Avenue of Thieves

Ryan Lock #11

by Sean Black

Keep your friends close. . .

. . . and your enemies buried.

They say that behind every great fortune lies an even greater crime. And nowhere was that truer than Russia in the late 1980's. But now the past is about to catch up with one of the world's wealthiest men, and it seems like nothing will save him, or those he loves the most.

The latest thriller featuring military veterans turned troubleshooters-for-hire Ryan Lock and Ty Johnson.

This time they are in New York City, guarding the family of a Russian oligarch whose family is being targeted by shadowy forces that stretch all the way back to the Kremlin.

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2020

About the author

I write the Ryan Lock series of thrillers, which feature ex-military bodyguard Ryan Lock and his partner, former Marine, Ty Johnson. The first two books in the series, Lockdown and Deadlock, hit the Official UK Top 50 Bestseller Chart, and the third, Gridlock, has just been released in hardback. They have have also been translated into Dutch, German, and Russian.

I'm a firm believer in hands-on research, also known as 'any excuse to get out of the house', so before I wrote Lockdown, I trained for a month with former members of the Royal Military Police's specialist close protection unit. That turned out to be great preparation for Deadlock, which I researched by spending time inside Pelican Bay Supermax in California (see the TV interview on my author page). I recently completed a desert survival course in Arizona and ventured into the tunnels under Las Vegas, all as preparation for a new standalone thriller I will begin work on once I have completed the fourth Ryan Lock book.

Before I became a full-time novelist, I taught college and wrote television drama. I'm an Oxbridge and Ivy League graduate – try not to hold that against me.

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why do seemingly good people often feel compelled to steal? Is it the sense of being bad or just being able to get away with it? The higher the stakes, the higher the risk so they say. Ryan & Ty don't give a rat's ass why if it happens to be on their streets, highways, alleyways or in this case avenue.
Watch out wannabees, you will meet your match soon enough. Enjoyed this one, a nice surprise....

[Best Crime Books & More · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of both the author and in particular this series and was looking forward to whatever the next job brought both Lock and Ty. This book had a slightly different twist and was split with flashbacks taking place in Russia in the 1980s. Dimitri Semenov is the main character and as usual with his life on the line Ryan and Ty step in to see what they can do to help.

Sean Blacks last book had a different feel to the earlier books in the series but I absolutely loved it, and again with this book it had a slightly different feel to it using Russia back in the 80s as the flashback scenes. As usual wherever Ty and Lock are, there is usually plenty of action and danger and this book is no different and there is an abundance of both as soon as the book starts.

The book keeps high paced and is full of threads that keep you wondering the outcome all the way through. I thoroughly loved this book as I have all the others, however it seems that the series is working its way to a natural conclusion and for that I will be extremely sad. However, having read other series by this author (such as Byron Tibor) I cannot wait for any future books whether it features Ty and Lock or somebody else. A series and author I would highly recommend.

[Jeff Benham · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1989, Communist Russia has fallen. A lot of hard cases survived. They were a gang called the Vorys. Dimitri Semenov decided this was a good time to begin his empire. It starts with a car which he got by rather devious means in the Avenue Of Thieves. The Vorys controlled that area and were not too happy with what Dimitri did. It didn’t help that he ran down their leader on his way out of Dodge. Several years later, his business partner, Nonel, has made plans for them to escape Russia. She gets delayed and Dimintri has to leave her. She ends up spending 5 years in prison while he is in the US spending his wealth. Now in 2019 Bridgehampton New York Demitri is a billionaire. He has the best security money can buy. That doesn’t help when the security detail car in front of him and in back of him are able to be remote controlled by one of his enemies and they end up in the river. But which enemies? There are several choices for people from his past that might want his money or revenge. Or both. Ryan Lock and Ty Johnson are hired as consultants to go through the security system for breaches. What Dimitri really wants is for them to find whoever is responsible and dispose of them. This is really not their bailiwick, and if it is the Russians, way beyond everything they are set up to do .And there may be a mole in their midst. Maybe Dimitri himself, is controlling the chess board. A lot of action that builds up to an exciting conclusion.

