When I read the second novel in this trilogy, I couldn’t imagine how the author would get Charlie in and out of Russia a third time, especially now that Russia has an outstanding order for Charlie’s apprehension and death. With lots of stressful situations, The Last Agent manages to provide new and creative ways for Charlie to be pursued by the Russians . . . and this time it’s not just the FSB (Federal Security Service) that is seeking to capture him. Determined to extract the last two Silent Sisters, Charlie manages to find allies who are willing to help him in accomplishing his mission. But will they be able to help him in sufficient time? Fast-paced, nail-biting suspense; a fitting end to this trilogy.

If you enjoy intricate espionage and complex politics this one is for you. I have to admit I enjoyed this one (and spy novels are not my favorite genre). This is the third book in the Charles Jenkins series and Charles is back in Russia trying to extricate some spies who have been in place for decades. His risk is extremely high and the spies he is trying to extricate are in a precarious situation. Danger is everywhere. The CIA is involved as well as the Russian FSB, but then the Russian mafia gets involved and the Russian police. Tension is high throughout and Charles Jenkins has to use all his wits and resources to not only help the two spies, but to try to keep himself alive.

Lots of political intrigue, mafia violence, and a very human factor. I love the character Charles Jenkins and find his determination to help admirable.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on February 22, 2022.

The Third Time Is / A Charm — But Not Easy

The novel is different from the first two novels. Those were dominated by adrenaline dripping pursuits by the FSB as Charles Jenkins tries to exit Russia. Never fear — there is a heart-in-throat pursuit by the FSB. Added in this novel the most powerful Mafiya in Moscow and a senior investigator of the Moscow Police are chasing Jenkins and last remaining Sister. These two added aspects enhanced the richness to the main storyline and quickly captured my interest. Another difference is that Jenkins is to determine why the two remaining Sisters have gone quiet and extract them if necessary. So, there is some old school spy craft employed to contact the Sisters. The tension was maintained because Jenkins had to be extra careful as he is on the FSB’s kill list. This cat and mouse aspect strengthen the hold on my interest. The cherry on top was that one of the sisters was Kulikova, FSB’s director of the Secretariate, who reported to the FSB’s Counterintelligence Department Deputy Director, Sokalov. She had a personal relationship with him and had been using this relationship for years to obtain the most sensitive and valuable information for the CIA. This is a very extensive sub thread that in itself was quite captivating. Lastly, as the novel proceeds there are some surprises that I really enjoyed.

The B-storyline is quite different also. Since there is a slower pace in this book, there is more about Charles Jenkins with his wife and son. There is a more about his family life that reveals this side of his personality, which explains some of his actions and thoughts during the mission. There is more self-reflection throughout the novel that provided with this character. The B-storyline allowed me to connect to this character even more than the previous novels.

As for the aspects of a novel that can turn off some readers, there are not any intimate scenes. As this aspect is often appears in spy novels, they are some references here. As for vulgar language, it is present at a low level, but there is some in Russian but only a few are translated. If you are reading this novel on an e-reader you can look their meaning up on the Internet—I did! Last aspect is violence, but it is described in the more edgy as it occurs, but they are quick. Even the torture scene did not upset me. I believe that this novel will not be objectionable to most readers.

I did not find anything that I disliked about this novel. As it is different than the first two novels, there may be some readers who will not like this novel as it is slower. Actually, this is exactly why I like this novel because it provides more on personal side of Charles Jenkins. I liked the ending that definitely included some gallows humor, and I did chuckle and smile. The author in his notes did state that this is the last book in the trilogy. There were hints in the novel that there may be more Charles Jenkins adventures in the future. Read and find out what that may entail. They sound very interesting. Lastly, this novel held my interest so much that I just could not put it down.

I have read the previous two novels in this series, and, I believe, you can read this one first. There are only references to the basic events in the previous novels, and nothing critical for the understanding of this novel. If you like previous novels or this author, do not miss this one. As I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel, the author only cemented his position on my Must-Read author list. I have this novel five stars

I received a free e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer. My review is based only by my own reading experience of this book. I wish to thank Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

The third in the series and yet again another hit.

Here we have Charles Jenkins again go back to Russia after the last two of the Seven Sisters go quite.
Already wanted by the Russian authorities, his mission is to slip back in unnoticed and extract the sisters. However a chance encounter with the biggest crime family in Russia finds him not only running from the Russian authorities and the police but also the crime gang. Can he get the sisters out and survive himself and slip out of the country?

