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Kyle Achilles #0.5
Chasing Ivan
Rumor has it there’s a Russian you can turn to if you’re very rich, and need dirty deeds done without a trace. The CIA calls him Ivan the Ghost because he’s operated for years without leaving a trail or revealing his face.
Until now.
For the first time in history, Ivan appears to have slipped. The CIA’s new director sets Agent Kyle Achilles on an intercept course, surveilling the daughter of a British politician. Then Ivan pulls off a masterful con, and Emily vanishes.
With Emily’s life, his career, and America’s reputation at stake, Achilles partners with an unlikely new agent he meets in France. Together they attempt to get one step ahead of the legendary Russian, while rubbing elbows with the ultra-rich in a high-tech international chase.
___________________________________________
PLEASE NOTE: WITH 28 CHAPTERS, THIS NOVELLA IS ABOUT 1/3 THE SIZE OF THE AUTHOR'S OTHER THRILLERS
___________________________________________
"I loved this novella. It started out fast and never stopped." � Margaret Lovett
"Fast paced and action packed, this was a quick and fun read." � Nick Babbitz
“Fans of Ludlum and Lee Child will delight at the magical web Tim Tigner weaves." � Leslie O"Brien
"A lot of twists, great characters, and an ending that leaves you begging for more!" � Bodo Pfundl
"Easy to read, and hard to put down." � Todd Simpson
Until now.
For the first time in history, Ivan appears to have slipped. The CIA’s new director sets Agent Kyle Achilles on an intercept course, surveilling the daughter of a British politician. Then Ivan pulls off a masterful con, and Emily vanishes.
With Emily’s life, his career, and America’s reputation at stake, Achilles partners with an unlikely new agent he meets in France. Together they attempt to get one step ahead of the legendary Russian, while rubbing elbows with the ultra-rich in a high-tech international chase.
___________________________________________
PLEASE NOTE: WITH 28 CHAPTERS, THIS NOVELLA IS ABOUT 1/3 THE SIZE OF THE AUTHOR'S OTHER THRILLERS
___________________________________________
"I loved this novella. It started out fast and never stopped." � Margaret Lovett
"Fast paced and action packed, this was a quick and fun read." � Nick Babbitz
“Fans of Ludlum and Lee Child will delight at the magical web Tim Tigner weaves." � Leslie O"Brien
"A lot of twists, great characters, and an ending that leaves you begging for more!" � Bodo Pfundl
"Easy to read, and hard to put down." � Todd Simpson
150 pages, ebook
First published January 6, 2016
3641 people are currently reading
2355 people want to read
About the author
Tim Tigner
23books1,038followersTim began his career in Soviet Counterintelligence with the US Army Special Forces, the Green Berets. That was back in the Cold War days when, “We learned Russian so you didn't have to,� something he did at the Presidio of Monterey alongside Recon Marines and Navy SEALs.
With the fall of the Berlin Wall, Tim switched from espionage to arbitrage. Armed with a Wharton MBA rather than a Colt M16, he moved to Moscow in the midst of Perestroika. There, he led prominent multinational medical companies, worked with cosmonauts on the MIR Space Station (from Earth, alas), chaired the Association of International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, and helped write Russia’s first law on healthcare.
Moving to Brussels during the formation of the EU, Tim ran Europe, Middle East, and Africa for a Johnson & Johnson company and traveled like a character in a Robert Ludlum novel. He eventually landed in Silicon Valley, where he launched new medical technologies as a startup CEO.
In his free time, Tim has climbed the peaks of Mount Olympus, went hang gliding from the cliffs of Rio de Janeiro, and ballooned over Belgium. He earned scuba certification in Turkey, learned to ski in Slovenia, and ran the Serengeti with a Maasai warrior. He acted on stage in Portugal, taught negotiations in Germany, and chaired a healthcare conference in Holland. Tim studied psychology in France, radiology in England, and philosophy in Greece. He has enjoyed ballet at the Bolshoi, the opera on Lake Como, and the symphony in Vienna. He’s been a marathoner, paratrooper, triathlete, and yogi.
Intent on combining his creativity with his experience, Tim began writing thrillers in 1996 from an apartment overlooking Moscow’s Gorky Park. Twenty years later, his passion for creative writing continues to grow every day. His home office now overlooks a vineyard in Northern California.
Tim grew up in the Midwest, and graduated from Hanover College with a BA in Philosophy and Mathematics. After military service and work as a financial analyst and foreign-exchange trader, he earned an MBA in Finance and an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.
Thank you for taking the time to read about the author. Tim loves to correspond with readers like you. You are welcome to reach him through ŷ or directly at
With the fall of the Berlin Wall, Tim switched from espionage to arbitrage. Armed with a Wharton MBA rather than a Colt M16, he moved to Moscow in the midst of Perestroika. There, he led prominent multinational medical companies, worked with cosmonauts on the MIR Space Station (from Earth, alas), chaired the Association of International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, and helped write Russia’s first law on healthcare.
Moving to Brussels during the formation of the EU, Tim ran Europe, Middle East, and Africa for a Johnson & Johnson company and traveled like a character in a Robert Ludlum novel. He eventually landed in Silicon Valley, where he launched new medical technologies as a startup CEO.
In his free time, Tim has climbed the peaks of Mount Olympus, went hang gliding from the cliffs of Rio de Janeiro, and ballooned over Belgium. He earned scuba certification in Turkey, learned to ski in Slovenia, and ran the Serengeti with a Maasai warrior. He acted on stage in Portugal, taught negotiations in Germany, and chaired a healthcare conference in Holland. Tim studied psychology in France, radiology in England, and philosophy in Greece. He has enjoyed ballet at the Bolshoi, the opera on Lake Como, and the symphony in Vienna. He’s been a marathoner, paratrooper, triathlete, and yogi.
