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Pushing Brilliance: A heroic quest packed with action, intrigue, and nail-biting suspense (Kyle Achilles Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.4 out of 5 stars 14,153 ratings

He didn't do it

He really didn't.
But proving it,
will be a killer.


Imagine Harrison Ford's THE FUGITIVE meets Tom Clancy's HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
"
The best book I've read, bar none." –Ed Wiseman
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

Framed for murder and on the run, former Olympic biathlete Kyle Achilles is also in the crosshairs of assassins' guns. Why? He has no idea. He's fighting blind against two master strategists and one extraordinary invention--known as Brillyanc.

Achilles' only ally is the other prime suspect, a beautiful Russian mathematician who is either the best or worst person to ever enter his life. Katya was engaged to Achilles' brother -- before he died.

Chasing clues while dodging bullets, Achilles and Katya race around the globe, uncovering a conspiracy conceived in Moscow, born in Silicon Valley, and destined to demolish both the White House and the Kremlin. Along the way a lost soul finds purpose, a broken heart confronts forbidden love, and America gains a new hero.

Packed with heart-stopping surprises, paced by razor-sharp plotting, and populated with richly rendered characters, Pushing Brilliance will leave you breathless and longing for more.
________________________________________

Tim Tigner's books are recommended for fans of David Baldacci, Michael Crichton, Lee Child's
Jack Reacher, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, Nelson DeMille's John Corey, Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp, Mark Greaney's Gray Man, Gregg Hurwitz's Orphan X, Saul Herzog's Lance Spector, Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne, John Sandford's Lucas Davenport, Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon, Jack Slater's Jason Trapp, Brad Taylor's Pike Logan, Brad Thor's Scot Harvath, and Dan Brown's Robert Langdon.

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There are 5 books in this series.

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From the Publisher

Russia has a brilliant plan
America has a hero
Praise for Pushing Brilliance
Time to discover your next favorite author
The Kyle Achilles Series

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of my top 10 books"--Robert Lawrence

"It starts out with a bang and doesn't stop until the end."--Carole Anderson


"I was even getting back out of bed to see what happened."
--Anna Bruns

"I absolutely loved the story. I loved the characters and the author's writing style." --Margaret Lovett

"Achilles is right up there with Steve Berry's Cotton Malone and Brad Thor's Scot Harvath." --Andrew Gelsey

"Once I started reading Pushing Brilliance, I couldn't put it down until I was done." --Kevin Ackerson

"I can definitely see Achilles becoming a huge name in the thriller genre." --Slaven Tomasi, USMC

"Loved it, couldn't put it down. You know what happened, but aren't sure who, how or why."--Doug Branscombe

"Much better than the works of some of Tim Tigner's better known contemporaries."--Alan Vickery

From the Author

Dear Reader,

If you enjoy David Baldacci, Lee Child, Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler, Nelson DeMille, Ken Follett, Vince Flynn, Daniel Silva, Brad Taylor, or Brad Thor, odds are you'll be smiling a few pages into my books as well.

Care to try before you buy? No problem. You can download one my thrillers for free at my website. See my Amazon Author Page for details.

Need help putting the kids through college? I can appreciate that. I have a couple of my own. I'm not in a position to help you with tuition yet, but I can provide days of delightful distraction for the price of a cup of coffee, and kind reviews will get good karma sent your way.

Thanks for your kind consideration,

Tim

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01H9DSUAW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vontiv Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 14, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.8 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 430 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1535060233
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 5 ‏ : ‎ Kyle Achilles
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 14,153 ratings

About the author

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Tim Tigner
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International Bestselling Author Tim Tigner began his career in Soviet Counterintelligence with the US Army Special Forces, the Green Berets. That was back in the Cold War days when, "We learned Russian so you didn't have to," something he did at the Presidio of Monterey alongside Recon Marines and Navy SEALs.

With the fall of the Berlin Wall, Tim switched from espionage to arbitrage. Armed with a Wharton MBA rather than a Colt M16, he moved to Moscow in the midst of Perestroika. There, he led prominent multinational medical companies, worked with cosmonauts on the MIR Space Station (from Earth, alas), chaired the Association of International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, and helped write Russia's first law on healthcare.

Moving to Brussels during the formation of the EU, Tim ran Europe, Middle East, and Africa for a Johnson & Johnson company and traveled like a character in a Robert Ludlum novel. He eventually landed in Silicon Valley, where he launched new medical technologies as a startup CEO.

