James Houston Turner Presents Book 5, Into the Eye (The Talanov Thriller Series) Fan-tas-tic!!!

 

Mutebi marched over to where Zawadi and the two children were seated around John, who was lying in the dirt. Singing softly, Zawadi was cradling John’s head in her lap. Blood from John’s face had created patches of red in the dirt. Opening his eyes, John did not look at Mutebi glaring down at them. He looked instead at the bracelet Zawadi wore on her ankle. Shawni Juma had given it to her during the first meal they had eaten together. He smiled at the memory of the stew Zawadi had made with cassava, sweet potatoes, beans, and millet. Mutebi’s voice broke his reverie like a thunderbolt. “What do I do with you, John Okoro?” he bellowed. “Do I keep you, or do I kill you?”

He had never been a prayer kind-of guy, but right now he prayed God would allow him to put a bullet in Mutebi’s head. I’m guessing that’s not exactly an appropriate prayer, he thought with a glance upward. And after a quick squirt of water into his mouth, he put away the water bottle and began trotting again.

“How do I know I can trust you?” “Now, that’s funny, coming from a traitor."

Alex refuses to get on the helicopter? This is a no-win situation for me, but this isn’t about me. It’s about Larisa, Alex, Shawni Juma, and stopping some of the most depraved and evil men on the planet. So I mean it when I say we have no choice but to let her do this.” “Then our prayers go with you, Bill. They would have, anyway, but this time, you’re going to need them like you’ve never needed them before.

“Don’t, just . . . don’t, okay? I know you have to phrase things a certain way, but I don’t like hearing how little he matters in the scheme of things.” “You wanted me to be honest, so this is me being honest. It’s not how I feel personally, but it’s reality.”

“He said refugee camps were proof the world was overpopulated, and that his vaccines would eliminate what he called the world’s most useless inhabitants.” “He actually said that?” “In those exact words. He was referring to refugees when he said it, but I wondered who’s next on his list. The poor? The old? The sick? Everyone in Ohio? What I don’t understand is how all of this fits with him wanting to destroy America.

While Talanov was in Africa, physically hurt and running for his life, the love of his life was waiting in her bedroom to be married to another man... Talanov had sent her away, believing that he loved her enough to give her up so that she was not forced to be involved in his career choice where, she, too, would be in danger. He knew he could never go through that again, thinking of the moment his first wife was shot and he'd held her as she died...

This then, was to be the 5th book by one of my personal favorite authors. I found it much more compelling a read... This book may indeed include the normal thrilling scenes readers can expect but, this was so much more! Revelatory! Up-to-Date, Exciting, Unorthodox, and, most surprising, Within a family-like setting... A group of strangers who, in fighting for one cause--justice--had banded, and bonded, to become a loving group of people who would do anything and everything for those they loved--AND--for those in need, no matter where they are, or were...

“O God of all creation, Bless this our land and nation. Justice be our shield and defender, May we dwell in unity, peace, and liberty.” “You quote our national anthem.” “The English rendition is nowhere as poetic as it is in Swahili,” Wilcox responded. “Plus, what have we always said, you and I, since our very first meeting?” “That in spite of political whims, we will always stand together.” “Yes., and what was true then is just as true now.” Lesanu embraced Wilcox as his brother, and the two men smiled and shook hands.

Take for instance Talanov's boss... There is no doubt as we read that he considers Talanov as he would love his own son... Though both are strong-willed, they regret it later and come back together in forgiveness. Wilcox and Talanov were now working together. Kilo Tactical response team, otherwise known as KTAC, which had been created in a classified department within Directorate K of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, or the NGA. Included on the team was another trusted friend, former KGB colonel, Aleksandr Talanov, whom Wilcox had recruited away from the Soviets back in the 80s.

This became very important when a helicopter was landing in the midst of that wedding that was going to be held later in the day... You see, that boss, Bill, had also been asked to walk Larisa down the aisle at her wedding... But, he had gotten a real shock when he'd gone to talk with her preparatory to that event... She was having second thoughts. And, of course, Bill had brought back memories of her love of Talanov...As they talked, the gardens were being destroyed, tables were being turned over and the helicopter had landed and they were looking for the head of KTAC... Just know, these are "the good guys..." Bill had heard the 'copter and knew it would be for him... He stood up and immediately Larisa thought of Talanov and jumped up as well... "I'm going too..." And, of course, Bill knew that couldn't happen... Larisa began to show her own "stuff" as she lifted up the long bottom of her white gown, and started running out of the bedroom and on to the helicopter, passing the family members, guests, and only stopping to whisper regrets and ran on to have the men in the copter lift her up, thinking she was going... Well, Bill tried, but ultimately, Larisa was on her way to help ensure Talanov was safe! Readers get involved as they watch Larisa tackle any man who is trying to once again tell her what "she" should do... And she wasn't having any of it! I was loving this... Here's my hero, finally meeting a woman who was not afraid of a hero loved by many for saving their lives... Larisa was looking for much more... You'll enjoy this romantic story plot within the family drama like no other you will hear about...

Take for instance, that Talanov is now a father of 3 children (adopted)--the oldest in her 20s and a super expert on all things computers... Talanov didn't have a choice. Bill didn't have a choice... It was now a time when using guns was no longer the most effective way to fight long-distance... And when you're heading into Africa, you'll not know what deadly bit of equipment will be flying toward you!  Indeed, Bill had his own computer specialist, also with prolific skills, including using computer equipment, in planning out or obtaining what was needed for any respective crisis they were being called into... Readers will learn more about these two skilled women than from either Bill or other leaders of government... They were the experts that, if they know what they are doing, any leader will ensure he has available and in full support for responsibilities to actually come together for a win...

