D.B. John's "Red Star Down" is an entertaining and "realistic" spy thriller. The plot pulls together real-world events and historical figures into a conspirency theory type book.

This conspiracy begins with a Korean man being poisoned in a Malaysian airport (I have been there!) and a Russian "spy" being assassinated in Washington D.C. These events lead to a very high-stakes plot that involves Donald Trump, newly elected U.S. President and the leaders of North Korea and Russia. Donald Trump does not come out well here but I guess that makes even more realistic!

The story follows two key characters who find themselves caught in the plot crosshairs:

• Jenna, a seasoned CIA officer haunted by past missions. I loved Jenna!
• Eric, a North Korean spy embedded in the White House. Didn't like him - but he was interesting!

The author makes clever use of recent political events and this creates a sense of realism. The plot has numerous twists and turns. I was hooked.

It took me a while to get to the end but I was glad I persevered.

A spy thriller where each page is smoke and mirrors. A North Korean machiavellian plot called the seed programme attempts to kidnap adults , impregnate them by Koreans and programme the offspring to infiltrate Europe and America intent on influencing and manipulating those in high office. to create a situation of chaos and turmoil in world orders. The chief protagonist, Jenna her sister a rescued but traumatised victim of the seed programme is intent on unearthing the perpetrators at whatever cost. Using real characters such as Trump and Putin, interweaved with a number of seed programme progeny who have successfully infiltrated high office the reader becomes immersed in a rollercoaster of intrigue, violence and torture . In this war of attrition it is often impossible to differentiate which side the key players are on, notwithstanding the self interest and agenda each individual brings to the emerging crisis with the clock slowly ticking towards Armageddon. A 5* read that was impossible to put down. The author has successfully written a storyline that is completely of this moment in time and all the more terrifying because it could possibly be the reality of this moment in time and history we are currently living in. An amazing book with the probability it will be snapped up for future movie.rights.

A gripping spy thriller that integrates real events with an interesting fast paced story. It is set during Donald Trump's first term in office when he was 'meeting' with both Putin and Kim Yong Un. Great fodder for conspiracy theories!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for the advance copy of this book.

"I have always been fascinated by autocrats. Not because of the respect they command or the fear they spread, but because their vanity and their delusions tend to make them faintly ridiculous figures."

That's the opening sentence of the author's notes at the end of the book. It's a perfect summary, really, of the world we live in, dominated by faintly ridiculous autocrats such as Trump, Putin, Kim-Jong Un. The fourth, Xi, isn't even mentioned, maybe because he's more mysterious but also a more credible leader in some respects.

It's an explosive book. It paints a picture not only of espionage that is likely to be quite real and alive today, but also paints a picture of the machinations in the minds of these leaders which most of us (MAGA mental red-hat waving diehards aside) would perceive to be an accurate representation. Especially when it comes to Trump......this is probably the BEST EVER, GREATEST insight into his mind, one of the BEST EVER minds, and so on haha.

Difficult to put this book down. Highly recommend it.

It's 2017, President Trump has just been inaugurated and allegiances are changing. As he starts to want to ally with Russia and North Korea, CIA agent Jenna Williams, an African American and Korean American woman, discovers that there are agents of both countries operating in the heart of the White House. Russian student Lyosha dared to confront the Russian president on live TV. And N Korean spy Eric has Trump's ear. It's a race against the clock for Jenna, Lyosha and Eric to reach their objectives before their enemies reach them - and their enemies are prepared to kill.

This book is huge in scope, spanning the first 18 months of Trump's first presidency, along with multiple countries and continents, plus a wide range of both fictional and real characters. Although it's a work of fiction, it's based on real events that help to raise the stakes in the plot. There are also characters from a variety of nationalities and of different sexualities, as well as from all walks of life: school and university students; spies; diplomats; politicians; and victims.

This is a really ambitious book which is executed well and I really recommend this.

