Red Star Down is a pacy, conspiracy-driven spy thriller that grips from the very first page and doesn’t let go. D.B. John spins a story that feels both larger-than-life and terrifyingly plausible, weaving real-world figures—Donald Trump, Kim Jong-un, Vladimir Putin—into a taut narrative of espionage, betrayal, and political brinkmanship.
The plot unfolds with cinematic flair: a North Korean assassination in Kuala Lumpur, a Russian intelligence hit in D.C., and the dawning of a new U.S. presidency that threatens to upend the global order. At the heart of the chaos are three unforgettable characters—Jenna, a CIA operative haunted by her past; Lyosha, a brave student whose defiance of Putin changes his life forever; and Eric, a North Korean spy embedded in the White House, torn between duty and unexpected loyalty.
The twists are sharp, the stakes are global, and the tension is relentless. What makes this novel so compelling is how closely it hugs reality—events and characters are fictionalized, but never feel far from the truth. It’s a smart, timely page-turner that would make a phenomenal movie or Netflix series.
I tore through this and was left hoping for a sequel featuring the same cast of characters. Fans of modern spy thrillers—especially those with a political edge—should not miss this.
