The Queen's Pawn: a spy thriller (A Jayne Robinson Thriller, Book 4)

Another chapter in the pulse racing run through Jayne Robinson's ride with Joe Johnson to keep the world in balance and out of war with Russia tightly ratcheting up the tension with the very real Ukraine under military attack so Russia can "practice maneuvers" on a nation busy minding its own business feeding itself and a great deal of the nations around it. Funny how five years ago, nobody thought anything about the Ukraine except it was the bread basket of Europe and its capital was Kiev, but now, everyone recognizes most of the people they personally recognize are Ukrainians, the capital is really Kyiv, pronounced "Keyv," and they are far braver and more heroic than anybody should have to be just going about the daily business of living life.Well, thank God, Jayne and Joe are around to help and thank God Andrew Turpin can tightly and smoothly write about it, because all these happenings are just far too real to toss off as just the mind of a retired journalist, clever and flexible fingers staying busy for entertainment. The plot is so tight, so strong, so, well, real, it is totally believable. It might be so totally believable because what is going on in the background we call life IS what is going on. This is not practice, folks, nor a play: this is it. I can't tell you from personal experience that every scrape Jayne gets into happened, but I can tell you that some of those characters, the real ones, do act just the way she encounters and you just well better have her sharp whip-smart mind if you encounter them. I can tell you the landscape of the novels is spot on and with few words Mr. Turpin absolutely nails them, as well as the atmosphere and as Papa Hemingway said: "how the weather was." As each of these novels has ended, I have been exhausted, as though it was now my turn to vacation in Maine, have a lobster roll and cold swim, or even go home to Portland, where I'd love to wind down to a regular life and ramp back up for my next adventure curated by Andrew Turpin's solid skill. I have to admit of all nine episodes in these series, this is hands down my favorite, the most exciting (please note I have avoided "thrilling" as the most overused word of this fantastically fabulous genre) power threatening concept struggles. Many people have done it well, and I've read them all. Right now, for my money, Turpin (forgive me, my computer keeps trying to call Andrew Turpin "Turkish") is the fresh imaginative nouvelle vague that does it better than anyone else and the best part, the VERY best part, he tells us two persons, even just one plus personal convictions of the highest order, can make all the difference in the world. Now don't you think that's worth the price of a cup of coffee?I've gone back over this review as it was written just before a bit of needed surgery and before I heard Mr. Turpin lost his wife at Christmas. I'm so sorry for his sudden loss and admire his ability and courage to overcome such a personal tragedy to keep some part of an impossible world still in spin. I did not even know another treasure was coming down the line even as we enjoyed this thoughtful gem. Take care of yourself sir. You still have so much to give.

Just call Jayne and Joe if you need serious bad guys taken down! The spycraft is excellent and the story never leaves you wanting except for more of this same kind of great writing and more adventures.Highly recommend this series.

great, entertaining read with a lot of historical and current information woven through. I enjoy these books while also feel I am learning so much.

Another spectacular addition to the Jayne Robinson series, The Queen's Pawn finds Jayne involved with secrets more dangerous than ever. When a Russian businessman is killed before being able to defect and pass on sensitive information to the American government, Jayne is roped in to find out what he knew and why it was worth his death to keep him quiet. From London to America, Russia and Ukraine, she must stay one step ahead of her enemies if she is going to uncover the truth in time.Andrew Turpin is so good at creating these deeply interwoven political storylines. The attention to detail is, as always, phenomenal. It is such a thrilling ride to see the puzzle pieces come to light and fall into place, ending with the most unexpected and shocking revelations of all. I highly enjoyed this book, and will continue to keep up with anything Andrew Turpin writes.

This is an excellent read. If plagiarism is stealing someone else's work, is real-lifeism historical faction? This is a very topical book about Russian/Western espionage and how France, GB, UK, Ukraine & USA are involved. Fast paced, exciting, with unexpected plot twists, difficult situations overcome or endured and a thoroughly researched, convincing and believable ending. I'm not going to spoil anything. Just read and enjoy. Without hesitation, I've also just pre-ordered The Dam Keeper, Turpin's next book in progress. If you enjoy this book, you may be tempted to get the next one too.

Based on current world events this novel reads as if you're reading the latest New York Times exclusive or listening to CNN's breaking news. From the extremely competent operatives to the detestable foreign agents you find yourself wrapped up in a story so convincing you wonder if the author himself isn't a retired American or British operative.

Excellent continuation of Jayne Robinson and Joe Johnson's thriller series that connects to world events of the last year. Like Turpin's other books, this is an engaging story based on real events. I highly recommend to any fan of this series and recommend that fans of thrillers and historic fiction in general start reading this series!

In my opinion The Queen’s Pawn is the best by far of Andrew Turpin’s eight books. The story itself, the story telling, and the absence of close to unbelievable escapes by the “good” principals, reflect positively on Turpin’s personal growth as a writer of this genre. It may be trite but I didn’t want to put the book down and looked forward to picking up again. I think he’s now elevated himself to the level of the several more well known authors of this genre.

A great read, linked to real events, keeps you wanting to keep on reading. Whilst fiction plot is not far from what could have happened.

Jayne Robinson is quite some hero. In her fifties, she has the razor-sharp mind of an intelligence agent, the courage to face the most life-threatening of challenges and she doesn't shy away from the rough stuff. All of these attributes are needed in vast quantities to defeat the threats she faces in THE QUEEN'S PAWN. And she's a thoroughly decent person , much loved by her partner, perhaps step-mother to be and a very loyal colleague. The first part of the narrative is unbelievably tense as Jayne tries to escape from a Russia utterly determined to stop her. Orders for her neutralisation come from the very top, Putin himself. Then there's the cleverly constructed plot to turn the tables on the West's enemies and this, of course, means more hazards, tension and thrills. Both sides put their A teams into the battle including Jayne's partner Joe Johnson while the Russians bring into the field a woman in her late fifties who was once a champion chess player. With the nastiness of a Rosa Klebb, she has the deadly attraction of a fading femme fatale. It's a story torn from today's headlines as the trailer of a fifties black and white movie might have put it. Heart stopping moments abound and boy, does it work. Andrew Turpin marches on.

Well paced and informative story with believable characters. The current events in the Ukraine and chaos in the energy markets create an excellent backdrop to the story.

The Queen’s Pawn is a complex thriller that paints an alternative build up in the years prior to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The international chessboard provides the background for a 20 year espionage ring that Jayne and friends with a little help from Joe expose a long active Russian plot to use gas and oil supplies to influence the political landscape of Europe. Turpin weaves current day realities into a spell binding potential alternative view to why European dependence of Russian gas and oil occurred. Great Read

Enthralling read! Andrew Turpin never fails to keep me turning the pages; topical World news spun into a mesmerising plot which I didn’t want to end ….. fabulous book.