Tsar

A Thriller (Alex Hawke, Book 5)

By: Ted Bell

Narrated by: John Shea

Length: 17 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

In Ted Bell's latest pulse-pounding and action-packed tour de force, Alex Hawke must face a global nightmare of epic proportions.

As this political crisis plays out, Russia gains a new leader. Not just a president, but a new tsar, a signal to the world that the old, imperial Russia is back and plans to have her day. And in America, a mysterious killer, known only as Happy the Baker, brutally murders an innocent family and literally flattens the small Midwestern town they once called home. Just a taste, according to the new tsar, of what will happen if America does not back down.

Onto this stage must step Alex Hawke, espionage agent extraordinaire and the only man, both Americans and the Brits agree, who can stop the absolute madness born and bred inside the modern police state of Vladimir Putin's "New Russia".

Take another thrill ride with Alex Hawke.

©2008 Brilliance Audio, Inc.; 2008 Ted Bell

Critic reviews

"As always, Bell pulls out all the stops with terrific action scenes, fiendish murders, diabolical villains, dramatic rescues and all the cool weaponry the reader could possibly hope for." ( Publisher's Weekly)
"I couldn't put it down." (Rush Limbaugh)

Great thrilling book!!!

Another great book by Ted Bell! Very interesting plot with many twists and read by John Shea who made it come to life!! His narration is as good as the great George G. I’ve listened to the series starting with the Lions of Lucerne and am looking forward to the next in this series!

saving the world comes at a price

this story was phenomenal. the highs and lows of emotion all while being action packed.

pure masculine entertainment

I have listened to all of the Alexander Hawke novels available from Audible. This book, like all in the series, is based upon a James Bond-like character who battles egomaniacal world-conquering bad guys. The books in this series are less believable than some, but if you like to escape through fantasy, the series is great. The futuristic technology is well-thought out, the characters are enjoyable, and the action is non-stop. This book can easily stand alone, but I'd recommend reading/listening to the books in chronological order. Even better than the story line is the narration. The narrator "performs" each book, and is the best I've ever listened to. I listen while taking long walks and in the car. If you can't enjoy far-fetched action-packed stories with macho men and beautiful women, don't bother with this book. If you like to escape into action and fantasy, you can't get a better deal in terms of hours of enjoyment for the dollars spent. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys James Bond, James Rollins' books, etc. Lots of fun.

Top Form once more for Ted Bell

Ok, its a little far fetched how the bad guy wants to do in the good old free world. But Lord Hawke comes to meet this new threat head on. The cast of characters that support him as aways are there for him in time of need.
I finished hoping it will not be too much longer before Ted Bell gives us another Lord Hawke tale!

Good book that grows on you

There are some instances where the author has taken liberties with history. The book is also a bit macabre in places. However, it grows on you and would probably be a good foundation for a movie.

Dream world...

Sit back in your favorite chair or bed and close your eyes and live the book... be careful Hawk doesn't see you...

Gratuitous violence

I only could stand Part I, barely. Upon starting Part 2, I gave up entirely. The plot was contrived, the characters unconvincing. Why would 2 old geezers go sail in treacherous waters at night to investigate they know not what?....and then get miraculously rescued by our two action heroes who decide to risk all by putting down weapons and engage in a boxing match? Please. And as best as I can tell, it gets worse after that. Perhaps it all comes together at the end. I'll never know. Frankly Scarlett......

Preposterous

...and at times ridiculous. Written like a high school boy's fantasey or a bad, made for television, grade B movie. Slow moving in the beginning, full of cliches and completely predictable. If you can suspend your sense of reality and escape into a pure male fantasy it picks up steam in the second part.

a comic book, not a novel

silly beyond belief! It's one thing to stretch reality for the sake of a story, it's another when brain death is a requirement for appreciating the plot. The author's previous books were along these lines so I probably should have known to pass on this one. It's a long book but I quit listening well before the end. Don't waste a precious credit on this loser.

Had potential, but disappointed

Would you try another book from Ted Bell and/or John Shea?

No

Would you ever listen to anything by Ted Bell again?

Maybe

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He pauses in completely random and inappropriate places.

Any additional comments?

This book suffers from a lack of identity. At times I felt as though I were reading what I expected: a modern spy thriller, but those times were far too few. At other times the book vacillated between tawdry romance novel, 19th century melodrama, and Young Adult mystery. So much so that at one point I actually went back to the description to make sure I hadn't picked up a YA book without realizing it. The veering style was so distracting that it pulled me out of the story several times. When you're noticing the writing style, the writing style needs work. This wasn't helped by John Shea's odd habit of inserting pauses in completely inappropriate places where ... they just don't make sense.