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Jason Matthews

Red Sparrow: A Novel (1) (The Red Sparrow Trilogy) Paperback – February 20, 2018

by Jason Matthews (Author)

4.4 27,000 ratings

Book 1 of 3: The Red Sparrow Trilogy

Editors' pick Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

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Edgar AwardWinner, 2014

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Now a major motion picture starring Jennifer Lawrence and Joel Edgerton!

From veteran CIA officer Jason Matthews, the electrifying, New York Times bestselling modern spy thriller, Red Sparrow.

In contemporary Russia, state intelligence officer Dominika Egorova has been drafted to become a “Sparrow”—a spy trained in the art of seduction to elicit information from their marks. She’s been assigned to Nathaniel Nash, a CIA officer who handles the organization’s most sensitive penetration of Russian intelligence. The two young intelligence officers, trained in their respective spy schools, collide in a charged atmosphere of tradecraft, deception, and inevitably, a forbidden spiral of carnal attraction that threatens their careers and the security of America’s valuable mole in Moscow.

For fans of John le Carré and Ian Fleming and featuring “high-level espionage, pulse-pounding danger, sex, double agents, and double crosses” (Nelson DeMille), Red Sparrow is a timely and electrifying thriller that is impossible to put down.

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Book 1 of 3

The Red Sparrow Trilogy
Print length

464 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Scribner
Publication date

February 20, 2018
Dimensions

5.25 x 1 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

1501171577
ISBN-13

978-1501171574
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Customers praise the book for its intriguing plot and suspenseful story. They find it an enjoyable read with compelling characters and a realistic portrayal of the life of a spy. The pacing is described as solid and the timing is great. Many readers describe the characters as authentic and credible. The book provides useful details and insights into the world of counter-intelligence. However, some customers feel the writing quality is inconsistent.

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Spy novel Readability Character development Pacing Authenticity Intelligence Writing quality Detail

1,450 customers mention "Spy novel"1,366 positive84 negative

Customers find the spy novel engaging. They praise the suspenseful plot and exposition of spy tradecraft. The storyline draws them in and holds their interest until the end.

"...Pros:** * Gripping and suspenseful plot with plenty of twists and turns * Well-developed and nuanced characters * Authentic and well-researched *..." Read more

"This was my third attempt at this book. The story gets interesting at about halfway through and it’s a little hard to get over the hump to that point..." Read more

"...The plot becomes very involved but Mr. Mathews keeps the reader informed and abreast of the situation so it’s not hard to follow what’s happening...." Read more

"...intelligence operation and counterintelligence which was all fascinating to read about...." Read more

1,399 customers mention "Readability"1,353 positive46 negative

Customers find the book well-written and engaging. They say it's thrilling and delivers on its promises. The story is enjoyable and would make a delightful movie. Readers appreciate the well-developed characters and plot twists.

"...* Gripping and suspenseful plot with plenty of twists and turns * Well-developed and nuanced characters * Authentic and well-researched *..." Read more

"...It was a good cliff hanger ended. One that made me actually ask myself, “That’s it?”. Looking forward to reading the next one." Read more

"...If you like novels of espionage don’t miss this one. It is a must read. The second installment, Palace of Treason, is a humdinger...." Read more

"...The first book is equally thrilling. It sets up a classic situation of an American and Russian agent trying to recruit one another...." Read more

598 customers mention "Character development"522 positive76 negative

Customers find the characters compelling and multi-faceted. They appreciate the subtle shifts in perspective between characters, even during group interactions. The story portrays the life of a spy realistically. The book explores both good and bad characters in great depth.

"...plot with plenty of twists and turns * Well-developed and nuanced characters * Authentic and well-researched * Captivating and believable storyline..." Read more

"...I like how this story subtly switches perspectives between the characters even during group interactions. I actually really enjoyed the humor...." Read more

"...aura around the people she meets which gives her great insight into their characters and emotions...." Read more

"...The character development and description is quite good and the story line develops at a solid pace...." Read more

468 customers mention "Pacing"375 positive93 negative

Customers find the book's pacing good. They appreciate the suspenseful storyline and action. The book moves quickly from city to city and country to country, keeping readers hooked.

"...development and description is quite good and the story line develops at a solid pace...." Read more

"...The story line flows nicely, and there are plenty of surprises, subplots, reflections on Russian culture and politics, and interesting tidbits...." Read more

"...This gem is well written. The timing is great. The changing points of view are expertly done...." Read more

"...The prose is always excellent, very descriptive, the story builds very slowly, the climax is always satisfying but sometimes disappointing, the..." Read more

319 customers mention "Authenticity"298 positive21 negative

Customers appreciate the authenticity of the storyline and characters. They find the characters believable and realistic, with well-crafted writing and realistic technical details. The book's covert procedures are also authentic.