I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again, Dugoni is one of the most readable authors out there today. I’ve read many of his books, in different genres and I’ve yet to read a bad one. This is no exception. A kind of Cold War feel but set in modern day the whole trilogy is fantastic.

It’s a real page turner. An intricate story beautifully told with interesting well rounded characters, theres little not to love about this book.

He’s up there now with my favourite authors. When I see a book of his being released I want to read it purely on his name alone.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC though Netgalley.

Charles Jenkins isn’t getting any younger but is asked to bring out 2 women who have been deep undercover spying for the US. Charles is a 6’5” black man so he doesn’t easily fade into the background, but he is good at his job. The book involves Russian Mafiosa, Russian intelligence and local police, all looking for Charles and trying to discover the identity of the 2 women. This is definitely a page turner, full of action and suspense from the first page. It is the 3rd book in the series, but could be a stand alone. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

These extraction missions are not getting any easier for Charles, a 6’5” black man who would probably stand out most anywhere but in Russia will require a number of ingenious disguises. He’s good, though, even at 64 years.

Jenkins quickly moves the first to safety but then runs into a bit of trouble with the second. His own doing and that’s what kinda pushed me off a five star this time, that I couldn’t believe with his track record he’d have made such a thoughtless mistake. Of course, that sets off the other well-plotted multi-antagonists as if it isn’t bad enough to anger Russian counterintelligence.

As with this series, however, I always enjoy getting a front row seat to the area, in this case Moscow, off the beaten path, a tour no tourist would ever get. Dugoni’s characters—yah gotta love’em. The engaging effective women or men meant to love, you love; the antagonists meant to loathe are truly disgusting.

The fast-paced series MOVES! Between flipping between Mafioso, Russian intelligence and spies, the plot never waivers or slows. Your heart sink or soars with the twists and turns, charismatic characters to root for, and the prose thought provoking.

Always satisfying, the conclusion eases the amped-up tension. You could actually read this as a standalone, but might enjoy more having read the first two. I recommend all three. 4.5 stars

Age is just a number.

The Silent Sisters is the final installment of the Charles Jenkins espionage series. Charles has been a fantastic main character. A 6'5" black man in his 60s who is an old school spy having to learn and work with new spy techniques. He's devoted to his family and has a strong moral compass. Most importantly for the Sisters (Russian moles for U.S.), Charles is willing to risk it all to protect them.

In my opinion, The Silent Sisters is the best of the three books. Here Dugoni gives us a more indepth glimpse into how the sisters have been operating as moles and how they avoided detection. Dugoni is a master at creating tension as he meticulously details out every cloak and dagger encounter. You feel it when you walk with Petrekova as she is trying to avoid being followed. Or in Kulikova's response to her husband about how odd the wrong number calls to their house are. I'm nervous even when she says she's taking the dog out for a walk. This time the story focuses on more than the escape out of Russia. The Sisters, Russian mafia, local police, FSB internal dynamics, Russia/U.S. relations... Dugoni weaves the multiple plot lines together seamlessly, while keeping the pacing tight.

I am sad to see the story end. Thankfully, the books have been picked up by Roadside Attractions to turn into a major television series. Hopefully, this won't be the last we see of Charles Jenkins.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced ready copy.

I love thrillers and espionage thrillers are no exception. This fast-paced, heart-racing thriller set in Russia does not waste a single moment. Right from the beginning, we are plunged into the world of espionage - the double agents, the spies, the turncoats, all the works.

Charles Jenkins is sent to Russia on a mission to rescue and exfiltrate the last two of the Seven Sisters. He is the master of disguise. But a Black man of great height can only hide so long in Russia. Especially when said Black man murders another man. Who turns out to be the son of a Mafia kingpin.

With breathtaking twists and turns and intricate details about the lives of the spies in Russia, this book challenges you to put it down. I finished it in two sittings which is a major achievement for me, even if I say so myself.

I understand there are two books before this one but I had no problem reading this as a standalone.

5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Robert Dugoni for the ARC.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of this spy thiller.

