Member Reviews
Robert Dugoni delivers another fan-pleasing mystery set in Russia, its high-stakes spy craft a worthy tribute to James Bond.... cranked up to eleven. I received a copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, It is the third book in a trilogy, but I can vouch for the narrative's appeal even if you're only joining it now (as I did).
The premise is that seven Russian female agents have spied for the US deep undercover in important governmental agencies. Now in their 60s, the women are being hunted down after a turncoat in the US revealed their existence--three have been killed, and two have gone dark. Finding out what's happened, and getting them out if possible, is once more entrusted to CIA agent Charlie Jenkins.
Jenkins, also in his 60s, happens by chance to witness a pair of lowlifes roughing up a prostitute shortly after he arrives back in Moscow,.. not realizing that one of the young men is the scion of a Russian mafia family, the only son of "Catherine the Great." An already dangerous mission becomes even more tense with this added angle. The plotting and combination of characters make for an exciting read. Recommended!
I just reviewed The Silent Sisters by Robert Dugoni. #TheSilentSisters #NetGalley. This was the first I read in the series and will go back and start from the beginning. It has an amazing story line and the character development is superb. Highly recommend this book.
“Jenkins had screwed up. He’d cared. He should have just walked away.”
This great trilogy began with The Eighth Sister and returned with the The Last Agent— both of which were suspenseful cat-and-mouse attempts of our protagonist, Charles Jenkins, at escaping Russia without getting caught.
The Silent Sisters, on the other hand, right out of the gate begins with Charles Jenkins hanging from a hook in a slaughterhouse in Russia being tortured for information.
He has been caught.
“Should have taught him how to treat a woman,” he tells his interrogator, “we wouldn’t be here if you had.”
Rewinding a few weeks, we find out that Jenkins, tasked with exfiltrating the remaining 2 (of the 8) sisters (aka Russian-born American spies) from Moscow, gets mixed up with not only a very dangerous Russian mafia family, but also the Moscow police department, and a high-ranking political director whose career and reputation hinges on the capture of Jenkins.
While trying to lay low, Jenkins goes to a dive bar to eat, but after stepping in to defend a woman being treated like a dog, Jenkins witnesses a murder and becomes the prime suspect.
His job just got harder.
Exfiltrate two spies already in precarious situations while being hunted by three different resourceful, weapon-wielding groups, while also being one of the very few black men in Russia. Good luck man.
I thought that knowing Jenkins got caught would ruin the suspense of the story for me.
But true to form, Dugoni writes another adrenaline-laced page-turner, and I really enjoyed it.
You know Jenkins must escape somehow, so the suspense lies in: the build-up— how did he get caught?; and the tricks he must have up his sleeve— how will he escape such a hopeless predicament?; and what happens to the two sisters—do they survive, are they double agents?
I believe this book wraps up the Russian chapter of Charles Jenkins but Dugoni alludes to the possibility of continuing Jenkins books, possibly in Egypt next time!
I’ve enjoyed the learning experience about Russia, even though I was dreaming in Russian espionage for every book. Here are a couple interesting things I learned this time:
- There is a university in Moscow called Moscow State University. But Russia is not divided into states like the US. Why does it have such an Americanized name? Also, look up images for this— the main building is insane.
- There is an underground city built under Moscow from the Cold War. They had built all these tunnels and bunkers and even another rail for potential nuclear fallout. The book says it could hold 15,000 people for 30 years. I did brief Google searching on this and it’s probable Dugoni was elaborating on reality, but there is a complex underground system of tunnels as well as the mysterious underground Neglinnaya River. The Russian government would try keep the extent of these tunnels under wraps right??
Anyway, if you liked the first two books, you’ll love this one as well! Highly recommend this series!
[PG-13 disclaimer: There is some sexual content throughout, used to show the degradation of a couple characters but nothing extensive or overly descriptive.]
**Received an ARC via NetGalley**
If you like the intrigue of a spy thriller you’ll love this. The revealing of the two remaining sisters detected by Russian mobsters. How Jenkins get in gets around and get out, hopefully.
If you can get over the fact of the main character being an invincible ‘Superman’ at the age in the sixties constantly defeating the young, you are left with an enjoyable read. This was a fun to read third book in this trilogy. Probably not great as a stand-alone. The book was filled with a number of twists and turns so common from the author. This is a book which I would recommend to all.
