Sakharov the Bear

By: John Ellsworth

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

FROM USA Today best-selling author John Ellsworth

A Legal Thriller - in a Russian Courtroom Drama

Two CIA field operators obtain a bill of lading from an arms supplier in Moscow. Tracing the origin and destination of the weapons there is reason to believe a massive arms shipment has come into the US through the Port of Long Beach. While their investigation proceeds, the CIA operatives are arrested in Russia and put on trial for stealing state secrets and murder. Michael Gresham appears in Moscow to defend them, but the trial turns into a kangaroo court of Russian justice. Corruption and undercover deceit threaten to put the Americans in front of a Russian firing squad.

Every Lawyer Novel Needs a Trial

The jury trial that follows is probably Michael's strangest case ever. People die and people disappear, secrets are stolen, and confessions are made, but...is any of this based on truth and reality? Or is everything a wall of disinformation meant to throw off the Americans and stymie all attempts at justice in the Russian court? Watch from your front row seat as Michael takes on the KGB only to find the judge sending him to jail because he fought back in court. Everything is at risk here, as we look in on the American President, the NSA, the CIA, and DoD while the story accelerates to its exciting and shocking climax.

This stand-alone novel features leading man Michael Gresham. Look for other mystery and legal and financial thriller books featuring Michael Gresham including The Lawyer, Secrets Girls Keep, The Law Partners, Carlos the Ant, and now Sakharov the Bear. They can be enjoyed in any order.

©2017 John Ellsworth (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Timely and revealing in this age of renewed Russian militancy." (American Institute of Justice)

The author allows his imagination to run wild!

I thoroughly enjoyed this audacious novel! Sakharov the Bear is the fifth novel in author John Ellsworth's wonderful Michael Gresham legal thriller series (I have reviewed the prior four). This novel is very different from any legal thriller I have read or listened to; it is so unusual as to not be credible. But it is also a fun listen.

The publisher's summary is bad because it tells too much. It would have been better if it had simply said that American Lawyer Michael Gresham defends two CIA employees accused of murder in a Russian court.

Author Ellsworth deserves some credit for his audacity in releasing a novel that goes far further than merely very unlikely to literally impossible. He has a lot of fun in doing so. Steven Hoye narrates perfectly.

My problem

This is a very good story. It tends to be a bit lengthy. And also a little Confusing. Mostly because of its location in Russia. The personal names are my problem. And believe me I know this is just my problem it's a very good book.

gripping

nice distraction from.our current scary reality. geeat story with twists and turns throught the book

good book

Struggled with the first 10 chapters getting to Gresham but I made it. Longer than I wanted but wait for it and you will be ok.

Enjoyed this one as much .....

Enjoyed this one as much as the others. Will continue to listen to this author. Love the narrator. Intrigue and humor abound. Will recommend this book.

Weird story, creepy narration, not a bad listen

Would you try another book from John Ellsworth and/or Stephen Hoye?

Ellsworth maybe, at least he is original. Hoye -- never.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Wonderment that yet again that author, producer, anyone near the recording didn't pipe up and say "This sounds awful!"

Any additional comments?

American lawyer goes to Moscow to defend a CIA operative who is guilty of murder. American lawyer takes a Russian name/identity and pretends to be mute so he can be the murderer's lawyer in the Russian court trial. Surprise, this doesn't work too well but somehow he really can be an American lawyer in a Russian court and he wins because the CIA outsmarts the vile Russians by totally fabricating lies, which everyone agrees is okay because the Russians were corrupt first. In between all this, the lawyer beds a couple of women he is sure he is in love with but he is also constantly weeping over his beloved dead wife. All this is told in an awful narration. Don't know if I could recommend this, but wasn't bad enough to ask for my money back.

I did not care for this book

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

It did not grab me. I couldn't get into it. I tried twice.

What could John Ellsworth have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Written it like the others he has written that I have read.

What didn’t you like about Stephen Hoye’s performance?

I'm not sure

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I couldn't begin to guess

Any additional comments?

none