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The Helsinki Affair
CIA agent Amanda Cole is thrust into an international conspiracy involving high-profile assassinations and Russian blackmail. It
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s the case of her lifetime, but solving it might require her to betray another spy—who just so happens to be her father.
Amanda Cole is a brilliant young CIA agent, following in the footsteps of her father Charlie. But Amanda’s posting in Rome is a sleepy one. She’s listless and looking for action when, on a hot summer day, it walks right through her door. A lowly Russian operative is desperate, telling her that a US Senator is about to be assassinated on an overseas trip to Cairo. Amanda believes he’s telling the truth, but her superiors do not, and they determine that the best course of action is no action at all.
But when the assassination occurs, Amanda is suddenly thrust into an international conspiracy as she tries to find out why the senator was killed. What did he know that made him a target of the KGB and the Kremlin? Amanda pairs up with fast-talking, take-no-bullshit Kath, a brash older woman, and legendary spy, to get to the bottom of the case. The investigation takes them from Rome to London to Moscow to Helsinki.
As Amanda and Kath get closer to solving a case that involves double agents, blackmailed CEOs, illegal arms transfers, yachting oligarchs, and more, one question keeps coming back to haunt Amanda: why was her father’s name written down in the senator’s notes, notes that he seemed to be putting together right before he died? In order to get to the bottom of this international plot of blackmail, murder, and lies, Amanda must decide where her loyalty lies: with her country or with her family.
The Helsinki Affair is Pitoniak’s entrée into the genre of full-fledged spy fiction. This explosive novel is for fans of the masters of the genre—John Le Carre and Alan Furst—but will also introduce Pitoniak as a singular new talent in the world of female-centric spy fiction.
Amanda Cole is a brilliant young CIA agent, following in the footsteps of her father Charlie. But Amanda’s posting in Rome is a sleepy one. She’s listless and looking for action when, on a hot summer day, it walks right through her door. A lowly Russian operative is desperate, telling her that a US Senator is about to be assassinated on an overseas trip to Cairo. Amanda believes he’s telling the truth, but her superiors do not, and they determine that the best course of action is no action at all.
But when the assassination occurs, Amanda is suddenly thrust into an international conspiracy as she tries to find out why the senator was killed. What did he know that made him a target of the KGB and the Kremlin? Amanda pairs up with fast-talking, take-no-bullshit Kath, a brash older woman, and legendary spy, to get to the bottom of the case. The investigation takes them from Rome to London to Moscow to Helsinki.
As Amanda and Kath get closer to solving a case that involves double agents, blackmailed CEOs, illegal arms transfers, yachting oligarchs, and more, one question keeps coming back to haunt Amanda: why was her father’s name written down in the senator’s notes, notes that he seemed to be putting together right before he died? In order to get to the bottom of this international plot of blackmail, murder, and lies, Amanda must decide where her loyalty lies: with her country or with her family.
The Helsinki Affair is Pitoniak’s entrée into the genre of full-fledged spy fiction. This explosive novel is for fans of the masters of the genre—John Le Carre and Alan Furst—but will also introduce Pitoniak as a singular new talent in the world of female-centric spy fiction.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2023
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About the author
Anna Pitoniak
6books628followersAnna Pitoniak is the author of The Futures, Necessary People, Our American Friend, and the forthcoming The Helsinki Affair (November 2023). She graduated from Yale, where she majored in English and was an editor at the Yale Daily News. She worked for many years in book publishing, most recently as a Senior Editor at Random House. Anna grew up in Whistler, British Columbia, and now lives in New York City and East Hampton, NY.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,091 reviews
October 6, 2023
I’m not a big fan of thrillers, but I am a fan of Anna Pitoniak. So, I was interested to see what she would do next. But I found this mildly unsatisfying.
This thriller starts in Rome, when deputy station chief Amanda Cole interviews a lowly GRU operative who states a US senator is going to be assassinated in Cairo. Of course, her boss blows her off. And then the senator dies. Amanda is thrust into the investigation, trying to unravel the conspiracy behind the murder. She is promoted to station chief and teamed with Kath, an older agent.
I adored Kath. She’s a take no prisoners, get out of my way, kind of person. I would have loved to have seen more of her. But, in a different way, Amanda is also a strong, gutsy spy. Much younger, she’s got the ability to read people and more importantly, is not afraid to make the tough decisions. The story goes back and forth in time between Amanda’s current operation and her father’s time as a spy in Helsinki in the 1980s. Both stories involve double crosses, traitors and the whole trust factor. I got a kick out of some of the comments about female spies from both timelines. The family connection makes the two different timelines work.
I found way too many parts of this story unbelievable. Stock exchange manipulations being used to blackmail greedy American execs totally ignores the fact businesses have boards of directors. Or why is Amanda as Rome’s station chief, doing undercover work in London? And why did the 1980s Helsinki office have so much sensitive info about Afghanistan operations? And the biggest of all, was Charlie really that obtuse? But I found the characters extremely interesting and realistic, especially when it comes to the whole guilt factor.
I also was disappointed by the ending, which was extremely open ended. I’m hoping this doesn’t mean Pitoniak doesn’t mean to continue this as a series. I won’t be reading a sequel, if there is one.
My thanks to netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.
This thriller starts in Rome, when deputy station chief Amanda Cole interviews a lowly GRU operative who states a US senator is going to be assassinated in Cairo. Of course, her boss blows her off. And then the senator dies. Amanda is thrust into the investigation, trying to unravel the conspiracy behind the murder. She is promoted to station chief and teamed with Kath, an older agent.
I adored Kath. She’s a take no prisoners, get out of my way, kind of person. I would have loved to have seen more of her. But, in a different way, Amanda is also a strong, gutsy spy. Much younger, she’s got the ability to read people and more importantly, is not afraid to make the tough decisions. The story goes back and forth in time between Amanda’s current operation and her father’s time as a spy in Helsinki in the 1980s. Both stories involve double crosses, traitors and the whole trust factor. I got a kick out of some of the comments about female spies from both timelines. The family connection makes the two different timelines work.
I found way too many parts of this story unbelievable. Stock exchange manipulations being used to blackmail greedy American execs totally ignores the fact businesses have boards of directors. Or why is Amanda as Rome’s station chief, doing undercover work in London? And why did the 1980s Helsinki office have so much sensitive info about Afghanistan operations? And the biggest of all, was Charlie really that obtuse? But I found the characters extremely interesting and realistic, especially when it comes to the whole guilt factor.
