by Norman Ohler
First published 2020
Aleksei Volkov is an infiltrator, a Soviet spy embedded deep within the ranks of the CIA. His life is a delicate balancing act, as he risks everything to feed Moscow intelligence while keeping his true identity hidden. But when a fellow agent is killed, Aleksei's carefully constructed web of lies begins to unravel. Forced to question his allegiances, he must outmaneuver ruthless KGB operatives and American handlers alike, all while the threat of exposure looms. In this high-stakes game of espionage, the lines between duty and betrayal blur, and Aleksei's only hope of survival may lie in playing both sides against the middle.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, mystery, thriller, 21st-century, espionage
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: double-agent, enemies-to-lovers, high-stakes
Setting: CIA, Moscow, Soviet Union
Period: Cold War
320 pages · Hardcover · Atlantic Books