You know, folks, I was also surprised and gratified that Turner had moved forward to introduce, again from our daily headlines, what can happen when computers are moved into an aggressive mode... Specifically, it is only by the brilliance of the creators that those machines can actually perform to do exactly what needs to be done. AI will never, in my opinion, reach that level of independence. But, as shown with the rich villain leader, much damage can occur when the goal is destruction for greed and power...

This gives a public perception of him being a philanthropist because it looks as if he’s donating millions of dollars to charitable causes. For instance, his Endowment for the Arts and Sciences, which is a 501(c) non-profit organization, routes money to another of his 501s, his Foundation, which receives government grants for the support of humanitarian needs around the world, which in turn pays kickbacks to politicians who grant him government aid. His foundation then gives shipping contracts to OBLO Global Holdings, which is his shipping company, which supposedly transports aid to worldwide crisis areas. OBLO then donates massive amounts of money to the Endowment for the Arts and Sciences, and round and round it goes. That’s an over-simplification, but it illustrates how he doesn’t really give money to anyone, but merely circulates it among his NGOs. In the process, he pays himself and his political cronies huge sums of money. It also allows him to sink his hooks into every politician who votes to give his NGOs American aid money in exchange for kickbacks. If they try and jump ship, he ends their careers. Or their lives.” “So he’s in this for the money?” “To a degree, yes, but his primary motive is to make America the seat of global communist power. A prerequisite, as you might guess, is replacing America’s constitutional government with a communist form of government. This is why individual freedoms are under such attack, especially the first and second amendments. Stand out in your standing up, and you’ll get killed.” “I hear you there.” “Which begs the question: why risk your life doing this? There are safer ways to help.” “To be honest, I thought a research lab was where I belonged,” answered Shawni. “I loved the work and I knew I would be helping people. Then I came to Africa and I just . . . fell in love. Then I learned what Mutebi was doing and knew I had to put boots on the ground and do something. If they end up killing me, so be it.”

~~~~~~

Frankly, I was somewhat stunned when I read this--by the way, I've taken out most names of the bad guys. In such a complex book, there is no way, brief excerpts can lead you anywhere significant for potential TMI. Thereafter, I wasn't surprised about who the criminals included on their payroll... The thing about this kind of book, actions described are almost predictable, as if they are being used directly from today's headlines... if you're reading the right headlines, that is...

“Waiting is not doing nothing. It’s the deliberate act of choosing the right time to strike. So waiting is what we do. Can I count on you for that?” Shawni did not reply. “I need to hear you say it.” “I hate you right now, but, yes.” Talanov smiled because he understood Shawni’s frustration over the Okoros being treated like cattle. And not just the Okoros, but everyone in the cage. 

“Boys with guns getting drunk.” “That doesn’t sound good.” “It’s not, but maybe they’ll keep drinking and pass out.”

“My God, they’ve got Stinger missiles,” whispered Talanov while Mutebi’s men cheered. “Brought by that white guy in the hat. Do you know who he is?” “A mercenary from South Africa...” answered Shawni. “When I first got here, I noticed him in the camps with an older white guy.” “What did the older guy look like?” “Seventies . . . stocky, gray hair and jowls.” “With a big scar on his chin?” “Yeah, but . . . how did you know?” “That man was...

Bill Wilcox had been asked to head up a rescue somewhere in Africa (to be determined). Immediately Wilcox took control and confronted the government representatives about the fact that the first rescue had failed due to sabotage from within the team. He demanded and got permission for his own team to be vetted and ultimately approved by Bill and Talanov, if they could find him alive... In other words, they had no idea exactly what kind of team support was needed, whether they found anybody still alive, or whether this team, somehow would also be sabotaged. But Bill had gone through this for many years... Four individuals were chosen for interview by Bill. Let's just say that if sabotage was tried, immediate action would be taken...

• Readers will enjoy getting to know the team members, especially one black woman who started singing Redneck Woman until one of the men tried to stop her... Let's just say, for purposes of this post,,, she...won... Ultimately the final team were working on their own, because this book has many different major crimes needing attention...

• Loss of freedom and humane living
• Starvation and loss of life of average citizens of various African locations
• Human Trafficking mostly of women and children, Death through Sexual Attacks, including gang rapes
• Safety of the Victims, how and where they were being taken,
• Gun smuggling and Internal criminals killing innocent citizens,
• Provision of high power weapons for greater destruction
• Control of all criminal actions by the rich and power structure,
• Intimidation and threats against family members of officials/team members,
• Control of businesses by intimidation and threats,
• And a specific hit list of those working against criminality.
• Finally, attempting the rescue of a researcher and Talanov, if still alive, who was seen falling out of the first helicopter that had been destroyed. The researcher had gained significant information which could be used to legally take action. Could the team find, retain, and actually achieve ownership and retention into a safe location?
• Any other atrocity that is now taking place of inciting wars, threatening genocide, control by power rather than providing AID

If you think I have merely listed all that I've personally witnessed in our country at this time, you would be wrong...These issues are all addressed in one way or another in this fantastic look at reality by a man who, first, started traveling in Russia to smuggle bibles into that country and met the true-life Russian who chose, for himself, to not act to support what was happening by this dictator or that authoritarian, or this King, or that common thief and oppressor who uses violence because that's a choice...

Talanov had been trained to have no feelings about death. It was only when he learned about being free, in a democracy, that he began to not only feel personal freedom, but learned the pain that, seemingly everywhere, had those who had no emotional concerns about how others were treated... I admired Talanov as a hero in earlier books. In this book I found a man who I could trust, not as a hero, but as an individual who believes in justice--for all... A Perfect Man of the People!

So, of course, Turner keeps our hearts beating fast until the very end and I don't dare talk about any of that... So how to close, because of course I know what is to happen (Yay!) So, I will just point out that one of my favorite authors continues to up his game, and I believe this is already up for a movie? Of course I have no idea where his movies are shown... LOL not in my neck of the woods... Do enjoy this masterpiece of writing!

GABixlerReviews

My Personal Favorite Character Hero - Talanov - Is Back! In: Into the Eye by James Houston Turner! I'm So Excited! - Had to Announce It!

 Ok Folks, I just can't help it... I met James Houston Turner with his very first Talanov book... and I've been receiving personal messages from him to his fans every since... Like me, James had to stop for a period to take care of medical issues... AND, in his latest, I immediately noticed a difference in this book... which made me ever more excited! Hey, Sorry! If you've never got excited about a book or author, you, my friend, are missing a lot in your life, JMPO...

From the Front of the Book:

Forty years ago, a hero was born. I didn’t recognize it at the time, but that is when the real Aleksandr Talanov and I crossed paths. I do not know his actual name. Talanov is the name I gave him. I was an idealistic smuggler of Bibles and medical supplies behind the Iron Curtain, and in doing so, I attracted the attention of the Soviet secret police, the KGB. The world behind the “Curtain” was a dystopian police state that was very foreign to this small-town Kansas boy. And my humanitarian actions were perceived by the Soviets as a genuine threat, so the real Talanov, who was in the KGB, leaked word out of Moscow that I was on a watch list and in danger. I found the notion ludicrous, but I learned very quickly that it was not, especially when I was told he would be executed if his actions were discovered. 

But he saw something in me that inspired him to take the risk, and thus was born the character of Aleksandr Talanov. I grew up in a time of heroes. Back then, the heroes in books and on television were usually squeaky-clean good guys. That is a far cry from reality, which I first noticed in Sunday school with many of the biblical characters I came to admire. Take King David, the shepherd boy who slayed Goliath. David had the heart of a lion – a man “after God’s own heart,” as it is recorded of him – but who was just as much a sinner as he was a hero. Which is the case with most of us: we are a messy blend of both. Thus, in Talanov, I worked to create a hero with flaws who was still undeniably a hero. 

