FBI agent Sean Reilly is assigned a case involving the apparent suicide of a Russian embassy attaché in an apartment where a Russian couple, Leo Sokolov and his wife, live. The case becomes more bizarre when the Sokolovs disappear.
When Sean is forced to work with Russian FSB agent Larisa Tchoumitcheva, they learn that a mysterious mind-control device invented a century before may be at the center of the suicide and missing persons cases as well as a 1916 Russian mining disaster in which mass killings inside the mine forced the mine’s destruction.
The investigators discover that Leo is the grandson of Grigory Rasputin’s trusted confidant and the one who invented the device behind the Russian-mine killings. They also learn that Leo rebuilt the device using his grandfather’s journal and that the attaché may have been sent to take the machine from Leo. When Daphne Sokolov suddenly reappears at a Manhattan police station, the information she provides leads the FBI to her husband. Although Leo is safely in custody, his invention still missing, and Sean is left with questions on all fronts.
The Russian embassy is hiding something, but what? His Russian partner also has secrets. Should he trust her or not? Most important of all, will he be in time to stop another disaster from a machine developed 100 years ago?
“Rasputin’s Shadow” has strong character development and dialogue. Khoury weaves together historical events with current-day action to create a book readers won’t want to put down. Rather than being a distraction from the action, the skillful weaving of flashbacks into the plot keeps the story moving throughout. Even though this book is part of a series, there is enough past information provided to allow “Rasputin’s Shadow” to be read as a standalone.
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FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher.
More information about Raymond Khoury and “Rasputin’s Shadow” is available on his website at raymondkhoury.com.
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