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.

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!

Defiantly a very well crafted novel, full of current issues and concerns re global situations, Characters are life like in mannerisms and speech - yes Putin, Trump and Kim Jong Un of North Kore; yes John weaves a great story with our world leaders and all the bit players in the background.
At one point the story mentions North Korea and Russia's Seed Bearing Program which triggered my deep seated memories of true events where citizens were abducted from South Korea and Japan to breed children, indoctrinated and sent back to their original country to create havoc. Methods of assassinations used those used by the Russians even today - poisoning radio isotope exposure.
So a very intelligent up to date thriller.
At the end of the book a well written 'authors notes' shares the deeper aspects of the story and basis for the book, well worth reading.

This books was fantastic, it was edgy and thrilling and fast paced. I hadn’t read a political spy thriller before but this was so intriguing I couldn’t put it down. There’s a couple of things going on in this book but it isn’t confusing or boring and is a real page turner. Highly recommend

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.

This is the first book I have read by D.B John and I certainly hope that it won't be the last. I was immediately gripped by this contemporary political thriller. The characters were completely believable and the attention to the power struggle between Donald Trump, Putin and Kim Jong-un caused different emotions at one point humorous and another disbelief. I didn't manage to read this book at one sitting despite attempting to, but my husband wanted to sleep which meant that I read over two days. The combination of Jenna a C.I.A operative, Eric a North Korean spy within the Trump administration, could all change the balance of the political power as it is today.

I am grateful to NetGalley and Random House UK/Vintage for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced copy to review.




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Fast paced ,relevant novel.It had me on the edge of my seat,unable to put down until I could find out what happened next.
I lived through the experience to the end.A well written credible tale which opens up a world currently in which we live,spellbinding and fascinating to say the least,A riveting must read for everyone.

This is an excellent fast-paced thriller. Set in 2017, the corrupting power of Trump, Putin and Kim Jong-Un sets the backdrop for an intense political, spy thriller. This is a well-written and well-researched book. Right from the start, the reader is thrown straight into the thick of the action. Despite the length of the book, this was a surprisingly quick read.
Highly recommended.

Red Star Down is an edge-of-your-seat international spy thriller based on relatively recent real-life events featuring well known political figures. In a story which crosses continents, main protagonist Jenna risks her own life to protect Soo-min, Lyosha and Stephen while North Korean spy Eric is working hard to undermine the White House as well as trying to save his own skin. This is a tension filled, fast paced thriller with multiple characters and story strands coming together in an intelligently planned plot in which the narrative is enhanced by some excellent satire.
The researching and plotting are top quality, and the author’s observations of political manoeuvring have made me look at current events through a new lens. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know.

4.5* Red Star Down - DB John. A stunning thriller where the pace doesn’t let up.

Trump is in the White House. Putin and Kim Jong-Un are dictators in their own kingdoms. They each hold ultimate power but below their fragile egos are those willing to undermine, overthrow and work for the common good.

8 years on from the excellent Star of the North, we rejoin CIA agent Jenna in a multi-location chase across the world. There are spies, defectors, dead-drops and jaw-dropping moments a plenty. The story neatly carousels around real life events which on their own are jaw dropping,
but weaved into a narrative with the CIA and FSB involved are great fun.

I really don’t want to give any spoilers to the intricate plotting which is a heck of a ride. This is up there with Day of the Locust and Ken Follet’s Never as an absolute classic of the genre. So many try in the thriller space, few succeed, DB John absolutely nails it.

I would highly recommend starting with Star of the North to get under the skin of Jenna’s back story but both books would be good stand alone novels.

Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for this brilliant ARC. I can only hope we don’t need to wait so long for another book from this fantastic author.