I admire heroism, where a flawed character puts the welfare of others above his or her own good, and usually at great risk. That is what the real Talanov did for me. My mom and dad were also among my first heroes and I am forever grateful for the world of adventure, love, and imagination they gave me. Sorry for all of the gray hairs I gave you, Mom. 

Another of my real-life heroes was an American Indian athlete named John Levi. He and my dad were personal friends and I grew up on stories about “Big John” Levi. So, I nicknamed one of the characters in the book “Skee,” which was the actual nickname of Big John. I had the honor of getting to know Big John’s son, John Levi, Jr., and his wife, Mary, so the appearance of Skee in the book is my small way of honoring the memories of John Levi and his son, John Levi, Jr. Thanks also go to the Sieval family, of the Netherlands, whom I met on my first Bible smuggling trip and with whom I have visited on many occasions. This family continues to inspire me every day. Speaking of the Sievals, I wish to acknowledge Eelko and Marja Sieval for making it possible for me to produce my first feature film, Square Pegs. 

Another real-life hero from my smuggling days was Josek, a man who had been exiled to the coal mines of Siberia simply for his faith. His integrity and grit will live forever in the character of Aleksandr Talanov. While imprisoned in Siberia, Josek would carve wooden figurines to pass the time. After his eventual release and return to Poland, we met on one of my trips, where he was so moved by my visit that he wept openly. He then went into his house and returned with a small wooden figurine he had carved in Siberia. The carving depicted a robed fisherman holding a fish. “This is for you,” he said. I still have Josek’s carving in my office, and I still remember his exhortation for me to continue “casting my net” on the other side of the boat. 

There are also the heroic women I met at the Union Rescue Mission’s women’s shelter, Bethel Haven, where I once worked as a journalist. Several of these women, from Eastern Europe, were victims of human trafficking, and their stories opened my eyes to the reality of that monstrous crime. It was heartrending to hear them describe the abuses they had endured and how they had been traded and sold as slaves and sexual commodities. Their incredible grace and strength in the face of such adversity helped create the character of Larisa. 

Those and other interviews also helped me create the character of Namazzi, whom you will meet in this book, and whose composite character represents the tenacity and faith of several survivors and observers of the Liberian Civil Wars, the Uganda Holocaust, and the Nigerian massacres. My challenge was how to capture the rawness of those testimonies without painting a picture that was too gruesome for this book. Reliving those testimonies made me uncomfortable, which is a good thing because I should be uncomfortable with those atrocities, which are still occurring in many parts of the world. I hope I did them justice. 

Thanks also to my beautiful wife and best mate, Wendy, who embodies what it’s like to have a servant’s heart, to persevere unspeakable tragedy, and to meet each day with a joy and warmth I cannot adequately describe. Thank you for the inspiration and love you give me, and for catching a whole range of needed tweaks that helped make this story shine. I love you. I could not have done this without you. 

And, because books are judged by their covers, I would like to acknowledge the graphic arts genius of Frauke Spanuth of Croco Designs for yet another spectacular cover. Thanks also to Jon Whelan and Beau Wheeler for bringing Aleksandr Talanov to life in such a spectacular way. 

Finally, I wish to say thanks to Yeshua/Jesus Himself, who saw fit to give me another opportunity at life when cancer threatened to end it back in the early 90s. I remember my grave diagnosis of having but 18 months to live. But I also remember the unexpected sense of hope that Wendy and I felt. A lot is said of faith, and while the lines between faith and hope sometimes blur, it is hope that keeps us pushing forward and not giving up, no matter how dark and grim life seems. That same sense of hope is one of the themes of this book. 

And a final thanks to you, my readers. Without question, I wrote this book for me, since I’ve experienced many of the same dynamics. But I also wrote it for you. I hope you enjoy the ride.

Check it out in BRH from the Beginning

https://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2012/09/talanov-read-james-houston-turner.html

https://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2012/09/please-welcome-character-aleksandr.html

https://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2012/09/read-first-chapter-of-grecos-game-just.html

https://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2012/09/james-houston-turner-has-winner-in.html

https://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2012/10/tell-him-glenda-sent-me.html

https://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2013/05/talanov-insider-news-heeeeeeees-coming.html

https://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2013/10/james-houston-turner-throws-terrific.html

https://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2014/09/fan-alert-for-talanov-russian-character.html

https://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2014/09/fan-alert-for-talanov-russian-character.html

https://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2015/02/sharing-my-update-from-james-houston.html

https://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2015/08/latest-info-via-talanov-insider-james.html

https://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2019/09/news-from-james-houston-turner-author.html

https://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2023/07/news-from-james-houston-turner-author.html

https://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2023/08/james-houston-turners-dragon-head.html

https://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/2025/01/whats-happening-at-book-readers-heaven.html

Surprised? Don't Be... I consider Turner as one of the few Authors who actually work to promote each and every book and keeps in touch with fans... FYI

I'm now reading this book and really am so excited! Can't Wait to Tell you About it!

Talk Soon

Gabby

James Houston Turner's Dragon Head: An Aleksandr Talanov thriller - My Favorite Lead Character in Series is Back!

 

https://jameshoustonturner.world
/about-talanov/

FROM THE AUTHOR: 

Dragon Head is the longest of my Talanov novels, and is written specifically for those who enjoy lingering in Talanov’s world. The book is not a quick sprint to the finish line, but a puzzle that unlocks gradually while building in speed. I purposely lingered on one theme in particular – family (and who constitutes “family”) – because of what I’ve personally experienced over the last ten years, which is how long it’s taken me to finish writing this book. One reason was the loss of some of my own family members. Many of us have experienced that kind of pain, so I’m not unique in that regard, and like many of you, I understand how it changes us in ways we don’t comprehend for months and sometimes years. In Dragon Head, Talanov experiences a similar loss, and while he’s already been through this before, in Dragon Head his loss amplifies the blessing and triumph of what happens as a result. Thus, Dragon Head is not a story of loss and sadness, but one of exciting new beginnings. I hope you enjoy the ride.

“We were in Berlin during the winter of ’eighty-seven. Crummy little coffee shop, colder than hell, snow gusting out of the north. That shop is where you gave me the name of a Soviet mole in one of our embassies.” ​“You said the idea was preposterous.” ​“That’s because your information didn’t check out, and I had my people run a background check through every database we had.” ​“And yet . . .” ​“And yet, in the end, you were right. The person in question was a mole who was buried so deep she would have done irreparable damage had you not provided me with her name.” ​“Is that what we’re dealing with here?” ​“No, it’s not,” answered Wilcox, “and I bring it up here only to remind you of what you told me that day. Do you remember what it was?” ​

“I asked if Arthur M. Anderson meant anything to you.” ​“And I asked if that was a codename for one of your espionage programs.” ​“And I laughed outright.” ​“Yes, you did, in my face,” said Wilcox, “whereupon you proceeded to tell me how the Arthur M. Anderson was a Great Lakes cargo ship built by the American Ship Building Company of Lorain, Ohio, which got caught in the same storm on Lake Superior that sank the Edmund Fitzgerald.” 

​“In 1975.” ​“Which Gordon Lightfoot memorialized the following year in his hit song, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Unlike the Edmund Fitzgerald, however, the Arthur M. Anderson survived that storm, which to this day I do not know how you knew. But it led you to look me in the eye and say, ‘Only in a storm do you appreciate the kind of ship you’re on.’ When I asked what you meant, you replied, ‘You tell me.’ I remembered staring at you for the longest time until I realized you were talking about yourself, and that your performance in the storms we’d gone through together spoke louder than any words you could have said about your character and loyalty.”

 ​“It usually takes a storm for us to realize what we’re made of,” said Talanov. “Storms reveal character. Which is the advantage of studying history. We look back so that we can look forward, either with confidence or concern.”