Intent on combining his creativity with his experience, Tim began writing thrillers in 1996 from an apartment overlooking Moscow’s Gorky Park. Twenty years later, his passion for creative writing continues to grow every day. His home office now overlooks a vineyard in Northern California.
Tim grew up in the Midwest, and graduated from Hanover College with a BA in Philosophy and Mathematics. After military service and work as a financial analyst and foreign-exchange trader, he earned an MBA in Finance and an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.
Thank you for taking the time to read about the author. Tim loves to correspond with readers like you. You are welcome to reach him through ŷ or directly at
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
November 20, 2018
Firstly I know I should always start with the first book in the series!
Read number 1, now I have started at the beginning, and a great start to the series with a novella(0.5)
I love the character, love the series and move on to number 2 in the series, also have 3 and 4 in the series.
I do recommend you read number 0.5 in the series it sets in motion his story, character, and the pace of his books.
Great short story, with travels from London to Monaco, Achilles has a great sidekick, well paced, action and suspense and sets the character he is.
Then you are ready to read the whole series... Enjoy
Clear four stars. Read in 24 hours
Read number 1, now I have started at the beginning, and a great start to the series with a novella(0.5)
I love the character, love the series and move on to number 2 in the series, also have 3 and 4 in the series.
I do recommend you read number 0.5 in the series it sets in motion his story, character, and the pace of his books.
Great short story, with travels from London to Monaco, Achilles has a great sidekick, well paced, action and suspense and sets the character he is.
Then you are ready to read the whole series... Enjoy
Clear four stars. Read in 24 hours
September 11, 2015
First of all, admission time. I had never heard of Tim Tigner until out of the blue I received a message from Tim himself via ŷ after he'd read an earlier review I had written. (Talk about going the extra mile for your readership!) He suggested that I download and read this free novella, because he thought I would like it. Well, gift horses and all that, plus being a little flattered that the guy could be bothered to personally contact me, download it I did.
I have to say I wasn't disappointed, the pace of this thriller novella is fast - it feels even shorter than it is because the writing is engaging and smooth, the characters are likable where needed, appropriately irritating or evil where required and the story flies by. The story sets up the first novel in the series but stands alone perfectly well.
You don't have to wait for Tim to tell you to do it, you too can download the story, but beware - you may well be hooked if you're looking for the next easy read, page turner.
timtigner.com for those that are interested and, for the avoidance of doubt, I would recommend giving this a try.
I have to say I wasn't disappointed, the pace of this thriller novella is fast - it feels even shorter than it is because the writing is engaging and smooth, the characters are likable where needed, appropriately irritating or evil where required and the story flies by. The story sets up the first novel in the series but stands alone perfectly well.
You don't have to wait for Tim to tell you to do it, you too can download the story, but beware - you may well be hooked if you're looking for the next easy read, page turner.
timtigner.com for those that are interested and, for the avoidance of doubt, I would recommend giving this a try.
February 23, 2021
Lots of action here. This would make a good hour TV show as it had lots of glamour and introduced a character who could be huge, but needs a better plot line and not a corrupt law enforcement individual who was pretty obvious😁. I liked Achilles who showed his capabilities for agility of body and mind. I may give his second book a try or should I say first book as this is the prequel 🤓
June 21, 2018
Just finished reading the prequel novella in the (new to me) Kyle Achilles spy thriller series. After finishing with the latest Ben Coes novel, I was starving for more in the same genre.
While this story is really short, it packs a punch with its non-stop action scenes and witty dialogues, and it gave me the push I needed to pick up the rest of the books in the series.
Full review:
While this story is really short, it packs a punch with its non-stop action scenes and witty dialogues, and it gave me the push I needed to pick up the rest of the books in the series.
Full review:
July 6, 2018
This was a surprise - I really enjoyed it. I will be reading the next one for sure.
September 7, 2015
Chasing Ivan by Tim Tigner is a fast paced thriller that I could not put down. The main character, Agent Adam “Achilles� Healy, is someone that you want on your side. Achilles is creative and quick on his feet. Achilles is paired up with a thief gone straight named Agent Jo Monfort who was trained by The Agency. The two work as a team to hunt for Ivan the Ghost before an unsuspecting woman named Emily, who is under Ivan's spell, becomes his next victim. I don't want to say any more and ruin it for a potential reader by giving away any more details about the book. I felt that the author gave the characters good development and they played off one another very well. I found that the fighting scenes were written with great detail and I could visualize it all. I have read a few books by Tim Tigner and I think I liked Chasing Ivan the best of what I have read. I look forward to reading more of Achilles' adventures in the future.
October 24, 2015
I’ve had the privilege of reading some great fiction recently and Tim Tigner’s “Chasing Ivan� is no exception. I picked up a free copy from the author’s website and having read all his other books, I was excited about his latest novella. And oh boy, does he come through with yet another exciting story. Better yet, not only is this a standalone story but it’s a prequel to his upcoming Achilles series with the first story set to release in 2016.
Now, if you’ve never read any of his stories, where have you been? Fans of international espionage will squeal in delight (or whatever appropriate noises you make) at the magical web he weaves. His male leads are nothing short of brilliant with the exact right amount of diabolical villainy to keep them on their toes to the very end.
