Rasputin's Shadow

By: Raymond Khoury

Narrated by: Richard Ferrone

Raymond Khoury, the international best-selling author of The Last Templar, is back with another ingenious, fast-paced thriller that straddles present-day NYC and Russia in the early 1900s - the time of the infamous Rasputin and his mysterious rise to power.

FBI special Agent Sean Reilly is tasked with a delicate case. A Russian diplomat seems to have committed suicide by jumping out of a sixth-floor window in Queens, New York. The apartment’s owners are missing, while a faceless killer known only as Koschey - “the Deathless” - is roaming the city and leaving a trail of death in his wake.

Joined by Russian FSB Agent Larisa Tchoumitcheva, Reilly’s investigation soon uncovers a deadly, desperate search for a mysterious device whose origins reach back in time to the darkest days of the Cold War and to Imperial Russia. A device that, in the wrong hands, could have a devastating impact on our world.

Packed with the twists and suspense, the impeccable historical research, and the present and past story lines that Khoury’s fans have come to expect, Rasputin’s Shadow will keep listeners up late into the night.

©2013 Raymond Khoury (P)2013 Penguin Group

Critic reviews

"His ample cultural references are fresh, and most should withstand the test of time. History, mystery, suspense, and action-Khoury knows the recipe for a good read." (Library Journal)

"Khoury carries the story off nicely...this is a fast-paced, enjoyable tale." (Kirkus Reviews)

"Fine action, an engaging historical mystery with modern-day implications, and a cast of engaging characters - all in all, a thoroughly entertaining genre-bender." (Booklist)

No Templars or Tess, Just Sean Reilly

Written in 2013, Raymond Khoury's fourth entry in his Last Templar series is a classic double chase thriller in which FBI agent Sean Reilly investigates increasingly bizarre murders with increasing number of victims. Meanwhile, a stone cold Russian hit man is in pursuit of a potent directed energy weapon that he intends to use in an attempt to (don't laugh) take over the world.

As one of the writers who jumped on the DaVinci Code's Knights Templar bandwagon, Khoury weaves in a historical mystery -- Russian Svengali Rasputin -- into the present-day McGuffin (the energy weapon). The connection is somewhat tenuous, although Rasputin was famous for creating weapons for his Seraphs, but the whole thing seems to work as modern politico-techno-thriller and historical mystery.

Interestingly, this book was written several years before the Havana Syndrome incident which are attributed to a directed energy weapon of the same type. It was also more than a decade ahead of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, with the energy weapon perhaps serving as a metaphor for the propaganda weapons Russia used (at least to this present-day reader).

If you're a Last Templar reader looking for another Templar thriller, you're out of luck. Like Book 3 in this series, there are no Knights Templar here. The series really should be called the Sean Reilly - Tess Chaykin series -- although there is no Tess here either except for a brief explanation as to why she is not here. So Sean Reilly. Despite Richard Ferrone's capable narration, I never imagined Reilly sounding this gruff (I read the previous books in print).

Science fiction in the field of Psychology

This story was interesting, and the plotline well-crafted, but as always, the narrator does a sloppy job because I would have really appreciated some Russian accents. The ending sprouts a new lead that acts as a cliffhanger.

Great series, good book

I personally really liked this book but not as much as the others in the series. wish audible had the next one in the series.

A story that you will not wanting end.

Listening I could hardly get myself to turn the book off. The story had me on the edge my seat. Can't wait for the next Riley story.

Oh those Russians!

If you could sum up Rasputin's Shadow in three words, what would they be?

Dramatic
Original
Interesting

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

( Small spoiler alert ) the mind control device was very interesting conceptually.
Some of the personal relationship didn't drive the story, but really, most everything in this is damn interesting.

What does Richard Ferrone bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His accents and timing are impecable. Story would not be the same without him bringing the characters , and their nuances, to life.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Actually, I might, all things being equal.

Any additional comments?

This outing started abit slowly, and has many moving pieces, which sometimes are abit awkward to follow all the way. That said, I was grabbed by this early on, and paid attention thru to the end.

The performer really brings it here, and I highly recommend this.

Entertaining Fantasy

I WAS FASCINATED BY THE STORY LINE. A FEW SKIPS BUT WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW. THE NARRATOR WAS EXCELLENT.

meh!

Not as exciting as his other books. kind of out there. hope the next ones ate better.

Great story

Loved it. I have been intrigued by mind control tactics; excellent presentation of the use of microwave technology. The cliff hanger has me getting the next book immediately.

Bored After Three Hours Not His Best By Far

Not interesting at all I have read all his books and after three hours had to give up Richard Ferone us a good reader so it wasn't him

Boring

I enjoyed the other two in this series, but this one failed to take off. I would skip it.