Product Description

Swashbuckling counter Spy Alex Hawke returns in New York Times bestselling author Ted Bell's most explosive tale of international suspense to date.

There dwells, somewhere in Russia, a man so powerful no one even knows his name. His existence is only speculated upon, only whispered about in American corridors of power and CIA strategy meetings. Though he is all but invisible, he is pulling strings -- and pulling them hard. For suddenly, Russia is a far, far more ominous threat than even the most hardened cold warriors ever thought possible.

The Russians have their finger on the switch to the European economy and an eye on the American jugular. And, most importantly, they want to be made whole again. Should America interfere with Russia's plans to "reintegrate" her rogue states, well then, America will pay in blood.

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 borne and bred inside the modern police state of Vladimir Putin's 'New Russia'.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #73677 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 512 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781416550402
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
In bestseller Bell's rousing fifth thriller (after Spy), Alex Hawke fights the leaders of a new and invigorated Russia, where Vladimir Putin has been locked up in a lethal prison built over a massive radioactive waste site. Evil mastermind Count Ivan Korsakov (aka the Dark Rider) is determined to return Mother Russia to her rightful place in the world order by reacquiring her former colonies, after which he intends to conquer Europe and reign as the new tsar. The only thing standing in his way is Hawke, who, as series fans well know, is more than up to the task of thwarting those who try to take over the globe. Life throws Hawke a curve when he finds himself falling in love with the astoundingly beautiful Anastasia, who just happens to be Korsakov's daughter. 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. (Sept.)
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From Booklist
The hero of Ted Bell’s spy series, Alex Hawke, battles treachery and love in his fifth adventure. Recuperating in Bermuda from the major injuries he received in Spy (2006), Alex is lounging on a beach when a ravishing beauty appears. His heart flutters, and he is smitten. She is the daughter of the ruthless power broker in the new Russia—a man who wants to destroy the U.S. and become the next tsar. In the meantime, a sadistic killer in the heartland of America unleashes his wrath, and a small town pays the price. Now Hawke must put aside his feelings for his new love and (once again) save the world. One subplot too many and the overplayed cliché of every woman in the novel being drop-dead gorgeous get in the way here, but even so, the main narrative flies by, displaying again Bell’s ability to turn out action-heavy espionage. --Jeff Ayers

Review
"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

Customer Reviews

For me, it was like reading three different books.
When I was reading the first third of this novel, I honestly did not think I would enjoy it enough to even finish it. But, I decided to read a little more and then a little more because I hate to give up on a book. The second third of the book began to interest me much more, perhaps because I had begun to recognize the characters and understand the situations they were in. The final third of the book was very exciting and fast paced. I wanted to find out what was going to happen in this series of incidences which had the potential to change the world forever.

Tsar is a book which places before the reader a premise of what if.... What if there was an incredibly powerful man who literally sat behind "the red curtain" in Russia. A man who had a mind so warped and twisted that he had no moral compass which would keep him from committing horrifying atrocities in order to rule as the Tsar of Russia. A Russia which meant a forced reuniting of the individual countries which had broken away from the old Soviet Union when they had the chance. And what if this man had devised a method of using a common item, a simple item, and yet use it in such a brilliant way that he could actually control the entire world just by entering a code into a machine and pushing a button.

I enjoyed the last third of this novel immensely. I had to read through the first part (which I didn't like at all) to get all the characters in place and then the second part (which began to capture my attention more) to lead up to the real action packed events. It was, for me, as if I read three different books. Luckily the last third was strong enough for me to give this book a four star rating.

I have never read any other books by Ted Bell. Consequently, I was not familiar with the character Alexander Hawke. As any worthy hero must be, he is larger than life and capable of pulling off miracles. If you enjoy action thrillers with the emphasis on political intrigue, spys, double agents, and military units trained to perform impossible feats, you will probably enjoy this book.

A fun read, exciting, even educational
Given Russia's recent invasion the nation of Georgia, once part of the USSR, my compliments to Bell for his rather prophetic anticipations in this novel. Even more so, TSAR takes the reader graphically through some possible and rather scary near-future developments in Russia-USA relations.

The novel starts at a leisurely pace, as we get to know the protagonist, Hawke. But it soon becomes a page-turner that is hard to put down. Hawke does have similarities to James Bond, as well as other tough-guy, highly skilled and talented spy-types, and he and other characters are explored and developed with some depth and effortlessly come alive in the story. And the book is an enjoyable thriller, a spy story with some future tech elements, and includes a well-crafted suspense crescendo near the end that had me practically on the edge of my seat.

But more than this, the author is commendably knowledgeable in several areas key to the story: (1) military, SEAL type operations; (2) espionage agencies and units, how they work, plan and think ; (3) Mother Russia: history, culture and soul, especially its leaders' motives; as well as (4) some historical backgrounds of the settings, like the Island Bermuda where the novel begins. The writing is very readable, never dull, and these elements are woven into the story seamlessly and add texture and depth to the action and characters.

The plot is a roller coaster ride but plausible enough and well put-together.
Highly recommended for any who like this type of novel.

Jack Ryan meets James Bond!! Action and thrills!
Alex Hawke is half British/half American and works for the Brits primarily as a VERY special agent. His dad was also an agent during the Cold War and went up against the USSR on more than one occasion. Alex is currently on some R & R in Bermuda recovering from some severe illnesses and injuries incurred while in the Amazon jungle. The only person he really knows on the island is his very old friend Ambrose Congreve and his fiancee Diana Mars with whom he plans to have dinner that night. Alex is relaxing and swimming on the beach when he notes a towel near his. Since he is bathing a la naturel, he is, of course, a bit concerned especially when it turns out that the towel belongs to a beautiful tall blonde Russian woman named Anastasia "Asia" Korsakova. Asia has a sketchbook and much admires Alex's body to his embarassment. She is picked up from the cove by a Bermudian, Hoodoo, in a Zodiac with the name "Tsar".

That night at dinner, Alex also discovers that his old commander and chief of MI6, Sir David Trulove, contacted his buddy Ambrose and invited himself to dinner in order to talk to Alex about a joint British-American team they want to set up to study the Russians.

At the same time, the reader gets acquainted with the Russian president, Vladmir Rosotov, "the Twelve" and Count Ivan Korsakov, who is the most powerful man in the Kremlin. We also travel the Badlands of North Dakota on a journey with Paddy Strelnikov who is a Russian emigrant from Brooklyn who is on a strange mission.

How all these elements come together and the thrills, chills, spying and action are straight out of a Tom Clancy type novel. Alex Hawke, however, is more of a James Bond-type with women than a Jack Ryan - who is married with children.

This is the first Ted Bell novel I've read and it won't be the last!

Highly recommended.