"Brent Ghelfi writes like Dostoevsky’s hooligan great-grandson on speed. Volk’s Game is hard, fast, and a truly excellent debut. Highly recommended."

"Volk’s Game is no ordinary thriller: it’s a 500-horsepower Mercedes blasting through the Moscow night. I’m ready to read the next installment NOW."

"Thrillmaster Ghelfi’s deft and controlled writing viscerally describes the snarling Russian underworld Expect Volk--and, one hopes, Valya--to join Martin Cruz Smith’s Arkady Renko in the top ranks."

The headquarters of an American oil company hemorrhages chemical-pink smoke into the Moscow night, the aftermath of an apparent terrorist attack. A Russian Army captain carrying a priceless Faherge egg and digital evidence of horrific wartime atrocities is murdered and relieved of both these prizes. A young girl has disappeared. And, in the snowy mountains of southern Russia, a terrorist named Abreg--who once held Volk captive in a Chechen mud pit--hatches a plan to lure Volk hack into his grasp.

Volk’s Shadow finds Colonel Alexei Volkovoy--covert agent of the Russian Army and vicious player in the Moscow underworld--once again struggling to stay afloat in the swirling currents of political and economic intrigue in modern-day Russia.