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The Kramski Case (Tales of MI7 Book 1) by [James Ward]

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James Ward

J.J. Ward

The Kramski Case (Tales of MI7 Book 1) Kindle Edition

by James Ward (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

93 ratings

Book 1 of 17: Tales of MI7

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Praise from top Amazon reviewers:

“Bottom Line: 5 Stars for entertainment and originality, these days I seldom lose sleep over a book unless it is truly exceptional and I was up far past my usual bedtime to finish this.”- Douglas C Meeks, Amazon US Top 500 reviewer.

“An immensely well-written, fast-paced and obviously thoroughly researched tale, with an exciting plot, interesting and intelligent characters and some extremely skilful (and often humorous) dialogue.”- Hal Marshall, Amazon UK Top 100 reviewer.

When someone starts assassinating paparazzi in three countries, MI7 sits up. Apparently, the killer is none other than Dmitri Vassyli Kramski, retired SVR field-operative and former Kremlin protégé. True, the Cold War is long finished, but everyone knows Vladimir Putin is as unhappy for Russia to play second fiddle on the international stage as even the most strident of his Communist predecessors. In 2010 therefore, East-West relations remain as tortuous as ever.

Kramski’s trail leads deep into London’s émigré community, forcing his pursuers into conflict with an unknown organisation bent on protecting him. Bit by bit, he begins to look less like a professional assassin and more like someone plotting to scupper the foundations of Western democracy itself. To compound matters, the Russians are as baffled by him as anyone.

“Espionage, murders, intrigue, and of course hot romance are billowing out of nearly every page ... JJ Ward has polished his style well and knows when and how to turn up the heat.”- Grady Harp, Amazon US Top 50 Reviewer, Vine Voice and Hall of Fame Reviewer.

“A masterfully crafted plot with well-developed characters, natural dialogue, and plot twists and action at every turn … If you like your thrillers smart, entertaining and gripping, this book won't disappoint.”- Sam G, Amazon US Top 1000 reviewer.

“From a Bond lover … terrific!”- Jay Mittener, Amazon US Top 500 reviewer.

“There is clarity about the writing and the world view that feels like a breath of fresh air.”- Adam “Mr B”, Amazon UK Vine Voice.

“A great book for reading on the train, and is a welcome light relief in these dark and gloomy days!”- MRN Shackelford, Amazon UK Top 1000 reviewer.

"This was a terrific thrill ride of a book." - Liz Wilkins, Amazon UK Top 500 Reviewer.

Print length

334 pages
Language

English
Publication date

January 7, 2014
File size

3470 KB
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From the Publisher


	The Kramski Case	The Girl from Kandahar	The Vengeance of San Gennaro	The Eastern Ukraine Question	The Social Magus	Encounter with ISIS
Espionage	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Twists & turns	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Strong characters	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Murder & mystery & intrigue	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Humor	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Meet MI7's spy team. The UK's third way between war and diplomacy.


Detective work, spycraft, action	Good guys for dark times.	Cometh the hour, cometh MI7!

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00BZ5EPI2
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 7, 2014
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3470 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 334 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1913851028
Lending ‏ : ‎ Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #1,428,258 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #3,708 in Political Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #6,740 in Espionage Thrillers (Kindle Store)
- #7,488 in Political Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
93 ratings

About the authors

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James Ward
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James Ward lives and works in southern England and has been married for 39 years. He has two grown-up boys. His hobbies include walking in the countryside, drinking tea in unusual locations, photography, and reading.
He writes fiction, philosophy and poetry. His most ambitious project, the Tales of MI7 series, was written between 2010 and 2020. It consists of eighteen self-contained novels, set in contemporary London and linked by characters and timeline. It was never intended to be a "series" in the sense of a continuous narrative across different volumes; rather, readers can enjoy any one book without having read the others. All examine the major political, social, international and moral concerns of the second decade of the 21st century. Each individual volume - with the exception of Our Woman in Jamaica - was written contemporaneously with the year in which it was set.
See more on the author's page
J.J. Ward
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J. J. Ward is what James Ward used to call himself (both are his real name) until he realised that no one knew where to put the dots (aka periods, or full stops), including himself.
You can find his present and permanent author page at:
amazon.com/author/james_ward
See more on the author's page

Customer reviews

5 star		30%
4 star		37%
3 star		19%
2 star		9%
1 star		6%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Do not do the up sneak

and I'm glad I did

Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2016

Verified Purchase

Let me begin by saying that political thrillers are not my usual cup of tea, as I'm usually simply not bright enough to keep up with the plot. Still, I picked this up on the strength of an online recommendation, and I'm glad I did. I'll confess that - true to form - I stopped trying to understand the political intrigues about halfway through and just let myself be carried along; at least half of that is due to my current state of political fatigue in a US election year. However, the characters themselves - complex, nuanced individuals with personalities and relationships that develop to the betterment of the story AND the character - were engaging enough to keep me reading, and to purchase the next book in the series.