Fans of Ludlum, Lee Child, heck the Black List, will instantly be drawn into this well written suspense story.
Now, if you’ve never read any of his stories, where have you been? Fans of international espionage will squeal in delight (or whatever appropriate noises you make) at the magical web he weaves. His male leads are nothing short of brilliant with the exact right amount of diabolical villainy to keep them on their toes to the very end.
Fans of Ludlum, Lee Child, heck the Black List, will instantly be drawn into this well written suspense story.
April 7, 2016
This has been a week of firsts, this is my fourth book this week by an author previously unknown to me.
CIA operative Kyle Achilles is on the hunt for Ivan the ghost, a man who destroys peoples lives "but these falls from grace can be explained away by bad luck and circumstance".
Achilles is given a lead to run down by his boss the director of the CIA and we follow him as he tries to track Ivan.
I liked the idea of this bronze winning Olympic Biathlete turned wreckless rock climber with no soldiering in his past being headhunted by the former CIA director, it certainly breaks the mould where CIA operatives are concerned in fiction.
This was a brilliant little novella to introduce readers to Kyle Achilles, the new kid on the block of spy fiction but if we the readers are lucky then Kyle has a good few more adventures ahead of him.
If you get the chance to read this then I'd totally recommend it. It's great escapism fun.
CIA operative Kyle Achilles is on the hunt for Ivan the ghost, a man who destroys peoples lives "but these falls from grace can be explained away by bad luck and circumstance".
Achilles is given a lead to run down by his boss the director of the CIA and we follow him as he tries to track Ivan.
I liked the idea of this bronze winning Olympic Biathlete turned wreckless rock climber with no soldiering in his past being headhunted by the former CIA director, it certainly breaks the mould where CIA operatives are concerned in fiction.
This was a brilliant little novella to introduce readers to Kyle Achilles, the new kid on the block of spy fiction but if we the readers are lucky then Kyle has a good few more adventures ahead of him.
If you get the chance to read this then I'd totally recommend it. It's great escapism fun.
April 3, 2016
Good, quick action tale with a pair of amazing agents being directed by a couple of idiot bosses. Good pace and action set in the multi-millionaire world of Monte Carlo. The character development is brisk and superficial. We don't really learn much about our 'superhero' and what his motivations, fears, and goals are. Perhaps later books in the series fill us in more deeply? I enjoyed it, but more like a 'guilty pleasure', because it wasn't much more than a comic book.
February 15, 2016
A powerfully addictive story by an exciting new author.
A fast paced novella that holds your attention to the very last sentence.
I look forward to following Achilles as the series continues.
A fast paced novella that holds your attention to the very last sentence.
I look forward to following Achilles as the series continues.
May 26, 2016
A good spy-like thriller. You can't trust those Russians
June 6, 2020
Very fast paced and exciting. It was liking reading a James Bond novel but without the sexcapades. Looking forward to reading more about Achilles.
March 13, 2018
This spy fantasy novella comes from an author who's experienced espionage operator. The technology and operating procedures are a real treat along with the twists and turns that'll keep your head spinning. Though minor political plotlines are hinted, there aren't any serious ideological conflicts in this book. The plot was one-sided or mostly focused on one part of the story, that is, what occurs on the field. There aren't any scenes of planning, analyzing and managing the operation from the background like how most books of this genre focus on.
Yet, this is a fun read due to the level in which the reader's adrenaline keeps increasing. The plot is mainly about a CIA SOG operative who's ordered to take out a Russian problem solver - Ivan. This Russian anti-hero remains an enigma for the most part. The incompetent members at Langley, including the corrupt Director, add flavor. A light romance, a fake romance, enormous odds and a brilliant anti-hero(Ivan) brings up challenges to the protagonist, Kyle Achilles.
Unlike the popular tropes in this genre, Kyle is not from a military background. He was an Olympic champion biathlete (Shooting and Skiing) who suffered an injury. He picked himself up by becoming a rock climbing sensation, that leads to his recruitment by a legendary former operative.
The female lead - Jo - is a former con who survives her first operation in style. Both Kyle and Ivan use brilliant tactics that are realistic and yet awe-inspiring. This book is for anyone wanting a light and fun read that can be finished in one long evening.
Yet, this is a fun read due to the level in which the reader's adrenaline keeps increasing. The plot is mainly about a CIA SOG operative who's ordered to take out a Russian problem solver - Ivan. This Russian anti-hero remains an enigma for the most part. The incompetent members at Langley, including the corrupt Director, add flavor. A light romance, a fake romance, enormous odds and a brilliant anti-hero(Ivan) brings up challenges to the protagonist, Kyle Achilles.
Unlike the popular tropes in this genre, Kyle is not from a military background. He was an Olympic champion biathlete (Shooting and Skiing) who suffered an injury. He picked himself up by becoming a rock climbing sensation, that leads to his recruitment by a legendary former operative.
The female lead - Jo - is a former con who survives her first operation in style. Both Kyle and Ivan use brilliant tactics that are realistic and yet awe-inspiring. This book is for anyone wanting a light and fun read that can be finished in one long evening.
May 13, 2018
Chasing Ivan: (Kyle Achilles, Prequel Novella)
This was most def 100% excellent reading filled with ACTION, SUSPENSE, DANGER...pure espionage. I 💘d this novella. I would recommend the 📚 in this series, while I am currently enjoying every word.
This was most def 100% excellent reading filled with ACTION, SUSPENSE, DANGER...pure espionage. I 💘d this novella. I would recommend the 📚 in this series, while I am currently enjoying every word.