In his free time, Tim has climbed the peaks of Mount Olympus, hang glided from the cliffs of Rio de Janeiro, and ballooned over Belgium. He earned scuba certification in Turkey, learned to ski in Slovenia, and ran the Serengeti with a Maasai warrior. He acted on stage in Portugal, taught negotiations in Germany, and chaired a healthcare conference in Holland. Tim studied psychology in France, radiology in England, and philosophy in Greece. He has enjoyed ballet at the Bolshoi, the opera on Lake Como, and the symphony in Vienna. He's been a marathoner, paratrooper, triathlete, and yogi.

Intent on combining his creativity with his experience, Tim began writing thrillers in 1996 from an apartment overlooking Moscow's Gorky Park. Twenty years later, his passion for creative writing continues to grow every day. His home office now overlooks a vineyard in Northern California.

Tim grew up in the Midwest, and graduated from Hanover College in 1990 with a BA in Philosophy and Mathematics. After military service and work as a financial analyst and foreign-exchange trader, he earned an MBA in Finance and an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton and Lauder schools on a full-ride scholarship.

Thank you for taking the time to read about the author. Tim is most grateful for his loyal fans, and loves to correspond with readers like you. You are welcome to reach him through his website timtigner.

_________________

Tim's series books all work well as stand alone novels, and will be enjoyed in any order.

THE KYLE ACHILLES SERIES:

1) Pushing Brilliance

2) The Lies of Spies

2.5) Chasing Ivan—a prequel novella

3) Falling Stars

4) Twist and Turn

5) Boundless Ambition

STAND ALONE THRILLERS, listed below in the order written:

- Coercion

- Betrayal

- Flash

- The Price of Time

- Stolen Thoughts

- Twisted Lives

- The Greater Good

LITERARY FICTION:

- Leonardo and Gabriel

MEMOIR:

- What New Hell Next? One Thriller Writer's Personal Horror Story.

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Tim wrote four children's books under the pen name I.C. Snuu

- The Snuuville Surprise

- Adventures in Animal Repair

- Lazy Birds

- The Secret of Snuus

Click FOLLOW above and never miss a new release.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
14,153 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a page-turning adventure with plenty of twists and turns, featuring well-developed characters that readers can easily picture. The writing is well-crafted with flawless grammar and punctuation, and the story moves quickly while being well-researched. Customers appreciate the book's creativity, with one review highlighting its intriguing exploration of enhanced intelligence.

629 customers mention "Plot"587 positive42 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, describing it as a fast-paced tale with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing.

"I really enjoyed this book! Lots of great plot twists, feels very realistic. Good characters and good ending...." Read more

"This is a refreshingly good beginning to what I hope will become a cut-above political/secret agent/thriller series...." Read more

"...shot at enhanced intelligence (the IQ kind) and you have a truly engaging story. Clean, no gratuitous sex or swearing. Refreshing." Read more

"...From here, the story moves faster than a James Bond film, with slick transitions between Russia and the U.S. without concerns about time zones, jet..." Read more

541 customers mention "Readability"541 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as one of the best they've read in years that provides hours of entertainment.

"I really enjoyed this book! Lots of great plot twists, feels very realistic. Good characters and good ending...." Read more

"Inventive ideas And makes for interesting reading...." Read more

"great read" Read more

"...Naturally, this plan, and specifically the drug itself, are worth killing for, and Kyle Achilles, the book’s central character, finds himself..." Read more

241 customers mention "Character development"220 positive21 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly the compelling portrayal of Kyle Achilles and how readers can easily picture the characters.

"...Lots of great plot twists, feels very realistic. Good characters and good ending. Looking forward to the next in the series." Read more

"...What makes this book refreshing is the fact that the central characters are more intelligent than the usual ex-CIA/ex-SF/super killer heroes in a..." Read more

"Think it couldn't happen? A very entertaining read, with believable characters, lots of action and intrigue, and a plot that could easily be..." Read more

"...Achilles is an interesting hero with well developed physical skills including extreme climbing...." Read more

221 customers mention "Writing quality"205 positive16 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its flawless grammar and punctuation, and find it an enjoyable easy read.

"...the author’s appealing writing style and his nearly perfect use of correct grammar (something about which I am a fanatic), I find his propensity to..." Read more

"...This was well written so I would probably read more in this series." Read more

"...trite or forced in order to do all of this, but the author pulls it off with brilliance (no pun intended)...." Read more

"...It was a quick read, but appropriately set the stage for super spy, Kyle Achilles. His story continued in Pushing Brilliance. What a unique plot!..." Read more

167 customers mention "Pacing"146 positive21 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, describing it as fast-moving and smooth, with one customer noting how the information flows at the necessary speed.

"...between Russia and the U.S. without concerns about time zones, jet lag, or TSA security...." Read more

"...But it's timely, and it centers on a product created by the Russians that enhances mental acuity significantly...." Read more

"...of the author's books, he keeps the tension high and the action at a breathtaking pace...." Read more

"...I recommend the Kyle Achilles series to anyone looking for a fast-paced, creative story about an American badass who saves the world, (maybe) gets..." Read more

98 customers mention "Information quality"95 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's well-researched content and interesting concepts, with one customer highlighting its exploration of enhanced intelligence.

