Russian Resurgence: A Craig Page Thriller

The global ambitions of Russian president Fyodor Kuznov drive Topol’s lackluster sixth Carter Page thriller (after 2016’s The Italian Divide). Kuznov intends to use Hungary, whose prime minister is a key ally, as a stepping-stone to dominating Central Europe. An obstacle to Kuznov’s plan is wealthy Hungarian patriot Peter Toth, a survivor of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, who now lives in Washington, D.C. Kuznov sends a team of assassins to Toth’s home, but when Nick, Toth’s 12-year-old orphaned grandson, realizes that an attack is under way, he flees, as his grandfather had carefully instructed him to do in such an emergency. Instructions left in a small case tell Nick how to get to Paris, where he’s to meet Emma Miller, who can help him. When the boy reaches Paris, he finds Emma is dead, but he’s rescued by Page’s lover, journalist Elizabeth Crowder. Page, a former CIA director, ends up protecting Nick from Kuznov’s minions while pursuing a terrorist with whom he ultimately has a brutal confrontation. Topol pulls off one big surprise in an otherwise formulaic story. Agent: Pam Ahearn, Ahearn Agency. (May)