September 19, 2018
R. James Bishop, Doug Branscombe, Ian Cockerill, Denny Eckstein, Geof Ferrell,
D c f g g g g g g u to y u o e r t y u I
D c f g g g g g g u to y u o e r t y u I
September 28, 2018
Have you ever read a book that contained ideas you felt a criminal might utilize? I don’t normally read spy thrillers, however, in late 2017, I read Blackout by Marc Elsberg. I’m not a computer geek but I worked with one who helped me understand how the premise of that book might happen.
Recently I met Kyle Achilles, and once again, I find that the ideas behind the crimes in these books - a medical invention/bioweapon , a computer-controlled device invented to enable the take over of automatic pilot systems in passenger planes, a drone large enough to pick up 250 pounds, and specialized high-tech equipment that can simulate any voice ever recorded and permit the user to pirate the phone number and ID of any person's or company's mobile phone - could be co-opted by some wickedly smart medical or computer geek and wreak havoc.
I came across Tim Tigner quite by accident. I began noticing comments on Melinda Leigh’s FB page posts by a man named Tim Tigner. That name had a certain ring to it so I began to look for and read his comments. Then, one day, I “fired up��� my Kindle and there was an ad offering the three book Achilles series written by none other than Tim Tigner. After Googling Tigner and reading the biographical sketch about him, I purchased the three books, and later the novella. I’m very glad I did, for two reasons.
First, the books are very unique, to me since I'm not a spy thriller reader, and very interesting and, secondly, they are edited in such a way that I only noticed three or four errors all total, such as a word left out here, an “s� or “d� missing there, etc. I love a book I don’t have to rewrite to read.
Based on some computer problems, I have had time to read all the Achilles books. Therefore, this is my review of all 3 novels and the novella in the Kyle Achilles series.
CHASING IVAN:
The novella Chasing Ivan is a prequel to the series and can be downloaded free from timtigner.com or purchased from Amazon. In this novella three things happen, we find Achilles engaged in his final special op as a CIA agent, we meet a french woman named Jo Monfort, who is also a CIA agent and who is ordered to partner with Achilles in this assignment, and we meet “Ivan the Ghost,� assumed to be Russian and who is a criminal mastermind.
Jo Monfort lives in France and is the daughter of con artists who taught her their skills, which she used successfully until she decided she wanted to be legit. Ivan the Ghost is “so skilled in the art of invisibility that his very existence was in doubt.� He operates outside the law and beyond apprehension, because no one has ever seen his face. He is unidentifiable by any means other than his ability to put together criminal plans that no one can seem to outwit.
This novel is set in the playground of the rich and famous, the principality of Monaco during the Monaco Yacht Show. Social media offers up the means for Ivan to enter the world of British politics.
A young woman, the estranged daughter of a leading candidate for Mayor of London, is enticed by a man she meets online, then, when she is finally scheduled to meet him, she is provided with the appropriate apparel to wear, including a very special necklace, and is taken by limo to the airport where she is flown to Monaco. Once there, her father’s candidacy is hijacked, and, for the first time, Achilles actually sees Ivan and almost captures him.
PUSHING BRILLIANCE:
Ivan the Ghost is not encountered in this book. The reason Chasing Ivan comes first is because it relates Achilles� final op as a CIA agent. In this book, Achilles is set up to take the fall for the murder of his family.
After attending a black-tie affair to mark the retirement his retirement, Dr. John Achilles, founder of a biomedical research laboratory, his wife, and his oldest son, Dr. Colin Achilles, who works with his father, are murdered while asleep on Achilles� yacht, the Emerging Sea. Colin’s fiancee, Katya Kozara, a Russian national with a Ph.D. in mathematics from Moscow State University who secured a highly coveted post-doctoral position at Stanford University, slept in a room by herself, because Colin had a habit of snoring very loudly after drinking alcohol. Achilles spent the night in a hotel with their waitress for the evening.
Because some very damaging evidence on the yacht pointed toward Achilles as the killer, he is charged with murdering his family and jailed. Recruited as a CIA agent after an injury ended his ability to contend as an Olympic biathlete, Achilles resigned from the CIA after his mentor was fired and a man with whom he felt he couldn’t get along or work for was named director. Thereafter, he became a free-solo rock climber, climbing all over the world.
Meanwhile, a team of Russian biomedical researchers have isolated the factors that accelerate human metabolism. Using this information, they developed a compound that increases a person's mental capability. Given to individuals who already exhibit a high degree of intelligence, the compound will increase natural intelligence. Like most medications, however, it has some serious side-effects.
The product, named Brillyanc, is to be marketed to the smartest and wealthiest individuals in San Francisco and Washington D.C., one of whom is the POTUS. Achilles must prevent this.
THE LIES OF SPIES:
Approximately 3 months after President Vladimire Korovin of the USSR issued an order to end the presidency of William Silver, President of the United States, following much thoughtful deliberation, President Silver decides to take revenge on the Vladimir Korovin for attempting to destroy him, high ranking political confederates, and the richest citizens in the country. However, he determines it must be done in such a way that it can’t be traced back to the United States.
While aboard Air Force One, Silver informs two of his closest allies, Brock Sparkman, his Chief of Staff. and Senator Colleen Collins, Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and a 36-year member of Congress, of his decision to assassinate Korovin. The only other person in that room, is Reggie, the President’s extremely loyal personal aide, or “body man� as he is called to by most people.
