What a fantastic story, brilliantly written. If you like stories about the CIA and FSB this is for you. The CIA hatch a plan to turn a rich Russian oligarch who will set the wheels in motion to provide proof of a coup to overturn Putin by stealing billions of bitcoin. The main characters are Anna the daughter of the Russian bank where the gold to buy the bitcoin is stolen from. Hortensia known as Sia a deep CIA operative working for a corrupt private uk bank who are hiding money for many wealthy Russians, and their partners. The FSB Iis drawn into this web of lies and false evidence and execute some of its senior officers which leads to the successful outcome for both Sia and Anna. Recommended.

Complex spy drama set in current times.
Russia's Oligarths are trying to out do each other to gain influence in the inner circle of power.
One known as Goose has stolen money from a rival who married the women he loved.
The rival Vasilli and his daughter Anna look for evidence to prove where the money has gone and trace it to a firm in London.
Using money as bait Anna tries to cultivate one of the employees into giving her account information so she can bring down Goose before he destroys her family..
The employee Sia is a deep cover CIA agent. Anna is a member of the Russian spy circle SVR.
What follows is a complicated game of cat and mouse and each participant tries to recruit the other and the CIA try to use the infighting to disrupt Russia's elite and create problems for Putin

Moscow X David McCloskey

5 stars
This is not a genre of book that I normally read but the description intrigued me and I am so glad I read this.

It was a long book and it took a while for me to sort out all the characters and all the different politics involved. The main thing that came over for me is how authentic the plot and the characters were, although this is fiction I have the feeling that a lot of it is very close to the truth.
I enjoyed the idea that both the main female characters, Anya the Russian and Sia the British girl were both trying to recruit the other side for their own aims.

The plot was so feasible, the way Putin’s Russia is described seems to be exactly as I imagine it, so much corruption and the current situation with Ukraine was seamlessly included. The whole principle of engineering Putin into thinking his closest allies were planning a coup and therefore being destroyed was very clever and the plot was intricate but at the same time easy to follow and enjoy.

The characters were also believable and I felt empathy for both Anya and Sia each trying to come out on top. As I said earlier I did not think this story was at all unbelievable and it is quite frightening that the USA and Russia are so far divided that all this subterfuge has to happen as well as the brutality involved.

A great story for anyone who enjoys this type of book.



Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net Galley

Intricately plotted with strong characters and almost non stop action. I loved Damascus Station, and this was different but as enjoyable.

Moscow X takes the spy thriller to a different level. I haven’t read Damascus Station, but that’s nexypt on my list because David McCliskey really nails characters and the whole spy game. I’ve enjoyed most of Le Carré’s work, but that’s largely from a different age and the pace is very different.

Moscow X feels bang up to date with the CIA plotting to disrupt and overthrow the Russian regime by getting at Putin’s right hand man. The story starts slowly, but the scene is being set fir later, complex events. There’s a horrible ring of truth at the heart of this take and I suspect much of it is not beyond the bounds of possibility. Spy thrillers aren’t my usual genre, but this had me totally gripped as the wheeling, dealing trickery and machinations unfolded, Tradecraft is the word and this gives real insight into how operatives play their game on an international stage, This is a cracker and I’m dying to read more.

"Moscow X" by David McCloskey is a pacy thriller that kept me absorbed from beginning to end. With its well crafted plot twists, the narrative unfolds full of intrigue and interesting characters. This book is a rollercoaster of suspense, excitement and mystery. If you're a fan of gripping mysteries with unexpected turns, "Moscow X" is a must-read – an excellent adventure that is both thrilling and unputdownable.

I thank the publisher and NetGalley for an advance review copy of this book in return for a fair review. I loved David McCloskey's first book, Damascus Station, and really looked forward to starting this one. Whilst it was still a good read, I was a little disappointed. I did not relate at all to the characters [a great strength of the first book] and i found the plot a little too complex albeit that I am a finance professional. The writing certainly carried the story along and I will certainly follow the author's work in the future.

For me, just too far fetched in places, gung ho and sometimes just silly. Not the quality of other books of this genre.
My thanks to NetGally and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

A very gritty spy thriller that spans many continents. This is the second book in the series but the first I have read and it can quite easily be read in isolation. Having been removed from her job as head of station and returned to the States, Artemis Procter is now head of a new department, Moscow X. She uses two CIA operatives, Sia, a lawyer based in London and Max, a ranch owner from Mexico to infiltrate a Russian banking family.
The story starts off slowly but once the action kicks in this is a fast and entertaining read. The story at times did feel a bit long but overall I enjoyed it and would recommend the book.

