The Russian

A Thriller

By: Ben Coes

Narrated by: Ari Fliakos

Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

"The narration truly shines in the vast range of accents Fliakos expertly employs...a complete experience." (Booklist)

As the brutal Russian mafia becomes the most powerful and deadly criminal enterprise in the US, it’s up to covert operative Rob Tacoma to fight back, in a new series by New York Times best seller Ben Coes.

Ruthless, clever, and unbelievably violent, the Russian mafia has rapidly taken over the criminal underworld in the US, and law enforcement has been unable to stem the tide. When a powerful Russian mob family declares war by publicly executing two high-profile American politicians, the message is unmistakable - opposition will be met with overwhelming deadly force. With no other viable options, the President creates a clandestine assassinations team to find and eliminate the unreachable men running this deadly criminal operation.

The CIA recruits two Tier 1 operators - former Navy SEALs Billy Cosgrove and Rob Tacoma. But before they can even get started, the Russians act - murdering Cosgrove in his own home. Now Tacoma is on his own against an organization with endless resources and no boundaries. Step one requires the near impossible - find and kill the hidden mob boss behind Cosgrove’s death. To do this, he’ll have to take on an army in a battle where there are no rules and no limits.

©2019 Ben Coes (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

Dewey shows up at the end!

Rob Tacoma is the main protagonist of THE RUSSIAN with Dewey Andras showing up rather briefly at the end. Author Ben Coes shows once again why he is at the top tier of suspense thriller writers. THE RUSSIAN is easily the best novel I have listened to this year. The publisher's summary sets up this novel perfectly so I have nothing to add. Narrator Ari Fliakos does a great job narrating.

If you like suspense thrillers especially of the espionage variety THE RUSSIAN is an absolutely must read/listen! Very highly recommended!

Bummer, Coes disappoints this time...

The entire novel was a setup for the next book. Such a bummer Dewey only enters in the final chapter. It was a good story but has a lot of filler and after reading all the others this is by far my least favorite of the series. Which is sad because it could have been one of the best with a few modifications or just combine into one long novel. I get it, why write one when you can sell two novels. Coes: get control of your publisher so sad you sold out on this one...

I love Ben Coes but not this book!

I couldn't wait to hear this book. I was disappointed by the ending. I guess the this is book one of a new series. I miss Dewie.

Phoned this one in

Unusually boring, predictable and simplistic. Plus a surprise (not really) Dewey cameo! The majority of the book is filled with mind numbing details of weapons systems, aircraft and geography. The dialogue is embarrassingly cliched. This feels like a “filler “ book for the sequel. Narrator was decent.

Pass on it.

This book was designed to start a franchise and not to entertain. (review needs 15 words, so...)

What the heck?

The plot was good, but the ending left you hanging, it's like the soap opera's.

rip off half of story on next book!

This was written deliberately to Get you a buy the next book if you want to know the end of the story!

Slow to start

This book was really, really slow getting started. And had way, way to many details. It was ok, but not one of Ben Coes , better ones.

Love the new storyline

Keep them coming! I am a fan!

Following and developing Tacoma should be a lot of fun. Coes jumped off to a good start with The Russian. I couldn't give it 5 stars for a couple of small issues with character development/storyline that seemed inconsistent with me.

First, the claim that Rob was more subtle than Dewey didn't match up considering just how unsubtle Rob proved to be with his fly by the seat of his pants planning and in the airport. Dewey proved to be at least that subtle in The Last Refuge infiltrating Iran.

Secondly, I found Katie's outburst when Rob was at the compound to be out of character. I know she is close to Rob but she always came across as much more professional and in control than that.

Other than minor inconsistencies (IMHO), I truly enjoyed this book. It only took two days for me to listen to it commiting and walking the dogs etc. I found my self unwilling at times to put it down to take care of routine domestic issues.

Not his best

Disappointing. Not up to the usual Coes excellence. Topic trendy and provocative, but the development a little trite.

Is It a plane? No it’s Superman!

Is Rob Tacoma Superman reborn? No task to big, no villain to evil. It’s my first Ben Coes novel. I have listened to and gotten to know other superhero’s such as Mitch Rapp and Jack Reacher, but Rob Tacoma didn’t go down before he, in the last chapter, was shot in the chest. He survives of course, the bullet missed the heart and penetrated a lung instead. It’s not a bad story but the fights are to much. Honestly; he’s dead tired after a hard days of work at the docks (“could barely lift his arms”), only to beat the guy who has 45 wins in a row in a fight surrounded by a mob if Russians?
Eventually it got a bit to predictable for me. Combined with a bit more than average story, I rate this 2/5 stars.