Tsar

This novel is as good as it gets in this genre. It is the best of James Bond moved to the 21st century. Hawke is Bond reincarnated in many ways. He is suave, sophisticated, a chic magnet, looks great in white tie and a great spy. But in many ways he is more than Bond. He has deep relationships with women, he has long-standing and close friendships and his handlers leave much of the strategizing to him. Bell adds a bit of subtle humor with the white tie old English manners wihtout ever going over the top. So that is the character - and a great character it is. The plot in this novel is terrific. Hawke has found rest and relaxation on Bermuda. Of course he falls in love with a babe. She does not know he is a lord (and a spy) and he does not know she is the daughter of the power behind the Russian throne that wants Russia to return to power. The cold war is coming back. Hawke just doesn't know how fast. The book has all the elements: a great superstar spy, an evil genius and great supporting cast. More than that, the plot was great. It was straight-forward, yet compelling. It had the best of the attribute of "how is he gonna' get out of this one?" again, without going over the top. It also had a terrific high tech villain meglomaniac. This is a thriller not to be missed.

This is my Third Alex Hawke novel. I enjoyed the first two as good old fashioned and action packed spy/thriller novels. What can I saw - when I'm in the mood for good escapist reading I love novels with hair raising situations, dashing heroes, and evil villains. TSAR is another such novel. As we watch the nightly news and see scenes of a newly resurgent and militant Russia, Bell's story really touches a nerve. TSAR is a great addition to the Hawke series and is a very enjoyable "page turner" with just enough topical interest to make you pause and think.

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.

This is my third Ted Bell novel and the second with Alex Hawke as the hero. I am more than hooked. It is certainly in my plans to read them all. Russia is being run by a megalomaniac intent on returning the former superpower to its old glory. There is Russian aggression that is beyond 'ripped from the headlines'. Although this book was written before the recent invasion of Georgia, readers will have an eery feeling of deja vu. The last novel I read something like that was Tom Clancy's 'Debt of Honor' which anticipated an event like that of 9/11. This story is packed full of action that never stops. There are some very interesting characters. Along with the protagonist, Alex Hawke, the lead villain is equally well developed. It includes a terror plot so far reaching that it dwarfs anything the world has ever known. It is extremely creative and unique. I would recommend this for any fan of thrillers. It is a very hard book to put down.

If you haven't read any of the Alex Hawke series, my advice to you is grab your wallet and grab them all. They really are that good, and TSAR does not disappoint. I am actually wondering if Bell has a crystal ball considering how much of his "fiction" is starting to seem like reality. TSAR starts us off with a small account of the cold war in 1962 that introduces readers to Alex Hawke's father. We then proceed to find the much respected Alex Hawke enjoying some rest and relaxation in Bermuda, which of course doesn't last long before he is called to duty. Bell does a great job of giving enough background so even if the reader has no idea who Alex Hawke is, the story is complete. However, he does not go to the extreme of irritating readers who have read previous books. The supporting characters of TSAR get enough action to be brought to life, but without deviating from the main story. The primary threat of the story is a scary one to say the least, and will have you considering the possibilities for a while. If you are a fan of the Alex Hawke series, you will not be disappointed with TSAR, and if you have never read the series, I hope you will find TSAR as thrilling and entertaining as I have.