According to Silver, this is to be a one-man operation to make sure secrecy is maintained. Since Achilles is no longer an employee of the government but a free-solo rock climber, and because he has a history with Korovin who was behind the deaths of his family, he is called in by Senator Collins to be the agent to take Korovin down.
The United States is also working on a means to launch a space program designed to take over complete control of space - spacecraft, space stations, and space satellites. It is set to launch in three-years. This would be a death blow to both the civilian and military communications of our enemies. Russia wants it stopped.
It soon becomes evident that Presidential secrets are being leaked to Russian intelligence. But how? It turns out a spy called Miss Muffet was the spy. But how was she getting the information and how was she getting it to Russian authorities?
Korovin has a master strategist, Ignaty Filippov, planning the destruction of the space program and the death of the American President. In order to carry out his plan, a Russian spy, Max Aristov, and his girl friend, Russian movie star Zola Zolotova, are diverted on their way to a 3-week vacation in Sochi to Korovin’s “vacation home.�
Aristov, who appears to be British and can speak English and German without a Russian accent, is ordered to go to America and help a Chinese national get into a facility that manufacturers parts for airplanes. He soon learns this is not a simple “breaking and entering.� It involves getting into the most secure manufacturing concern in the United States and getting access to the location where the autopilot systems are manufactured.
The first directive is that, under no circumstances should any part of the mission have a Russian footprint. All of the money to fund it and all of the people used to pull it off, except for Max, will come out of China. This is designed to cause friction between China and the United States.
While on a climb up Lover's Leap, Achilles is abducted, drugged, and taken to a small island in the Hawaiian chain. When he awakens, he is alone on this island with his beautiful “wife,� played by Zola Zolatova. Using her acting skills, Zolotova is to get him to tell her the plan for assassinating Korovin. Zolotova has just enough information to make Achilles think he has already told her about his mission.
The Russians, however, have not taken into consideration, the humanity factor. There are twists and turns in this novel that keep the reader wondering how the mind of one man can come up with it all.
FALLING STARS:
Once again, Ivan the Ghost, is our nemesis. This time, financially supported by unlimited Russian resources. Victor Vazov, a wealthy Russian oligarch, and his son Vlad Vazov, have bought into Ivan’s latest scheme, drones. In addition to regular sized drones, Ivan is manufacturing drones large enough and powerful enough to lift an adult human off the ground and carry them to another location.
Ivan’s large drone is named Raven. As a test run, Ivan’s three-man drone operating team, start by kidnapping a woman with whom Ivan and Michael, his mentor and assistant since they were in school, have history. She is none other than Jo Monfort and she outwits them again. Her first act, once she realizes Ivan has to be behind it, is to call Achilles.
Meanwhile, Achilles has received a call from CIA Director Rider asking Achilles to meet him on the outside terrace of a restaurant at the top of one of San Francisco’s tallest buildings. The Director got a similar call from Achilles. This meeting was set up by Ivan using his technology device known as MiMic.
Once they have both arrived, barely a word has been spoken when a drone appears and shoots and kills Director Rider. Of course, Achilles is branded his killer since he was the only other person on the terrace and the murder weapon is left on the terrace. While he is going down the outside wall of the building, Achilles gets a call from Jo about her narrow escape.
Ivan has a debt he needs to repay, the loan that enabled him to start his drone laboratory and manufacturing facility. Located in France in the home of a billionaire who died, Ivan borrowed money from the Vasovs. To repay his obligation, Ivan uses Raven to “kidnap� people who have come into a great deal of money, and then extort millions from them so he can repay Vlad.
Achilles and Jo are determined to get Ivan, but as usual he is not that easy to capture. He is cunning and slippery and he does not fail to use every means available to him to keep from getting caught.
Ultimately, Achilles figures out what Ivan is planning but he has failed to bear in mind that Ivan may have a surprise left for him. It is by way of this surprise, that Ivan gets away.
If you like spy thrillers, you simply must read this series and then anxiously await the next novel in the series which Tigner just completed. Now all that has to be done is the proofing, editing, and printing. You will not be sorry you met Achilles.
Recently I met Kyle Achilles, and once again, I find that the ideas behind the crimes in these books - a medical invention/bioweapon , a computer-controlled device invented to enable the take over of automatic pilot systems in passenger planes, a drone large enough to pick up 250 pounds, and specialized high-tech equipment that can simulate any voice ever recorded and permit the user to pirate the phone number and ID of any person's or company's mobile phone - could be co-opted by some wickedly smart medical or computer geek and wreak havoc.
I came across Tim Tigner quite by accident. I began noticing comments on Melinda Leigh’s FB page posts by a man named Tim Tigner. That name had a certain ring to it so I began to look for and read his comments. Then, one day, I “fired up��� my Kindle and there was an ad offering the three book Achilles series written by none other than Tim Tigner. After Googling Tigner and reading the biographical sketch about him, I purchased the three books, and later the novella. I’m very glad I did, for two reasons.
First, the books are very unique, to me since I'm not a spy thriller reader, and very interesting and, secondly, they are edited in such a way that I only noticed three or four errors all total, such as a word left out here, an “s� or “d� missing there, etc. I love a book I don’t have to rewrite to read.
Based on some computer problems, I have had time to read all the Achilles books. Therefore, this is my review of all 3 novels and the novella in the Kyle Achilles series.
CHASING IVAN:
The novella Chasing Ivan is a prequel to the series and can be downloaded free from timtigner.com or purchased from Amazon. In this novella three things happen, we find Achilles engaged in his final special op as a CIA agent, we meet a french woman named Jo Monfort, who is also a CIA agent and who is ordered to partner with Achilles in this assignment, and we meet “Ivan the Ghost,� assumed to be Russian and who is a criminal mastermind.
