Every now and then, those of us who love to read come accoss an exceptional book. A novel that combines all the elements, a fine narrative, great believable characters, thrilling plotting, an outstanding lead and insight into a culture. This happened last year when I read Brent Ghelfi's brilliant first book, Volk's Game, a novel that cuts into the dark heart of modern Russia.
Ghelfi returns with the second in the series, Volk's Shadow. Volk is a former Colonel in the Russian military and now a freelance operative who operates on the fringes of today's lawless Russia. He answers to the highest forms of power, a General who only answers to Putin and a crime czar who is the most powerful in the country. In Shadow, Volk must return to Chechnya, where he was a master sniper and a hated enemy. If anything, Shadow is even better than Game, Ghelfi narrative is sharper, his insight into Russia is fascinating, his plotting thrilling and complicated. Volk is simply one of the most interesting fictional characters I have ever read. There is even a moving love story as part of the plot. Although these novels are dark and violent they will appeal to all readers. Exceptional new series.