"...Yes, he is highly trained and capable of taking care of business, and he has access to information that allows him to go where other people can’t..." Read more

"...He had no choice. Throw in a beautiful lady and an intriguing shot at enhanced intelligence (the IQ kind) and you have a truly engaging story...." Read more

"...huge leverage in world politics; he has access to a drug which enhances one's IQ, actually boosts it by at least 20 points, and the Russian..." Read more

"...recruiting people to use a new drug named brillyanc that enhances cognitive skills and makes the user pretty much the smartest person in the room...." Read more

74 customers mention "Development"54 positive20 negative

Customers praise the development of the book, describing it as well-constructed and upstanding, with one customer noting the quality of the proofing and editing.

"Nicely done. Ex CIA operative goes rogue for the right reasons. He had no choice...." Read more

"...It starts early and seldom slackens. And each time you believe Tigner is about to wrap up this tale, our protagonists meet another challenge...." Read more

"...The book isn’t perfect, however. First, the basic mechanism by which the drug operates, as presented here, is preposterous...." Read more

"...The plot is exciting and wonderfully constructed, leading us across the globe from east and west USA to the center of government in Russia...." Read more

66 customers mention "Creativity"59 positive7 negative

Customers appreciate the book's creativity, describing it as fiendishly clever and original, with one customer highlighting its good similes.

"I really enjoyed this book! Lots of great plot twists, feels very realistic. Good characters and good ending...." Read more

"Inventive ideas And makes for interesting reading...." Read more

"...He is joined by Katya, a stunningly beautiful mathematician who was for a few hours engaged to Achilles’ brother...." Read more

"...Tim Tigner put together a really clever, unique, and intense storyline in a short-chapter format that would often have me trying to squeeze in one..." Read more

I have a new favorite author in TIM TIGNER
5 out of 5 stars
I have a new favorite author in TIM TIGNER
I have a new favorite author in TIM TIGNER. His character KYLE ACHILLES is one tough don of a gun and the action is great. I will be following your exciting career Mr. Tigner with interest and pleasure. Thanks so much.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this book! Lots of great plot twists, feels very realistic. Good characters and good ending. Looking forward to the next in the series.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Inventive ideas And makes for interesting reading. Sometimes I feel like the storyline gets bogged down But not too badly So I still read every story I have seen of his
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    great read
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is a refreshingly good beginning to what I hope will become a cut-above political/secret agent/thriller series. It is an exceptionally well written book with a character who is more believable than a lot of the super heroes in books of this genre.

    Briefly: A Russian guy proposes a plan to that country’s president involving a pharmaceutical agent developed in secret by companies there and in America. The plan, if successful, would eliminate the American president, create zillions of dollars in profit, and place the American government under Russia’s thumb. Naturally, this plan, and specifically the drug itself, are worth killing for, and Kyle Achilles, the book’s central character, finds himself framed for the murder of members of his family who were involved in the development of the drug.

    Achilles (never called Kyle) ends up in jail for months while his defense half-heartedly attempts to find evidence to exonerate him. He then, through a series of interesting events, goes on his own mission to find out why his family was killed and why someone is attempting to kill him as well. He travels back and forth between Russia and America and meets people who are not what they seem. He is joined by Katya, a stunningly beautiful mathematician who was for a few hours engaged to Achilles’ brother. Along the way they meet various allies and enemies, many of whom get killed. In a race against time, they find their way under the cloak of secrecy, get close to the leaders of the conspiracy, and, with minutes to spare, save the day.

    What makes this book refreshing is the fact that the central characters are more intelligent than the usual ex-CIA/ex-SF/super killer heroes in a lot of similar books. Yes, he is highly trained and capable of taking care of business, and he has access to information that allows him to go where other people can’t and solve the mystery, but he doesn’t come off as your average head knocker. Further, Katya is a genius and her friends are on the same level. These people are a notch above the average meatheads. The way they go about solving the mystery is natural and logical, they find themselves in real danger, and they suffer like regular people. And the bad guys (mostly) are believable and competent as well.

    The book isn’t perfect, however. First, the basic mechanism by which the drug operates, as presented here, is preposterous. And some (but not all) of the mechanics surrounding its development and implementation border on science fiction. Nevertheless, a novel by definition is not fact, and once the premise is presented and the book gets going, it is easy to suspend your belief in fact and enjoy the story.