Jo Monfort lives in France and is the daughter of con artists who taught her their skills, which she used successfully until she decided she wanted to be legit. Ivan the Ghost is “so skilled in the art of invisibility that his very existence was in doubt.� He operates outside the law and beyond apprehension, because no one has ever seen his face. He is unidentifiable by any means other than his ability to put together criminal plans that no one can seem to outwit.
This novel is set in the playground of the rich and famous, the principality of Monaco during the Monaco Yacht Show. Social media offers up the means for Ivan to enter the world of British politics.
A young woman, the estranged daughter of a leading candidate for Mayor of London, is enticed by a man she meets online, then, when she is finally scheduled to meet him, she is provided with the appropriate apparel to wear, including a very special necklace, and is taken by limo to the airport where she is flown to Monaco. Once there, her father’s candidacy is hijacked, and, for the first time, Achilles actually sees Ivan and almost captures him.
PUSHING BRILLIANCE:
Ivan the Ghost is not encountered in this book. The reason Chasing Ivan comes first is because it relates Achilles� final op as a CIA agent. In this book, Achilles is set up to take the fall for the murder of his family.
After attending a black-tie affair to mark the retirement his retirement, Dr. John Achilles, founder of a biomedical research laboratory, his wife, and his oldest son, Dr. Colin Achilles, who works with his father, are murdered while asleep on Achilles� yacht, the Emerging Sea. Colin’s fiancee, Katya Kozara, a Russian national with a Ph.D. in mathematics from Moscow State University who secured a highly coveted post-doctoral position at Stanford University, slept in a room by herself, because Colin had a habit of snoring very loudly after drinking alcohol. Achilles spent the night in a hotel with their waitress for the evening.
Because some very damaging evidence on the yacht pointed toward Achilles as the killer, he is charged with murdering his family and jailed. Recruited as a CIA agent after an injury ended his ability to contend as an Olympic biathlete, Achilles resigned from the CIA after his mentor was fired and a man with whom he felt he couldn’t get along or work for was named director. Thereafter, he became a free-solo rock climber, climbing all over the world.
Meanwhile, a team of Russian biomedical researchers have isolated the factors that accelerate human metabolism. Using this information, they developed a compound that increases a person's mental capability. Given to individuals who already exhibit a high degree of intelligence, the compound will increase natural intelligence. Like most medications, however, it has some serious side-effects.
The product, named Brillyanc, is to be marketed to the smartest and wealthiest individuals in San Francisco and Washington D.C., one of whom is the POTUS. Achilles must prevent this.
THE LIES OF SPIES:
Approximately 3 months after President Vladimire Korovin of the USSR issued an order to end the presidency of William Silver, President of the United States, following much thoughtful deliberation, President Silver decides to take revenge on the Vladimir Korovin for attempting to destroy him, high ranking political confederates, and the richest citizens in the country. However, he determines it must be done in such a way that it can’t be traced back to the United States.
While aboard Air Force One, Silver informs two of his closest allies, Brock Sparkman, his Chief of Staff. and Senator Colleen Collins, Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and a 36-year member of Congress, of his decision to assassinate Korovin. The only other person in that room, is Reggie, the President’s extremely loyal personal aide, or “body man� as he is called to by most people.
According to Silver, this is to be a one-man operation to make sure secrecy is maintained. Since Achilles is no longer an employee of the government but a free-solo rock climber, and because he has a history with Korovin who was behind the deaths of his family, he is called in by Senator Collins to be the agent to take Korovin down.
The United States is also working on a means to launch a space program designed to take over complete control of space - spacecraft, space stations, and space satellites. It is set to launch in three-years. This would be a death blow to both the civilian and military communications of our enemies. Russia wants it stopped.
It soon becomes evident that Presidential secrets are being leaked to Russian intelligence. But how? It turns out a spy called Miss Muffet was the spy. But how was she getting the information and how was she getting it to Russian authorities?
Korovin has a master strategist, Ignaty Filippov, planning the destruction of the space program and the death of the American President. In order to carry out his plan, a Russian spy, Max Aristov, and his girl friend, Russian movie star Zola Zolotova, are diverted on their way to a 3-week vacation in Sochi to Korovin’s “vacation home.�
Aristov, who appears to be British and can speak English and German without a Russian accent, is ordered to go to America and help a Chinese national get into a facility that manufacturers parts for airplanes. He soon learns this is not a simple “breaking and entering.� It involves getting into the most secure manufacturing concern in the United States and getting access to the location where the autopilot systems are manufactured.
The first directive is that, under no circumstances should any part of the mission have a Russian footprint. All of the money to fund it and all of the people used to pull it off, except for Max, will come out of China. This is designed to cause friction between China and the United States.
While on a climb up Lover's Leap, Achilles is abducted, drugged, and taken to a small island in the Hawaiian chain. When he awakens, he is alone on this island with his beautiful “wife,� played by Zola Zolatova. Using her acting skills, Zolotova is to get him to tell her the plan for assassinating Korovin. Zolotova has just enough information to make Achilles think he has already told her about his mission.
The Russians, however, have not taken into consideration, the humanity factor. There are twists and turns in this novel that keep the reader wondering how the mind of one man can come up with it all.
FALLING STARS:
Once again, Ivan the Ghost, is our nemesis. This time, financially supported by unlimited Russian resources. Victor Vazov, a wealthy Russian oligarch, and his son Vlad Vazov, have bought into Ivan’s latest scheme, drones. In addition to regular sized drones, Ivan is manufacturing drones large enough and powerful enough to lift an adult human off the ground and carry them to another location.
