Dangerous people and those who hunt them down

“Red Warning” is the saga of working in “the real game,” being in “intelligence work,” operating under “nonofficial cover.” The players have individual stories, Individual training, and diverse backgrounds; however, their mission is the same. They are on their own, in “deep cover” with no diplomatic immunity, and no backup. All does not go well, and these people might not actually know what they have gotten themselves into.

This game of international deception is dangerously complex and at the same time exceedingly mundane. The search for sleeper agents, potential targets, and prospective sources is more of a waiting game than a fast-action thriller. Step after step must be slow and precise to lessen the risk; however peril is hiding around every corner. Some dangers have been intricately hidden, concealed for decades, just waiting for an opportunity, a gathering, a chance. Tick-tock, tick-tock; things build.

“Red Warning” is filled with secrets; people who are enigmas and those who search them out. Dangers from without and dangers from within are hidden on every page. The narrative pushes readers right to the edge, just waiting for “IT” to happen, and even when it seems done and over, it is not.

I received a review copy of “Red Warning” from Matthew Quirk and William Morrow. “Red Warning” is now available in print, as an e-book, and on audio from independent bookstores, online booksellers, retail stores, public libraries, and anywhere you get your books.

Loved the nice shout out to T Jefferson Parker in chapter eight.

I’ve been a fan of Matthew Quirk’s fast-paced thrillers ever since his debut, The 500 — which I read in one sitting, deep into the night. Each of his novels since has been equally gripping and action-packed. In Red Warning, he offers another action-packed thriller, but one that dials back the pacing just a little bit — which makes for a more substantial read. I really enjoyed this.

Sam Hudson is in many ways a typical CIA hero: highly capable, patriotic, committed. However, he’s also become somewhat obsessed with tracking down a Russian operative who may, or may not exist. “Konstantin” has emerged as a bogeyman of the West’s intelligence services, especially CIA; the apparent mastermind of multiple assassinations and silencing of moles and potential defectors. we meet Hudson on a mission, as he attempts to recruit a Russian operative who claims to have information about Konstantin’s movements — and, the ultimate prize, a way of tracking him down. The mission goes extremely awry, and Hudson is sent home under a cloud. His superiors question his abilities, his loyalties, and more.

And then the attacks on American soil begin. An explosion at the Lincoln Memorial, where Hudson was running at the time. Boxed in on all sides, but still sidelined by the Agency, Hudson decides to investigate on his own. He does, however, have help from Emily Pierce — a fellow CIA employee, one with whom he has a complicated history.

Red Warning is another great read. As with the author’s two previous novels — The Night Agent and Hour of the Assassin — it’s a more substantial read than his first few, which were super-fast-paced thrillers that barely left the reader much time to catch their breath before the plot blitzed forward again. Here, though, there’s more time given over to character development and the calmer moments of the plot. This by no means diminishes how engaging the story is, and felt all the better for it.

The novel is populated by plenty of interesting characters (on both sides of this ongoing Cold War), excellent action sequences, some interesting commentary on the current state of international affairs, and well-presented and interesting spycraft. One could argue that the ending was a foregone conclusion, given that Red Warning is very much of its genre, but Quirk gets us there in an interesting and not entirely predictable way.

Overall, then, another gripping thriller from Quirk. If you have any interest in fast-paced thrillers (or action movies), then I think you’ll find a lot to like in Quirk’s novels. Definitely recommended. I can’t wait for his next book!

Pretty good book at two CIA people who discover a plot to destroy Washington DC that hatched during the height of the Cold War. Throw in sleeper agents, potential double agents, a maybe love affair, and a well paced thriller. It did get slow towards the end of the book once the story needed to end but overall a well put together and entertaining story.

World War III hangs in the balance in Matthew Quirk’s Red Warning, a modern take on cold war doomsday scenarios, filled with an edge of your seat pursuit of the truth while trying to stop unimaginable loss of human life.

