The Bear is Stirring

The Russian secret service GUR has taken setbacks and decides on a programme of revenge strikes against targets in the UK and USA. The agents on both sides are those whose activities have been the subject of the author’s three previous spy thrillers. And now the Russians pursue more ruthless international actions and the Western intelligence agencies decide that the decisions being made in Moscow are the forerunners of a more aggressive policy against the West.

The Bear is Stirring

” The book revisits succinctly the background of what had take place in the previous three books. This is useful to not only those who have followed the story but also to it being read as a standalone. The story develops well with the undercurrent of revenge and ends with the death of Marina and her husband. This finalizes this story along with the diplomatic thoughts. Or does it? Will the plots continue? The book holds us in suspense. “ – Amazon Review

EDITORIAL REVIEW:

“The Bear……” gets 5 out of 5 review from “Online Book Club”:

“The best features of this book are the short, no-frills, and focused chapters. Marshall does not dwell on detailed descriptions of scenarios and his backstories are concise. He only gives considerable attention to the technical aspects of spy-craft that are directly relevant to the story. Among these are how to recruit and train agents, in some cases even poach from the enemy, for clandestine activities by the CIA, GRU, and MI6. Also included are matters that are pertinent to the events of our times: Novichoc poisoning, the Russia-Ukraine war, and Western intelligence lapses with catastrophic consequences. These make the book one of the most realistic fictions – to use an oxymoron – I have read.
“Marshall’s treatment of the characters is also interesting – their quirks and individual traits are evident. Further, almost all of the characters, even the ones that seem inconsequential, play a role in the plot. That may well be the biggest advantage of not having a protagonist around which a story must revolve. There was nothing to dislike about this book. I have no hesitation in rating it five out of five”.

About the Author

Peter Marshall’s background includes service with the Royal Navy, and then journalism in local and national newspapers and the BBC, before moving to Visnews, the international TV news agency (now Reuters TV) where he became General Manager. This drew him into the satellite communications business, first in the UK and then in the USA for 14 years. In the UK he served as Chairman of the Royal Television Society in 1986, and in the USA he was elected to the Satellite Hall of Fame for his pioneering work in the use of international satellites for TV news. He served as President of the SSPI (Society of Satellite Professionals International) and was a member of the Board of the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation.

On his retirement, back in his native West of England, he began writing again and has worked as author or editor on a dozen books – on space flight, on travel and then two biographies. His first novel – ‘The Russian Lieutenant’ – was partly inspired by his proximity to the tragic Novichok poisoning events in Salisbury. The book received critical acclaim in both the UK and the USA.

Peter says he draws on his global career experiences to provide the framework for his ventures into the realms of fiction … and he is already working on a third spy story!