    Second, there are multiple loose ends and avenues which are not thoroughly explored. For instance, Achilles is supposed to be an Olympic biathlete champion, but nothing in the story makes use of that. Also, the consequences for Russian president Korovin and other key characters are not revealed. Certain aspects reflect the author’s own life but do not further the story. And while I applaud the author’s appealing writing style and his nearly perfect use of correct grammar (something about which I am a fanatic), I find his propensity to divide the story into so many chapters distracting. The Kindle version of this book has 384 pages and 122 chapters, resulting in an average chapter length of 3.14 pages. This makes for choppy reading as the chapter breaks arrive in unnatural locations. I suspect this sacrifice in readability in deference to ‘pi’ may in fact be a nod to Katya’s profession, in which case the short chapters are the book equivalent of an Easter egg. Or maybe it’s just coincidence.

    Anyway, I plan to continue the series. I highly recommend this book.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Nicely done. Ex CIA operative goes rogue for the right reasons. He had no choice. Throw in a beautiful lady and an intriguing shot at enhanced intelligence (the IQ kind) and you have a truly engaging story. Clean, no gratuitous sex or swearing. Refreshing.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The book begins with a Russian operative gaining an audience with the Russian president and presenting him with a proposition which will give his huge leverage in world politics; he has access to a drug which enhances one's IQ, actually boosts it by at least 20 points, and the Russian president is "intrigued" by the possibilities. This is followed by a celebration in California of the retirement of Kyle Achilles's father, and those first introductions to the cast of characters are first rate; we meet the villains, the brother, the brother's fiancee, the rest of the family, and all seems well with the story development. Then the narrative changes from third person to first person, with Kyle (who generally goes only by his last name) doing the narration. Kyle has spent the night in a hotel room frolicking with a female server from the retirement dinner, and is awakened by police who accuse him of murdering his family so that he can gain sole control over his father's $10 million fortune. OK so far; international intrigue, good motive for murder, likely suspect. But then the story goes of the rails for a while. Achilles is arraigned and bound over without bail for months while his lawyers prepare his case; however, it appears that his lawyers really are NOT preparing a defense, and someone actually wants Achilles dead. Suddenly, he is transferred from prison into FBI custody - only it's not the FBI that picks him up.It seems Achilles previously had been a member of a clandestine government team which handled "concerns" for whatever government agency needed them, and he somehow had arranged for member of that team to impersonate FBI agents and spring him from jail so that he can do his own investigation into the deaths of his family and try to learn who wanted all of them dead. Now Achilles flies off to Russia to find a connection to the murder of his family and links up with his now dead brother's former fiancee. From here, the story moves faster than a James Bond film, with slick transitions between Russia and the U.S. without concerns about time zones, jet lag, or TSA security. Achilles and the girl move freely from place to place, killing off bad guys and outsmarting law enforcement and lawyers along the way.

    It's not a bad first book, but Anne Fox needs to spend time developing her storyline and making it more believable.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Nicola C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and very interesting page-turner
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 31, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Holiday reading, kept me engrossed and hated putting the book down. Loved the characters and also the authors obvious knowledge of his subject matter which made you believe you were also learning something and broadening your horizons. Fabulous twists and turns, totally recommend this author.
  • John Pihlman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome thriller
    Reviewed in Germany on July 3, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Great plot and the author keeps you in suspense until the last page!
  • RJN
    5.0 out of 5 stars A TOUGH BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN YARN, PLUS A GORGEOUS CHIC WITH ACTION APLENTY. SO WHATS NOT TO LIKE?
    Reviewed in Canada on October 8, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Well I must say this is the second Tim Tigner book I've read which has genuinely impressed me. Kyle Achilles, our hero here, joins with a beautiful Russian mathametician, Katya, to run to ground the producers and sellers of an extremely expensive new experimental black market drug called brillyanc which will add 20 points to the recipients IQ. Pretty nifty, eh. So - If you have a 140 IQ putting you at a 1 in 200 people intelligence level, imagine going up to 160 jumping you into the 1 in 20,000 category. Where was this when I was in school? Anyway, this is a brilliantly designed story that'll have you all over the world, intrigue to no end, and a completely logical deduction process buried in a bit of everything to whet your appitite. The exceptionally beautiful math whiz is just the icing on the cake. The fact that Kyles mother, father, and younger brother, Katya's fiance', are murdered with Kyle the fall guy, sure sets the tone of this imaginative yarn right from the getgo. And the story just gets better and better. An easy to follow thriller to get totally immersed in.
  • Dan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting
    Reviewed in Australia on April 30, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am glad to find a new character and series to follow and read
  • Placeholder
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!!
    Reviewed in India on July 18, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Fantastic storytelling. Loved the way he writes. As a mad fan of Jack Reacher, I have found something quite similar in his style of writing. Super engaging. Look forward to reading this series now

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