My primary quibble would be one of slightly inconsistent tone. There are early passages (notably focusing on the Hartley-Brown family) which verge on slapstick. This is not by any means a bad thing - these sections are genuinely amusing and the comic relief is quite welcome as well as being very skillfully done - but it did make for a bit of unevenness. The overall feel of the story is tense, as should be for a espionage/thriller-type novel, so when the tone shifts to the sardonic and sometimes silly humor of scenes featuring the out-of-touch Sir Anthony and his whirlwind of a daughter, Marciella, the novel seems to stumble briefly. It never falls, though, and as the book progresses the comedic touches are better integrated, becoming seamless by the final fourth.

Beautifully constructed characters, intriguing premise, well-balanced suspense, and a steady progression. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. Looking forward to book 2!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Amadea Cahyo

Espionage, politics and intrigue thriller as it was meant to be written!

Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2015

Verified Purchase

3 highly trained field operatives from 3 different countries, USA, Russia, and the UK or by last name, Bronstein, Orlov and Hartley-Brown brought together to resolve a chain of murders which is more than the shooting off a few paparazzis.

A very fast paced story, and it was a definite bonus that the author included a whole heap of delicious mysteries and twists. They kept me turning page after page to find out the ending (I wouldn't recommend that you cheat and jump pages because you might miss a clue).

This book was very good beginning of a series because the writer actually took the time and effort to build a strong foundation for the characters and the organisation to not keep fans wondering, I hope to see more of the characters in the next installements.

Maybe I'm a bit slow (sorry) but until the end I didn't get it. Was Bornstein with the CIA or not?

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

John J. Staughton

A Fast-Paced and Riveting Ride

Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2013

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For a novel to grab my attention in the first three pages, it is usually one of three things; set in London (check), contains the making of a good thriller (check), and is undeniably well-written (triple check). Tales of MI7 starts off with an interesting preface about the changing of the guard, so to speak, and this ultra-modern secret sounds exactly like the type of thing we might be experiencing today, yet are completely unaware of. Shadowy government agencies loom like developing players right from the start, and Ward clearly has done his homework in terms of international espionage and the traditions of the secret dealings of governments.

However, after the exciting build-up of what I presumed would be a respectful homage to Ian Fleming and add to the proud canon of British espionage literature, I was disappointed with the plot. There was promise of something more than those specific murders, and I feel that by the time the plot had expanded wide enough to feel like an international thriller, it was slightly too late in the reading. It felt as though he recognized the need for a broader scope and did it quite late in the story. Obviously, writers use their own unique style, and Ward may be completely aware of the choices he made; in my humble opinion, he had the framework and the pieces in place for a "bigger" novel, but it never felt that way as I read it.

However, he still deserves considerable praise for this novel, because I still enjoyed it immensely, despite being somewhat disappointed in the grandness of the plot. The writing is done so well, and Ward's use of language and dialect is so sharp and convincing, without being heavy-handed. His characters were meticulously crafted, and they seemed natural and responded to situations realistically, one of the greatest challenges in writing intense dialogue and interactions. I see that Ward has also written some other installments in this MI7 series, and they definitely warrant a read. Well done on so many points, but think bigger next time!

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

E A Fow

Twist, Turn, and Enjoy!

Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2013

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I was dubious opening this book, but woah was it great!!! JJ Ward knows how to spin a tale, and just when you think you know what's going to happen, he spins it all around in another direction. I found it hard to put down!
The novel begins with paparazzi being murdered in multiple countries, and an international "dream team" being assembled out of the most unlikely combination of a young upper class British policeman, a detective from New York who happens to be a lapsed Hasid, and a subversive Russian agent who want to clean up corruption in his own country, and is thus completely endangered if he ever goes back there. The three are an entertaining crew, and just as it seems to be an odd kind of police tale, JJ Adams turns it all on its head and it's suddenly a secret agent story! I can't go into it much more without giving away some of the surprising delights of the novel, but it's fast paced, the lead characters are interesting, and the minor characters are pretty weird and great, too. Ward also know how to write an action sequence and there is an aerial gun battle pretty early on that is stunning. He moves the novel along, with the occasional remarkable set piece (like the gun battle) and it just keeps on getting more and more interesting. At the same time, it's full of pop culture, funny detail, and doesn't take itself completely seriously, all while enmeshing you. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes police, spy, or action writing, and I dare you not to enjoy yourself while reading it. As for me, I'm excited to see there are other M17 novels to read!