"...plenty of twists and turns * Well-developed and nuanced characters * Authentic and well-researched * Captivating and believable storyline * A must-..." Read more

"...Although I was never a spy, I can say that the technical detail is very realistic and makes you feel like you are reading something from an insider..." Read more

"...It mostly feels authentic - Matthews is former CIA - and the book has been well researched...." Read more

"...perspective of reluctant female Russian Dominika, is riveting and authentic...." Read more

264 customers mention "Intelligence"254 positive10 negative

Customers find the book's intelligence engaging and informative. They appreciate the well-researched characters, details about tradecraft, and the author's extensive experience with counterintelligence. The good guys and bad guys are explored in depth, and the American approach to intelligence is well-developed. Readers also mention that the life of a spy and its relevance are discussed.

"...and turns * Well-developed and nuanced characters * Authentic and well-researched * Captivating and believable storyline * A must-read for fans of..." Read more

"...Dominika, in addition to being very beautiful, is exceptionally smart and good at reading people...." Read more

"...The author did do a great amount of research into Russia, the SVR, intelligence operation and counterintelligence which was all fascinating to read..." Read more

"...The characters, both good guys and bad guys, are explored in great depth, and you feel like you know them well in no time...." Read more

693 customers mention "Writing quality"483 positive210 negative

Customers have mixed views on the writing quality. Some find it well-written, descriptive, and lyrical, with an intelligent use of language. Others mention that the plot strains credibility at times, with long, boring backstories in the early pages. They also mention unnecessary words cluttering the text, inconsistent writing, and constant repetition getting tedious quickly.

"...The author's research is impeccable, and the attention to detail is stunning. The story is full of twists and turns, with surprises at every corner...." Read more

"...The context is necessary just not as relevant yet...." Read more

"...The plot becomes very involved but Mr. Mathews keeps the reader informed and abreast of the situation so it’s not hard to follow what’s happening...." Read more

"...Overall, the book is well written...." Read more

279 customers mention "Detail"182 positive97 negative

Customers have different views on the book's detail. Some find it interesting and intricate, with lots of tradecraft details and a meticulous glimpse into the Byzantine maze. Others feel it's overly descriptive, with too much jargon and abbreviations, and lacks subtlety. There are also complaints about unnecessary references and lack of a glossary or character descriptions at the end.

"...Red Sparrow is a masterclass in storytelling, with a complex and intricate plot that keeps you guessing until the very end...." Read more

"...That being said I did feel like there were quite a few very unnecessary references to one of the lead characters, Dominika, body parts and their..." Read more

"...The book is filled with tradecraft, as they call it in the spy biz, and there were a few things that surprised me...." Read more

"...I mean she’s already easy to love, I enjoyed reading about her arc, even if somewhat predictable...." Read more

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Cynthia Martin
A Gripping Spy Thriller
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2024
Verified Purchase
I'm thrilled to share my experience with Red Sparrow, a gripping spy thriller that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. As a fan of espionage novels, I was hooked from the very first page. Red Sparrow is a masterclass in storytelling, with a complex and intricate plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. The author's writing is superb, with vivid descriptions and well-developed characters that leap off the page. What I love most about this book is its authenticity. The author's research is impeccable, and the attention to detail is stunning. The story is full of twists and turns, with surprises at every corner. The characters are multidimensional and nuanced, with motivations that are both relatable and terrifying. The protagonist, Dominika Egorova, is a fascinating and complex character. Her transformation from a ballerina to a spy is both captivating and believable. The chemistry between Dominika and Nate Nash, the CIA agent, is palpable and adds an extra layer of tension to the story. I'm so impressed with the quality of this book, and I can tell it will stay with me for a long time. Red Sparrow is a must-read for fans of espionage thrillers, and I highly recommend it. **Pros:** * Gripping and suspenseful plot with plenty of twists and turns * Well-developed and nuanced characters * Authentic and well-researched * Captivating and believable storyline * A must-read for fans of espionage thrillers **Cons:** None! I hope this review helps others discover the benefits of this amazing book!

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Emily Johnson
Third time is a charm.
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2023
Verified Purchase
This was my third attempt at this book. The story gets interesting at about halfway through and it’s a little hard to get over the hump to that point. The context is necessary just not as relevant yet.