Ivan’s large drone is named Raven. As a test run, Ivan’s three-man drone operating team, start by kidnapping a woman with whom Ivan and Michael, his mentor and assistant since they were in school, have history. She is none other than Jo Monfort and she outwits them again. Her first act, once she realizes Ivan has to be behind it, is to call Achilles.
Meanwhile, Achilles has received a call from CIA Director Rider asking Achilles to meet him on the outside terrace of a restaurant at the top of one of San Francisco’s tallest buildings. The Director got a similar call from Achilles. This meeting was set up by Ivan using his technology device known as MiMic.
Once they have both arrived, barely a word has been spoken when a drone appears and shoots and kills Director Rider. Of course, Achilles is branded his killer since he was the only other person on the terrace and the murder weapon is left on the terrace. While he is going down the outside wall of the building, Achilles gets a call from Jo about her narrow escape.
Ivan has a debt he needs to repay, the loan that enabled him to start his drone laboratory and manufacturing facility. Located in France in the home of a billionaire who died, Ivan borrowed money from the Vasovs. To repay his obligation, Ivan uses Raven to “kidnap� people who have come into a great deal of money, and then extort millions from them so he can repay Vlad.
Achilles and Jo are determined to get Ivan, but as usual he is not that easy to capture. He is cunning and slippery and he does not fail to use every means available to him to keep from getting caught.
Ultimately, Achilles figures out what Ivan is planning but he has failed to bear in mind that Ivan may have a surprise left for him. It is by way of this surprise, that Ivan gets away.
If you like spy thrillers, you simply must read this series and then anxiously await the next novel in the series which Tigner just completed. Now all that has to be done is the proofing, editing, and printing. You will not be sorry you met Achilles.
November 29, 2017
This is the second Tim Tigner book I've read and it didn't disappoint. Chasing Ivan is a short (150p novella) thriller that is set at a time before the Kyle Achilles series and provides some great background on the main character, Kyle.
The plot is quite cool and hooked me in without any reluctance from my side. A secretive bad guy for hire by the rich (Ivan the Ghost) has always baffled the authorities. He never leaves clues, and no one even knows what he looks like. Enter, Kyle Achilles, a CIA operative who has just the skill mix needed to track Ivan the Ghost down. Kyle teams up with a savvy new agent, Jo, and together they hatch a plan to bring him in.
From urban London to the flashy coastline of the French Riviera, this book also has suspense, intrigue, glamour, thrills, and great settings. The plot is well paced, and the writing lends itself to be easy to read and follow. I don't think there was any part of the book where I felt it was slow or lacking incentive for me to keep reading. The twists kept coming and I kept reading. I was fully engaged from page one to the end.
Chasing Ivan is a great short thriller that I recommend to fans of thrills, spills, action, and intrigue.
The plot is quite cool and hooked me in without any reluctance from my side. A secretive bad guy for hire by the rich (Ivan the Ghost) has always baffled the authorities. He never leaves clues, and no one even knows what he looks like. Enter, Kyle Achilles, a CIA operative who has just the skill mix needed to track Ivan the Ghost down. Kyle teams up with a savvy new agent, Jo, and together they hatch a plan to bring him in.
From urban London to the flashy coastline of the French Riviera, this book also has suspense, intrigue, glamour, thrills, and great settings. The plot is well paced, and the writing lends itself to be easy to read and follow. I don't think there was any part of the book where I felt it was slow or lacking incentive for me to keep reading. The twists kept coming and I kept reading. I was fully engaged from page one to the end.
Chasing Ivan is a great short thriller that I recommend to fans of thrills, spills, action, and intrigue.
February 15, 2017
This is a very action packed prequel to what promises to be a great series!
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April 28, 2016Chasing Ivan is a real page-turner with interesting, non-stop action from the first page to the (almost) last.
And with all that action there is still plenty of character development. The main characters feel like real people. That's unusual in a short novel and it places Chasing Ivan a cut above the standard chase novella.
If I have one criticism it's this: it is made clear that Ivan isn't a cold blooded killer. He's more of an extortionist for hire. After he had committed his crimes, nobody but the person extorted even knows anything has happened. That made him an unlikely target. While this does eventually get explained, I spent a lot of the book wondering why anyone was bothering. When it was explained I just shrugged rather than being astounded by the reveal.
But honestly, that is a quibble. This is a great read. I recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys action/adventure/spy stories.
And I gotta get me another Achilles fix in the very near future!
And with all that action there is still plenty of character development. The main characters feel like real people. That's unusual in a short novel and it places Chasing Ivan a cut above the standard chase novella.
If I have one criticism it's this: it is made clear that Ivan isn't a cold blooded killer. He's more of an extortionist for hire. After he had committed his crimes, nobody but the person extorted even knows anything has happened. That made him an unlikely target. While this does eventually get explained, I spent a lot of the book wondering why anyone was bothering. When it was explained I just shrugged rather than being astounded by the reveal.
But honestly, that is a quibble. This is a great read. I recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys action/adventure/spy stories.
And I gotta get me another Achilles fix in the very near future!
April 21, 2016
For the full effect of this review click .
This book was like a live action movie. Take Mission Impossible as an example and comparison.