I also was disappointed by the ending, which was extremely open ended. I’m hoping this doesn’t mean Pitoniak doesn’t mean to continue this as a series. I won’t be reading a sequel, if there is one.
My thanks to netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.
August 31, 2023
This spy novel was a wild and fun ride. I will admit that this isn’t a typical genre for me, but I really enjoyed it. I think my favorite part is that the main character, Amanda Cole, is a female spy which I feel like is overlooked in most media about spies. The book takes place in two timelines and I will admit the switches between them were frequent and random often mid-page. I wish hat had been a little more clear, but it was a small annoyance and didn’t really detract from my enjoyment for the story. Amanda follows in her father’s footsteps and joins the CIA. Stationed in Rome she doesn’t expect much until a Russian citizen turns up and insists he has information that is life or death which starts her down a path of the case of her lifetime.
March 4, 2024
I enjoyed the hell out of this. I'm stunned, really, to see the low ratings by my fellow Goodreaders. This was just so dang satisfying and well-written. What the actual, friends? In a literary world dominated by the tech-and-technique heavy Tom Clancy knock-offs and the testosterone-dripping Jack Reacher, Anna Pitoniak drops a smart, crackling character-driven thriller. Think John Le Carré meets Kate Atkinson: crispy on the outside, tender within.
Amanda Cole is a career CIA agent chafing at the dull nature of her current station, Rome. When a Russian tourist stumbles into the American embassy claiming that a U.S. senator is about to be assassinated, she believes him and pushes it up the chain of command. There is pushback, but suddenly the senator is dead and Amanda is now Rome's station chief. Complicated enough, for sure, but then Amanda receives information that implicates her father, Charlie, an affable divorcé who is spinning out his final years as a CIA bureaucrat in a boring Langley desk job, his glory years as a spy thirty years distant. And we're off to the races.
Moving back and forth between contemporary Rome, Washington D.C., London, Moscow and early 1990's Helsinki, The Helsinki Affair spins a fascinating tale of international financial mayhem, double agents, the inner political machinations of clandestine services, the collapse of a marriage, and a fractured father-daughter relationship. It's at once deeply soulful and breathlessly suspenseful. For sure, there are plot points that strain credulity but I didn't care. Pitoniak is so confident in her writing and the characters are so rich and well-developed, I was willing to give her a non-stop flight from D.C. to Cairo's worth of latitude to do what she thought the story needed.
The sparkling chemistry between rising star Amanda Cole and veteran agent Kath Frost, a 73-year-old tour de force, is worthy of a series. Bring them back, Anna, and slay those spy genre tropes with your wicked pen. You have a new fan. Bravissima!
Amanda Cole is a career CIA agent chafing at the dull nature of her current station, Rome. When a Russian tourist stumbles into the American embassy claiming that a U.S. senator is about to be assassinated, she believes him and pushes it up the chain of command. There is pushback, but suddenly the senator is dead and Amanda is now Rome's station chief. Complicated enough, for sure, but then Amanda receives information that implicates her father, Charlie, an affable divorcé who is spinning out his final years as a CIA bureaucrat in a boring Langley desk job, his glory years as a spy thirty years distant. And we're off to the races.
Moving back and forth between contemporary Rome, Washington D.C., London, Moscow and early 1990's Helsinki, The Helsinki Affair spins a fascinating tale of international financial mayhem, double agents, the inner political machinations of clandestine services, the collapse of a marriage, and a fractured father-daughter relationship. It's at once deeply soulful and breathlessly suspenseful. For sure, there are plot points that strain credulity but I didn't care. Pitoniak is so confident in her writing and the characters are so rich and well-developed, I was willing to give her a non-stop flight from D.C. to Cairo's worth of latitude to do what she thought the story needed.
The sparkling chemistry between rising star Amanda Cole and veteran agent Kath Frost, a 73-year-old tour de force, is worthy of a series. Bring them back, Anna, and slay those spy genre tropes with your wicked pen. You have a new fan. Bravissima!
September 10, 2023
**ARC of this book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
You know that a spy novel is not a very good one if you feel like you would be able to outsmart CIA.
Amanda Cole, a fortysomething woman, was born with some amazing spidey senses that makes her an incredible spy: she always feels when someone is trustworthy or not and her feelings are never wrong. So when a Russian guy appears on the doorstep of the US embassy in Rome claiming that US senator is going to be assassinated next day she immediately knows he is telling the truth. But after talking with her supervisor she learns that although they are working for CIA there is absolutely no way of sending a warning to the senator and they are not even going to try to do that. Senator gets killed and senator's widow discovers some cryptic notes about ongoing Russian operation that manipulates the stock markets using viral social media posts. Senator's notes also mentions Amanda's father name (also a CIA agent) so soon Amanda is involved in investigation.
What ensues is a pretty fast paced and entertaining story that requires from the reader to occasionally turn a blind eye to some major plot inconsistencies. CIA seems to be consisting of 10 people max with almost no chain of command so Amanda, a station chief of embassy in Rome, will be doing all work herself - extracting her source from dangerous situation, contacting and recruiting new agents, working on gathering intel, setting up spying actions and so on and so forth. She will be doing all this not only on her turf, in Italy, but also in UK and Russia. I guess CIA is experiencing some staffing issues.
There are some scenes that makes absolutely no sense and two of them made me really annoyed: First scene is when Amanda is putting a wire on one of her agents and tries to eavesdrop on a conversation he is going to have but her frequency is getting jammed and there is no plan B in place (like giving also a recording device to the agent) so the whole conversation is lost and because of that the book gets artificially prolonged. Second scene is when an important hacking operation is stopped by cutting off the power in the building. Like seriously, the hackers do not have even one laptop? And they absolutely can't use the hotspots from their cellphones? Also creating a viral post is not as instantaneous as simply putting it at the top of the feed in social media. You still need some time to garner some engagement and start the snowballing effect so cutting the power off for an hour does not automatically mean a failure of an operation. Also Internet is not this amorphous blob where omnipresent "Algorithm" is driving social media engagement across all social media platforms. Each platform has its own way of managing their content so why not just go to the company and warn them that they are being hacked instead of trying to get a mole in Russian team? It seems much easier and straightforward. So many questions and so few answers.
