The Red Star Down by D.B. John is a gripping and atmospheric thriller set in the shadowy world of North Korea. John masterfully weaves espionage, political intrigue, and human resilience into a fast-paced narrative. With vivid descriptions and taut pacing, the novel explores the high stakes of intelligence work and the harrowing realities of life under a brutal regime. The characters are complex and believable, particularly the operatives navigating moral gray zones. Fans of The Spy and the Traitor or The Defector will find this a compelling read. It’s both an engrossing page-turner and a chilling glimpse into a closed world.

Red Star Down is the first book I’ve read by D.B. John, and it definitely won’t be the last. I read this thriller in just over a day — and if I didn’t need sleep, I’d have devoured it in one sitting. It’s that gripping.

This is an intricately researched and masterfully plotted story that brilliantly balances high-stakes international tension with razor-sharp, often laugh-out-loud observations of global political gameplay. I was fully transported into the volatile battlefield between Putin, Trump, and Kim Jong-un, and found myself racing through the pages, emotions pinging wildly between dread, disbelief, hilarity and heartbreak.

Jenna is a powerhouse of a protagonist — smart, gritty, and emotionally complex. Her dynamic with Eric, a North Korean spy embedded within Trump’s administration, crackles with tension. The stakes feel sky-high as they navigate a treacherous world in an effort to protect Lyosha, Stephen, and Soo-min. The twists are relentless, the pace exhilarating, and the portrayal of real-world political figures and power plays is so sharply observed I kept bursting out laughing in disbelief.

D.B. John has pulled off something extraordinary: a thriller that is both deeply intelligent and thoroughly entertaining. It’s one of the best books I’ve read this year — insightful, fast-paced, tense, and unexpectedly hilarious in its truth-telling. I honestly wanted to start all over again the moment I finished the last page.

Highly recommended for fans of heart-racing political thrillers with substance. More, please!

Red Star Down is an excellent follow up to Star of the North where the reader is back in the company of CIA Officer Jenna. The characterisation is excellent and believable and the plot is fairly fast moving with compelling threads and interesting and damning political insights.
A hugely enjoyable and gripping thriller that I’d highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

A truly global thriller, Red Star Down takes the spy game to dizzying heights. Eric, a Korean working for the US president, has an agenda but is in awe of his boss. Jenna, a CIA officer has a story to unravel and it’s one that has the potential to reset the balance of power. And there’s the leaders of the US, Russia and North Korea.

With scenes built around recent real life events, there’s a sharpness to the narrative which itself is elevated by some cutting satire. Make no mistake, Red Star Down is a pulsating thriller for the world of shifting allegiances and power games that we live in today, absolutely outstanding.

I was granted a review copy of Red Star Down and am leaving this review voluntarily.