Palace of Treason: Discover what happens next after THE RED SPARROW, starring Jennifer Lawrence . . . (Red Sparrow Trilogy)

I really enjoyed this book.At 530 pages it's long but kept me riveted throughout. Set in Washington, Moscow, Paris and Athens "a dangerous place, part Balkan, part Mediterranean, part Beirut" there's clandestine meetings in dark places, treachery, violence and sex. Typical spy novel! I think it was the Guardian that called it "more Ludlum than Le Carre" and I agree, though to be fair, that's more comment than criticism. I liked the CIA handlers Gable and Bemford [though not, for some reason, Nate] and wonder what their real life counterparts made of it - worried by its authenticity [the author used to work for them] or smiling at its fiction? And if the Russian president ever gets to read it, I'd love to see his reaction to one bit in particular!! There are weaknesses - Felony, Eva and the Moscow Head of station spring to mind - but overall it's engaging and well-written. Even though you can see it coming, I think you'll love the last line, which is interesting given that Matthews is working on his next novel. I look forward to it.

What a read, I was totally engrossed in this book having only just finished Red Sparrow I dived straight into this and was hoping it would live up to the first instalment, I was not disappointed.This is a fast paced spy story set in Washington, Moscow, Paris and Athens there are loads of heart stopping moments , double crosses, violence and sex. We see the main characters develop well and feel that we are in touch with what they are doing. I'm glad to see that the receipts are still being added at the end of each chapter a nice touch from the first book, which I would recommend that you read and then quickly follow on with this and the next which I cant wait to read.

An outstanding, fast paced espionage novel. Plenty of heart stopping, breath taking moments. There were times when I couldn't turn the page fast enough. I recently met the author and his wife at an event in London and their career within the CIA most certainly lends rare authenticity to the detail and realism which keeps the reader hooked from page one. There are a lot of acronyms and some abbreviations as has been mentioned in other reviews. Although I am not familiar with most, it did not diminish my enjoyment at all. The Russian phrases are a delight which left me feeling competent in profanity and with a no doubt hilarious Russian accent trailing me through the book. The humour is quick, brutal and often dark. It is easily possible to transport yourself into the shadows of the spy world and feel the fear. At the end of each chapter is a recipe that has (normally) been consumed in that chapter (in one or two cases the food references left me squirming in a way that I will leave you to discover for yourself). I loved this aroma conjuring technique for transporting the reader to the scene, it completed the sensory experience. How on earth I am going to wait for the third installment I do not know.

Far too slow-moving and at times confusing as to who was whom. The extremely technical details are NOT necessary in this novel and I am certain go over most reader's head. A big disappointment after the first in the trilogy and because of that I shall not be purchasing the third book in the series.I finally gave up around page 200 when Thorstad and Angevine entered this already boring and complicated tale!I also found the recipes at the end of each damned chapter both annoying and irrelevant...made all the worse due to cooking times/weights/amounts etc being simply omitted....how inane !...all in all the book deserves -10....!!

I just read this and Matthews debut novel Red Sparrow and I greatly enjoyed both and luckily I took some time off work and weather was bad so I read the thing straight through with only a few hours sleep it was that good. I'm pleased the little quirke of displaying the recipe of whatever food the American and Russian characters have been enjoying at the end of each chapter has been retained. I've attempted two already and it saves on a cook book. This book was even better as the characters developed further and Matthews succeeded in informing the reader of the unique pressures that intelligence officers on all sides are up against. Quite often the barriers are internal such as bureaucracy, budgetary and also the egos and limitations of the politicians directing them as well as their opponents who are often devious, audacious, cruel and sadistic and often not accountable. I really enjoyed the one liners, some of which I will use next time I'm out for a beer and even some of the crude but very well worded descriptions the authour uses about the sexual habits of some of the CIA's assailants and the bemusement of the women concerned. I think I'd watch what I'd say about Putin though Jason unless you like something spicy in your tea mate! . Again a great read and this author's two books I have enjoyed as much as others written by the likes of Michael Connolly, Peter James, Lee Child, and Andy Mcnab. He should get better and better too and I hope the Nat and Dom develops further.

I wanted to read the trilogy, after watching the film The Red Sparrow. The sequel, Palace of Treason was full of twists and turns, plots and sub plots, which I found easier to keep track of than I did on the film Red Sparrow. Edge of the seat stuff. Although there is the love interest of Nate and Dominika, it never becomes distracting from the main story and never becomes slushy! Thoroughly enjoyed it and will be moving on to the final book in the trilogy, The Kremlin's Candidate, to find out what becomes of Nate and Dominika

Enjoyed the first book in this series but found the second well over the top and not at all realistic. I find it difficult to believe the author's background has led to these books as they appear to me the work of a Hollywood screen writer.The part where the geriatric, female super spy is sliding down a number of waterfalls to evade capture is plain daft and the book does have credibility issues with both the Russians and Americans actions.