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JO CALMAN
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Author, novelist. Writer of the Crossed Lines thriller series and Viktor - a haunted spy, a cold war novel based on a true story. All this coming soon, and more....
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In the early 1980s the world was on the brink of a nuclear Armageddon. Trust between the USA and the Soviet Union was at an all-time low, suspicion and fear ruled as each side believed that the other was planning an imminent attack. Against this background Viktor Gumnov, a KGB officer, is sent with his family on a secret mission to Washington charged with the task of finding a way in which the Soviet Union could win such a war.
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While there Viktor comes to the conclusion that if the American people could be provoked into mass panic, it would be possible to initiate a series of manufactured natural disaster to take out most key parts of the eastern United Staes.
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Despite planning America’s defeat, his fear that a forthcoming NATO exercise would be seen by Moscow as cover for a genuine attack prompts Viktor to try to get a vital message to the Soviet leadership. He emphasises that his well-placed contacts insist that the NATO exercise is just that, not cover for the real thing. Moscow is sceptical but the world survives.
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Based on a true story, this is a tale of high-stakes espionage as it really happened, and of how a potential global catastrophe was averted. It is a human story of courage and ingenuity, and a quest for understanding.
First pre-publication review
29/10/2025
by @emma_bookaholic : Huge thank you to @jocalmanbooks for sending me a #gifted copy of your book!
ðŸ’What a book! This is different to my usual reads but I really enjoyed the concept of it. A Russian spy with a secret to keep, political but also looking out for his family. Viktor has to be careful, he's listening to things, making notes but can he be careful enough to not get caught before the information gets back to his higher-ups?
I like the idea that this had spies and NATO ties, it is suspenseful at times and kept me engaged - I didn't want it to end.
The chat about the tsunami was interesting, how they happen, when and where they could occur and their consequences. Scary times!
I like stories that are based from true stories and I think that helps it to be more believable.
First 5-star review and rating from Troubador
11/11/2025
Paul Reither:
Two days ago my copy of Victor arrived and i had to read it almost at once. Very well written story, exciting, deep understanding of the authors and highly relevant. Need to get the other books :)