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Like a child looking forward to Santa’s arrival, I look forward to the mailman slipping a padded envelope containing a book into my mailbox. My ritual is to get chores done and then open the envelope, cozy up in an easy chair, and crack the cover. When I pulled Austin Camacho’s Russian Roulette out of the envelope, my self-control evaporated. If this was as good as the last one in his Hannibal Jones Mystery Series, the chores would have to wait. Would Camacho’s new book live up to the intrigue I expected? 

Hannibal Jones, a Washington, D.C. troubleshooter, is forced at gunpoint by a Russian assassin, Aleksandr Ivanovich, to investigate a well-connected Algerian with Russian mob connections. The Algerian has designs on Ivanovich’s love interest and Hannibal is ordered to prove the Algerian is not who he pretends to be. If Hannibal fails, the Russian threatens to kill Hannibal’s beloved Cindy Santiago.

As the investigation builds, Hannibal connects the Algerian to the apparent suicide of the father of the woman Ivanovich loves. A rich cast of characters with hidden agendas tangled deep within the Red Mafiya keep the pace moving quickly toward a dramatic shootout.

This is the fifth in the series featuring the easy-going, likable Hannibal Jones. Tough, yet vulnerable, Hannibal survives with a straightforward approach and doesn’t get caught up in the Mike Hammer style of ‘carousing and detecting.’ Clad in his trademark black gloves and sunglasses, he doggedly pursues the mystery behind the Algerian, while he sorts through the lies and secrets held by the Russian Mob.

Author Austin Camacho’s background with the Department of Defense and knowledge of the D.C. area shines through as he lures the reader further into the plot with unexpected developments. Palpable tension keeps the pages turning as Camacho paints settings steeped in Russian old-world tradition, splendor and secrets. His cast of characters performs true to their country’s customs; yet when Camacho tosses unexpected curves, I felt the fear and distrust build among the players. The political intrigue between foreigners in the D.C area was better than a history lesson. 

Self-published books often come with a stigma, but Camacho serves up a well-edited read that shouldn’t deter any mystery addict. Russian Roulette can stand alone without reading the other books in the series, but you’ll be drawn back to learn more about Hannibal Jones. Like James Patterson has built a following with his Alex Cross series, Austin Camacho’s Hannibal Jones draws me back like an old friend. Fans of Patterson and John Sanford will enjoy this series.

I look forward to the next book to find out what takes place between Hannibal and Cindy Santiago.

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