Ed Fuller

Red Chaos, The Red Hotel, Book 3, Edwin Fuller, Gary Grossman, authors
In the publishing world of international intrigue, there are two writers that excel above most others. Fuller and Grossman have captured an audience that awaits eagerly, the next book in the “Red Hotel” series. Their novels are prescient and filled with details that are not extraneous like in so many books today, simply to fill up pages. Their stories are so well-researched that they play out as if they are written in show more the current news cycle. The books do have romance, sex, violence and foul language, but the use of these themes is never simply to titillate, rather they are crucial to the action exploding on the page. I love this series. It uses well developed characters and current events to paint a very realistic picture of the world we live in and couples that with the awesome, possible consequences of ignoring the warnings to our national security, warnings that we are witnessing everyday around us. Yes, these books are novels, they are fiction, but let’s hope they do not become reality because we fail to see the clues that Dan Reilly trains so hard to recognize, in order to prevent disaster.
Although I read this book slowly at first, trying to make the most of it, trying to make it last, three quarters of the way through I was helpless. There was just no way I could put it down, and I read through the night, until the wee hours of the morning to finish it. It did not disappoint me. If you are on blood pressure meds, make sure you take them. The tension is palpable as Dan Reilly, the President of the International Kensington Royal Hotel Corporation, is horrified to discover that a murder has taken place in their London hotel. The Hotel Group is hosting an oil conference and the possibility of the murder being related to that is growing, as it is discovered that the man murdered was an important guest at the conference. Soon, another murder takes place in Nairobi at one of their hotels, and again, it is an executive attending the oil conference. Reilly anticipates where the next attack will take place, and he flies to the hotel in Beijing to prevent it. Will he be correct and successful? Are the hotels being targeted? Are the executives and leaders of the oil industry and executives of various countries the target? Is Dan Reilly the target? If any of these scenarios are true, who is the villain?
These murders are not occurring in a vacuum. At the same time, oil trade routes are being destroyed around the world. A tanker on the Suez Canal explodes and burns. It drifts and sinks. The Canal will be blocked long-term, until repairs can be made. Is it an accident, or is it sabotage? When there is another shipping accident in the Strait of Hormuz, blocking another oil route, more questions arise. Who is behind these attacks if they turn out not to be accidents? Then an incident at the Panama Canal cuts off traffic there too. Each event seems to point at another guilty country possibly being the culprit, trying to gain control of the lucrative oil market. How far will this go? The USS Hartford was tracking the Russian submarine, the Admiral Kashira, when it suddenly disappeared from Sonar in waters close to New England. Where was it, and why was it hiding? Was there now the possibility of a Russian attack on New England?

In America, the former President Alexander Crowe has stepped down and the Vice President has assumed the office. He must pick a Vice President to replace himself. Will that person, Senator Moakley Davidson, be good for the country or good for the selfish goals of the newly appointed, naïve President Ryan Battaglio who appears arrogant and weak to the enemies of America. He seems to be someone easily played, and so America’s enemies seeking greater power and to remove America from the position of superpower, begin to plot to take advantage of the flaws in the government. Will they be able to compromise the newly appointed President Battaglio? Will those patriots loyal to the former President be able to instruct him and lead him to common sense, informed decisions, or will he throw out all those with experience and install rubber stamp, flunkies?

Havoc reigns around the world as shipping traffic is compromised and comes to a halt with each “accident”. Some economies are doomed to fail as they no longer are able to ship their product, and fingers point at each other with little proof of which country is behind the havoc created. Who stands to gain the most from these disastrous incidents? Is it Russia, China, Iran, North Korea? The list is long. However, those in the know, know that Russia needs money. Russia gets that money from China. China needs oil. They wash each other’s hands. To accomplish this goal of expanding its empire and improving its economy with oil revenue, Russia must control the northern oil shipping route. Which countries would happily join Russia to accomplish this? Is it China? You may be surprised to learn who the complicit culprits are. Will they be the usual suspects?
As Dan Reilly attempts to protect his hotels and their guests, he becomes a target, as well. Why is he a target, you ask? Well, if you read the book, you will discover the reason. You will also learn who wins this fight, that surprisingly causes so much disaster in only a few short weeks, and you will watch an unusual event usher in the unique conclusion, a conclusion that will surely have historic implications. Actually, is there a real winner at the end? Is the door open for Book 4. I sure hope Book 4 is coming. show less

This book is a winner. The authors are particularly well suited for this book. One is a successful novelist and the other has a broad background in global affairs. They are a perfect combination for this thriller which is placed squarely on the current world stage with all of the conflicts that are raging across the globe. The title foreshadows the novel’s main event.