There is also a mystery of why Amanda's father was mentioned in dead senator's papers but its easy to figure it out by the halfway of the book. Also can someone explain to me why a regular CIA agent has access to all the confidential data he could wish for? You are working in Helsinki Charlie there is absolutely no need for you to have access to the schematics of weapons and lists of all the active agents.
If you want to read highly intricate spy novels this one won't scratch that itch.
You know that a spy novel is not a very good one if you feel like you would be able to outsmart CIA.
Amanda Cole, a fortysomething woman, was born with some amazing spidey senses that makes her an incredible spy: she always feels when someone is trustworthy or not and her feelings are never wrong. So when a Russian guy appears on the doorstep of the US embassy in Rome claiming that US senator is going to be assassinated next day she immediately knows he is telling the truth. But after talking with her supervisor she learns that although they are working for CIA there is absolutely no way of sending a warning to the senator and they are not even going to try to do that. Senator gets killed and senator's widow discovers some cryptic notes about ongoing Russian operation that manipulates the stock markets using viral social media posts. Senator's notes also mentions Amanda's father name (also a CIA agent) so soon Amanda is involved in investigation.
What ensues is a pretty fast paced and entertaining story that requires from the reader to occasionally turn a blind eye to some major plot inconsistencies. CIA seems to be consisting of 10 people max with almost no chain of command so Amanda, a station chief of embassy in Rome, will be doing all work herself - extracting her source from dangerous situation, contacting and recruiting new agents, working on gathering intel, setting up spying actions and so on and so forth. She will be doing all this not only on her turf, in Italy, but also in UK and Russia. I guess CIA is experiencing some staffing issues.
There are some scenes that makes absolutely no sense and two of them made me really annoyed: First scene is when Amanda is putting a wire on one of her agents and tries to eavesdrop on a conversation he is going to have but her frequency is getting jammed and there is no plan B in place (like giving also a recording device to the agent) so the whole conversation is lost and because of that the book gets artificially prolonged. Second scene is when an important hacking operation is stopped by cutting off the power in the building. Like seriously, the hackers do not have even one laptop? And they absolutely can't use the hotspots from their cellphones? Also creating a viral post is not as instantaneous as simply putting it at the top of the feed in social media. You still need some time to garner some engagement and start the snowballing effect so cutting the power off for an hour does not automatically mean a failure of an operation. Also Internet is not this amorphous blob where omnipresent "Algorithm" is driving social media engagement across all social media platforms. Each platform has its own way of managing their content so why not just go to the company and warn them that they are being hacked instead of trying to get a mole in Russian team? It seems much easier and straightforward. So many questions and so few answers.
There is also a mystery of why Amanda's father was mentioned in dead senator's papers but its easy to figure it out by the halfway of the book. Also can someone explain to me why a regular CIA agent has access to all the confidential data he could wish for? You are working in Helsinki Charlie there is absolutely no need for you to have access to the schematics of weapons and lists of all the active agents.
If you want to read highly intricate spy novels this one won't scratch that itch.
December 3, 2023
3.5 stars
Even though I don't read CIA thrillers very often, I wanted to give The Helsinki Affair a chance because it features a female lead character. I figured that would give the author the opportunity to explore some of the challenges a woman might face in what is typically a more male-dominated field. Overall, I liked the story but did have some issues along the way.
Amanda works as a CIA agent in Rome. A Russian operative informs her a US senator will soon be assassinated in Egypt. While Amanda believes the man is telling the truth, her boss disagrees and states no further action such as informing the senator is necessary. Big mistake, boss man as the senator dies in Cairo. Amanda is determined to work the case and figure out who was behind the assassination but uncovering the truth might come at a cost.
So the story does bounce around between quite a few characters but Amanda is the star of the show. The plot is interesting but more than once I questioned if something was truly plausible. Hard to really know as it's not like I know a ton about the CIA. While I don't object to what the author chose as the ending, I didn't care for how it was written. Needed to be fleshed out more as it was abrupt and read like a tacked on, afterthought conclusion.
Still it was nice to read a spy thriller for a change. Thank you to Book Club Favorites for sending me a free copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
Even though I don't read CIA thrillers very often, I wanted to give The Helsinki Affair a chance because it features a female lead character. I figured that would give the author the opportunity to explore some of the challenges a woman might face in what is typically a more male-dominated field. Overall, I liked the story but did have some issues along the way.
Amanda works as a CIA agent in Rome. A Russian operative informs her a US senator will soon be assassinated in Egypt. While Amanda believes the man is telling the truth, her boss disagrees and states no further action such as informing the senator is necessary. Big mistake, boss man as the senator dies in Cairo. Amanda is determined to work the case and figure out who was behind the assassination but uncovering the truth might come at a cost.
So the story does bounce around between quite a few characters but Amanda is the star of the show. The plot is interesting but more than once I questioned if something was truly plausible. Hard to really know as it's not like I know a ton about the CIA. While I don't object to what the author chose as the ending, I didn't care for how it was written. Needed to be fleshed out more as it was abrupt and read like a tacked on, afterthought conclusion.
Still it was nice to read a spy thriller for a change. Thank you to Book Club Favorites for sending me a free copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
June 13, 2024
Read to Page 126 and just wasn't into it. I think there are def some genres that I just like better as movies..? And this is one of those. Don't get me wrong either - I think it's a fantastic story.. but having to wade through conspiracy minutia just isn't my thing?
It felt too long!! Especially for the summer... I think I will go back to it, though, because I like the idea of it as a winter read!
**I'm kind of in a fantasy romance mood, and nothing else is really satisfying that need. Going to throw in some thrillers as well and see what we can get.
||
It felt too long!! Especially for the summer... I think I will go back to it, though, because I like the idea of it as a winter read!
**I'm kind of in a fantasy romance mood, and nothing else is really satisfying that need. Going to throw in some thrillers as well and see what we can get.
||
December 15, 2024
I love a novel that showcases women in a positive way, especially when placed in leadership roles.
And…In this novel, we have a well-researched, atmospheric spy thriller that gives readers everything they could ask for�
Conspiracies. �
Murder. ✔️
Intrigue. ✔️
Globe trotting. ✔️
Spies. ✔️
Strong, fascinating women characters. ✔️
Okay…Maybe not everyone will agree that is what they are looking for�
But…In this case, that is what I needed, and I got it. (Although at times, I wasn't sure where the author was taking us, it still was compelling to keep with the story.)
