First published 2011
Someone is systematically murdering CIA operatives in Pakistan. The victims belong to a covert intelligence unit attempting to negotiate peace with America's adversaries. Sophie Marx, a determined CIA officer carrying personal grudges, takes on the investigation. She begins by examining Alphabet Capital, the London hedge fund serving as cover for the secret operation. Her search expands across Middle Eastern capitals and into the dangerous terrain of South Waziristan. Sophie believes she has support from Jeffrey Gertz, her tough superior, and Cyril Hoffman, his friendly mentor at headquarters. A courteous Pakistani lieutenant general from Inter-Services Intelligence also provides assistance. As Sophie closes in on her target, she discovers that appearances deceive in this world of shifting loyalties. The investigation leads her into a realm where violence and revenge rule, culminating in consequences she never anticipated. The story reveals how unchecked government power extracts its payment in human lives, while peace demands the ultimate sacrifice of betrayal.
Genres: mystery, action, espionage, political-thriller
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigation, shifting-loyalties
Setting: London, Middle East, Pakistan, South Waziristan
Period: 21st-century
384 pages · Hardcover · W. W. Norton & Company
Content warnings: violence