A conspiracy spy thriller involving the dastardly triumvirate of Putin, Trump and Kim Yong Un is an incredible proposition that I couldn’t resist. Red Star Down from D.B.John proved unputdownable. It is described as a historical novel as it’s based on Trump’s first term in office and is peppered with references to factual events. There are three main protagonists: Jenna, a CIA operative; Eric Rahn, a key member of Team Trump and Lyosho, a Russian student who is disaffected by Putin. The story unfolds as it centres on each of the three protagonists in turn. The best book of the year so far for me. Thanks to Random House Vintage and NetGalley for the eARC.

A brilliant novel set in the time of Donald Trumps first presidency and based around actual event . It is a story about espionage at the highest level and moves along a good pace. The settings in the USA, Russia and North Korea are slowly tied into one overall story with a CIA agent Jenna Williams as the thread that holds them together. This is a long book over 600 pages but well worth the time taken to read it. The best espionage thriller I have read in a long time> I hope there is more to follow from this author. I would award more than 5 stars if I could.

A very enjoyable book although events could be repeating themselves. This is fiction based around Trump's first term in office. I did not realise it was the second in a series so found the beginning a little difficult to get into. I suspect the fiction was probably very close to the truth. Jenna, the main CIA operative was very fictitious but entertaining and would love to read about her again.
A great book.

Expertly mixes fact and fiction to cover "behind the scenes" of Trump's embrace of North Korea, while telling its own thrilling story. I've previously recommended the prequel Star of the North, but this reads well as a standalone

More of a 4.5
This was the first book by this author I have read and it was an enjoyable, thought provoking read. I liked the fact that it was inspired by real events (see author's note at the end), it was clear that the author had done much research and thought had gone into the plot.
This book could probably be summed up as the CIA & FBI's worst nightmare. The infiltration of not just the USA but more importantly the White House by North Korean & Russian operatives, add in the fact that Trump is President and it becomes even more of a horror story.
The autocratic regimes of Putin and North Korea are well drawn, the Russians, such as Putin are particularly menacing.
The only reason I deducted half a star was that it did get a little boring/"draggy" in places, especially at the beginning when Eric and Jenna were laying the ground work for the story/giving insight into their backstory and I just wanted things to move on.
If you like espionage/political thrillers this could be for you.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read.

This was an interesting book being loosely based on a series of real events (all nicely outlined briefly at the end of the book in what was a useful Author's note section).

Whilst reading the book I was a little frustrated with the first half of the book as it felt all unrelated and jumping about a bit with little action. This was however made up for in the second half of the book where all the different strands came together and there was plenty of action in between.

This book revolved around North Korea and it's leading family and Russia/Putin and also some emphasis on US government and Trump and a story was made out of different events and spies from all sides. With the context after the book it was an interesting read just be prepared for the slow-burn first half of the book.

4 stars from me.

This was a cracking thriller weaving in quite a bit of real events and involving real people including Trump, Putin and Kim Jong-Un in the story. It was quite a long book set over a long period of time. I'll definitely look at more of this author's works.

NET GALLEY ADVANCE REVIEW COPY 4*

D.B. John is a new author to me - I suspect this will not be the only book of his that I'll read and enjoy.

Back in the day I was a massive Clancy Jack Ryan fan, and I suspect that Mr John might have been similarly influenced.

This hefty volume (Amazon says over 670 pages) continues the global storyline genre with good humour, and interesting takes on real-life homelives for current global leaders, especially the Donald and his master blaster Vlad the Pale...

The book will be an excellent summer poolside read - three or four days of tanning with tall dark chilled drinks losing yourself in an engaging yarn full of crafty smiles, twists and fascinating plots.

I'm giving no spoilers other than to say be prepared to be engaged

D. B. John's "Red Star Down" is a timely, electric global thriller that skillfully incorporates current geopolitical tensions into an enthralling story. A spiritual follow-up to "Star of the North," this standalone novel drops readers into a high-stakes conspiracy that sweeps through North Korea, Russia, and Washington D.C.