And…With all that took place in this story, i.e., Russian oligarchs, manipulative Russian agents, CIA agents, the death of a United States Senator, Cold War era agents and present day, double agents, et al, I can’t help but wonder if the author plans a sequel.
If so…Count me in.
And…In this novel, we have a well-researched, atmospheric spy thriller that gives readers everything they could ask for�
Conspiracies. �
Murder. ✔️
Intrigue. ✔️
Globe trotting. ✔️
Spies. ✔️
Strong, fascinating women characters. ✔️
Okay…Maybe not everyone will agree that is what they are looking for�
But…In this case, that is what I needed, and I got it. (Although at times, I wasn't sure where the author was taking us, it still was compelling to keep with the story.)
And…With all that took place in this story, i.e., Russian oligarchs, manipulative Russian agents, CIA agents, the death of a United States Senator, Cold War era agents and present day, double agents, et al, I can’t help but wonder if the author plans a sequel.
If so…Count me in.
Read
October 31, 2023Why I love it
By Deanna Raybourn
When professional ambition and family loyalty collide, how far would you go to see justice done?
That’s the question CIA operative Amanda Cole must wrestle with in Anna Pitoniak’s smashing new novel, The Helsinki Affair. I love a tense spy thriller and was enthralled from the jump with this propulsive, globetrotting story.
When a Russian informant warns of the impending assassination of an American senator, Amanda is the only one who believes him. After the senator dies, Amanda is thrown into a worldwide conspiracy. With only experience and instincts to guide her, Amanda begins to untangle the web of international intrigue only to find her father at the center. Will she protect him and risk the career she prizes above everything? Or will Amanda sacrifice her beloved father and shatter his reputation to prove her fealty to the agency to which she has dedicated her life?
Pitoniak has taken the classic spy thriller and given it a stylish update with a brilliant and flawed female lead. It crackles with energy from the very first page, and the unexpected ending will leave readers begging for more. Relentless and riveting, The Helsinki Affair is fresh and twisty as the lemon peel in a Vesper Martini.
Read more at:
By Deanna Raybourn
When professional ambition and family loyalty collide, how far would you go to see justice done?
That’s the question CIA operative Amanda Cole must wrestle with in Anna Pitoniak’s smashing new novel, The Helsinki Affair. I love a tense spy thriller and was enthralled from the jump with this propulsive, globetrotting story.
When a Russian informant warns of the impending assassination of an American senator, Amanda is the only one who believes him. After the senator dies, Amanda is thrown into a worldwide conspiracy. With only experience and instincts to guide her, Amanda begins to untangle the web of international intrigue only to find her father at the center. Will she protect him and risk the career she prizes above everything? Or will Amanda sacrifice her beloved father and shatter his reputation to prove her fealty to the agency to which she has dedicated her life?
Pitoniak has taken the classic spy thriller and given it a stylish update with a brilliant and flawed female lead. It crackles with energy from the very first page, and the unexpected ending will leave readers begging for more. Relentless and riveting, The Helsinki Affair is fresh and twisty as the lemon peel in a Vesper Martini.
Read more at:
March 22, 2024
Editor: So?
Pitoniak: I'm afraid I'm having a little writer's block.
Editor: You're under contract, Toots, and this spy story is overdue.
Pitoniak: Well, it's almost done. I think I've done a good job updating the basic spy story. See, spying isn't really about fistfights and gun battles, it really about seduction and persuasion.
Editor: Yeah, yeah.
Pitoniak: So I've gotten all the stuff about marriage and parenting, ambition, deceit, distrust...
Editor: So what's the problem?
Pitoniak: Well, the action scenes.
Editor: Lemme see. (Grabs manuscript out of her hands.) What's this shit about sitting on the back porch with his wife during the arrest? (Blows a final cloud of cigar smoke in Pituniak's face, grinds out the butt and grabs a pencil.) Lemme show you how to write this scene. First of all, this can't be private. We need the Academy Awards or some shit like that. And you can't have one sheriff make the arrest, you need at least thirty commandos.
Pitoniak: But he's just an unarmed corporate stooge--
Editor: I'll handle this, sweetheart. (Flips pages.) Who's this chick?
Pitoniak: The assassin.
Editor: (Crosses out some lines, inserts the lines "two Russian thugs.")
Pitoniak: But you like the father-daughter relationship? And the remorse the father feels about being a poor role model? And the two strong female main characters?
Editor: (Tossing the marked-up manuscript in a tray behind his desk.) I'm sure it's fine.
Pitoniak, stonily: Thank you for the careful reading.
Editor: You should smile more.
Pitoniak: I'm afraid I'm having a little writer's block.
Editor: You're under contract, Toots, and this spy story is overdue.
Pitoniak: Well, it's almost done. I think I've done a good job updating the basic spy story. See, spying isn't really about fistfights and gun battles, it really about seduction and persuasion.
Editor: Yeah, yeah.
Pitoniak: So I've gotten all the stuff about marriage and parenting, ambition, deceit, distrust...
Editor: So what's the problem?
Pitoniak: Well, the action scenes.
Editor: Lemme see. (Grabs manuscript out of her hands.) What's this shit about sitting on the back porch with his wife during the arrest? (Blows a final cloud of cigar smoke in Pituniak's face, grinds out the butt and grabs a pencil.) Lemme show you how to write this scene. First of all, this can't be private. We need the Academy Awards or some shit like that. And you can't have one sheriff make the arrest, you need at least thirty commandos.
Pitoniak: But he's just an unarmed corporate stooge--
Editor: I'll handle this, sweetheart. (Flips pages.) Who's this chick?
Pitoniak: The assassin.
Editor: (Crosses out some lines, inserts the lines "two Russian thugs.")
Pitoniak: But you like the father-daughter relationship? And the remorse the father feels about being a poor role model? And the two strong female main characters?
Editor: (Tossing the marked-up manuscript in a tray behind his desk.) I'm sure it's fine.
Pitoniak, stonily: Thank you for the careful reading.
Editor: You should smile more.
August 15, 2023
Totally different plot based on betrayal, secrets, and manipulation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This author is a first-time read for me, and I was intrigued by the fact she’s writing a spy thriller with a female lead character. It’s not often we get the female vantage point of view in an espionage thriller like this.
The story brings several threads that are woven together to create a unique look at the inner workings of an agent, and what they see and deal with, including recruitment and double agents.
The story has a father and daughter working in the agency at the same time in different capacities but their intersection creates a jumble of woven intricacies that make the story shine.
