First published 1997
Eric Truell sits at his desk at the New York Times Mirror, riding high on his latest prize-winning story. The scoop came from his CIA contact, a maverick willing to leak secrets that make careers. Truell knows the rules about keeping distance from intelligence agencies, but when his source offers another explosive lead, the temptation proves too strong. The information could launch another major story, the kind that separates good reporters from great ones. Truell takes the bait, even knowing he enters dangerous ground. His source feeds him dynamic intelligence that could reshape his career or destroy it entirely. Each leak pulls him deeper into a world where journalists become pawns and sources become handlers. The pursuit of the perfect story drives Truell forward, but some roads lead beyond professional ruin to something far worse. In this game between reporters and spooks, the stakes climb higher than bylines and Pulitzer prizes.
Genres: fiction, mystery, crime, contemporary, thriller, espionage
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: deception, high-stakes, moral-dilemma
Setting: New York
Period: 21st-century
466 pages · Paperback · Headline Book Publishing