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Rating: 5 out of 5.

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ASIN B091XZV1D3

Pub date January 4, 2022

Price $5.99 (USD) Kindle edition, $17.99 Hardcover, $11.99 Paperback

Set against the backdrop of Capella, the storm that ravaged northern Europe in 1976, Fewston’s second installment in the series of three interconnected novels takes readers on an exhilarating journey of the former CIA agent John Lockwood on the hunt of a shady figure. Living under a new name, John is in East Berlin now and is on the trail of the shadowy Heads of Leonidas, a covert organization on his list since his Tehran days. When twenty-year-old Nina moves in next door, the two form an easy friendship. But John’s troubled past comes to haunt him once again. With poise and skill, Fewston navigates the psychological and physical terrain of this tale of love, passion, duty, regret, divided loyalties, and betrayal. The novel is vintage espionage, with a fine plot, consistent suspense, and a sympathetic hero. John makes for a great protagonist; he is bothered by his troubled past but he loses no sleep over it. There are many tangled strands to unravel for both John and the reader, and heavy tension remains in the background, with almost all of the characters’ motives remaining hidden. Fewston mostly relies on dialogue to tell the story, which slows the pacing, but the vivid setting, well-drawn characters, and fascinating premise keep the reader invested. This subtly romanticized treatment of compromised lives makes for a must-read for lovers of slow-burning literary historical thrillers.

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