The Silent Sisters, by Robert Dugoni is the third in a trilogy (?) featuring intelligence agent Charles Jenkins who in this novel finds himself trapped in the country of his enemies and pursued not only by rival forces, but rogue criminal elements. Jenkins is in Russia to investigate and possibly extract the last of two sleeper agents, 2 women in their sixties, who have gone dark and presumed in trouble. Have these agents been turned? Is this an elaborate trap? And how does a older spy who should know better keep finding himself in trouble, adding the Russian mob to his long list of enemies.

This trilogy is more of a Jason Bourne the movies, than Jason Bourne the Robert Ludlum classic character kind of thriller. Lots of mention of spy craft, with a bit of ultra violence tossed in to keep the story moving. The lead character is interesting, a tall black man, which adds a subtle challenge to the story, and an interesting way of looking at what he does for his government. The bad guys are a little central casting, but the story keeps you entertained and moves along at a rapid pace, with a few surprises tossed in.

The reader doesn't need to have read the earlier books in the series, but it does help in getting an overall picture of Jenkins and the world his character interacts with. Good story with decent pacing that makes the reader want to see where it is going. This is the first book that I have read by Mr. Dugoni, and he seems to have quite a few titles and series out there. Also, the screen rights have been sold, so soon this might be a big hit on the streaming services, so hop on now for bragging rights.

The Silent Sisters is the third book in the Charles Jenkins series.. Robert Dugoni has once again blown my expectations right out of the water.. I have been waiting for this book since I closed The Last Agent..

Charles Jenkins was retired CIA, until a knock on the farmhouse door pulled him back into the chaotic world of spies and secrets.. Jenkins lives outside of Stanwood, WA and travels to Russia to try to save the day, again.. His life, the life of his family, and the lives of the secret sisters hang on the edge of every decision.. Twists and turns, up and downs had me on the edge of my seat for the entire story.. I devoured the book in one day!

Now, I just have to wait for the next chapter of the saga..

Thank you for the opportunity to read The Silent Sisters early.. I loved it!

5 star read

PS - I really enjoyed all the personal touches to this series.. I live outside Stanwood, WA and the details make the story so real.. I can picture everything, exactly how it really is.. <3

Great ready to hop on the bandwagon and read the third in a trilogy featuring Charles Jenkins, a black American CIA operative. With fleshed out characters, this mystery was intricate with multi-layered suspense that created a high wire act of tight plotting. Charlie Jenkins was charged with rescuing the 2 remaining Russian women in their 60's who were operating as spies for the United States. From the start of the book I was fascinated as Charles was literally hooked on a meat hanger in a slaughterhouse with suggestions from his assasins that a meat grinder that could make sausages was nearby. For those of you who shudder at this, it is not like this grueling scene for most of the book. The spy novel then switches to the preceding incidents where Charlie, having just arrived in Russia, goes to a nearby quiet bar, where 2 men were molesting a prostitute. When they went out to the back ally, Charlie with his moral compass, tried to stop the men from doing any harm. In the scuttle, however, one man is shot not due to Charlie. It turned out that the man was the only son of mafia head Yekaterina Yelikya. Here is where heads start to roll and we also get introduced to one of the women spies, Maria Kulikova who had been sexually manipulating the deputy of counterintelligence as he trusts her with important documents and information. Though it sounds complicated it is clear in the book that the FSB(KGB) Russian intelligence company, Mafia and a targeted senior Russian investigator have specific roles in the story. This book can act as a stand alone but the previous two books are so terrific that I suggest you read them first to capture the depth of the story. A compelling read that you can't blink away from.

I am a big psychological thriller/mystery fan; espionage not so much but I like author, Robert Dugon..
This is Book #3 in the Charles Jenkins Sister Trilogy ~ I read both "he Eighth Sister" Book# 1 and "The Last Agent" Book #2 from this series additionally read and enjoyed the Tracy Crosswhite novels.

Charles is 64, has a young wife, a toddler Lizzie and a step-son CJ who is now in middle school plays soccer and I am guessing not the Harry Potter fan he was in the earlier story. Although CJ is Charles step-son but there is no doubt that Charles is dad to him
The last story started with Charles returning to his home outside of Seattle from his undercover travels to Moscow. (An assignment offered by his former CIA bureau chief).
He is bitter at the way the agency disposes of him.

Story starts with Charles back in Russia. There is a lot of detail into the Russian mafia which is considered one of the most brutal operating in the world!
There is no doubt author, Robert Dugoni is amazing in doing his research.

