I am delighted to share my review today for The Enemy Within by Rob Sinclair. This is the 13th book in the James Ryker series and while I have not read them all, it is a brilliant fast-paced story.
My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of the book from the publisher Boldwood Books.
His past is coming back with a vengeance…
Ex-intelligence agent James Ryker has done many things in the past he’d prefer to forget. The last time he saw Gregor Minko – son to one of Ukraine’s most dangerous and politically influential arms dealers – Gregor was a scared 6-year-old boy in need of protection. But Ryker had to walk away. The boy wasn’t the mission.
Twenty years on Ryker is approached by two strangers in Antibes, France, asking for his help in finding Gregor – now going by the name of Gregor Rebrov. With a back catalogue of ‘crimes against the Russian state’, Gregor has escaped from a gulag in Siberia and is now in the wind.
Fuelled by old demons and painful memories of his own brutal actions in the past, Ryker finds himself once again in the thick of a complicated race against time and who knows how many of the world’s secret services, to find Gregor and get some answers.
As answers turn into more questions, they lead Ryker closer to home… and he can’t shake the feeling that he may be to blame.
A brand new high-stakes thriller. Perfect for fans of Lee Child and Robert Ludlum.
MY REVIEW
If you are looking for a fast-paced action-packed thriller, this is definitely one for you.
James Ryker is a character who is right in the midst of convoluted power, politics, and government departments and is not afraid to blur the lines occasionally. This book sees Ryker coming back into contact with a man he has not seen for 20 years. Ryker had been undercover and working as part of the security for a powerful family.
The author switches back and forth between the present day and the events of the past. The past is done from the perspective of Ryker and Gregor who was a 6-year-old boy at the time. After the death of his parents, Gregor disappeared and has just resurfaced and it is up to Ryker to track him down again.
The author fills in the past for both characters and he tells the story of what Ryker’s role was and more about the mission. For Gregor, the author gives us the information of his world after the death of his parents, a horrific upbringing but one that gives him the skills to do what he needs to do.
This is a dark thriller that had me gripped from the very first chapter, the two different timelines and the way he gradually builds up the past as well as the tense situation the present is now bringing. It takes a while before the author releases details of what is happening, a fair bit of time is in the past but this is essential for what is to come. It means you understand more about the character of Gregor, his motivation and the scars he carries.
This is a book that is part of an established series, I have not read all of the books. I wish I had! But the ones I have read have been great, full of action and easy to follow. There is the obvious sense of missing out if you don’t read in order, but this book also works very well as a stand-alone as there is enough information given to get to grips with some characters that are established.
This is a fabulous book and if you are looking for something that is a spy thriller that has government agencies and other agencies involved then this is one for you. I would definitely recommend it.
Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