Agent Achilles is searching The Ghost, the most silent criminal the world has ever seen. And a master at evading the authorities. And while spying two politician's kids in hope one might be targeted; there are those sitting on chairs barking orders at our agent to eliminate said ghost by any means necessary, even putting but in danger the romantically smitten daughter of politician, (oh god, I'm the worst at memorizing names! Ugh. Sorry. Didn't mean to completely go blank on this!?).
But all in all, the sharp mind of an agent will certainly make you smirk at the end. And oh boy, there's no love triangle or romance for the main character for you to dwell upon... So, it's certainly refreshing!!
This book was like a live action movie. Take Mission Impossible as an example and comparison.
Agent Achilles is searching The Ghost, the most silent criminal the world has ever seen. And a master at evading the authorities. And while spying two politician's kids in hope one might be targeted; there are those sitting on chairs barking orders at our agent to eliminate said ghost by any means necessary, even putting but in danger the romantically smitten daughter of politician, (oh god, I'm the worst at memorizing names! Ugh. Sorry. Didn't mean to completely go blank on this!?).
But all in all, the sharp mind of an agent will certainly make you smirk at the end. And oh boy, there's no love triangle or romance for the main character for you to dwell upon... So, it's certainly refreshing!!
September 18, 2015
There aren't many books out there that are so good they keep me up late at night cause I just can't bring myself to put it down. Chasing Ivan was one of those few books. Fast paced, full of action and detail that kept my attention from start to finish. This is the fourth novel I've read by Tim Tigner, while it is a work in progress, it was a page turner comparable to some of my favorite Vince Flynn books. I've read the beta version of Pushing Brilliance and now Chasing Ivan, I can tell Adam “Achilles� Healy is going to be a name amongst the most well known thriller characters such as Mitch Rapp and Scot Harvath. I can't wait for these books to be published so I can add them to my collection!
September 21, 2021
This was another light and entertaining book by and I'm looking forward to continue the series now much more - which is rather hard after hearing so much great stuff about this series and already having high expectations.
This in not your usual espionage/special ops novel heavy on procedures or a political conflict but rather an action/adventure story introducing the main character and his set of skills as well as giving a partial glance at his further development.
I liked the language and style very much and thought it enhanced the reading experience as well as the interesting characters and their development and hope to meet Jo later in the series again.
This in not your usual espionage/special ops novel heavy on procedures or a political conflict but rather an action/adventure story introducing the main character and his set of skills as well as giving a partial glance at his further development.
I liked the language and style very much and thought it enhanced the reading experience as well as the interesting characters and their development and hope to meet Jo later in the series again.
October 5, 2015
Fast-paced, addictive and a damn good story! I loved the narrative style which allowed Achilles to tell me what he was doing as he was doing it...as well as what he was thinking (barbs and all). I found myself exclaiming out loud "Oh No, Now What?", numerous times as I turned the pages to see what happened next. Tim has a knack of describing the inevitable acts of violence that leave a spot-on visual without the gruesome details (and some are even kind of humorous). I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys stories that grab you right away and keep you holding your breath until the very end. Just be sure to inhale deeply before you read his next book!!
January 10, 2016
Another great book by Tim. Easy to read, and hard to put down. It's a good introduction to Kyle Achilles. He's a tough guy with the skill set to match. The book starts out with a very like able character in Emily, it's one of the things that pulled me in straight away. There's also plenty of twists and turns, and I found myself reading faster to find out what happens. Add this book to your list, it's worth reading.
September 16, 2015
I loved this novella. It started out fast and never stopped. It held my interest and I liked the characters. Achilles will remain interesting through multiple books and I really liked Jo. She was an interesting addition.
I'm new to this author and wonder why he isn't better known. I highly recommend this for a quick read to introduce you to the author. If you already know him you'll want to read this.
I'm new to this author and wonder why he isn't better known. I highly recommend this for a quick read to introduce you to the author. If you already know him you'll want to read this.
March 27, 2016
Entertaining read. Fast paced and good scene setting. Personalities of the main characters are realistic and yet different enough to hold the interest of the reader. I would recommend the story to those who enjoy reading adventure stories e
Entertaining read. Fast paced and good scene setting. Personalities of the main characters are believable and quirky. A book well suited to those who enjoy a well constructed and well written adventure.
Entertaining read. Fast paced and good scene setting. Personalities of the main characters are believable and quirky. A book well suited to those who enjoy a well constructed and well written adventure.
February 1, 2017
I usually love a good action/thriller or mystery type book. While this book was had a lot of action in it, I just felt like something was missing. I felt because the book was so short that the author attempted to cram a lot into a short story. It also seemed that there wasn't a lot of character development and personality, again I think it can be attributed to the short length. I can see the potential for the story being something more, but overall it just seemed to miss the mark for me.
September 7, 2015
Longer than a short story but shorter than a full novel, Chasing Ivan wastes no time in building the suspense. A girl plans a date with someone she met online. Sure, things might turn out a little different than she hopes, but she never expected this.
Of course you need to read the book to find out what 'this' is. That's OK, you'll enjoy it.
Of course you need to read the book to find out what 'this' is. That's OK, you'll enjoy it.
September 21, 2015
This book serves a prequel to Pushing Brilliance, from a character introduction. Fast paced read, lost of great action as they try to catch a long wanted "ghost" operative at a high falutin affair near Cannes on the Mediterranean. As with Pushing Brilliance, Tigner does a great job leaving you wanting for more at the end.
September 12, 2015
I really enjoyed this novella introducing Achilles, a very likable CIA agent, chasing one of the world's most elusive criminals. fast paced and action packed, this was a quick and fun read. I look forward to the next entry in the Achilles series.
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