~~~

Talanov watched in a private room while his long-term friend, Bill Wilcox spoke to The House Intelligence Committee.

As a CIA station chief in the American Embassy in London during the Cold War, Wilcox had recruited Talanov away from the Soviets, and as his former handler and now longtime friend, was regarded as the one person who knew Talanov better than anyone. As such, his testimony was vital as to whether or not Talanov would be allowed to officially consult for the CIA.

Talanov had already been grilled for hours and as he listened, his frustration grew. It was certainly clear that there continued to be a question as to whether a former KGB officer could indeed be loyal to America.

During that session, suddenly Talanov noticed that Diane Gustaves, chair of the committee, and one of the most powerful congressional members,  was glaring at him. He knew she was the only firm support she had on the committee and wanted him to keep cool rather than make things worse than they are already were. But would she be able to get the much needed support, given that the Head of National Security opposed Talanov's involvement in any type of action?!

And while arguments continued, a tall lean woman, Xin Li, on behalf of the top Chinese criminal leader, had been sent to watch Wu Chee Ming, but instead of what was planned, Wu Chee Ming, when he realized that he was being followed, knew what would happen if he were caught and held by anybody working for Dragon Head. He would be tortured and murdered, whether or not they were able to get the information they sought. He chose to jump in the way of an incoming train...

