The Kremlin's Candidate: A Novel

Jason Matthews

Feb 2018 · The Red Sparrow Trilogy Book 3 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

The “terrifically good” (The New York Times Book Review) finale in the New York Times bestselling Red Sparrow trilogy continues the dangerous entanglements of Russian counterintelligence chief Dominika Egorova and her lover, CIA agent Nate Nash, on the hunt for a Russian agent working in the US government.

Russian president Vladimir Putin is planning the covert assassination of a high-ranking US official with the intention of replacing him with a mole whom Russian intelligence has cultivated for more than fifteen years.

Catching wind of this plot, Dominika, Nate, and their CIA colleagues must unmask the traitor before he or she is able to reveal that Dominika has been spying for years on behalf of the CIA. Any leak, any misstep, will expose her as a CIA asset and result in a one-way trip to a Moscow execution cellar. Ultimately, the lines of danger converge on the spectacular billion-dollar presidential palace on the Black Sea during a power weekend with Putin’s inner circle. Does Nate sacrifice himself to save Dominika? Does Dominika forfeit herself to protect Nate? Do they go down together?

With a plot ripped from tomorrow’s headlines, The Kremlin’s Candidate is “both timely and timeless; an espionage tale that takes the reader behind and beyond the headlines of Russia’s assault on America” (Nelson DeMille).

Ratings and reviews

There's a huge plot hole, and frankly, given current events, the relationship with V I Putin requires unsurmountable suspension of disbelief. The conclusion of the trilogy required deus ex machina endings for Gable, Benford & Nash. The whole episode at Egorova's dacha was frankly unbelievable and reeked of author sentiments.

This series was entertaining throughout. I started to feel like the third enstallment was starting to repeat many of the various obstacles that stood in the way of Dominika, and Nash. One thing that really did flourish is the relationships between various characters. A solid must read for anyone who sometimes thinks they might like to get into spy novels. Would recommend to family or friends.

Great and cliff hanging read. Really interesting read. Enjoyed the entire trilogy. Thanks for incredible writing.

About the author

Jason Matthews was an officer of the CIA’s Operations Directorate. Over a thirty-three-year career he served in multiple overseas locations, spoke six foreign languages, and engaged in clandestine collection of national security intelligence, specializing in denied-area operations. Matthews conducted recruitment operations against Soviet–East European, East Asian, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean targets. As Chief in various CIA Stations, he collaborated with foreign partners in counterproliferation and counterterrorism operations. His first novel, Red Sparrow, won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and was made into a major motion picture starring Jennifer Lawrence. He continued the Red Sparrow trilogy with Palace of Treason and The Kremlin’s Candidate. Jason Matthews passed away in 2021.