Fresh, after working to foil an attack on a commercial flight, Dr. Jonathan Ransom travels to London for a medical conference. An impromptu meeting brings him together with his secret agent wife, Emma Ransom. Instead of a happy vacation, Jonathan witnesses Emma set off a car bomb in an attempt to assassinate Igor Ivanov, the Russian Interior Minister. Emma disappears and Jonathan is held responsible for the bombing.

Inspector Kate Ford believes Jonathan is guilty and is assisted by MI-5 agent Colonel Graves. In an effort to prove his innocence and find his wife before she can engineer another disaster, Ransom must become a spy himself. He leads his pursuers on a chase across Europe in an effort to stop Emma in time.

This is the sequel to Christopher Reich's Rules of Deception, published in 2008. I must say that I am very pleased with this second novel in the series. The action begins with the very first sentence and you are not one hundred percent sure what is going on until the very end, and maybe not even then.

Jonathan and Emma return and have evolved into somewhat different people in this novel. Jonathan is still the doctor who thinks he can save everyone, but now lays it all on the line to first save and later stop his wife. Emma is still in love with Jonathan, but we learn more about her secret life as an agent for Division that changes how we feel about her.

The suspense leads up to a dramatic stand off at the end. A surprise twist at the very end makes you rethink the events throughout the entire book. While the ending has enough closure to satisfy, I find myself hoping that there will be a third book in the series. ( )

Undeniably fast paced and engaging “Rules of Vengeance” is a fine example of the chase thriller genre, taking its nod from classics such as “The 39 Steps” or “North by Northwest” with elements such as mistaken identity and a mysterious dynamic femme fatale. The way it overlays layer upon layer of action keeps up the relentless velocity of the story, and this in many ways serves to paper over the cracks that undeniably exist in the plot. The conspiracy at the heart of the novel is perhaps a touch over complex and stretches credibility when really thought about.

For full review please see: http://southlondonbook.blogspot.com/2... ( )

RATING: 5 OUT OF 5

As I finished reading the ARC of, Rules of Deception last summer I felt that the door had been left open for a sequel with Dr. Jonathan Ransom. (See my review of that book below.) So when I saw the announcement of the upcoming release in August 2009 of Rules of Vengeance, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Thank you, Mr. Reich, for not disappointing me on several counts. First of all, Dr. Jonathan Ransom and his wife Emma do return, and the level of intrigue and suspense takes off almost from the first page. Jonathan Ransom is the kind of character that you can't help but like. You are rooting for him all the way throughout the book. His wife Emma, is another story. She has a dark past that continues to be a mystery even to her husband. However, in this new release, Jonathan is not willing to spend the rest of his life in prison for his wife's terrorism, no matter how she wants to justify it. He is willing, however, to become the hunter all over Europe to save himself, with or without her. Two new characters have entered the plot and instantly become the nemesis of Jonathan. Colonel Graves and Detective Chief Inspector Kate Ford, both of Britain, don't necessarily like each other or agree on tactics but their single focus is to bring in Jonathan Ransom. Again, Mr. Reich gives us a large cast of characters but they quickly form a fast paced, clever plot that will leave you wanting more. If 21st century international espionage excites you, you will not want to miss either of these page turners. ( )