Now, the only way to move forward was to capture Talanov. The problem was that Xin Li hated Talanov and, if she had an opportunity, would torture and kill him. With strict instructions for Talanov's safety from Dragon Head, the search began...

Unfortunately...as well as fortunately, Talanov had caught sight of a young Chinese girl who startled when she saw Talanov. It was only when Wilcox and Talanov had moved on to meet an unexpected individual, did he once again see the girl and noticed that she was no longer carrying the expensive handbag she had brought it. With quick action by our hero, the bomb, which did go off, had no casualties...

But another bomb also followed!

With the heightened confusion and threat, Gustaves "authoritatively" recommended that both Talanov and Wilcox get "out of town..." While Wilcox decided to go to Hawaii for a real vacation, Talanov chose to take the opportunity to visit an old friend and mentor, Major Zakhar Babikov, now living in America under a new name. He had found God and was now head of a community center in a small town. The community now depended upon the center for support to all children and, when three children from one family found their way to the center, he had taken them in to live with he and his wife, who was a lawyer, also doing service for the community members.

While Dragon Head had the brawn to pull together and train a gang of warriors, it was Xan Li who had the genius to think through the possible escape routes of their enemies. As she did with Wu Chee Ming, she was able to pinpoint exactly where he would go to escape. They would have caught him if he had not chosen suicide. And, now Xin Li was on the tail of Talanov and actually was able to track him down...

“Kindness feeds strength;

while arrogance feeds weakness.”

Readers will meet a man we have not yet met--a gentler, kinder Talanov. He is with his best friend... and that friend seeks Talanov's sharing of the burden he has taken upon himself. He asks Talanov to become godfather to the free Chinese siblings who had no other family. Our hero does not take this request lightly, but it is soon clear that all three children had come to care about and respect their new friend.

And when Dragon Head agreed with his mistress Xin Li that the best way to ensure Talanov's capture is by kidnapping the youngest child, the emotional side of Talanov took over! There was no way that Talanov would not do anything to get her back!

An overview summary cannot possibly provide the fantastic breadth and scope of this novel. I had already come to love Talanov, but as mentioned by the author, this novel has pulled in characters who have faced pain and loss, and, they have faced fear. Yet each has moved forward. Some have become confused, trying to deal with changes to their present lives, while others know what they are doing is right and just for the world in which they lived... I'm already looking forward to the next novel. It, too, should be less thriller but more family drama, something that is facing so many of us these days!

Still, stealing a government plane and flying an unauthorized trip to China in order to negotiate the release of a child is simply NOT what the U.S. government had in mind for assistance from Talanov. 

Finally, I have to highlight that the three main children characters is extraordinarily well done! And their interaction with adults, good and bad, are intriguingly realistic and fun to read about! Many of us will learn, even more after reading this novel, that, indeed, our children ARE THE FUTURE of America!

God Bless

Gabbie

News from James Houston Turner, author of the Talanov series! Can't Wait for the Movie!

The headline of our latest press release about Greco’s Game could not have excited me more: David Marconi to Direct Wonderfilm's Screen Adaptation of James Houston Turner's Action Novel, Greco's Game!

You have definitely seen some his films: Enemy of the State (Will Smith and Gene Hackman), Live Free or Die Hard (Bruce Willis), and, most recently, The Foreigner (Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan). When it comes to screenwriters, they don’t get any better than David Marconi.

But the good news does not end there, for Mr. Marconi has not only written the Greco's Game screenplay with the help of William J. MacDonald (The Saint, with Val Kilmer, Rome, and Sliver), but he will also be directing the film!!! Here’s what he had to say about Greco’s Game: “Talanov is such a rich and nuanced character, and the novel’s plot is so timely with what is going on in our world, I had to jump in to direct this film.”

In addition to a link to the Variety coverage, our expanded press release may be found here: https://www.prlog.org/12788680.

With offices in Los Angeles, Vancouver, London, and Seoul, Wonderfilm has shifted into high gear with a slate of films that include actors such as John Travolta, Nicholas Cage, Guy Pearce, Ryan Phillippe, Kellan Lutz, Anne Heche, Thomas Jane, Cuba Gooding Jr., Ron Pearlman, Shia LaBeoufe, Terrance Howard, Dustin Hoffman, Steven Segal, and MMA legends, Tito Ortiz and Chuck Lidell. 

As to who will be playing the part of Talanov in Greco's Game, you will have to wait and see!

BTW, THANK YOU for your emails of support. Writing can get pretty lonely, so your friendship means a lot. Thank you again.

For updated author photos and trivia, visit me on IMDb: http://bit.ly/IMDbTurner.

Blessings to you all. Until next time!

Jim

Sharing My Update From James Houston Turner ! The Talanov Mystique...

Bestselling Author Celebrates 30th Anniversary Of His Fact-To-Fiction Spy Hero, Aleksandr Talanov

Bestselling author JAMES HOUSTON TURNER launches a video series, The Talanov Mystique, to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the inspiring, true-life incident behind the creation of his "Ludlumesque" spy hero, Aleksandr Talanov.

James Houston Turner's spy hero, Aleksandr Talanov, and his wife, Andrea.

Jan. 13, 2015 - AUSTIN, Texas -- Thirty years ago, in 1985, James Houston Turner's life was changed by a man he never met and whose name he still does not know.

"I had landed myself in trouble with the KGB because of my smuggling activities behind the old Iron Curtain," Turner recounts. "But an actual agent in Moscow leaked word through a network of secret contacts that I was on a watchlist and being followed in San Diego, where I was living at the time. His act of heroism -- he could have been executed for what he did -- inspired my fictional hero, Colonel Aleksandr Talanov, who went on to become a spy for America during the Cold War. Today, in my Talanov thriller series, our hero works for the CIA, who mistrusts him because of his KGB past and yet needs him for that very same reason."