The action begins with seemingly unrelated events: a mysterious poisoning in Kuala Lumpur, the murder of a Russian intelligence officer, and the inauguration of a new US President. Three interesting characters are hurled into the storm: Jenna, a haunted CIA operative; Lyosha, a fearless Moscow student; and Eric, a North Korean spy inserted into the White House. The author deftly weaves their own adversity with a larger, incendiary international threat, evincing a sharp insight into espionage and power games. "Red Star Down" is a fast-moving, highly developed, and enormously rewarding read for followers of modern spy novels.

An informative and eye-opening espionage thriller with some fictionalised elements that still rang true and very sadly very close to the current political state of affairs. Although the novel occasionally dragged for me (how many chases can you realistically have?) the author does penetrate the mind of well-seasoned spies and cold-blooded double-agents alike. I also felt the portrayal of world leaders and dictators to be eerily accurate. I will keep an eye out for the author when I am next in the mood for something of this genre. I particularly enjoyed reading of Jenna’s plights, and immersing myself in some of the exotic and closed-off locations the action takes place in. Some pleasant plot twists are present, too!

How do I put into words how good this book is?

It is remarkable, thats the best word to describe it

We have Trump, Putin and Kim Jong-un as 3 main leads and a host of other powerful characters all involved in a web of lies, deception and spycraft set in Trumps first term in office

The author makes it clear it is fiction in the lengthy ( and also fascinating ) acknowledgements but set within real life events and ‘happenings’

Every single world was important and formed part of this truly invigorating book

The intimate look at life in North Korea, Russia and America and the lives of the leaders and the power they yield was like nothing have read before

I wanted it to be double, triple length such was the amazing story telling by this author ( will be reading his 3 other books asap ) that didn’t falter in its excitement once, even for a second

My favourite book this year and in my top 3 books ever

A truly powerful read

A fast-moving and insightful take on current events, all wrapped up in a 5-star thriller.

"Red Star Down" is the follow-up to DB John's prescient book "Star of the North", and once again the author seems to have anticipated and captured real-world events and wrapped them in a tense and high-voltage thriller.

Set in 2017, and again featuring Jenna, a career CIA operative, who seems destined to encounter eastern spies and agitators, it follows her as she battles with agents of Russia, North Korea and beyond. It's full of spy tropes - dead-drops, defectors and moles and doesn't stop for breath once. Fast moving and intense.

The research here is impeccable, the plotting and writing is first-class, and for those who enjoy real life people and events incorporated into a novel, this is just what they want. There's fascinating insight into what happens behind the headlines, and there's plenty of human interaction, even some black humour.

Not to be missed.

I really enjoyed this spy thriller from D. B. John, a follow on from Star of the North, which I loved, but somehow didn’t get around to reviewing.
The story is set in 2018 and told from three points of view. Jenna a CIA agent, who I knew from the previous book, Lyosha, a Russian student, and Eric a North Korean spy working in the White House.
This was a just as good Star of the North, and me hooked right from the beginning, as I followed the three characters through the twists and turns of the plot. I liked Jenna and Lyosha and hoped good things would come their way. Eric Rahn was a very good villain, a really nasty character, who deserved everything he got!
The author’s note at the end was really interesting as he mentioned how real events inspired this latest book.
Highly recommended if you enjoy contemporary global spy thrillers.

The real-life characters and events move at a fast pace- from a North Korean man poisoned at an airport, to the assassination of a Russian intelligence officer in Washington and a teenager who stands up to Putin on a Russian TV show with Putin. All strands are neatly woven with Jenna, a CIA operative and Eric who is a shady character working in the White House but not for the U.S. President. This spy thriller is a clever and compulsive read. It is rooted in current affairs and merges the complexity of geopolitics into a fantastic read. A proper thriller that is so compelling.

I really enjoyed this spy thriller.
Jenna is a CIA agent of mixed Korean/African American heritage. Her twin sister was kidnapped and held in North Korea and rescued by Jenna, giving her legendary status.
Set in 2017, the story is about undercover North Korean and Russian spies infiltrating America, and includes a lot about the politics of that time, and the diplomatic relationship between Trump, Putin and Kim Jong Un. There are several strands to the story, it's well written and gripping. I couldn't put it down.
There are lots of good characters, I particularly liked Jenna, Lyosha, Anya and Mira.
Highly recommended.