The conclusion to the Seven Sisters saga is so exciting, suspenseful and intriguing that once you start reading you will not want to stop. Charles Jenkins our reluctant hero is back in Russia protecting, and assisting the remains sisters to safety. As if this mission is not difficult enough, he walks into a bar and finds a young woman needs his helps too. Of course, Charles Jenkins steps into help and the plot thickens.
Robert Dugoni did it again! All the twists, turns, and anticipation of what might unfold on the next page was an exciting escape from ordinary life.
I didn't think the Charlie Jenkins series could get any better. I was wrong.
THE SILENT SISTERS is a classic of modern spy fiction and elevates the entire Charlie Jenkins series to the level of John le Carre's George Smiley novels. Frankly, although that's the obvious comparison to make, I think the Charlie Jenkins series is on the whole better than the George Smiley novels. The plotting is tighter and more consistently comprehensible, the writing is finer and more layered, and the narrative is never distorted to serve a political agenda.
The Charlie Jenkins books are the best spy novels I've read in twenty years. Perhaps the best spy novels I've EVER read. The only thing that disappoints me about THE SILENT SISTERS is that I didn't write it.
Very, very highly recommended.
In “The Silent Sisters” (Charles Jenkins #3) by Robert Dugoni we see Charles Jenkins head back into Russia to help extricate the last two remaining American Assets, known as the seven sisters. But their escape turns out to be anything but routine. After he gets involved in a situation which ends with the death of a crime leaders’ son, he quickly finds out that he is not only on the Russian kill list but one of the sisters has been ousted.
What we see is their fight for survival as they try to get to safety. But it seems that Jenkins might have pushed his luck this time.
I received a copy of this book through Net Galley, and this is my honest review.
As a fan of Robert Dugoni’s books, I was very much looking forward to reading his latest novel, The Silent Sister, and thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review it.
The novel lived up to my expectations as a fast paced, exciting thriller. The action takes place predominantly in Russia and includes characters and references from previous novels. This reader was very often stymied by the plethora of Russian names as well as locations. In addition to the difficulty off keeping all of the characters straight with the confusing names, several of them even had Russian nicknames to add to the confusion.
Either Mr. Dugoni or his editor must be a tennis fan because on a page in the book a character named Federov was referred to several lines (not pages) later as Federer.
Overall, despite the above reservations, the novel is sure to please readers of suspenseful, well written spy thrillers.
The Silent Sisters is the third book in a trilogy by Robert Dugnoi. I have the first two and this one finish things off nicely. Jenkins goes back to Russia to get out the last remaining sister. He gets in trouble with a mob boss’ son, and this does not help him.
The story moved quickly and had a satisfying end. I do feel you need to read the first two in the series to get the most of it. If you enjoyed this series. Read his David Stone series.
I highly recommend this book --Thank you Net Galley for an advanced copy for an honest review
The Silent Sisters is the third book in the Charles Jenkins trilogy, an ex CIA agent who is asked to help with the escape of American moles inside the Russian government. The Sisters, who have been spying for the Americans for 30+ years, are being hunted after a Russian mole in the CIA disclosed of the top secret Sisters program although no names are given.
After finishing the second book, before I knew it was a trilogy, I thought there was no way there would be third book. I couldn't see a path forward. I thought Dugoni had written two outstanding spy thrillers and he couldn't top them. And then he went and topped the previous books with The Silent Sisters.
The Silent Sisters is a tension filled espionage thriller with impossibly great characters and is a fitting end to the Sisters trilogy. To get the entire experience I would not read The Silent Sisters until I read the first two books.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the privilege of reviewing an advanced copy of The Silent Sisters.
I really enjoyed The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell and The World Played Chess by Robert Dugoni. Perhaps I was a bit overeager to review The Silent Sisters when it became available for review on NetGalley; as this is the third book in the Charles Jenkins series and I had not yet read the first two books. I did enjoy this book; but not quite as much as the other books listed and I'm sure it would have been even better had I first read the other books in the series. That is a bit of the point of having a series, for them to build on each other.
There was constant action in this novel. The short version is that Charles Jenkins is (unknowingly) involved with the Russian Mafia while trying to extract a sister.
Thank you to NetGalley, Robert Dugoni the author and the publisher Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to review the advance copy of The Silent Sisters in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is Feb 2022.
This is a proper old school thriller: well written, well researched and with complex but credible characters.
