I’m not really into spy thrillers or KGB. So why am I mentioning this? Because I had preconceived ideas which told me, never to shy away from a book assuming you may not enjoy it, because I really enjoyed this. It’s what I would term a “light” spy. If there is such a thing.

You quickly get right into the mix of this story.

Talanov’s wife is brutally murdered right in front of his eyes.
But that bullet wasn’t meant for her, it was meant for him so Talanov believes. Could he be right?

I didn’t realise that the title Greco’s Game was really a chess game in the early 1600 which has great significance to this story. Except it’s not chess pieces they play with, it’s humans.

We follow Talanov’s journey and where it all leads as he’s trying to find out, who killed his wife.

This book needs more recognition, it’s superbly written.

I for one enjoyed it and that’s me who don’t read spy thrillers!part-of-series20 s Alok MishraAuthor 8 books1,224

Don't get your interest and excitement blurred for the book by the rather philosophical cover the book boasts... this is a complete thriller pack! You are going to love the person Talanov is, even in his middle ages! Have you seen the Bond movie recently? You might visualise the scenes in the book just that... I did not read much of the spy fictions this and I truly loved this book by James and I am going to read all others by him, for sure!
A great twisting and turning spy-thriller is served to you in this book and you owe that to Turner! Other issues that he has raised in the book are absolutely important as well as realistic to a larger extent. If you want to read something which keeps you stuck for 2-3 days, then go for this classic piece of modernist writing and a but of cynic-humour too... enjoy the read! 10 s Amit Mishra237 680

Greco's Game is all about Talanov and it has to be read by people who want to read some spy fiction with seriousness in the plot and versatile theme. You will the character of the Talanov but you will equally all other elements in the novel - for example - the human right issues trafficking of human beings! 6 s Autumn2,243 46

I am not a big spy thriller reader there is just something about it that turns me away from reading. Though with this book Greco's Game I figured I would give it a try and see if it was any good. To me this wasn't a heavy spy thriller so it was quite easy for me to get into the story. Now this is book two though I wasn't lost as to what was going on and not knowing more of who Talanov was. Talanov witnessed his wife get murdered right in front of him, he believes that it was meant for him instead and he has been wanting to know who killed his wife. While wanting to know he is sleeping with hookers and drinking a lot.
When a hooker named Larissa comes into the picture by trying to pull a fast one on him it becomes more than just that. It seems Talanov's past connections come into play and it seems someone from his past is behind everything. Talanov tries to warn those that want to help him and have him join their team but will they listen in enough time or will more blood be shed?
There is a lot of action as far as gun slinging goes. We see how Talanov reacts in situations that calls for him to call people's bluff which was pretty cool. You can tell that Talanov is a character who is use to having those do what he tells them to or he will "break their legs."
I d seeing the relationship between Talanov and Larissa come together it makes me think he could love someone at one point.
I did the neat information on healing wounds and stopping blood from Larissa it is just simple home remedies, which I would have never thought of being used. I might end up reading book three to see what else will be thrown Talanov's way.
If you are looking for a spy book with plenty of action then I recommend this read. 2015 pbwkendread4 s Anupam29 1 follower

An interesting novel for all the lovers of spy fiction and thriller detective novels... this novel by Turner has got everything from a good lead character to intriguing plot and a theme which can contain all these... it won't take much longer once you start reading the novel because it just absorbs you in! Read this and be a fan of Talanov! 4 s Cheryl5,625 214

Aleksandr Talanov is recovering from the brutal death of his wife. Before he can find the peace and quiet he so desires, Talanov decides to track down the people responsible for his wife’s death. Talanov gets more then he bargains for when he tangles with both the Russian Mafia and the CIA. Someone wants Talanov out of commission for good but who?

Greco’s Game is book two of the Aleksandr Talanov novels. This book can be read as a stand alone novel. Fans of military themed, action thrillers Jason Bourne will enjoy this book. This book read really fast and not just because of the short chapters but because of the fast paced action. There was not a moment that I was bored. Talanov is a people person character. What I mean by this is that Talanov is interesting, multi-dimensional and makes me want to know more about him. This is a good thing.

