Publisher's Blurb:
ALL YOUR LIFE YOU’RE CIA.
THEN YOU’RE NOT.
A Russian arrives in Singapore with a secret to sell. When the Russian is killed and Sam Joseph, the CIA officer dispatched for the meet, goes missing, Artemis Procter is made a scapegoat and run out of the service. Traded back in a spy swap, Sam appears at Procter’s central Florida doorstep months later with an explosive secret: there is a Russian mole hidden deep within the upper reaches of CIA.
As Procter and Sam investigate, they arrive at a shortlist of suspects made up of both Procter’s closest friends and fiercest enemies. The hunt soon requires Procter to dredge up her own checkered past in service of CIA, placing her and Sam into the sights of a savvy Russian spymaster who will protect Moscow’s mole in Langley at all costs, even if it means wreaking bloody havoc across the United States.
Bouncing between the corridors of Langley and the Kremlin, the thrilling new novel by David McCloskey explores the nature of friendship in a faithless business, and what it means to love a place that does not love you back.
My thoughts:
I absolutely loved David McCloskey's previous thrillers, set in the murky world of the CIA and double-crossing international espionage, and this, third book doesn't fail to disappoint. Taking an edgier slant than previous, this focuses on one of my favourite characters, Proctor, and her desperate battle to uncover a mole at the heart of the organisation. Anyone who has read previous books featuring this maverick spy will know she's not exactly a 'by-the-books' kind of gal...and thus her descent into despair and obsession with uncovering the truth behind failed missions, leaked secrets and betrayal is anything but routine!
Featuring violent retribution, stunning plot twists and background about Proctor's career, I absolutely loved this, and can't wait for more. Fans of Mick Herron won't be disappointed - this is top rate, engaging, exciting espionage writing, with just the right mix of true tradecraft and almost-unbelievable action to make it a gripping read. Brilliant!
Check out other stops on the blogtour for more content and thoughts about this superb spy story:
My thanks to Rachel and publisher Swift Press for the gifted copy of the book to review and brilliant ARC package - I felt like a proper secret agent opening it! Possibly the best promotional box/package I've got as a blogger/reviewer!
Find out more and order a copy via the publisher's website:
Post by Rich Simpson (@richreadalot) February 2025
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