Genre: Thriller
Description:
“Ross and Damon Fraser are brothers on an
elite caving team attempting a new world depth record, but the wheels come off
the moment they arrive in the tiny breakaway republic of Abkhazia. Akhar
Kutsnia, head of the country’s shadowy intelligence network, throws them in
prison and gives them an ultimatum.”
Author:
Jeff put out five books through a New York
publisher, but now he’s Indie publishing on Amazon. He writes mystery,
suspense, thrillers and crime.
Find Jeff at his website.
Appraisal:
The Krubera Conspiracy is a tautly crafted narrative set in Abkhazia, a self-proclaimed
state that broke away from Georgia. Political intrigue and a claustrophobic
descent into the world’s deepest cave create parallel adventures, each driven
by increasing tension and suspense. Two brothers plan to attempt a record
caving depth until an agent for an Abkhazia intelligence service kidnaps one, a
lawyer for the CIA, and forces him to help determine who is threatening the
outcome of a critical presidential election. If he fails, his brother will be
killed during his descent into Krubera.
The lawyer enlists the help of a CIA
functionary in London, who is drawn into an assassination plot that includes an
attempt on her life and a harrowing journey from London to Abkhazia with the
lawyer. As enjoyable as the story is, my biggest takeaway is a better
understanding of a volatile region of the world. South Ossetia gets a bit of
notice in the Western press, but I had no knowledge of Abkhazia. The
description of Krubera is a fascinating look at the techniques and perils of
caving.
My only mild complaint is that many plot
elements called for more willful suspension of disbelief than I would expect
with a thriller, from incompetent assassins to an improbable blackmail of a CIA
official. To quote a character from the novel: “It’s incredible.” Daur shook
his head. “A team of assassins and they managed to survive.” A bit too
incredible.
Still, this is a novel I will long and
pleasurably remember.
Buy now
from: Amazon US Amazon UK
FYI:
Nothing to note
Format/Typo
Issues:
Review is based on an advance reader copy, so we can’t gauge the
finished product in this area.
Rating: Five stars
Reviewed
by: Sam Waite
Approximate word count: 90-95,000 words
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