Turner says he is frequently asked about the fact-versus-fiction aspect of Talanov. Therefore, to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the real "Talanov" forever changing his life as a writer, he decided to answer that question in a series of "Talanov Mystique" video interviews. Those interviews can be found on his official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/officialjameshoustonturner) and on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/jameshoustonturner).

A smuggler who has transported tons and tons of Bibles, clothing, food, and medical supplies, Turner says he has always been intrigued and inspired by the people he met behind the old Iron Curtain. "They were stout, hearty, solid people of faith, with a no-nonsense approach to God," he explains. "They demonstrated strength in adversity and hardship rather than blaming God and abandoning their faith. One man in particular, Josek, had been exiled to the coal mines of Siberia because of his faith. While there, he carved a small figurine -- of a fisherman holding a fish -- that served as a symbol of his faith, since Bibles were forbidden. That carving sits in my home today atop chunks of the Berlin Wall and a brick from the bombed headquarters of Adolph Hitler. It's a testimony to the power of faith over tyranny, and was a personal gift from Josek for our having delivered Bibles and food."

Turner continues, "Once the idea of Talanov as a fictional hero began to grow, I remember sitting with Josek's wooden carving in my hands, imagining Talanov to be the person responsible for exiling people like Josek to Siberia. And the storyteller in me began to ask: how, then, did this KGB bad guy become a good guy? That musing eventually became a novel."

The novel is November Echo, which takes readers on an assignment with Talanov and his partner to Spain to track down a defecting scientist, where Talanov is betrayed by the KGB, which proves to be the first of several "conversion" experiences that not only lead him to become a spy, but also a man who begins defending the helpless rather than hunting them.

Set against Biopreparat, the actual biological weapons program of the old Soviet Union, November Echo soared to #1 after its 2014 release on Amazon.com. Visit http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G727L70 for additional details and reviews.

Turner's anticipated new thriller, Dragon Head, is scheduled for an October, 2015, release, with plans being currently underway to produce a film adapted from the book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

James Houston Turner is the bestselling author of the Aleksandr Talanov thriller series. Once given eighteen months to live, he is a cancer survivor of more than twenty-three years. Drawing on this and other experiences, he has spoken to thousands of students across America about not being defeated by the hard knocks of life. He holds a bachelor's degree from Baker University and a master's degree from the University of Houston (Clear Lake). After twenty years in Australia, he and his wife, Wendy, live in Austin, Texas.

Fan Alert for Talanov - Russian Character in Novels by James Houston Turner...and a request...

Ok, I'm a fan...and I know I don't do this often...but, hey, not everybody has Glenda Bixler in a major role in one of his books! LOL So...'nuf said...

Following is a request from the author for prayers that he's able to get his movie to completion... See what he has to say about his work:

G'day again friends and family,

We're at the business end of the stick with our Talanov Film Project. It has been moving forward in some amazing ways and we're at the point of needing a support team who will pray regularly for us. So I'm asking any of you who truly believe in prayer and feel drawn to what we are doing to join our "5x" team. I coined the term, "5x," because when we fold our hands in prayer, our fingers make five "Xs."

There have been some fascinating studies on the efficacy of prayer. One of these studies dates from 1988, when cardiologist Dr. Randolph Byrd conducted a scientifically rigorous, double-blind study on the effects of intercessory prayer by Protestant and Catholic born-again Christians on behalf of 393 heart patients in a coronary care unit of a San Francisco hospital. After being rejected by nearly every medical journal on earth, the study was finally published in the Southern Medical Journal, where Dr. Byrd's results showed "prayer patients" has less congestive heart failure, fewer cardiac arrests, fewer episodes of pneumonia, were less often intubated and ventilated, and needed less diuretic and antibiotic therapy.

In short: prayer works. And this is not the only scientific study that has demonstrated it. Trouble is, for prayer to be powerful, we need to turn off the phone. Or the TV. Or get up earlier, or stay up later. Prayer is more than a quick recitation of a few memorized words before diving into the mashed potatoes. It is more than a plea for our team to kick the butts of the other team. More than a desperate cry for God to suddenly intervene when all along we've demanded He mind His own business. It is more than wishing someone good luck.

I say all of this because I am seeking people who truly believe in prayer and feel drawn to what we are doing, which is to produce a feature film that contains at its heart a message about the high cost of loyalty, faith, and family. It will be populated with gritty heroism, emotional depth, and plenty of Talanov action. It will also be a stepping stone to helping other writers and those in need. It is a film -- yes -- but it will result in much more than that. I know I am being fairly generic right now and that's because we need to keep some details under wraps to all but our 5x team, who will keep these details confidential while praying for them.

SOOOOO, if you want to support us with your prayers, I would like to hear from you. If you're not interested, there is no need to reply. Simply hit the Delete button. But if you are, please let me know and I will be in touch. The 5x team will get special updates on prayer requests as well as how God is answering them.

As always, should I have you on this newsletter list by mistake, or if you wish to no longer receive them, simply write "unsubscribe" in the subject line, hit Return, and I will remove you from our mailing list. Easy peasy.

In closing, I appreciate all of you. THANK YOU for supporting me with your friendship. You make this journey worthwhile.

Blessings for a wonderful weekend, Write to-- Talanov Insider talanovinsider@gmail.com

Jim

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James Houston Turner Throws Terrific Thriller in November Echo - How and When Talanov Became A Spy! BRH Favorite Book of 2013!