Red is the code word developed by Dan Reilly, Vice President of the international division of a major hotel conglomerate show more called Kensington Royal. He travels most of the time to assess their properties. Red denotes a property facing the most dangerous threat level. It means that a hotel and its guests are in the crosshairs of an imminent event of some kind: a bombing, a weather event, an assassination attempt, anything deemed ultra dangerous. The rating system was developed by Reilly using what is called the Eisenhower Box which rates tasks based on their level of urgency.

Because of a recent up tick in violent acts against soft targets, Reilly wants his hotels to be prepared for anything, hopefully to prevent the danger entirely or to at least mitigate the destruction and death resulting from such an attack. We meet him as he is taking part in a Senate hearing. Reilly, a former soldier and State Department employee, is acutely aware that the world is fraught with unseen danger. He is asking the Senators for more cooperation from the government regarding warning information like the kind that the airlines receive concerning credible threats, but the Senators, particularly one irascible character who is grandstanding about the need being absolutely unnecessary, are not cooperative.

The leader of the Russian world (a Vladimir Putin wannabe), President Nikolai Gorshkov, and his main accomplice Andre Miklos, were abandoned when the Berlin Wall came down. The betrayal was not forgotten, and it has been simmering through the years. As Gorshkov rose to power, he did not forget his desire for vengeance. Ruthless, he and Miklos eliminated anyone who stood in his way. He wanted to return Russia to prominence, as a powerful star, by any credible method he could devise. Clandestinely, he was plotting to reassert Russian dominance by reclaiming former strategic territory that was part of the once powerful Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, (the USSR). To accomplish this, the President of Russia was willing, by any means, to create unrest and violence in unexpected places, placing the cause and responsibility for it elsewhere. He then used the incidents to create a narrative giving cover for his country’s own actions and reactions. Will his diabolical plans be foiled? Can he be stopped? Will Russia be able to create the necessary drama to make it seem that the country has a legitimate complaint and is therefore justified to take combative action?

Meanwhile, new standards for security, at the Kensington Royal hotels, are being implemented as quickly as possible. A spate of what has been staged to look like random terror attacks and murders has occurred. Security personnel are tasked with the job of protection, but ordinary citizens often also have to help. The mantra, if you see something, say something, is not a joke. It is a serious and necessary alteration in behavior. Everyone has to be vigilant. (The theme of this book could easily be non-fiction in the future.)

Although the attacks have not been blamed on Russia, the political environment and working arrangement of the United States, the European Union and NATO rankles Russia. When The Kensington Hotel in Brussels goes Red because Reilly suspects they have become the next target, he is forced to go under cover, doing double duty, working with the CIA as well as his hotel company. It is imperative that he do his best to thwart a catastrophic disaster. Who is behind this diabolical plan? He must find out before time runs out.

I was at the edge of my seat, reading this novel, wanting to get to the end to find out what happened, but not wanting it to end because I was enjoying it so much.

There are many little tangents which sometimes made the narrative confusing, but since this was an advance copy provided to me by Meryl Moss Media Relations, I assume there will be some serious editing to follow. Although the reader may guess more of the plot, than the actual characters do, that won’t interfere with the intrigue and excitement the book imparts, especially when real events are woven into the pages. There will always be that sliver of doubt about one’s own conclusion and a need to keep on reading as the tension builds and subsides, builds and subsides. The conclusion seems to prepare the reader for a possible sequel or series, since some loose ends are left untied, namely a romantic relationship with a woman who may or may not be an innocent participant in Dan Reilly’s life.