In fact, I totally enjoyed reading the “Acknowledgments” notes in the back of this novel as well as the detailed information provided in “The Eighth Sister”. Dugoni explains that his knowledge of Russia comes from his visit to Moscow and Saint Petersburg. In this novel, he 0065plains he read many books including Siberia and the Trans-Siberian Railway.
Another fun piece of information is that there really is a Charles Jenkins. Dugoni had a law school roommate with the name Charles ‘Chaz’ Jenkins; he asked him if he may use his name ~ the rest is history!!

Dugoni gives us a bit of hint regarding his next novel; he mentions he will continue to the Charles Jenkins novels and has a trip planned to Egypt Hmmm?

I certainly am looking forward to the next Dugoni thriller. While waiting for his next adventure, I still want to read "The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell"!

BTW: Dugoni also tells as that Charles Jenkins and his crew will be coming to life on screen!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 22. 2022.

“My mother used to tell me that life is a lot like reading a book. You don’t know what is going to happen next unless you turn the page and read to the ending. That’s the beauty of reading. The journey.”“ Robert Dugoni (The Silent Sisters)

The Silent Sisters is the third book in the Charles Jenkins series by Robert Dugoni. I was told by friends that to fully appreciate this book one must read the series in order. That may be true, however; this was my first book to read in the series and I absolutely loved it! It will definitely stand alone if you have not read the other two.

Charles Jenkins works for the CIA. He is sent to Russia on a mission. His job is to find the missing final two (of the seven sisters) who have been working undercover in Russia. He is to safely bring the two sisters back home to the United States. This is a dangerous mission for Charles because he has been placed on a kill list (targeted) by the Russians.

Wow! Robert Dugoni has scored big again! The Secret Sisters is to be published February 22, 2022. You won't want to miss a word of this unique spy thriller!

Thank you Robert Dugoni and NetGalley for providing me with this e-book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m not a fan of spy thrillers, with the exception of this series. I find Charles Jenkins an engaging spy, with a strong moral compass. In this, the third and final book in the series, Jenkins is tasked with bringing the final two of the Seven Sisters sleeper cell out of Russia.
As a 6’5” black man, Jenkins stands out in Washington State, let alone Russia. But off he goes, with a few disguises. On his first night in Moscow, he gets involved trying to help a young prostitute and the son of a Russian Mafiya leader gets killed. Before you know it, he’s got everyone and their brother looking for him.
Dugoni knows how to tell a fascinating tale. I loved learning about the Russian Mafiya. And unlike other authors who invent characters based on Putin, he calls out Putin as the bad guy he is. The characters, both good and bad, come across as realistic. And as before, what side of the political divide you’re on doesn’t make you a good or bad guy. I also enjoyed that there were several characters that were over 60, all dealing with how they might handle retirement.
The book will work best if you have read the prior two. And I highly recommend the whole series.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.

Woohoo! I just read that this series has been sold as a tv series.

4.5 Stars 🌟

I was thrilled to be able to read this ARC for the third and final book (at least, I think it's the final book) in the Charles Jenkins trilogy. I have enjoyed pretty much everything by this author and have been especially intrigued by the Silent Sisters series. I am going to admit though, to doing something I NEVER do. And when I say never, I truly mean it. I can honestly say that in the thousands of books that I have read, I can count on one hand (with leftovers) the amount of times that I have done this. What did I do you ask? Well, I am going to try not to give away any spoilers as I explain, so let's see.

Well, the book starts off in a way that is not unique. It starts from the end, and then we go back to the beginning to see how we got to that moment. What was different is that from the very first paragraph, we realize that Mr. Jenkins is in a LOT of trouble. And I do mean serious trouble. It was enough trouble that I got halfway through the book and I couldn't stand it anymore. My stomach was in knots waiting for the story to catch up with what I knew was going to happen and it got worse (the anxiousness) the longer I read. So...at about 60% in...... I flipped to the back of the book and read the ending. (pretend like I spurted that out in one breath because I certainly typed it that way)

I HAD to know that...well, that does get into spoilers, so let's just say that my tension level was sky high and I needed to know....something. What I take away from that is that Mr. Dugoni did such a fantastic job with the story that I was COMPLETELY invested. So much so that I reacted in a very unusual way. Am I sorry? Not in the slightest! Did it ruin anything for me? Absolutely not. It kind of gave me comfort, but that's enough of that.