"So the smiles he gave people stopping by his table were not genuine, not that anyone cared. For one thing, people did not stick around long enough to notice it was a façade. And he knew the reason. In spite of his popularity, he was still KGB.     "In the wake of Noya's death -- which was over six months ago -- he'd become even more cynical and bitter toward the KGB and what it represented. And it took everything within him not to let his feelings be known.
"But he hadn't, and during these months, working undercover as November Echo, he had supplied La Tâche with the names of numerous Soviet moles operating within the United States government and related private sectors. He also supplied him with information on Soviet weapons programs and ongoing intelligence operations.
"He remembered La Tâche asking him once how he could betray his country. He replied that he wasn't betraying his country, only the disease infecting it.  "People should not have to live in fear of their government," Talanov said. "That's why I'm doing what I'm doing.
"This isn't about Russia. This isn't about America. It's about the Noyas of the world. And don't for a second think I won't hold you every bit as accountable as I hold myself and those I'm taking down.
"Does this answer your question?"    
"Talanov remembered how loud the silence was on the phone.
"Then we understand one another," Talanov said, hanging up.
~~~

    November Echo

. By James Houston Turner

Kravenko had been simple and clear:
 slip quietly into Spain and intercept
Dr. Yefim Gorev, a scientist from the
 Soviet Union's weaponized anthrax facility
 at Sverdlovsk, in the foothills of the
 Ural Mountains eight hundred miles
 east of Moscow. But slipping quietly
into Spain was not what they were doing.
 They were doing the exact opposite.
And therein lay the problem.  
Which would not be a problem if he
delivered the goods -- in this case,
Gorev -- and which would be a problem
 if he did not.     Silencing Kravenko's
advisors had not been easy.
 Their argument: that Gorev had
disappeared with his family in
 Leningrad. It therefore made no sense
 for him to cross all of Europe in a risky
 flight to Spain. Helsinki was the
logical choice. Or London. Or some
 northern European city where sanctuary
 was obtainable at any of the American
 Consulates or military bases.
     Talanov's counter-argument had been
 a chain of solid but circumstantial
 evidence pointing to Spain. Back and
 forth they argued, with neither side
 giving an inch. It was a stalemate:
a twenty-eight-year-old KGB colonel
 against five old-school gray-haired
 conservatives in cheap suits and
polyester ties. Having come up through
 the army together, the five advisors
 viewed everyone with disdain and
 suspicion, especially progressives
 like Talanov and Gorbachev. The
 result was a group of individuals as
 antiquated and unimaginative
as the clothes they wore.
~~~

It's not often that I feel a need to go backward in time with a series character...others have written prequels which never seemed to be too much different than another book... but when Turner's fans ask for more information on how Talanov came to be a spy, James Turner gave us much more than information. This is a solid piece of thriller action that is unstoppable from cover to cover. 

The story may even have become my favorite, perhaps because it first shows the United States reps working directly with Talanov.  I think, more, though, there was a focus given on the internal thoughts and feelings of Talanov. And when fans look at the attractive young man he was at 28, after reading this novel, we now know how and why he became the intense ice-man hero that so many of us have come to love in such a short time.

Let me give you another example, out of context...

"Talanov remembered wanting to cry that day. But he did not. Instead, he shoved her memory away just as he shoved his dǎoshī away. The one person he cared about most had been ripped away from him by the only other person he cared about -- his dǎoshī -- who had turned on him like the weather of Khan Tengri, which lures you onto its slopes with its majestic, friendly red afternoon glow, only to trap and kill you. 
"For a while, he tried hating her. It was no use. How can you hate someone who makes you so happy? He just hated the ache that he felt now that she was gone. He hated the ache he felt when he remembered her shy smile and laughing eyes, or that tangle of silky black hair falling in straggly wisps around her face. He hated wanting so desperately to find her but knowing he couldn't. And before leaving the monastery, he vowed never to let anyone make him feel so unhappy and lost again.
"And in that moment, ledyanoĭ chelovek -- the "ice man" -- was born.     Yes, it took every bit of strength that he had not to let them see him cry. And he didn't, nor had he cried since -- ever -- not once.     Until now.     Standing alone on the bow of the freighter, 

So that readers can consider this novel in relation to real activities which actually occurred, I am including an item in the front of the novel, which is very important to correlating the story with what happens in November Echo, which I normally wouldn't do, but will help everybody understand why this novel is so important to me, to others...

1972 -- The Biological Weapons Convention becomes the first multinational treaty prohibiting the production and use of an entire category of weapons. The United States and Soviet Union are among the original twenty-two signatories of this treaty. In compliance, the United States destroys its military stockpiles. The Soviet Union claims to destroy its stockpiles but in fact responds by creating Biopreparat, the largest biological weapons program in history. Over the next few years, forty-seven top-secret installations are built across Russia.

1979 -- "Anthrax 836" spores are accidentally released from military Compound 19 in Sverdlovsk, USSR. Nearly one hundred people die within days although thousands are believed to have perished. Sverdlovsk and the surrounding area is quarantined by the Soviet military. Decontamination trucks arrive. Reports of the incident surface in the West, and the Soviet Union is accused of violating the Biological Weapons Convention. The Soviet Union vigorously denies the accusations by insisting the outbreak was caused by tainted meat. All medical records relevant to the incident are immediately destroyed.

1982 -- Spain joins NATO and announces plans to join the European Economic Community, resulting in violent demonstrations and protests. 1983 -- U.S. President Reagan announces plans for his Strategic Defense Initiative (“ Star Wars”) missile defense system in space. Pershing II missiles are deployed in West Germany. Korean Airliner KAL 007 is shot down by the Soviet Air Force; all crew and passengers are killed. The Soviet leadership is convinced that KAL 007 had been an American intelligence mission. Cold War tensions between the United States and Soviet Union escalate to an all-time high. The Balashikha sabotage and terrorism complex near Moscow is now in full operation.