The topic for this book “human trafficking” is a very serious matter and one that people need to be aware of. The way that we treat each other as humans is horrible. Talanov was the right man for the job. He produced results. There were a few twists in this story line. Mr. Turner sucked me into this book. The ending ended on a high note and a nice lead into book three. The ending was good enough that it did make me read the quick preview for book three. I do not usually read the p for the next book. So what are you waiting for, pick up a copy of Greco’s Game today. Greco’s Game will have you wanting more!
2 s Sneha Sharma23 18

Wonderful spy thriller by the bestselling author Turner! I enjoyed reading this book which is rather long but still captivating enough to keep the readers engaged... Talanov is hell of a Hero who keeps you engaged throughout the novel. Must read! 2 s Nirmal24

A fair read... the novel moves fast and the author has done his best to make it as animated as possible! Nevertheless, I didn't the ultra-violent ways of defining the crime and criminal stunts. Well, that might suit the readers who love reading spy and physical fiction... I would recommend this book to all such readers. i d that angle which revolves around Larisa and her plight in the foreign land! 1 Petula2,803 75

Aleksandr Talanov is an ex KGB operative, now living in the USA. Since his wife was murdered by a sniper he has just been going through the motions of living, until he gets robbed by a prostitute. Then someone from his past turns up offering to help him find the killer.
Larisa is a young woman who was conned by people traffickers into a life as a sex slave. She must do as they say or her family back home will all die.
This is an action packed story full of flying bullets, crazy car chases and incredible fights. Our hero is an older man but definitely great hero material. Our traumatized heroine only plays a small but very important part in the story. The secondary characters are just as memorable.
This reads the start of a series with a teaser at the end.
This will keep you on the edge of your seat most of the way through.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. 1 LORI CASWELL2,615 300

Greco's Game finds Talanov witnessing the brutal murder of his wife. Convinced the bullet was meant for him and wracked with guilt, he spirals downward on a path of self-destruction, hitting rock-bottom on the mean streets of Los Angeles. But in a seedy world ruled by the Russian mafia, all is not as it seems. Was her murder an accident, or was it a carefully-planned strategy? The answer lies in Greco's Game, a chess game played in 1619 that Talanov's old KGB chess instructor regarded as the most brilliant example of how to trap and kill an opponent. The question is: who was the target?

Dollycas's Thoughts
Wow! This is an outstanding story! Riveting, intense and full of suspense!

You have the CIA, FSB (Federal Secret Service/Russia), LAPD, the Russian Mafia and Aleksandr Talanov, former KGB agent, all coming together in Los Angeles, California. Who killed his wife? Until he knows he can't trust anyone!

While clues play out we learn that they are patterning a chess game played hundreds of years ago but you do not need to or understand chess to follow this story. Just hold on tight you are in for a wild ride.

Turner takes us on a journey into the gritty world of human trafficking in a universe where much has changed since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Men Talanov knew back in his time in the KGB could be working for anybody. He can't even trust his former mentor. The author takes us through the clues and strategy at an amazing clip making it impossible to put down. This story would make a fantastic movie.

The author has created rich and colorful characters that just seem to leap off the page. We follow them through chilling car chases, cars crashing through buildings, and cars with surprises in the trunks. Gun blazing, bombs blowing, bouncers dishing out beatings and worse.

I have not yet read Department Thirteen and had absolutely no trouble loving this deadly game of pawns and queens. I did learn James Houston Turner loves to leave us hanging. He resolves most of the issues but baits us with just a few lines and a bit of book #3, Dragon Head coming in 2013.

This is one of those books I want to shout about from the rooftops!! It is amazing! A MUST READ if you mystery, suspense, action and thrills!!!
read-20121 Ruby Sinha19 2

I extremely enjoyed reading this one by Turner... he has been delivering the thriller and spy fiction on a regular basis but this instalment was something truly amazing and mesmerising. You cannot escape praising the author for the character that he has created in the form of Talanov! Just enjoy reading this one and you won't find anything worth doing unless you solve the mystery of the murder of His wife... 1 Raghav Kumar16

Talanov takes it all - this novel revolves around the heroics and courage of the lead character who is an ex-employee of KGB, Russia. He is trapped and to come out of that trapped is his mission and he does it - in between, the author offers you a read which is so wonderful that you will certainly be glad to know that you might be watching a movie based on this novel in the near future! Great work! 1 Shyam Duggal21 40

A little stretched but the novel is nearly a perfection in the terms of a spy thriller and Talanov will certainly not let the readers off the hook along with the enemies who murdered his wife and also tried to murder his love interest Larisa! You are going to love this book once you read it and the good part is that this is a book which is a part of the series Turner is writing... you will love this and all others! 1 Rosemary3,306 55

Greco's Game - a review by Rosemary Kenny

The eponymous game is a chess gambit, relating to a ploy used by Talanov's enemy to manoevre him into a fatal trap, in this tense psychological thriller by James Houston Turner that will have you chewing your fingernails down to the elbows with suspense and apprehension, well into the dark dark night!

Ex Russian KGB Colonel Aleksandr Talonov is emotionally estranged from his wife to the point where they live almost separate lives, when he engages Ukrainian prostitute and former nurse Larisa, who steals his wallet in desperation and later touches him with her story and seems to genuinely care for him [and vice versa], when Talanov catches up with her.
Larisa's family are hostages in her motherland, to ensure her obedience to the sadistic masters, who took advantage of her and many, many others' naivete to believe there would be a better life for them in the West, only to torment (and on occasion torture/murder) them with the knowledge they'll never be free on arrival.