I like how this story subtly switches perspectives between the characters even during group interactions. I actually really enjoyed the humor. The pages where they are giving Nash shit for sleeping with Dominika the first time had my busting out loud in laughter. These glimmers of humor were nice among a relatively dark natured story.

The romance was there but not the forefront of the story. Dominka felt slightly unrealistic as PTSD is a thing and she likely would have some kind of trauma response kicking in at times. You don’t really ‘train’ PTSD out of someone like it’s insinuating her training does. However, I liked her independence and the fact that you didn’t always have to like her or her decisions. Why did she agree to even help her uncle in the first place? She even said she could get another job. She already spoke multiple languages and would be primed to be a translator. Her special ability to see colors is a nice detail I wish they would have left in the film. Nate on the other hand feels very real. His motivations and personal conflicts feel relatable and understandable. It did sometimes feel like Nate was easier to write since Matthews was a man himself. Even the sex scenes felt somewhat written with a man’s perspective. Dominika is the only female recruit, only female in the room, etc. If you weren’t being told she was an impossibly beautiful woman at every opportunity, she could essentially have been a male character. The film made some key plot changes which helped really sell the female perspective a bit better.

The recipes are a little interesting but their value cheapens a little as you go. You never get ingredient amounts so it’s not like you could actually use the recipes. The necessity to add a meal into each chapter actually feels natural most times, but did feel a little more forced once the action picked up around the end.

It was a good cliff hanger ended. One that made me actually ask myself, “That’s it?”. Looking forward to reading the next one.

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Robert P Gelms
Spies and more spies!
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2015
Verified Purchase
Who Is Spying On Whom?
By Bob Gelms

Jason Mathews has joined a very exclusive club of former real-live-in-the-flesh-honest-to-God spies who have come to write about espionage as fiction just like John le Carre, Ian Fleming and Graham Greene, to name a few you might have heard of. Mathews is an ex CIA spy of some 33 years and you can tell he’s experienced in real live spy craft just by reading a few pages of his first novel, Red Sparrow. I became totally convinced while reading the novel that real spies acted just like Mr. Mathews’ characters in the book. He’s very, very good.

The book tells the story of the hauntingly beautiful Dominika Egorova. She starts out as the prima ballerina in a Russian dance company. Owing to an incident involving a jealous rival in the company, Dominika can no longer dance and she is set adrift until her beloved father passes away. It is then that her somewhat wicked uncle gets her involved with the Russian clandestine service. She is eventually enrolled in a school that teaches beautiful girls how to seduce vulnerable spies into becoming double agents for the Russians. The girls who graduate from this school are called Red Sparrows. The training is quite explicit.

Since there is a Russian high up on the food chain who is spying for the Americans, Dominika is sent to Helsinki to seduce an American spy named Nathaniel Nash to see if she can find out who the double agent is. Nash is the double agent’s case officer. Not to be outdone, the Russians have a double agent high up on the political food chain in America spying for them. You almost need a scorecard to keep track on who is spying for whom.

The plot becomes very involved but Mr. Mathews keeps the reader informed and abreast of the situation so it’s not hard to follow what’s happening. The book is filled with tradecraft, as they call it in the spy biz, and there were a few things that surprised me. The spy agencies on both sides eventually identify the spies who are working against them.

There is an unwritten understanding that death will not be visited upon the opposition. But the spies still have to go to unbelievable lengths to lose the people following them. This can take up to 10 hours and is especially exhausting and exasperating when they often only get a few fleeting minutes with their contact. The spies on both sides are unusually good at their jobs. It is very much like a three-dimensional game of chess being played in the dark.

I’m sure I wouldn’t want to be a spy but it sure is a lot of fun reading about them. You move to counter a move you think is three moves down the line happening in another part of the world. These spies need special brains to hold all the subplots apart in their minds. It’s thrilling.

Dominika, in addition to being very beautiful, is exceptionally smart and good at reading people. She has a leg up on this facility of hers because she has synesthesia, a real neurological condition that manifests itself in a variety of ways almost always involving colors. She can see the color of the aura surrounding everyone around her. Different colors mean different things and she uses this ability to great effect. Even to the point of saving her life. She also has, and I’m struggling with how to put this without revealing too much, a physically violent temper. When she gets angry sometimes people get hurt…a lot!