The author has her research down, and her imagination has allowed us to travel to Europe and the East Coast. We jump timelines a few times in the story to find and gather past history, along with the in-depth behind-the-scenes action that ties together with today’s threats.
The station chief, Amanda, has her work cut out for her and is not one to sit idly by and push paperwork. When unbelievable evidence is passed her way, she dives in with the help of a fabulous old-school female spy, Kath. The two of them weave together a fabulous subterfuge while unraveling conspiracy, double agents, treason, and more. The ending will have your heart pounding! But what a fabulous twist!
Bravo to Pitoniak for giving the female reader what we didn’t know we were missing! The Helsinki Affair is a totally different type of plot based on betrayal, secrets, and manipulation. I hope this becomes a series!
~~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* full review -
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This author is a first-time read for me, and I was intrigued by the fact she’s writing a spy thriller with a female lead character. It’s not often we get the female vantage point of view in an espionage thriller like this.
The story brings several threads that are woven together to create a unique look at the inner workings of an agent, and what they see and deal with, including recruitment and double agents.
The story has a father and daughter working in the agency at the same time in different capacities but their intersection creates a jumble of woven intricacies that make the story shine.
The author has her research down, and her imagination has allowed us to travel to Europe and the East Coast. We jump timelines a few times in the story to find and gather past history, along with the in-depth behind-the-scenes action that ties together with today’s threats.
The station chief, Amanda, has her work cut out for her and is not one to sit idly by and push paperwork. When unbelievable evidence is passed her way, she dives in with the help of a fabulous old-school female spy, Kath. The two of them weave together a fabulous subterfuge while unraveling conspiracy, double agents, treason, and more. The ending will have your heart pounding! But what a fabulous twist!
Bravo to Pitoniak for giving the female reader what we didn’t know we were missing! The Helsinki Affair is a totally different type of plot based on betrayal, secrets, and manipulation. I hope this becomes a series!
~~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* full review -
September 21, 2023
Forty year old Amanda Cole, CIA agent, has just stumbled onto some information that eventually leads to her being made station chief in Rome. One of her first assignments implicates her father, a career CIA employee, as a possible Soviet spy. This sets up an ethical and moral dilemma for her. Will she pursue the lead or bury it?
Taking place in Rome, London, Russia, Finland, all the intrigue of the cold war is here. With Finland physically so close to Russia, Helsinki has seen a lot of KGB and CIA action. I liked the female characters, especially Kath, an older, savvy, top notch spy. In addition to the Cold War espionage, there is also a very contemporary plot line involving stock manipulation.
There are two timelines, Amanda’s present day investigation and her father’s past involving an affair in Helsinki. As the excitement peaks, the action quickly alternates between the two. The writing is fast paced, engrossing. I did think some of the characters were pretty loose lipped with confidential information. But, after all, this is a work of fiction.
Spy fiction is not my go to genre and I don’t like the James Bond, hard to believe action stories. This one had a decent plot, not too much incredulity, and not a lot of violence; what there was was not overly graphic. It was refreshing to have a female centered spy thriller
The end of the book introduced some continuing story lines, perhaps hinting at a sequel or possible series? I certainly would read another book by Pitoniak featuring these characters.
Thanks to #netgalley and @simonbooks for the ARC
Taking place in Rome, London, Russia, Finland, all the intrigue of the cold war is here. With Finland physically so close to Russia, Helsinki has seen a lot of KGB and CIA action. I liked the female characters, especially Kath, an older, savvy, top notch spy. In addition to the Cold War espionage, there is also a very contemporary plot line involving stock manipulation.
There are two timelines, Amanda’s present day investigation and her father’s past involving an affair in Helsinki. As the excitement peaks, the action quickly alternates between the two. The writing is fast paced, engrossing. I did think some of the characters were pretty loose lipped with confidential information. But, after all, this is a work of fiction.
Spy fiction is not my go to genre and I don’t like the James Bond, hard to believe action stories. This one had a decent plot, not too much incredulity, and not a lot of violence; what there was was not overly graphic. It was refreshing to have a female centered spy thriller
The end of the book introduced some continuing story lines, perhaps hinting at a sequel or possible series? I certainly would read another book by Pitoniak featuring these characters.
Thanks to #netgalley and @simonbooks for the ARC
February 28, 2024
I read this for a book club I'm in. It's the perfect timing for this....
RIP Alexei Navalny
Unfortunately, this book fell short from what it could've been. I really wanted to like this!! But, the writing has a bland feel to it, and it's not all that "thrilling". The premise was a good idea though. Maybe as a screenplay this plot would be applied better. I think I prefer fiction spy/action/government espionage thriller stories as movies. Fiction spy novels are just not my reading genre.
Alternatively, I really prefer reading/learning about the real ones going on in this crazy world: the recently arrested Alexander Smirnov, and the depths of corruption surrounding Andrii Derkach, further back, Anna Chapman Operation Ghost, Jareh Sebastian Dalke of the NSA accused of working for foreign governments, Jinchao Wei and Wenheng Zhao, two Navy servicemen accused of espionage (working for CCP).....and Senator Menendez, recently charged with espionage acting on behalf of the Egyptian government?! All of these are recent, and have the stories publicly available on the DOJ website.
RIP Alexei Navalny
Unfortunately, this book fell short from what it could've been. I really wanted to like this!! But, the writing has a bland feel to it, and it's not all that "thrilling". The premise was a good idea though. Maybe as a screenplay this plot would be applied better. I think I prefer fiction spy/action/government espionage thriller stories as movies. Fiction spy novels are just not my reading genre.
Alternatively, I really prefer reading/learning about the real ones going on in this crazy world: the recently arrested Alexander Smirnov, and the depths of corruption surrounding Andrii Derkach, further back, Anna Chapman Operation Ghost, Jareh Sebastian Dalke of the NSA accused of working for foreign governments, Jinchao Wei and Wenheng Zhao, two Navy servicemen accused of espionage (working for CCP).....and Senator Menendez, recently charged with espionage acting on behalf of the Egyptian government?! All of these are recent, and have the stories publicly available on the DOJ website.
December 10, 2023
I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. I was so excited to read a spy novel, but this fell extremely short to me.
The characters were underdeveloped and I truly didn’t care or root for any of them. No character arcs, and all very vanilla.