Talanov and Larisa's erotic love story will engage and overwhelm you, with its sensitive exploration of the foul crime of people-trafficking and its consequences for the girls involved. Sadly Larisa's story is a rare and unly one in the grim reality of today's world, though that makes it all the more uplifting to the fascinated reader.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.erotica psychological-thriller R.K. Emery1,063 46

First of all, that blurb completely drew me in. I was pleasantly surprised by the way James Houston Turner was able to keep me on my toes.

I love reading thrillers and trying to figure out what could possibly come next.

I'll have to admit, I was surprised in a couple of places throughout the novel.

I loved the fact that this was a Suspense, but the author was able to create real emotion and have the reader tap into that. The main characters are very strong and easy to love.

I really enjoyed the fact that Turner was able to surprise me a couple of times. I always a novel that keeps me guessing. A Great Thriller.action thriller C. Gonzales888 41

I think the thing that struck me the most with this novel was the fact that James Houston Turner was able to connect me to his characters from the get go. It really added investment in the story and what happened to the characters.

The plot was very well paced and there were no aspects that I was able to out-rightly predict.

This novel is jam packed with shocks and twists that will have you immersed in the story Turner has created.

The characters are very well developed and multi dimensional which allows the reader to become invested. thriller Kristine358 42

A fast paced, action packed, suspense filled novel full of all kinds of twists and turns and unexpected surprises. I absolutely loved this novel!! And you can't help but love the characters and their realistic quirkiness. It was a little slow for me in the beginning, but then it picked up and kept speeding up and going non stop from then on. An outstanding, amazing, wonderful thriller everyone should enjoy!!! Amritansu18 44

Finally I could get a read of this book and as expected, the book was a classic thriller for me - rare and much different from the general tirade you read in the garb of spy thrillers these days... no cult for young and handsome and chocolate heroes and here you have a middle-aged Talanov taking on the lumberjacks! Love this novel by James H Turner! Rajnish Mourya17 3

The fiction jumps from the height and all of a sudden falls on the ground of reality... this is what Turner has done in his book which is superbly crafted and offers the readers a perfect and round thriller novel with the fusion of every essential aspect we need in a fiction to keep us indulged throughout the read! A must-read book which I have enjoyed the full! Anant15 2

very lucrative cover at the same time handling a serious issue in the book. Well constructed and well organise story-line which allows anyone to finish it with thrill and joy. Moreover, explores some of the vices of the society also in the book. Since this is a spy fiction and it comes with the surety of thriller. Dharmvir17 4

The novel is all about central character Aleksandr Talanov. But, all other elements are treated equally. A serious novel with a versatile theme of spy fiction. while reading this feels movie is going on in front of my eyes. Gradually, plot develops without any hyper jump usually happen in other novels in same genre. A good read to me!! Tejash10 3

I think, it's a nice novel that delivers everything under one cover. Romance, thriller, crime and human trafficking and many more versatile themes has been taken under consideration in this novel. Very joyful read to me. Actually, I got this from here. http://alok-mishra.net/grecos-game-an... Gita11 1 follower

The thriller series of Aleksandr Talanov is awesome and incomparable. The story has much to offer to a serious reader who loves to read such kind of novel. I got a chance to read this novel and truly I found it really good. In all sections, it develops gradually and ends in a fashion. Waiting for the next series. Shekhar19 1 follower

It was a little longer to be a spy thriller and there are too many characters, to be frank. The author has done his best, no doubt but the story would surely be invested with too much of a reader then only it would make some sense. One time read! Alka Shikha22 1 follower

Read it for the character Talanov is! Agile; versatile and lively! Amazing novel with great injection of suspense and thriller by Turner! You must read it if you love reading spy thrillers and watch the Bond and Hunt movies! Harsh25

Is mystery there? Yes
Is thrill there? Yes
Is a great hero there? Yes

guys, go for this and you will simply love the novel Turner has written! A moving fiction with bullets chasing skulls and minds chasing the destination! Arvind16

What else we can hope from a best-selling author. Comes out with a well crafted novel once again. This novel can be seen in stand alone. Plot revolves around the death of his wife and goes on with suspense and thriller at their best. The narrative makes novel extra forceful. Manoj17

The overall composition of the book exceeds the excitement of reader who loves to read thriller novels. With full of twist and turn, this book allows a reader to get down deep into the book and walk out coming from a movie theatre. Such a wonderful settings of the events. Bravo! Gina Stamper647 27

A turbulent ride of real thrills and mystery.
This story had a lot of heart and a lot of action.

Plenty of twists and turns, drama, and much more along the way. I am glad I went on this journey with these characters.mystery thriller Anivesh27 1 follower

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