About the rest of the story. This book is different from book 2. In that book Charles is on the run non-stop and it is one disaster and fire after another as he tries to escape Russia. It was non-stop action. This book also has non-stop action, it is just done in a slightly different way.

Bottom line - did I enjoy the book? Absolutely. I would recommend though, that if you are going to read it, to start from book one in the trilogy and go from there. You could probably read this as a stand-alone, but I wouldn't recommend it. There are too many nuances to understand and too many relationships that might not make sense. But either way, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

Well written with good character development but very predictable to me. I just couldn’t get into it. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is book 3 in the Charles Jenkins trilogy. After a harrowing escape from Russian agents on his last mission, Charles Jenkins thinks he’s finally done with the spy game. But then the final two of the seven sisters—American assets who have been deep undercover in Russia for decades—cut off all communication with their handlers. Have they turned or gone rogue? Are they in danger? This is what Jenkins must determine as he heads back to Russia to complete his mission.
This was a great spy thriller with strong female characters complete with duplicitous characters and a cross country chase.

Excellent spy novel, well written, with great characters and a very good pace. The book is so good that I will disregard that everything starts with the main character making several stupid mistakes.

I started reading the book a month ago, I was moving through it very slowly, there were a lot of things in it that annoyed me, so now I’m giving up at 30% and no longer reading. Yet Dugoni is a good writer, as he has proven in several books that were not about spies.

This book is the third in a series. Unfortunately, or maybe luckily, I didn’t read the first two.

The biggest problem with the book is that it is full of stereotypes. In Western countries, every Russian is thought to be stupid, violent, and the mafia is everywhere. Except for those who are spying for Americans for some reason. They are the good, the heroes. The leaders of Russian counter-espionage are fat, lazy, idiots, alcoholics and sex addicts. The American protagonist, on the other hand, defends the oppressed, he is black, tall, handsome. I do not understand why a black agent should be sent to Russia? Wouldn’t it be more logical for a mid-tall white who could fit in better with the locals and not have to paint himself white? But really, what's the logic of sending a black there? And why does he automatically accept the assignment? He is not young, has a family, and his physical characteristics make him unfit for this mission! Or are there so few agents in America that even he is the most suitable?

What he does at the bar the first night in Russia is simply incomprehensible. A spy can't be such an idiot! I don’t hook up with the locals while I know the room is being cameraed! And while he has all sorts of disguises, he forgets to put on his gloves while drinking his beer! Why did he go to the bar at all? If I were a spy, I would definitely not go out for a beer in an enemy country. After all, the goal would be not to draw attention to myself.

But the biggest problem with the book is that I felt like the writer hadn’t gotten information about what Russia is like, how spies, anti-spies work.

Nor did I understand why the Russian text had to be written phonetically and then translated into English. Maybe it would have been enough to write only English or the Russian text in Cyrillic letters. So, writing the text twice is pretty confusing. Especially that phonetic writing is confusing and often flawed as well.

But the previous ones are just highlights of what I think are the flaws in the story. I could have written much more than that. And because of these, the book is more of a fantasy than a spy thriller. Because it has little to do with reality.

4.5 STARS

Code name "Red Gate"

The third installment in Dugoni's Charles Jenkins espionage series (a trilogy). Dugoni's website says that this series has been acquired by Roadside Attractions for a television series. I'd love to cast it!

He is a favorite author and this series has been impressive and fast-paced. The characters are complex and always evoke strong emotions, whether good or bad, often blurring the line of good vs. evil. Here we have the exfiltration plan, code name is "Red Gate". Jenkins returns to Russia to complete the mission - 2 of the remaining eight sister spies need to get out. These were women trained from birth to spy on the Soviet Union.This is Jenkins third mission and he is on the Russian kill list so he must beware of the many facial recognition cameras that line the streets.

I was immersed from page one and it was impossible to put down. I was all wrapped up in the heated chases, baddies looking for retribution, lots of action, and some fun moments that added humor. There is a beauty shop named Do or Dye Salon, and a husband who acts like Inspector Clouseau.

If you enjoy a good espionage story, with a strong femme fatale with a story to tell, lots of edge of your seat moments, this one is fantastic! Recommend starting with #1 to follow the whole nail biting adventure. Enjoyed the entire series!