I was confused constantly between the constant POV shifts (sometimes between paragraphs? No indication of change sometimes), timeline, and I didn’t care for all of the travel that occurred.
A character would discover something and there may be a line like “And then it made sense to me�, but then would assume as the reader we were making the same connections. But I was not. And then it led me to being extremely confused for portions of the novel. It made me feel like I was not intelligent enough to read this.
I finished it because I had too for my reading goal, but I was disappointed. I wanted more details and structure to the writing style. 😬
The characters were underdeveloped and I truly didn’t care or root for any of them. No character arcs, and all very vanilla.
I was confused constantly between the constant POV shifts (sometimes between paragraphs? No indication of change sometimes), timeline, and I didn’t care for all of the travel that occurred.
A character would discover something and there may be a line like “And then it made sense to me�, but then would assume as the reader we were making the same connections. But I was not. And then it led me to being extremely confused for portions of the novel. It made me feel like I was not intelligent enough to read this.
I finished it because I had too for my reading goal, but I was disappointed. I wanted more details and structure to the writing style. 😬
July 1, 2024
A fast moving action thriller that starts in Rome and goes worldwide with dealings, double dealings, intrigue, mystery and a whole lot of thrilling thriller with no filler
A ‘walk in� to the Embassy in Rome seems to have a ‘tall tale� to tell but Amanda who works there believes him, no one else does but she for some reason 100% does�.and so the story starts
I really enjoyed the writing, sharp and clear and easy to work out who was who and where�.which with these kind of books is not often the case although that didn’t mean I could read half asleep as a lot goes on and you need to be aware of the many changing factors
It was good to have not one but two female leads who were trying to solve this often complex case
A book that makes me want to read the authors other books,loved every aspect of it
A ‘walk in� to the Embassy in Rome seems to have a ‘tall tale� to tell but Amanda who works there believes him, no one else does but she for some reason 100% does�.and so the story starts
I really enjoyed the writing, sharp and clear and easy to work out who was who and where�.which with these kind of books is not often the case although that didn’t mean I could read half asleep as a lot goes on and you need to be aware of the many changing factors
It was good to have not one but two female leads who were trying to solve this often complex case
A book that makes me want to read the authors other books,loved every aspect of it
December 8, 2023
DNF @ 50%
Got halfway through when I realized that I dreaded even reading another page before bed. I don’t know how a spy thriller could be this boring. The writing was choppy and the multiple POVs didn’t really add to the story.
Life is too short to slog through a bad book so yep, I DNF’d this one. I did get far enough so I may pick it up again later when I have more patience but make no mistake, this is not a thriller in the slightest.
Got halfway through when I realized that I dreaded even reading another page before bed. I don’t know how a spy thriller could be this boring. The writing was choppy and the multiple POVs didn’t really add to the story.
Life is too short to slog through a bad book so yep, I DNF’d this one. I did get far enough so I may pick it up again later when I have more patience but make no mistake, this is not a thriller in the slightest.
July 2, 2024
I’m a sucker for spy thrillers, both Cold War and post-Cold War, which this book includes. I really liked the dominance of strong female characters, a nice development. The only weakness was the primary male character who was not very appealing. I liked the data-driven nerd although that is becoming a cliche for a sidekick.
April 9, 2023
Anna Pitoniak’s “The Helsinki Affair� is a very good spy novel. More like a Le Carre than a Fleming or a Ludlum or a DaSilva, it focuses on the decades-apart careers of two CIA officers and the continuing war of espionage between the US and the Russia that once was the Soviet Union.
If anyone was ever meant to be a CIA officer, it is Amanda Cole. Her grandfather was OSS during WWII. Her father ran assets for the Agency in Algiers and Helsinki during the 1980s.
When the story begins, she is second-in-command of the Rome station. A man purporting to work for Russian Military Intelligence (the GRU) walks into the American embassy and reports that a US Senator is about to be assassinated. Amanda believes the "walk-in." Her boss does not. When the senator is assassinated, Amanda becomes the chief of Rome station. She also becomes the walk-in's handler, sending him back to Moscow to continue work at the GRU and send her more intelligence.
Through him, and other sources, Amanda learns that the Kremlin is influencing the decisions of American corporations using stock manipulations and blackmail. She also discovers the presence of a long-time “mole� within the CIA. Evidence suggests her father could be the traitor. Her job now is to stop the Russian manipulation and discover the mole's identity. If it is her Dad, where will her loyalty lie?
It's a well-told story that covers the period between the 1980s and today and takes readers from Washington to Moscow to Helsinki to Rome with side trips to Algiers, Switzerland, Manhattan, and other venues. So, it’s a very international story. But it’s not a glamorous one. Author Anna Pitoniak strives to depict the “nitty-gritty� of life as a CIA officer, showing us that there’s more call for mundane, bureaucratic paper-pushing and patience-demanding waiting than for feats of daring-do. That sometimes slows the novel down. Also, don’t expect much in the way of whiz-bang gadgetry or mano-a-mano melees to set you on the edge of your seat.
Instead, Pitoniak employs high, high stakes and a creative conspiracy to keep us engaged. Her premise as to how the Kremlin, its intelligence services, and a particular oligarch seek to manipulate American corporations is fascinating. Her main character's efforts to counter that threat to the lifeblood of the US economy, plus the mole hunt, plus the story of her father’s service during the 1980s, plus all the twists and turns as to who is loyal to whom, are what compel us to turn pages.
It's a very good story that lovers of spy novels, especially cerebral spy novels, should very much enjoy.
My thanks to NetGalley, author Anna Pitoniak, and publisher Simon and Schuster for providing me with an electronic ARC. The foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.
If anyone was ever meant to be a CIA officer, it is Amanda Cole. Her grandfather was OSS during WWII. Her father ran assets for the Agency in Algiers and Helsinki during the 1980s.
When the story begins, she is second-in-command of the Rome station. A man purporting to work for Russian Military Intelligence (the GRU) walks into the American embassy and reports that a US Senator is about to be assassinated. Amanda believes the "walk-in." Her boss does not. When the senator is assassinated, Amanda becomes the chief of Rome station. She also becomes the walk-in's handler, sending him back to Moscow to continue work at the GRU and send her more intelligence.
Through him, and other sources, Amanda learns that the Kremlin is influencing the decisions of American corporations using stock manipulations and blackmail. She also discovers the presence of a long-time “mole� within the CIA. Evidence suggests her father could be the traitor. Her job now is to stop the Russian manipulation and discover the mole's identity. If it is her Dad, where will her loyalty lie?
