- The Asset (Lance Spector Thrillers Book 1)

I am enjoying reading this series by Saul Herzog. Fast paced and riveting from Book 1 through 7. Reading book 8 soon. I hope he continues to develop this series. The characters are well-developed. Haven’t read anything this exciting in a while. This series would make great movies. Nine books are not enough.

Very well written book with narration from various character’s perspectives. Unlike some books, The Asset jumps from one main character to the next. It does not only focus on the main character’s activities. There is a lot of action and thoughtful plots that I could easily picture Hollywood starting a movie series based on this book.

This is a compelling story, very well-written and filled with colorful characters, depth of plot, and satisfying action. As an avid reader of espionage thrillers, I consider Herzog up with the best of authors of the genre, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

I somehow doubt that the CIA actually has a policy of killing off their own secret agents once their usefulness expires, and I also find it hard to believe that infiltrating Russia's most secure buildings would be quite as easy as depicted in the book. However, apart from a few stretches of the imagination like these, there is a lot to the story that does ring true, and the action and suspense is constant from page 1. The Americans are the good guys (mostly), and the Russians are the bad guys (with some notable exceptions), so make sure you're OK with that before starting. Most of the tension does get resolved rather satisfyingly at the end of the book, but not quite all, thus teasing the reader to purchase Book 2. There is some violence, torture and hinted sensuality, but nothing very graphic. All in all, a very enjoyable read! Here is my detailed review: Main hero: 5 stars Heroines: 5 stars Plot: 4 stars Writing style: 5 stars Suspense: 4 stars Romance: 1 stars Ending: partial cliffhanger Would I read another book by this author? I already bought Book 2...

The Asset delivers exactly what I was hoping for after reading The Russian first: a sharp, fast-moving thriller that establishes the DNA of the Lance Spector character and the world he operates in. Having started with The Russian (Book 2), I went back to Book 1 to see how it all began. While I was initially a bit less intrigued by the central premise—a virus-driven threat that can feel overused today—it’s worth noting this book was written years ago, before the trope became saturated. In that context, it works, and more importantly, it doesn’t slow the story down. What The Asset does exceptionally well: • Pacing: Tight, efficient, and propulsive. No wasted pages. • Intrigue & Mystery: The tension builds steadily, with enough twists to keep you turning pages. • Character Foundation: Lance Spector is already fully formed—dangerous, disciplined, and compelling. • Sexual Tension: Well-executed and adds depth without becoming gratuitous. While the premise didn’t hook me quite as immediately as The Russian, the execution absolutely delivered the same level of suspense and momentum. Herzog’s writing keeps the stakes high and the narrative moving, which is ultimately what matters in a thriller. Bottom line: The Asset is a strong opener that rewards readers who start mid-series and then circle back. It confirmed my interest in Lance Spector as a character—and I’ll definitely continue on to Book 3 to see where his work, tradecraft, and personal edges take him next.

I swear 2 different people wrote this and it seems so obvious with the character developments. The Russian story is fantastic, grabs your attention immediately and continues until the end. The Montana / agent story is so basic and dry it's almost like a teenager wrote it. You will roll your eyes with disappointment at the Hollywood predictability of Spector. Wish I knew who "Saul" really was so I could go read the other stuff they wrote. Sadly I will not read any more of Lance Spector series.

This book is the beginning of a great series. The author sets up the plot to keep your interest, and you can't wait to read the next one.

This was a fun spy thriller with heart stopping twists throughout the book. Great character development, research of locations and facilities. I can't wait to start book 2!

Nice spy thriller that keeps u tied in till the end. Has a bit of historical truth to it. Recommended.

What a ripper of a yarn. Couldn't put it down from go to whoa. The characters were well drawn and the plot believable. And, glory be, no long passages describing the scenery, flashbacks to things totally unrelated to the storyline, or any other unconnected issues that only serve to fill up the pages, all of which are always guaranteed to make me close up shop. In this one there was action on every page. Great stuff! This was my first Saul Herzog book. Can't wait to get on to the next one in this series.

Great opening book, in which the author develops complex characters but also unravels a strong and worryingly believable plot. I value the research behind the detail and flawed yet relatable characters that rely as much on the incompetence of their opponents as their own planning and skill. Captures ongoing Cold War tensions beautifully.

The first impression is not bad. But. Gaps, holes and sloppiness. Characters description seems swinging in the wind without firm center. What happened to Sophia and Olga, both played rather important roles in the book 1, escaped from Russia to the USA with a CIA agent? What happened to Sophia's cat? After reunion with Sophia, was it left in that apartment with two corpses, or dumped on the street in the middle of winter? Winter in Russia? And more. What happened to the second vial of virus which was a deathly threat to whole human being? After being picked up, no mention about it. Not a word from the person who picked it up, or from anyone at all. Did it disappear into the thin air? Or what? Now into the end of book 2, I am losing patience to keep reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. You feel that the author knows the former Soviet Union, Moscow, the details of now Russian political investigation techniques and deception. He mixes elementary psychology about women in the forefront. I couldn’t let the book down...and will definitely continue the series. Than you, Author Herzog