1985 -- Thousands are now demonstrating across Spain against NATO and the American presence. Violence is everywhere. The Soviet Union's manufacture of biological weapons.

"Sofia responded with an exasperated sigh.
 "Yes, I made the reservation."  
"Which name did you use?"
     "The one you told me to use. But I still
 do not understand what we are doing.
"We are here to catch a defector and you
have me booking a suite in the name of a
ballerina."     "Anna Pavlova is not just
 a ballerina."
    "Stop it, Sasha. What is going on?
 How do we plan to catch Gorev?"
     "Talanov smiled. "Patience, my dear."
     The assignment given to them last Tuesday
 in the office of KGB Deputy Chairman
 Walter Kravenko had been simple and clear:
 slip quietly into Spain and intercept
Dr. Yefim Gorev, a scientist from the
 Soviet Union's weaponized anthrax
 facility at Sverdlovsk, in the foothills of the
 Ural Mountains eight hundred miles east
of Moscow. But slipping quietly into Spain
 was not what they were doing.
They were doing the exact opposite.
And therein lay the problem.  
~~~

Talanov had been sent to find and bring back a family that had disappeared, assumed to be defecting. But what Talanov had not counted on was being given a partner... You see, everybody knew he was the best, and he normally worked on his own with his own plan of action in responding to his assignments--which he always successfully completed. In fact, already had his plan worked out, assuming he'd be on his way shortly...  Until he met Sofia Dubinina, a beautiful woman who he'd never met before and also not worked with! Who was she?

Nevertheless, Talanov went full speed on his plan to get to Spain. He gave instructions to Sofia, and she immediately started with "whys..." No, Talanov didn't trust her, but he was prepared to work with her as long as she followed his instructions. That was apparently not going to happen easily...

His idea, quite simply, was not to slip gently anywhere. He wanted everybody, from every country involved, to know he was in Spain. Sofia seemed to think they might be told to get back home and abort the assignment. That she did not want to have happen... So she quickly fell into place as Talanov's companion, allowed him to dress her in fine clothes, take her to the best restaurants and clubs... In fact, Talanov made sure he had the money for handling this job as he wanted it, simply by doing another thing that he did well... He had Sofia meet him in Spain and on his way, he's already won a substantial amount of money that he carried with him in a small case... And as soon as he was in Spain, they were often seen together, using cash only, with the casino bosses quickly falling to meet Talanov's demands...and constantly winning...

But Talanov knew one thing nobody else did. Where the safe house was where Dr. Gorev would be waiting to meet...

Dr. Gorev had brought his parents, his wife and his daughter. None of them were willing to feel secure until they were safely on their way. Gorev had brought samples of what he'd been forced to work on--Anthrax! Even while the Soviet Union had been one of the countries signing the 1972 agreement to destroy all biological weapons, they had been establishing locations throughout the country for making and testing such weapons. Gorev had been one of the major scientists working to ensure the best possible use of Anthrax and had steadily refined and tested--on prisoners--until he could so longer stand it. He wanted out and asylum for his family!

He had thought Spain would be the best location for meeting, but by the time arrangements were made, the streets on which they would have routinely traveled were now filled with protestors!

Everybody involved--the U.S. who would be meeting the doctor and his family--as well as those searching for Gorev's to either return or kill them, were now forced to also deal with the police who were out in full numbers, dealing with the thousands of protestors who had come into the city...

For readers, we are right in the middle of car chases, gang fights, protestors fighting the police, as well as the need for the United States representatives to successfully meet and get Gorev, et. al., out of Spain!

And one explosive surprise sends Talanov into so much turmoil, frustration, and anger that we also revisit with him as he remembers when he was still free to feel--when he was not the ice man that they now called him... What was it? A teenager, named Noyabŕ, Noya, Dr. Gorev's daughter who, upon meeting them and for most of the time, displayed no emotions, only hopelessness, that anything would ever work out...

And it was beginning to look like she was right, especially when she stood and watched as her grandparents were murdered...first...

OMG, I don't know how some authors do it, but James Houston Turner certainly has the skill to wrap readers around his fingers, tied up in every word, emotionally, mentally, and sometimes even physically involved as the action gets so tense that we don't realize that, after all, it's just a book, fiction... Yet, he does it! And he shows true facts upon which his fictional thrills are based. Some could even be true...but reading about it or even seeing it in the news just does not bring us the most important thing...context... Turner brings us right into the streets as he faces gang members with knives or even into the house--that house that was supposed to have been safe...

But there is no safety to be found...

Talanov Rules! He's my hero! But Turner? I think even Talanov worries about him...Read November Echo by James Houston Turner!

"Let me understand this, Turner...You want me to do WHAT?!!!"

GABixlerReviews!

James Houston Turner is the bestselling author of the Aleksandr Talanov thriller series, as well as numerous other books and articles. Talanov the fictional character was inspired by the actual KGB agent who leaked word out of Moscow back in the 1980s that James was on a KGB watchlist for his smuggling activities behind the old Iron Curtain.

James Houston Turner's debut thriller, Department Thirteen, was voted the Best Thriller of 2011 by USA Book News, after which it won gold medals in the 2012 Independent Publisher ("IPPY") Book Awards and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

A cancer survivor and former journalist in Los Angeles, he holds a Bachelor's Degree from Baker University and a Master's Degree from the University of Houston (Clear Lake). After living in South Australia for nearly twenty years, he and his wife, Wendy, a former triathlon winner, now live in Austin, Texas. Visit his website at www.talanov.info.