Spymaster, by Brad Thor

Scot Harvath is back in Brad Thor's newest novel of geopolitical adventure and intrigue.  In Spymaster Harvath, refusing to take a desk job at Carlton Group, is out in the field keeping threats to democracy at bay.  In this case, it's those pesky Russians again, longing for the pre-Cold-War days of running all of Eastern Europe.  Harvath's task: keep NATO out of a war with Russia.  The Ruskies are threatening to take back the Baltic States.  NATO's terms would require NATO members to defend the Baltics, and nobody wants that war.

Much of the action is centered on the strategic island of Gotland.  Out in the middle of the Baltic Sea, it's normally a quiet Swedish island.  But the Russians have their eye on it, and it's up to Harvath and his team to quash their plans.  Then they have to go to the source--Kaliningrad--to beat the Russians who are executing a terrorist bombing campaign.  (This was a geography lesson, too.  Did you know that Russia has a province isolated from the rest of the country?  It's a little slice of land between Poland and Lithuania that gives the Russians a port on the Baltic Sea.)

Spymaster shares many qualities with Thor's other novels.  The pace is breakneck.  Harvath and his team make good use of their private planes to hop around the globe.  The action is intense.  Harvath leaves a body count in his wake that must surely be dispiriting to his enemies.  And, of course, Harvath might lose a battle but you know he's going to come out on top.  Thor's fans will not be disappointed.  Someday Harvath is going to hit the big screen; Spymaster is ready.