Vladimir Putin has been ruling Russia as president or prime minister for the last 16 years. It would seem he has a stranglehold, almost literally, on the office for as long as he wants it. Red Sparrow seems to indicate that modern Russia is not much of a communist state. It has, in fact, more in common with the czars in Russia’s past than with Lenin or Stalin. It is a modern version of an old fashion oligarchy with the rich ruling as they see fit and the Russian mobsters acting as their enforcement arm. It is in this milieu that the novel lives and breathes.

Red Sparrow is the first installment of a series featuring the exploits of Dominika Egorova and Nate Nash. If you like novels of espionage don’t miss this one. It is a must read. The second installment, Palace of Treason, is a humdinger. I’ll write about that one in the next issue. Dasvidaniya!

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Mocte Cabrera Salaiza
Excelente!!
Reviewed in Mexico on April 29, 2024
Verified Purchase
El libro llegó completamente sellado y en muy buenas condiciones, ya casi lo acabo de leer, para comprarme el siguiente :)

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engancha
Reviewed in Spain on September 26, 2024
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Me ha parecido un libro muy bien escrito, muy dinámico que te tiene enganchado desde el principio hasta el final

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R Powell
Amazingly prescient - and a really good read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 31, 2022
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These 3 excellent and engrossing books are based on the premiss that Putin is a socipathic, kleptomaniac, murderous tyrant. Frankly, until 24th February 2022, a lot of people 'in the know' would have dismissed that premiss as a bit over the top. Not any more they wouldn't.
Well, it seems that Matthews and I guess much of the operational part of the CIA knew this all along, and nobody was really listening.
Other reviewers have complained about the level of detail in which the stories quite often get bogged down, but then spying is all about picking out details that don't quite fit - my feeling was that it is worth bearing with the author. He does dialogue, tension, scene setting and much else really well, he has a deep knowledge of and love for Russian culture, customs and character.
The recipes at the end of many of the chapters are a nice touch, but he doesn't seem to have heard of the adage that 'less is more'. In my view it would have been stronger if he had confined himself to the Russian recipes which, it has to be said, are dlights of brevity and conciseness.

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Prakash Keswani
Fabulous
Reviewed in India on May 3, 2020
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I watched the movie first on a TV channel and got inspired to read the book. Although I liked the movie initially, I got disappointed with it as I progressed with the book. Why are the movie makers in a great rush to finish off the movie in two-odd hours? They can make the movie in two or three parts to include all the finer things mentioned in the book, including some great conversations. Why do they forget the success of Godfather, which essentially followed the book as it was narrated. The best thing that happened to the movie was Jennifer Lawrence though. I have rarely seen a performance as good as Dominika in recent times. But the many changes in the movie (eg. Helsinki replaced by Budapest, SWAN and the first Russian mole merged into a single character, MARBLE replaced by Vanya Egorov in the end during the swap, after being cleverly framed by Dominika) were uncalled for. In the book, it is the deceitful murder of MARBLE in the end which is going to strongly motivate Dominika to play the mole at the Centre for the long years ahead. The movie ending was a revenge by Dominika against her uncle for all the things he had put her through. The book ending was a professional reality serving long time interests of a nation (US) ignoring sentiments of personal vendetta.
Jason Mathews is a great writer and has given fantastic insights into how recruitment & counter intelligence operates in the world of espionage.

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scribe765
A Great Spy Trilogy!!
Reviewed in Canada on March 14, 2018
Verified Purchase
I just finished reading the Red Sparrow trilogy and I'm leaving my review here for those thinking about buying the first installment. This is, by far, the best set of spy novels I've read. They're beautifully written, well-researched, informative, perfectly paced, suspenseful, and full of surprises. I particularly like his use of dialogue, which was refreshingly realistic and changed seamlessly among characters. It's obvious that Matthews has drawn upon his long experience in the CIA, which makes his stories seem exceptionally believable. I also enjoyed his sense of humor, sprinkled liberally throughout the three books -- a welcomed counter-balance to some pretty intense scenes.

As others have noted, Matthews employs an expansive vocabulary, but it was easy to check definitions in the Kindle app and I learned many new words along the way. And, yes, he sprinkles the narrative with Russian words and translations to inject a sense of authenticity, I guess, but I just skipped over them. I did find the frequent food references to be forced at times, but they didn't distract from the storytelling. And some of the chapter-ending recipes actually look pretty good, though I doubt I'll try any of them.

Finally, I disagree completely with some reviewers who felt the third installment wasn't as compelling or well-written. I enjoyed it just as much as the first two books, and Matthews did a great job of wrapping up a number of storylines without leaving readers hanging.

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