Did not float my boat. As a huge Le Carre fan I was hoping for great things. Long winded and far too American gun ho for me. Panties is like nails down a blackboard. Less description and more plot would have been better

Anna is Russian Secret service and she's unhappily married to a banker who looks after the ill gotten gains of Putin and a group of his close cronies. She consults Sia, a lawyer who works for a London firm that helps oligarchs to launder their money, ostensibly about her marriage . Sia works part time for the CIA, managed by her boss Procter in Moscow X, a shadowy department running operations against the Russians. Procter sees a way of disrupting the heirarchy of Russians around Putin by looting some of the cash that Anna's husband looks after and making it look as if some of the nomenklatura are responsible. Its a great plot with many unknowns - who is recruiting whom? Who is telling the truth and who can be trusted? With plenty of action, it moves at ripping pace. A terrific, unputdownable page-turner.

The scene-setting pages are way too long, and I find this is not engaging my interest sufficiently to keep reading. This one is a DNF. Just not for me, although I’m sure many other readers will enjoy it.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

A great spy type thriller. Loved the 2 characters and hope to read more of them in the future? Stunning description of locations in Russia and Mexico. A real rollercoaster ride of a story.

If nothing else, the dealings involving Russian gold, money, the international money system and Putin's acolytes are very well described. Quite frightening at times?

The main character is Artemis Procter a senior operative in the C.I.A. and, yes, a wonderful spy story but it is ALL ABOUT the money. No more spoilers from me.

Exciting, but still not sure about all the transactions. Walking into a bank and taking away so much gold armed with a bit of paper? I actually enjoyed 'Damascus Station' more.

Thanks to Net Galley. and Swift Press for the chance to read and review.

David McCloskey's title, Moscow X would give a greater indication of the story if we read cross for 'X'. It is a very cleverly considered proposition on the recruitment and turning of agents, set against a background of a love for horses. The two key agents, both women but from opposite ideologies, share this common equine passion. The equine angle is what is exploited to get them to recruit. But who is recruiting whom?
It is a very thrilling read of what is a complex story. I do not know if my ARC will be further finessed prior to publication, I do hope so as I found it very clunky. I am afraid I will not give it a perfect five based purely on my ARC.

4* Moscow X by David McCloskey is a worthy second book after the excellent Damascus Station.

Artemis Proctor, bonkers but brilliant station chief (who we previously met in Damascus) is returned to Langley after an unfortunate ‘coming together’ in Russia. Given leeway she devises a complex plan to get revenge and gain some Russian assets. Step up London Lawyer Sia and Mexican racehorse owner Max, both CIA officers, to ensnare Anna and her husband Vladim. Vladim is one of Putin’s money men and Anna is the daughter of a high ranking retired SVR officer and comes with her own angles.

This is an intricately plotted book, which perhaps tips a little into convoluted. It’s a page turner, the pace is frantic and it’s almost impossible to get under the skin of who to trust and how things might end. It’s superb fun. The characters were difficult to like (save for Proctor) which perhaps took off a little of the shine.

Thanks to Swift Press and Netgalley for an ARC. Really looking forward to the next David McCloskey.

Great fan of this author whose first Damascus I thought sensational. Moscow started off a bit slow but soon picked up heat as I read along .. problematic of spying are his theme, and it feels totally authentic. Our hero is adept but flawed human being .. I'll definitely be looking forward to a new one...

A barnstorming tour 're force.
I loved it! It's a long book that is so hard to put down that it almost led to cross words at home.
The story .concept is very clever and intriguing, the research has clearly been extensive and the writing is of high quality..
There is tension throughout that reaches a prolonged peak, but the book doesn't end there and the aftermath lifts the whole thing to another level and gives more clarity.
I have no hesitation in recommending this book.

Following on from the authors first novel the story line is believable and challenging. The tension is palpable for both the characters and the reader. Unlike in the first novel, where there were loose threads, the author ties up everything neatly in this book. Highly recommended to those who enjoy a good spy novel.

When General David Petraeus says this was 'The best spy novel I have ever read' (about Damascus Station) then who would I be to argue?

As much as I loved Damascus Station, I think this was even better, A brilliant novel from someone who has seen and done it all