[Robert W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe this is the 11th Ryan Lock book…they never get old and they never disappoint. Sean Black continues to develop the depth of the characters. Ryan and Ty and hired to protect a wealthy Russia-born businessman (not living in the U.S.) and his family. Because of the businessman’s dark past in Russia he continues to be the target of many; the question is who has set him as a target. The story is extremely exciting and full of high-level energy. As always, there are twists and turns and the reader keeps guessing. Mr. Black is especially good at the action scenes. Ty and Ryan take lots of risks and take control as they work to outsmart the negative forces. Another triumph from this award-winning author.

[Gail Hynds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avenue of Thieves is another action packed thriller from Sean Black featuring the duo Ryan Lock and Ty Johnson. The pair is hired by the very rich Russian Oligarch, Dimitri Semenov, to evaluate his security team. As someone is targeting Dimitri’s family and bodyguards, Ryan and Ty must take over security responsibilities and find out who is out to ruin Dimitri and take his money. In this book, we see the tender side of Ty and Ryan at his most vulnerable. The ending is a shocker - don’t miss it!

[K R Angell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent outing for Ryan Lock and Ty Johnson. I love this series and have followed these characters since their inception. Plot is tight with great character development. Sean Black is a great author and always delivers a 5 star thriller! Looking forward to further adventures from this dynamic duo. All in all a brilliant read! Hope this series of books is developed for TV or even the BIG Screen! A BIG Thumbs up from me. Great stuff Sean.

[Alun Humphreys · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great addition to a brilliant series. I haven't read all the Ryan Lock books but what's good about them is that they're easily stand alone stories. Sean's writing is excellent, from the start, the back story of Dimitri Semenov sets up what's to follow. Tension keeps building throughout and that kept me reading. Brilliant book.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot comprehend how Sean Black is not more widely recognised. This is another breathtaking book. The plots are superb, the characters rich and the research amazing. The russian mafia insight was great and the cat and mouse game in the usa sublime. Lock and Johnson have delivered again. I cant wait for The Last Bodyguard.

[Sammye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another action packed thriller in the Ryan Locke & Ty Johnson series. They just keep getting better. There is so much drama and suspense. I was hooked from the beginning to end. Twists and turns throughout. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review

[Jean Brouder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great read from author Sean Black. I have read all his Ryan Lock mysteries and look forward to every new book he writes. I have never been disappointed and highly recommend this book to all avid Thriller readers out there.

[Graham Trelfa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent once again

Two guys you would want to hang out with, two guys you would want as best friends but you would never want to cross.
Once again Sean Black weaves a tale so enthralling you don't want it to end.

[Beach Bum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the usual fast paced story

It dragged, I struggled to keep interested. The story seemed to flow poorly from one scene to the next. Lock & Ty are still interesting characters, but the rest of the book just didn't have the same feel/buzz of previous books

[itchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

titular sentence:
p12: And nowhere were they feared them more than on the Avenue of Thieves, which was where Dimitri now stood, waiting for the delivery of something he knew deep in his bones could transform his life.

Well, there are must be something else he can do.

[Rose Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan Lock is Great

Always enjoyed reading Ryan Lock thrillers. The author, Sean Black has the keen ability to draw the reader into the story line & not let go until the ending.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing short of what I've come to expect from Sean Black and the Ryan Lock series. An excellent page turner experience, Read it!

[Roy Ringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Best

Having read all the Ryan Lock books, I believe this to be one of the best if not the best of them all. I highly recommend reading any of all of the Lock series of books.

[Red Lioness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, I just hope we get more Ryan Lock.

[Jim Shubnell]

Interesting, fast-paced, with mystery and the Russian Mob!

[James Holden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 11 and I started with the first Ryan Lock series a month and a half ago. Without doubt Sean Black writes a great story.