It is the third book of the series featuring CIA agent Charles Jenkins. Although I haven’t read the prior books in the series, it was not an issue as this book can be read as a standalone.
Jenkins is tasked with getting two female moles in the Russian government out of Russia when their cover is blown. The two women were the last of the ‘Seven Sisters’ who were trained as embedded spies for the US.
Although Jenkins is on a ‘kill list’ he enters Russia under a disguise to monitor the situation and help to get the women out of the country if necessary.
Jenkins’ personal moral code gets him into trouble when he intervened in an incident at a bar, between a man and a prostitute. When it turned out that the man was the son of a mob boss, things get sticky for Jenkins as the mob boss also has moles in the police system and finds out who Jenkins really is.
The story explores the lives of the two ‘Sisters’ walking the fine line of acting as a patriotic Russian under challenging personal circumstances, always knowing that any slip up could result in their torture and death. One of the women, Maria works for the Deputy Director of Counter Intelligence for the FSB, a ruthless, perverted and ambitious man, on the lookout for an opportunity to get a job in the Kremlin, - capturing someone on the kill list would be just the thing to get him promoted.
The plot also follows Jenkins as he tries to help the two women, the mob boss seeking vengeance and a lonely Police Inspector trying to tie up his last case before retirement. Will Jenkins get the two Sisters out safely, or with the FSB, the mob and the police after him, will he die trying?
Most of the book is fast paced and interesting, however I felt that the ending was a bit too theatrical; the outcomes could have been achieved more efficiently by simply getting rid of the mob boss, but I guess the author was trying to show different aspects to the character.
Thanks to Net Gallery for providing an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Once again another fabulous book by Robert Dugoni. I love the Charlie Jenkins series and this one is the best yet. I was totally engrossed in the story and read it in two nights. Gripping plot that races along and keeps you turning the pages when you should be sleeping. If you have not given this series I try you really need to, a huge 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a cop of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The third in a series focusing on the character Charles Jenkins, ex-CIA and now sometimes a contractor for them, this book seemed a bit less complex than the previous two. In this episode, he is sent to Russia again to extricate the final two of the seven sisters, women who had been spying on their leaders for their entire lives. At times, the narrative was a bit too graphic for my taste, but I've learned with this series, to just zoom past those parts and not dwell on them. The plot was good, and seems to accurately reflect the atmosphere in Russia at this time (a reflection of the USSR from the Cold War period together with the current influence of oligarchs.) The other characters were interesting and multi-faceted. An excellent spy thriller!.
I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review - - Dugoni's books never disappoint - always great thrillers!
Jenkins is sent to get the 2 final sisters who were undercover in Russia home. As he steps in to have a drink in a bar he sees a woman taken out back and being abused- he steps in - shots are fired and then he is being hunted by the mafia. Can he escape those hunting for him? Can he get the final two sisters out?
Thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC of this novel.
I've really enjoyed the Charles Dugoni books and was excited to start reading this one. I felt a little bogged down by how detail laden this one was, but ultimately enjoyed it. I think it's a worthy third installment in the series, and I think readers will enjoy the continuation of the story.
My thanks to Thomas & Mercer Publishing, as well as to NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Silent Sisters!
Reading the Charles Jenkins trilogy has been a nail-biting experience! In the third and final book, the last two of the seven sisters (American assets who have been deep undercover in Russia for decades) have cut off all communication with their handlers. Are they in hiding or have they turned and become double agents? It’s Jenkins’s duty to head back to Russia and find out.
The characters were SO well-written, and the plot was incredibly suspenseful! I wasn't kidding about the nail-biting part. I was happy that Rod Studebaker showed up again for a short scene. The trilogy is so well done and I still love the fact that Charles Jenkins was named after Robert Dugoni's college roommate!
First of all, thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book. I was so excited when I saw this book. I too became a fan of Robert Dugoni after reading the first two series of this book. Charles Jenkins is back in Russia to find out why communication has ceased from the last two sisters- American assets who have been in deep undercover in Russia for decades. There is non stop action throughout the book - I could not stop reading or put this book down. Some characters from his previous books appear in this book as well. I highly recommend this book- I'm actually sad that this is the final book of this series. Charles Jenkins is a very likeable character - maybe Robert Dugoni can find some more "Russian sisters" for Charles to rescue.
I love this authors books and have read everything he has written. This one is about Russian undercover spies. Lots of action in this one