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Stephen Clynes

I liked the Spooks nature of this story.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 5, 2021

Verified Purchase

Paparazzi can be a nuisance as they lay in wait stalking their celebrity victims. But now in three separate countries, someone is shooting paparazzi photographers. Who is killing them and why?

The Kramski Case is a conspiracy novel set in the UK. Yet this story has an international feel as the team searching for the killer come from not only Britain but America and Russia too.

I enjoyed reading The Kramski Case with it’s entertaining workplace banter. The plot is rather involved but the joy of this novel is centered around conspiracy. People tell lies and spread rumours making it almost impossible to fathom the truth. I liked the Spooks nature of this story which fully explored false flag operations, making the reader doubt what exactly was going on and who was telling the truth?

I think The Kramski Case is a GOOD 4 star read, it lacks a WOW! factor and anything radically unusual but raises genuine concerns about truth management. Look at the bigger picture and the political questions raised throughout this novel will make you wonder.

One person found this helpful

Adam

Lair of the Red Maiden...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 22, 2013

Verified Purchase

Someone is killing Paparazzi, in more than one country. MI7 sense a pattern and a conspiratorial framework behind the killings, and they are right. Before long, a UK and US cop are co-opted into the ultra covert MI7 along with a Russian agent to unravel the intrigue.
This is a clear and intelligent read. It has complex and reasonably intricate plotting with threads tangling in a way that satisfies and does not frustrate the reader. Pacing is good, it's not over reliant on action or violence although there are some well written and orchestrated action set pieces, including an aerial dogfight in Russia, various hand to hand combat, the single handed storming of an enemy base and an enthralling car chase amongst others. Characterisation is good, with a refreshing lack of cynicism in the judgements and actions of its lead characters. They are decent people driven by keen moral imperatives and a sense of justice. There is a refreshing lack of personal demons and corruptions, a trait reasonably rare in modern thriller writing. The effect of all this is to have well defined, extremely likeable characters. It feels very reassuring. So when a lead character meets an untimely end, it is genuinely shocking and disturbing, a real rug-pull moment.
The novel's main imaginative conceit is the tiered nature of its espionage departments, with each layer kept in the dark about the work of the others save what each department chooses to divulge. And each department is headed by a colour coded 'Maiden' and is at liberty to sabotage the work of the others, if it feels it necessary in the national interest and to protect its own work! In a way this is just a fictional exaggeration of what happens today but in an unacknowledged and implicit way e.g. the legendary rivalry and antagonism between the CIA and the FBI. It's a nice conceit and serves the story well. There's a neat dramatic punch that utilises this conceit at the end.
Overall there is clarity about the writing and the world view that feels like a breath of fresh air. The book is recommended for those who like reasonably substantial and pacy thriller adventures.

One person found this helpful

Liz Barnsley

Mayhem and Adventure.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 8, 2014

Verified Purchase

Thank you to the author for the review copy.

When someone starts assassinating paparazzi in three countries, MI7 sits up. Apparently, the killer is a retired SVR field-operative and former Kremlin protege named Dmitri Vassyli Kramski. True, the Cold War is long finished, but everyone knows Vladimir Putin is as unhappy for Russia to play second fiddle on the international stage as even the most strident of his Communist predecessors. Could this be the key to the riddle?

I do love a good rip roaring adventure tale and this was exactly that. Straight into the action this was a terrific thrill ride of a book.

This is a spy thriller updated for modern times, the well imagined "MI7″ giving the backdrop for a tale of murdered paparazzi and international intrigue.

Along with the action there is a hefty dose of suspense thrown in for good measure and often the story takes you in unexpected directions including one extremely clever little plot twist that had me giving a nod of approval to the author.

All in all a good fun read, perfect for a lazy afternoon.

Happy Reading Folks!

One person found this helpful

Rosa49

At first I really enjoyed this book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 29, 2017

Verified Purchase

At first I really enjoyed this book. Unfortunately, as it progressed I found the plot complicated and far-fetched. I read it over several days and had to go back a couple of chapters to remind myself what it was all about. All very confusing and the ending was abrupt.

There is a sequel but I won't read it.

Mykal Jon

Excellent

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 25, 2018

Verified Purchase

Great characters, intriguing storyline all in all a very good book. Highly recommended, I will be looking for more books from this author.

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