Defectors

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Moscow, the Cold War, 1961. Stalin has been dead for eight years. With the launch of Sputnik, the Soviet Union's international prestige is at an all-time high. Former CIA agent Francis ‘Frank’ Weeks, the most notorious of the defectors to the Soviet Union, is about to publish his memoirs, and what he reveals is reportedly going to send shock waves through the West. Weeks' defection in the early 1950s shook Washington to its core – his betrayal rippled through the State Department, prompting frantic searches for moles and forcing the resignation of Simon, Frank's brother and best friend.
So when a Soviet agency approaches Simon, now a publisher in New York City, with a controversial proposition to publish his brother's memoirs, he finds the offer irresistible since it will finally give him the chance to learn why his brother chose to betray his country. But what he discovers in Moscow is far more than he ever imagined …

I can't express properly how satisfying it is to find not just one good spy/espionage novel...but this is the second book of his that I have read and thoroughly enjoyed them both. There are so many spy thrillers in the market that it does take quite a bit to stand out from the crowd. What does Mr Kanon do to stand out? Let's have a look:

First and foremost, the setting. Moscow in the early 1960's. That isn't unusual in Cold War fiction, but it is the level of detail the author goes to that made me feel like I was "right there", experiencing what was happening as it happened. Some spy novels seem to hold the reader at arms length - wanting to tell the story without getting too intimate with details and historical research. This book nailed all of that.

Secondly, the story of the defectors themselves is at times hopeful, at times harrowing. Life in Russia was tough - even more so as a defector. The Russians kept a very wary on them, and they were certainly treated far differently than they had expected when they crossed over. It is fascinating reading.

Finally, the story of betrayal, and redemption was top notch. Simon has a hard time letting go of his brother's betrayal. For more than a decade his anger has simmered, his disappointment high. Then, while putting together his brothers' memoir, he learns that Frank wants to defect back to the US...nd they must work side by side - in one of the most claustrophobic environments - to secure his brothers safety.

If you are a fan of historical espionage novels, then give this guy a try. Cracking writer who cares about both character and story.


Paul
ARH