Tsar by Ted Bell

Let me first start off by saying this book was by no means a premeditated buy. I was attempting to make a long flight a little shorter with a thick paperback from the Reno International Airport back to my home in Houston. I was so unfamiliar with Ted Bell's works, that I truly judged this book by its cover and was struck by the big red letters, 'TSAR' silhouetted over a cracking glacier. After completing the book, I'm not entirely sure what the significance of the cover means, other than it draws poor saps such as myself in for the buy.

As I said before, I'm completely oblivious to the Ted Bell - Alex Hawke series which is not of issue for this novel. For those who have read Tom Clancy, you're familiar with the seemingly never ending explanation of previous books' events in sequels as Clancy attempts to retell entire sections of his previous works in his newer books. Bell does a much better job of almost enticing you go back and pick up the other books throughout this read. Bell gently brushes over an episode of explanation as to why Hawke has planted roots on Bermuda and alludes to some nasty fever Alex picked up from a previous mission. The comparison between Tom Clancy, James Bond, and others of that ilk is inevitable. Ted Bell has a little more to add with 'TSAR' however.

So, from the back of the book, the premise:

"As newly imperial Russia energized by Vladimir Putin, threatens global dominance and relentless bloodshed, an ominous figure with dangerous ambitions rises from the shadows to ultimate power. Meanwhile, a mysterious killer known only as Happy the Baker brutally murders innocent Americans on command -- just a taste, the new Tsar promises, of what will happen if America interferes with Russia's plans to "reintegrate" her rogue states.
"In New York Times bestselling author Ted Bell's latest explosive thriller, "larger-that-life hero" (Publishers Weekly) and swashbuckling counterspy Alex Hawke takes reader on a treacherous, page-turning mission as he races across international borders at breakneck speed to thwart the most devastating attack the work has ever seen. Gripping, thrilling, and impossible to put down. Tsar is the ultimate adventure ride from an author in a class of his own."

I would wholeheartedly disagree that this book was "impossible to put down." Difficult at times, yes, but not impossible. Lulls in breakneck action were often filled with gentle rolling sections of fluffy filler. They were short and barely noticeable until you were through it. Bridges between the action scenes, but definitely seemed to break up the flow.

Bell started the story off with a flash back to an old spy on a hunting trip alone. Clearly this was no hunter silently waiting for some defenseless animal to wander up to a feeder only to be picked off from the concealed bunker twenty feet away. This guy was serious. One bullet in a gun slung around his back as he scaled the face of cliff only to be shot at himself. This skilled assassin was able to continue climbing up the cliff, find cover, locate his target, and eliminate him. This prologue ends up being rather meaningful to the book, however, at the time, it just seems like a "Look-at-how-unbelievable-my-spy-is" story.

As Bell makes his way through his story, he begins the development of the seemingly reborn and refreshed Alex Hawke. Hawke has retreated to Bermuda where he swims 3 miles to and from a secluded beach where he works on his tan eu naturale. One day Alex is surprised by a topless beauty rising out of the water walking towards him. Unsure what to do, he simply freezes. Alex has just met the devastatingly beautiful romantic love interest (Bond Girl) for this episode. Immediately, Alex feels the bubbling cauldron of 'Love' overflowing inside him.

The book is then riddled with sexual tension and the steamy release of that tension during a thunderstorm. The cover of the book claims Bell is in a league of his own. The ability to starkly contrast the deep loving feelings between Alex and Anastasia and Fancha and Stokely (although their dialogue seems strained) and the all out heart-thumping action is beyond me. The steamy love scenes and the breakneck action seemed to be rolled into one. There is no stopping it when Bell gets rolling. He masterfully engaged the senses in all facets of the book. His writing ability is matched by none, but his ability to actually tell the story is a little on the thin side.

Half-way through the book, I was wondering why I couldn't quite let myself completely go with this book. I could have possibly been the vodka craving this book made me feel during my flight, but it also might have been the lack of character development. Maybe this was part of the 'Iron Curtain' concept for the Russian backdrop of the book, but it seemed all of a sudden there was an action scene with really no sense of urgency because the characters just happened to be at the same place at the same time.

As the storylines began to converge towards the end, I could feel myself slipping away with this book. My brain couldn't read fast enough...I had to turn the page to see what happened. The words all seemed to bleed together and I simply began taking in whole pages at a time it seemed.

One thing I did appreciate was that there wasn't the typical 'Fourth-person' narrative that occurs in some of these thrillers. You didn't see the unseen action revealed by the main character at the end. All of it is pretty much laid out there for you. There's no real mystery, and not the big double-double cross at the end. I will relinquish that the denounment is quite sad and you can feel the pain of the author in the words of epilogue. Great writing through and through there.

This book definitely served its primary purpose and then some. A great book and worth the time.

Enjoy!

Keep turning the pages.

-MP