It's a well-told story that covers the period between the 1980s and today and takes readers from Washington to Moscow to Helsinki to Rome with side trips to Algiers, Switzerland, Manhattan, and other venues. So, it’s a very international story. But it’s not a glamorous one. Author Anna Pitoniak strives to depict the “nitty-gritty� of life as a CIA officer, showing us that there’s more call for mundane, bureaucratic paper-pushing and patience-demanding waiting than for feats of daring-do. That sometimes slows the novel down. Also, don’t expect much in the way of whiz-bang gadgetry or mano-a-mano melees to set you on the edge of your seat.
Instead, Pitoniak employs high, high stakes and a creative conspiracy to keep us engaged. Her premise as to how the Kremlin, its intelligence services, and a particular oligarch seek to manipulate American corporations is fascinating. Her main character's efforts to counter that threat to the lifeblood of the US economy, plus the mole hunt, plus the story of her father’s service during the 1980s, plus all the twists and turns as to who is loyal to whom, are what compel us to turn pages.
It's a very good story that lovers of spy novels, especially cerebral spy novels, should very much enjoy.
My thanks to NetGalley, author Anna Pitoniak, and publisher Simon and Schuster for providing me with an electronic ARC. The foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.
November 25, 2023
I was genuinely excited to read this; the concept seemed so promising. And yet, I am very disappointed and unfulfilled.
The blurb made this seem to be about Amanda, a CIA agent who, upon the appearance of a Russian defector and the death of a US senator, gets involved in a much greater plot while unearthing the truth a about her father, Charlie’s, past (he was also a CIA agent).
The book switched around from various POVs, and Amanda, the MC herself, barely had any POV chapters. This felt more like Charlie’s book than anything. I feel like this story could have been better if Charlie wasn’t alive in the present day. With him dead, it might have given Amanda more of a presence and forefront in the book to discover everything on her own, giving us the readers the opportunity to learn it with her rather than before her.
Then there was the writing style. It irritated me. A lot. All the characters had strange personalities that read almost exactly the same, and it grated at my nerves. Amanda seemed to just pick up on things way too quickly to be realistic, and even her sudden alcoholism that developed mid-story felt out of place. Then the ending. OH the ending. It was just terrible. We didn’t even get to see what happens to Charlie in the end, and Amanda just phased out of the story! This book’s main character wasn’t even the main character, and I didn’t even know that was possible.
Needless to say, I will not recommend this nor would I read this again.
The blurb made this seem to be about Amanda, a CIA agent who, upon the appearance of a Russian defector and the death of a US senator, gets involved in a much greater plot while unearthing the truth a about her father, Charlie’s, past (he was also a CIA agent).
The book switched around from various POVs, and Amanda, the MC herself, barely had any POV chapters. This felt more like Charlie’s book than anything. I feel like this story could have been better if Charlie wasn’t alive in the present day. With him dead, it might have given Amanda more of a presence and forefront in the book to discover everything on her own, giving us the readers the opportunity to learn it with her rather than before her.
Then there was the writing style. It irritated me. A lot. All the characters had strange personalities that read almost exactly the same, and it grated at my nerves. Amanda seemed to just pick up on things way too quickly to be realistic, and even her sudden alcoholism that developed mid-story felt out of place. Then the ending. OH the ending. It was just terrible. We didn’t even get to see what happens to Charlie in the end, and Amanda just phased out of the story! This book’s main character wasn’t even the main character, and I didn’t even know that was possible.
Needless to say, I will not recommend this nor would I read this again.
July 6, 2023
Amanda Cole, deputy chief of station in Rome, a posting she finds utterly boring, is faced one lazy summer afternoon with a walk-in, a Russian on vacation with his wife in Italy claiming that a New York senator is going to be assassinated. This interesting spy story moves between two timelines - the present day and Helsinki during the Cold War - prescient too on focusing on stock market manipulations through algorithms by the Russians, along with double agents and more, including the relationship between Amanda and her father, also a CIA agent though Charlie Cole has held a desk job in PR at the agency for decades. I enjoyed the machinations, assumed the algorithm/stock market manipulation is probably actually happening, though the ending let me down - unless this is the first in a series and the story of Amanda and Charlie will continue - which I hope it does.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for an ARC.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for an ARC.
August 13, 2023
A compelling dual timeline spy thriller, following the lives of Amanda Cole, CIA Rome office chief, and her father, once a CIA Cold War spy. I loved the feminist slant and the pounding action that kept me plowing through to the end.
September 14, 2023
A spy thriller with a female as the lead? Umm, yes! Please sign me up! This was just a great paced story with little twisty treasures along the way and honestly enjoyed these characters. Amanda Cole is a strong female lead you can root for. She’s not perfect, she’s human. She’s real and I can appreciate this. Watching this story unfold between two timelines was one of my favorite things. Blackmail, espionage and family drama all make it to these pages in what is testing everything Amanda Cole believes in! If you’re a fan of spy novels, I can not recommend this enough! Add it to your tbr today! Can’t wait to read more from this author!
Thank you @simonbooks & @annapitoniak for this arc.
Thank you @simonbooks & @annapitoniak for this arc.
December 12, 2023
We follow CIA agent Amanda Cole as she follows a case with blackmail and assassinations involving the Russians.
She is following her fathers footsteps. Her post is in Rome, which is not seeing much action, but that changes when she meets a Russian operative. What he tells her critical to a US Senator, but her bosses do not believe her when she goes to them.
When the Senator is assassinated, she tries to find the truth and who is behind the assassination! Amanda is now working with a legendary women to get find out what happened which will lead to “from Rome to London to Moscow to Helsinki.�
Buckle up for one action-packed spy novel filled with more twists to make you wonder than you thought possible.
She is following her fathers footsteps. Her post is in Rome, which is not seeing much action, but that changes when she meets a Russian operative. What he tells her critical to a US Senator, but her bosses do not believe her when she goes to them.
When the Senator is assassinated, she tries to find the truth and who is behind the assassination! Amanda is now working with a legendary women to get find out what happened which will lead to “from Rome to London to Moscow to Helsinki.�
Buckle up for one action-packed spy novel filled with more twists to make you wonder than you thought possible.
January 24, 2024
3.5 stars overall.
I’d give the writing style itself 4 stars. The fast paced writing is what had me turning pages, interested to find out what happened next.
