Former U.S. intelligence operative Kolya Petrov, struggling with the physical and psychological aftereffects of kidnapping and torture, is drawn back into the game when Dmitri, his childhood best friend, holds the key to stopping an attack by terrorists armed with a deadly nerve agent. Working with Dmitri, however, is complicated. While their friendship had been forged during their years in an abusive Russian boys' home, the two men's lives took very different paths. Dmitri had headed the North American branch of a Russian gang until Kolya, working undercover, put him in prison. Ten years later, Dmitri's cooperation is essential to finding the smuggler of the nerve agent, and he refuses to work with anyone but Kolya.
Kolya reluctantly agrees to undertake one more mission, but to succeed, he must come to terms with the past. Can he trust Dmitri not to take revenge for the betrayal of their friendship? Can he rely on his own judgment and abilities, despite a leg injury and ongoing PTSD, to survive an elaborate plot that threatens his life and that of his fiancee, as well as the lives of hundreds of innocent people?
About the Author :
S. Lee Manning spent two years as the managing editor of Law Enforcement Communications before realizing that lawyers make a lot more money. A subsequent career as an attorney spanned from a first-tier New York law firm-Cravath, Swaine & Moore-to working for the State of New Jersey, to solo practice. In 2001, Manning agreed to chair New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (NJADP), writing articles on the risk of wrongful execution, and arguing against the death penalty on radio and television in the years leading up to its abolition in the state in 2007. An award-winning short story writer, Manning is the author of international thrillers. Her life-long interests in Russia and espionage are reflected in her Kolya Petrov thrillers, Trojan Horse and Nerve Attack (Encircle Publications, 2020 and 2021). Manning is currently working on the third thriller in the Kolya Petrov series.
Review :
"Nerve Attack is a gripping page-turner filled with vivid characters and unexpected plot twists. S. Lee Manning is a rising new star in the world of spy thrillers."
-Steven J. Ross, author of Pulitzer Prize finalist, Hitler in Los Angeles
"Suspense propels Manning's espionage tale... the colorful cast fuels the momentum. A reluctant spy leads this taut, effective thriller."
-Kirkus Reviews on Nerve Attack: A Kolya Petrov Thriller, Book Two
"An engrossing story of intrigue filled not just with suspense, but psychological insights into how a loner ex-agent is drawn back into past habits."
-Midwest Book Review on Nerve Attack: A Kolya Petrov Thriller, Book Two
"Manning writes with such authority about the shady world and shifting loyalties of the intelligence community, it's a wonder her novels aren't riddled with redactions. At once terrifying, unpredictable, and all too believable, Nerve Attack will leave you breathless."
-Chris Holm, Anthony Award-winning author of The Killing Kind
"Bristling with suspense... The dialog is sharp, the characters memorable, and the insider details are fascinating. This is an exciting new talent. May Manning's novels be many and frequent. You won't want to miss this, Manning's outstanding debut."
-Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author, on Trojan Horse: A Kolya Petrov Thriller, Book One
