination.Matryoshka dolls, Stolichnaya, and radioactive poisons.The Russian style of assassination is very sophisticated nowadays. Also, very discreet and potently effective. However, they didn’t account for an Austrian-born secret agent to unearth the deep-seated roots of their plans.

And just how far Putin’s infiltration has come within the UK. In this world, Putin is in cahoots with England’s Prime Minister.

Thus, gaining the protection of MI5 and Scotland Yard. While the assassination of an ogli arch bears no importance with the CIA, it still garnered their attention simply because an alliance with Russia and the UK could change the dynamics of the civilized world as we know it.Follow Malko as he figure out how exactly did the Russians manage to make the assassination look like suicide.

Or how they poison people with substances that leave no evidence or trace in a person’s body.Why you should read this.When was the last time you’ve enjoyed an honest-to-goodness, edge-of-your seat, sophisticated spy novel? If you’re like me, probably never.And what’s a spy novel without a sexy woman in the wings? Much as I hate that Gwyneth Robertson used her sexuality as a tool for gaining information, the former CIA handler was also very cunning. However, aside from the fact that she’s using her feminine whiles to gain Malko’s affection, no one really knows what her game plans are. She’s very successful in what she does, so we know she’s not using her femininity to gain power.When Random House sent this to me, I had no idea what kind of novel I was in for.

It’s quite an experience reading this book. Everything is so garishly new and exciting. I enjoyed learning the insides of cloak and dagger organizations such as CIA, MI5 and even, FSB. I really am excited to read the rest of the novels in this series. I read this book for a class I'm currently in, The Cold War and the Spy Novel.

This is the last of 14 books we read, and I was looking forward to it as the only book that mixed contemporary politics with espionage. The book features Vladimir Putin, and the very real death of businessman Boris Berezovsky.However, I was supremely disappointed. Even though this was the most recently written book featured on the class syllabus, it was the most sexist of them all. Pretty much half the book is devote I read this book for a class I'm currently in, The Cold War and the Spy Novel. This is the last of 14 books we read, and I was looking forward to it as the only book that mixed contemporary politics with espionage.

The book features Vladimir Putin, and the very real death of businessman Boris Berezovsky.However, I was supremely disappointed. Even though this was the most recently written book featured on the class syllabus, it was the most sexist of them all. Pretty much half the book is devoted to super vulgar, overly-detailed, entirely unnecessary sex scenes. The book is chock full of lines that will make you gag and roll your eyes before tossing the book out of the window, as he describes one character's 'f.k-me look' like a 'she-cat in heat.' Besides that, the plot has a few holes: the CIA says they're looking into the boyfriend of Berezovsky's lover and then never mention him again, one of Malko Linge's lovers & helpers dies and Linge never even acknowledges this, Linge's fiance takes up half a page and never shows up again. It just makes you wonder, what the f. is the point of all this?!

Probably 2/3 of this book is superfluous. What a dog.“Hello, Malko!” he said. “We met briefly about two years ago. I’ll be here for another year before I head back to Langley.' “I won’t forget this, Sir George. Do I have your permission to inform Malko himself?”'What the hell are you going to do in Moscow, anyway?”“Pull the lion’s tail,” said Malko'You realize you’re walking into the lion’s den, don’t you?”She respected him, and he was secretly in love with her.He hadn’t realized that Irina Lopukin had friends in such high places.

I What a dog.“Hello, Malko!” he said. “We met briefly about two years ago. I’ll be here for another year before I head back to Langley.' “I won’t forget this, Sir George. Do I have your permission to inform Malko himself?”'What the hell are you going to do in Moscow, anyway?”“Pull the lion’s tail,” said Malko'You realize you’re walking into the lion’s den, don’t you?”She respected him, and he was secretly in love with her.He hadn’t realized that Irina Lopukin had friends in such high places. I hope she hasn’t gone to complain about me, he thought.“They took their revenge on her,” said Malko, feeling troubled. He had caused her death, he knew.

“I’ll have flowers put on her grave. She was very helpful.”. It wasn't very imaginative or well written or anything, but I liked the 'plucked from the headlines' concept of investigating the Berezovsky killing.

And to think de Villiers was pumping five of these out per year at one point! Apparently they're fairly accurate, too, in the sense of the author doing his homework. Evidently he predicted the assassinations of Anwar al Sadat and Indira Gandhi, plus he once accidentally outed the CIA's Madagascar station chief and the fact that he worked from the t It wasn't very imaginative or well written or anything, but I liked the 'plucked from the headlines' concept of investigating the Berezovsky killing.

And to think de Villiers was pumping five of these out per year at one point! Apparently they're fairly accurate, too, in the sense of the author doing his homework. Evidently he predicted the assassinations of Anwar al Sadat and Indira Gandhi, plus he once accidentally outed the CIA's Madagascar station chief and the fact that he worked from the the fourth floor of the embassy? He'd meant to change the character's name but forgot to do so. So this probably would've been more interesting if I had more interest invested in the Berezovsky killing. Might read his Benghazi book at some point, if I can track it down.