Not as exciting as I’d hoped for a story about a CIA agent uncovering the truth behind an assassination and why her father’s name was written on a piece of paper belonging to the dead senator.
Amanda Cole seems more of an office agent than a field agent because finding the truth involves a lot of flipping through papers and talking and flying from Rome to U.S.A and back again and then eventually to Russia. Her father worked for the CIA during the Cold War (now retired, and now has regret’s).
The whole novel is a bit confusing going back and forth between the current time with Amanda and the past with her father, Charlie.
Overall not a bad story, the ending is my favorite and the message I get from this whole novel is learning to come clean with yourself.
I’d give the writing style itself 4 stars. The fast paced writing is what had me turning pages, interested to find out what happened next.
Not as exciting as I’d hoped for a story about a CIA agent uncovering the truth behind an assassination and why her father’s name was written on a piece of paper belonging to the dead senator.
Amanda Cole seems more of an office agent than a field agent because finding the truth involves a lot of flipping through papers and talking and flying from Rome to U.S.A and back again and then eventually to Russia. Her father worked for the CIA during the Cold War (now retired, and now has regret’s).
The whole novel is a bit confusing going back and forth between the current time with Amanda and the past with her father, Charlie.
Overall not a bad story, the ending is my favorite and the message I get from this whole novel is learning to come clean with yourself.
December 29, 2023
The Helsinki Affair is one of those books that is perfect to read while traveling, relaxing on the beach, or just losing yourself in a story over a weekend.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
A female spy!! It’s not often that we get modern stories with a female MC leading the chase in an espionage story.
I also really enjoyed the way the author brought together several plot threads, and did not rush the ending. I feel like most spy thrillers have a completely rushed ending instead of the author taking the time to weave everything together, and that was not the case with this ending.
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
Espionage
Twists
Multiple POV
Dual Timelines
Suspense
Strong female MC
Dynamic characters
Family Drama
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?
FAST!! I was hooked and loved piecing the mystery together as I read!
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
If you are a fan of spy novels with deception, secrets and more, then you are going to want to grab a copy!
3.5 stars
Thank you, Simon and Schuster, for this gifted copy in exchange, for my honest opinions.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
A female spy!! It’s not often that we get modern stories with a female MC leading the chase in an espionage story.
I also really enjoyed the way the author brought together several plot threads, and did not rush the ending. I feel like most spy thrillers have a completely rushed ending instead of the author taking the time to weave everything together, and that was not the case with this ending.
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
Espionage
Twists
Multiple POV
Dual Timelines
Suspense
Strong female MC
Dynamic characters
Family Drama
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?
FAST!! I was hooked and loved piecing the mystery together as I read!
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
If you are a fan of spy novels with deception, secrets and more, then you are going to want to grab a copy!
3.5 stars
Thank you, Simon and Schuster, for this gifted copy in exchange, for my honest opinions.
April 15, 2023
This is an incredibly timely, well-written spy novel. Since much of it takes place in Helsinki and details the Russian/American rivalry in the area, it was a reflect moment to revisit this city. Additionally, much of it concerns the stock manipulation which has recently occurred.
The story is centered on Amanda Cole and her father, Charlie. Both CIA agents, both involved with Russia and both dealing assets, but in very different ways. Amanda has to make heart wrenching decisions when her father’s name comes up during an investigation.
Watching today’s news, I was truly impressed by Pitoniak’s almost psychic ability to have written this novel several months ago. It is a bit hard to understand the central stock manipulation scheme, but well worth the effort.
This is a very good, well-paced novel that will be enjoyed by those with political and economic interests. Thank you Netgalley for this engaging spy novel.
The story is centered on Amanda Cole and her father, Charlie. Both CIA agents, both involved with Russia and both dealing assets, but in very different ways. Amanda has to make heart wrenching decisions when her father’s name comes up during an investigation.
Watching today’s news, I was truly impressed by Pitoniak’s almost psychic ability to have written this novel several months ago. It is a bit hard to understand the central stock manipulation scheme, but well worth the effort.
This is a very good, well-paced novel that will be enjoyed by those with political and economic interests. Thank you Netgalley for this engaging spy novel.
November 19, 2023
This is a fun fast-paced spy novel. I really loved the main character, Amanda Cole, and found her relationship with her father to be really touching. I did get a little lost in all the side characters, and found trying to follow them to be a little distracting.
January 29, 2024
pretty early on for my reading experience I stopped caring about who was a spy for what side and who was a double agent or an alcoholic or a lame ass coward and just wanted the whole thing to end
November 25, 2023
Amanda doesnt know Russian. Remember that fact.
February 4, 2025
This was like if the GameStop stock short squeeze was orchestrated by the CIA and KGB and not RoaringKitty in Eastern Massachusetts and portrayed by Paul Dano in the movie adaption called “Dumb Money� where Pete Davidson played his brother.
Amanda is a totally spies type woman for the CIA, following in her dads footsteps. She gets a word on the street that a senator is going to die, but no one #BelievesWomen and he ends up dying. What transpires is about three years of spying, recruiting, killing, and flashbacks to her father, Charlie’s, time in Helsinki in the 80s and 90s. Amanda travels from Rome to Russia to the U.S. and back again trying to get to the bottom of why the senator was killed.
Despite the negative portrayal and bit of propagandist telling of Russia with spies and extrajudicial killings, I enjoyed the fast pace of the book and the suspense to felt flipping through every page. There was a part in the book where I felt somewhat confused what was going on, but it works itself out. Overall, I really enjoyed this book because it kept me guessing and nothing that I guessed was correct.
Amanda is a totally spies type woman for the CIA, following in her dads footsteps. She gets a word on the street that a senator is going to die, but no one #BelievesWomen and he ends up dying. What transpires is about three years of spying, recruiting, killing, and flashbacks to her father, Charlie’s, time in Helsinki in the 80s and 90s. Amanda travels from Rome to Russia to the U.S. and back again trying to get to the bottom of why the senator was killed.
Despite the negative portrayal and bit of propagandist telling of Russia with spies and extrajudicial killings, I enjoyed the fast pace of the book and the suspense to felt flipping through every page. There was a part in the book where I felt somewhat confused what was going on, but it works itself out. Overall, I really enjoyed this book because it kept me guessing and nothing that I guessed was correct.
March 17, 2024
My toxic trait is finishing books I can’t get into.
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