by Mark McShane
First published 1983
Apple Porter stands six feet seven inches tall and blushes at the worst possible moments for a spy. The intelligence operative faces his most delicate mission yet when he must convince a touring group of Russian musicians to abandon their homeland. Porter knows that one wrong move could destroy months of careful planning. The musicians carry their own secrets and loyalties that complicate his straightforward assignment. Each conversation becomes a chess match where Porter must balance charm and coercion. His unusual height makes him memorable in all the wrong ways, while his tendency to redden under pressure threatens to expose his true intentions. The Russians prove more sophisticated than his handlers anticipated, forcing Porter to improvise beyond his training. As the mission unfolds, Porter discovers that defection involves more than switching sides. The musicians must weigh their artistic freedom against family ties and political consequences that could follow them anywhere.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, espionage, political-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Russia
Period: 20th-century
Hardcover · Doubleday