I recommend this as a very exciting thriller, perfect to take on a vacation. It is just long enough to last the length of one’s stay and interesting enough to capture one completely so that the reader will keep returning to it, that is if it isn’t read straight through in a marathon, skipping meals and sleep! The authors place the readers in the middle of the chaos of today’s world, leaving them to wonder whether or not it is possible to be safe anyplace, anymore, ever again. The book felt like a prescient warning for the future. The news media controls all information and who presents it controls the message. NATO has lost much of its strength; Russia is aligning itself with the enemies of the West and between Russia and China there is now an active game of what one could call a land grab. Are they instigating unrest in order to provoke chaos and create plausibility for their possible future actions? The answer is unknown! show less

Calling all lovers of a good espionage/terrorist novel that contains all the elements of a great mystery; this is the answer to your prayers. I loved the first book in this book series, “Red Hotel”, and I am loving the second in this series, just as much. Already, I am eagerly awaiting the third book, “Red Chaos”. I hope the series continues beyond that, Their amazing backgrounds make them perfectly suited to writing this kind of a novel which is both current and prescient.
Dan show more Reilly, President of the Kensington Royal Hotels International Division, just happens to be on a bridge when a foreign enemy, with no moral compass, attacks it and begins a diabolical plan to regain world power. The carnage on the bridge is monumental, and Reilly springs into action to try and rescue the injured. Using newly developed technology, and agents motivated by dissatisfaction or greed to do the bidding of an enemy, an enemy that presents an innocent, although false face to the world, it looks to all like this enemy’s tactics may have gained the advantage. Can he be stopped before he creates further terror?
In the first book, Red Hotel, the stage is set for the hotel executive/intelligence operative, Dan Reilly, to become more involved in world affairs, as both his private and work life are constantly compromised by the international community. In the past, he had written a top-secret paper describing possible scenarios for attacks that our enemies might try against our country and others, ranging from infrastructure, communication, points of interest, damage to the water supply and more, imagining all possible attack scenarios, outcomes and responses. He also developed a plan to protect compromised locations, like his hotels. This attack on the United States, which seems to be following his playbook, has suddenly thrown him into the crosshairs of the investigation. At first, he is even suspected by some of being complicit in the terrorist’s plot, but as the power-hungry player manipulates the situation, pointing fingers in one direction or another, like a trompe l’oeil painting, creating terror and pandemonium, attempting to distract his enemies from his goal, Reilly is vindicated and instead called upon to help stop the madness. impending death and destruction.
While the action is relentless, this novel is never boring. It is tempered with common sense. The reader never has to suspend disbelief which often happens with many of these espionage novels that are being spit out by the publishing industry, with unreal speed, leading to many books having similar themes that are often coupled with unrealistic scenarios, foul language and unnecessary sex. In this novel, the romantic interludes, language and sexual content are completely relevant and in good taste. It is happily unlike the many echo chamber books being turned out with regularity that contain trash talk and titillating sex for no apparent reason. These authors are not only well suited to writing such a great spy novel, they have character and class! The reader can easily imagine this very plausible plot occurring in our suddenly much more unpredictable world. show less

Review of eBook

Dan Reilly battles in the FBI’s Hogan’s Alley while Igor Kritzler falls to an assassin and Russian President Nicolai Gorshkov is on the verge of standing as the last oil transporter. Gorshkov plans to use an Arctic route after his attacks close other shipping routes.

Dan Reilly, president of the International Kensington Royal Hotel Corporation, becomes more and more concerned as an elusive assassin continues to eliminate oil industry leaders on Kensington Hotel properties. show more While Gorshkov’s demented plans create bedlam, others seek to keep Reilly from investigating lest he discover their deceitfulness.

Political maneuvering, plots, secrets, and schemes . . . what will Reilly discover as he seeks to stop the assassinations?

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This top-notch thriller, third in the authors’ Red Hotel series, works well as a stand-alone for readers new to the series.

Well-drawn, believable characters, an impressive [although a bit terrifying in its realism] plot, and heart-stopping action all work together to pull the reader into the telling of the tale from the outset. Taking advantage of the precariousness of the current world situation, the unfolding story is frighteningly realistic. Back-office scheming in Washington adds to the realism; the compelling tale is replete with real-world implications.

Suspenseful, electrifying, and alarming, the formidable tale is one readers will find impossible to set aside before turning the final page. Don’t miss this one.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Meryl Moss Media Group, Beaufort Books and NetGalley
#RedChaos #NetGalley show less