CIA agent Sam Hudson is licking his wounds and recovering from a clandestine operation gone wrong, when he finds himself in the middle of a terror attack near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. Any thoughts of this being a case of wrong place/wrong time quickly vanish due to a phone call he receives saying that the blood is on his hands. Sam has a gut feel that this is the work of a Russian agent he’s dedicated his career to taking down and he won’t let anything stand in his way of finally getting his man. Not the suspension from his job, suspicion that he’s somehow involved nor having no one he can trust will keep him from successfully capturing or ending the life of the operative named Konstantin. With help from fellow CIA officer Emily Pierce, they must uncover and thwart the nefarious plot before it’s too late. Otherwise, all out war between the United States and Russia is an absolute certainty.

Red Warning has a few key things going for it as a solid espionage/action novel. First, it keeps you guessing deep into the story regarding who is involved in the operation. Is it just the Russian spy and his team, is there an American traitor aiding and abetting, or is Sam even involved somehow? The only way to find out is to get to the end of the book. Second, the book contains fast pacing combined with an intricate plot that engages the reader throughout. Third, the Russian’s planned attack is scary and realistic which adds to the intensity of the hunt. And finally, this novel contains a strong female character in Emily Pierce. She may be riding a desk inside Russia House at the CIA, but she is a certifiable badass with a big pair of metaphorical balls.

Matthew Quirk continues his streak of delivering intriguing spy novels that are engaging and entertaining. If you’re a child of the Cold War era, or just like a good US vs. Russia storyline, then pick up a copy of Red Warning and enjoy!

I was terribly disappointed. I've enjoyed Quirk's previous books quite a lot, but this title bore no resemblance to them at all. It reads as if it was written by someone else, someone who is not nearly as talented.

RED WARNING isn't well written. The prose is often turgid and clunky, particularly the dialogue. Even worse, the intelligent subtlety of the narratives in the books I had read before was nowhere to be found. RED WARNING was more of a comic book than the finely-drawn Washington thriller I expected from Quirk, and it wasn't even a very good comic book.

Interesting concept with a modern day Cold War style narrative but the writing can be improved upon to have a stronger impact with characters and situations.

REd Warning
by Matthew Quirk
Pub Date: JUne 7, 2022
William Morrow
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Author Matthew Quirk has written some very good action thrillers and I’ve enjoyed his previous work. RED WARNING is not one of his standout books, however. A CIA officer searches for an agency mole and a Russian deep cover operative in Washington, in a race to prevent an act of terrorism.
I am not recommending this book, but others have liked it.
3 stars

Free ARC from NETGALLEY

I love all Quirk's books except for the USSS agent drivel a few books back,

This is fantastic and timely!

Spies are neither over or done and Quirk makes us all believe again! Enjoy the read

Red Warning is an interesting and sadly, timely thriller about issues between the US and Russia. The Cold War never died for some in Russia, and the evil Konstantin, a Russian deep cover operative responsible for a string of assassinations, is on the hunt of CIA agents and perhaps part of a plot to terrorize Americans too. Sam Hudson and Emily Pierce are the CIA agents who must stop him. Sam has already lost one agent to what he feels is at the hands of Konstantin, and he doesn't want any more lives lost to him. Does the book defy logic at times? Sure. Most thrillers do. But it is a fun, fast, non-stop action read. I would recommend it to people who love spy novels and fast placed thrillers with a political bent. Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC.

Red Warning was a fantastically paced thriller with a near constant level of action and anxiety. Anyone who enjoys a proper espionage thriller should pick this book up immediately.

Sleeper Russian agents are in DC. CIA Officer Sam Hudson is determined to find them, even tho people in the agency aren’t convinced the man he is looking for exists. They think Sam is obsessed and don’t believe him, but Sam thinks there is a terror attack coming and he has to stop it. There is a possibility of a double agent in the agency so he doesn’t know who to trust and bodies keep piling up. The book moved along at a steady pace with suspense and action an average espionage thriller, worth the time to read but not seat of your pants. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Author Matthew Quirk has written some very good action thrillers and I’ve really enjoyed his previous work. RED WARNING is not one of his standout books; the writing is somehow awkward and gets in the way of his story. Even the dialog drags down the plot. Do I still believe in mastermind spies? A better plot might have helped me buy in to the idea. Sometimes it’s worth reading everything an author produces. This comes under that category. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.