City of War [Mass Market Paperback]

Neil Russell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 9, 2010

His enemies are the most dangerous people in the world. So are his friends . . .

The sole heir to a media empire, Rail Black is larger than life, richer than almost anyone, and living in opulent seclusion in Beverly Hills. His "curse" is a need for excitement coupled with an oversized sense of justice, which impelled him into Delta Force. Now he helps people without options—and billionaires play by different rules.

Caught in gridlock on the world's busiest freeway, Rail comes to the rescue of a naked woman escaping from a van. But Kimberly York is no ordinary victim, and Rail has invited violence into his life . . . again—as a sudden, shocking murder pulls him into a decades-old international conspiracy of greed, rare treasures, and human depravity. But no matter how powerful and well-armed, his adversaries can't escape Rail's wrath as he races into the darkness surrounding the American government's most astonishing secret: the City of War.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Russell's uneven debut pits hunky billionaire adventurer Rail Black against an unlikely combo of villains. Stuck in L.A. freeway gridlock, Rail is shocked to see drop-dead gorgeous Kimberly York, entirely naked, escape from a nearby van. She winds up in his Rolls-Royce and soon reveals that she possesses information of a highly sensitive nature, which has made her a target. Rail wants to help her, but his only lead is the enigmatic phrase city of war, and there's little excitement in his efforts to glean further clues from the kind of offbeat friends and colleagues that only billionaire adventurers seem to have. There's not enough action for a thriller and not enough intrigue for a mystery, and a glut of description and dialogue will leave readers snoozing. (Mar.)
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Review

“Neil Russell has to be one of the finest, skilled, and accomplished writers in the country, a true master of intrigue.” (Clive Cussler )

“Utterly gripping, City of War balances brutal murder, fascinating mystery, and unforgettable characters on a knife’s edge of exciting suspense that doesn’t release the reader until the last page. (Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Spymaster )

“The novel City of War is a first novel for Neil Russell and if this thriller is any indication of the style of writing that he has I can’t wait to read more...This is a must read for anyone who loves a smart, sexy thriller.” (Bestsellersworld.com )

“Like a James Bond thriller, Neil Russell’s City of War takes readers on an extreme rollercoaster ride of jet set thrills and chills... It would make quite the movie.” (Bookloons.com )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Harper (March 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061721689
• ISBN-13: 978-0061721687
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #680,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Neil Russell is founder and president of Site 85 Productions, an entertainment-focused intellectual property rights company based in Beverly Hills. A former executive with Paramount, Columbia, MGM/UA and Carolco Pictures--the company that produced the "Rambo" movies, "Terminator 2" and "Total Recall"--he also founded and headed Carolco Television Productions. Site 85 has entered into agreements with many entertainment companies, including Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Activision, MGM, Columbia, Walt Disney/ABC, Universal, Scott Free Productions, F/X Networks and others. In addition to his novels, Neil authored the book, "Can I Still Kiss You?: Answering Your Children's Questions About Cancer," which grew out of his two successful battles with the disease. A graduate of Parsons College, he is a member of the Naval War College Foundation and numerous entertainment industry organizations. He is also an honorary member of the Hmong community of Laos for fundraising to provide Hmong children with prostheses for limbs lost to mines.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Smashing Debut!!!, March 10, 2010

By 

Charles Wolf - See all my reviews

This review is from: City of War (Mass Market Paperback)

Mark this one down. A sensational read. Smart and sexy, with a multi-layered plot that breathlessly races along to a spectacular ending at once both shocking and utterly satisfying. Without risking any spoilers, suffice to say, the novel's last moments deftly manage to be simultaneously cathartic and poignant. As noted, the story's complex but never confusing, no small feat considering the relentless pace, the broad canvas of opulent & exotic locales and the parade of quirky, ruthless, courageous, treacherous, seductive characters...be they lovers, friends, enemies or any combination thereof (think Who's Who of international power players and Rogue's Gallery of greedy villains and sadistic assassins).
The novel's hero, Rail Black, is like no other. With a fresh, wry voice that's instantly accessible, like listening to a new best friend. From his physical make-up to his lineage to his uncanny ability to be equally at home in an historic Beverly Hills mansion, a back alley shootout, a Buckingham Palace reception, a rat-infested combat zone, Wall Street boardroom or out alone, swimming in the Pacific, miles from shore. He's a man with a heart and a code, the one can be broken, the other never will...at any cost.
CITY OF WAR is a rare find...the first in what one can only hope will be a long running series. Rail Black is soon to rank high in that very select group of thriller heroes...up there with Jason Bourne and Jack Reacher. And Neil Russell (incredibly, a first time author) is sure to join Robert Ludlum and Nelson De Mille as masters of the craft.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars City of War, March 29, 2010

By 

R. Imus - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: City of War (Mass Market Paperback)

This was a purchase of the moment after reading the first two pages...

For a first novel this is very good. I like the folks Russell introduced in this book, clearly aiming at a series, but closed the story well. I will buy his next book. There were several nice surprises which to me add a bit of realism (qualified of course by this type of book in the first place).

As an action tale it did ebb and flow at times (first novel remember), but it kept me engaged from start to finish. I liked the way he did his main character development by going back in time for different scenes which he linked to what was occurring currently in the book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars SuperEditor, March 31, 2011

By 

Vern Kincheloe (COLUMBIA, MO, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: City of War (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the first book I've read by this author - and it will be the last. The lack of plot is made up for by the excess vulgarity. There are so many under-developed characters, I couldn't keep up with who's who. I'll stick with better-known authors from now on.