Synopses & Reviews
In the turbulent years after the rise of the Berlin Wall, Germany stood dangerously divided between freedom and Communism. Dodging border patrols and guard posts, a silent few were able to cross the borders of the Iron Curtain to deliver needed supplies, always at the risk of their own lives.
This is the past Faith Whitney knew. The daughter of an active smuggler of religious paraphernalia, Faith was raised on the danger that such a life brought with it, a danger that can rip lives apart, even that of a mother and daughter. Now grown and living in 1989 Germany, Faith continues to smuggle goods across the border, narrowly slipping by the East German Stasi each time.
But her activities haven't gone unnoticed. The Stasi have recruited her to deliver a package to Moscow, a package that must be delivered within forty-eight hours . . . or Faith will be eliminated. Her payment: the long-desired location of her missing father.
The danger mounts as Faith is secretly contacted by the beautiful and seductive Colonel Bogdanov of the KGB, who also wants the package at any cost. Barely surviving harsh interrogations, and unsure of whom to trust, Faith turns to her ex-fiancée, Naval Officer Max Summer, the only man with the know-how to get her and her delivery to Moscow in one piece. On the run, the more they discover about the package, the more they realize that delivering it will likely cost them their lives. Little do they both know that the package is part of a larger plan, one that could affect the result of the Cold War in ways no one ever imagined.
Raelynn J. Hillhouse has constructed an engrossing novel of espionage, action, and heart-pounding danger. Told with knowledge and authenticity, Rift Zone takes you inside the workings of communist East Germany and the Soviet Union.
Review
A marvelous, gritty thriller . . . We're going to be hearing a lot more from Raelynn Hillhouse.
Stephen Coonts
Review
"Not since John le Carres George Smiley has a character come along whos as likable as Faith Whitney . . . RIFT ZONE is unputdownable."
Review
"Faith Whitney is a female Indiana Jones. RIFT ZONE is a fast-paced, suspense-packed race against time." (Katherine Neville, May 25 2004 )
Review
Impeccable, detailed research, the backstage of the Cold War comes vividly to life in this complex story.
Sara Paretsky
Review
"Part politics, part romance, all adventure, this compelling suspense thriller will linger in your mind for a long time." Gayle Lynds
Review
"RIFT ZONE crackles with tension and moves at a whiplash pace. What's most impressive is its sense of absolute authority as it reveals the high stakes suspense of Cold War espionage." Tess Gerritsen
Review
"Faith Whitney is a female Indiana Jones. RIFT ZONE is a fast-paced, suspense-paacked race against time."(Katherine Neville, May 25 2004 )
Review
“This is as good as anything written by John LeCarré. A must-read. Raelynn Hillhouse is an extraordinary new writer, who has almost single-handedly revived the Cold War thriller.”---Nelson DeMille
“RIFT ZONE crackles with tension and moves at a whiplash pace. Whats most impressive is its sense of absolute authority as it reveals the high-stakes suspense of Cold War espionage.”---Tess Gerritsen
“Reading RIFT ZONE, youll be intrigued and spellbound. You cant help but follow the thread through a labyrinth of mystery to an absorbing conclusion.”---Clive Cussler
“A fascinating story . . . Intriguing . . . This story could only have been told by somebody who has been there and experienced much. It is a book to be read and savoured for its rare insight.”---Anne Perry
“A marvelous, gritty thriller . . . Were going to be hearing a lot more from Raelynn Hillhouse.”---Stephen Coonts
“Impeccable, detailed research, the backstage of the Cold War comes vividly to life in this complex story.”---Sara Peretsky
“Raelynn Hillhouse guides you into the murky, fascinating underbelly of Cold War Berlin with cloth of velvet prose and saber-sharp violence. Part politics, part romance, all adventure, this compelling suspense thriller will linger in your mind for a long time.”---Gayle Lynds
Review
"Reading RIFT ZONE, you'll be intrigued and spellbound. . . . You can't help following the thread through a labyrinth of mystery to an absorbing conclusion." Clive Cussler
Review
"Evocative, gripping."--Los Angeles Times
"This is as good as anything written by John LeCarré. A must-read. Raelynn Hillhouse is an extraordinary new writer, who has almost single-handedly revived the Cold War thriller."--Nelson DeMille on Rift Zone
"Flashy first novel. . . . A Bonding experience: the story is slick and suspenseful: the heroine makes like a female 007."--People on Rift Zone
"A fascinating story . . . Intriguing . . . This story could only have been told by somebody who has been there and experienced much. It is a book to be read and savoured for its rare insight."--Anne Perry on Rift Zone
"The absolutely riveting scenes of escape and capture in her first thriller prove that Hillhouse might well be the next-and perhaps the last-excellent novelist to come in from the cold. . . . [Faith] Whitney's brutal interrogation to make sure she hasn't sold out the Stasi is one of the most believably painful scenes in spy literature. . . . A unique addition to the players of the Cold War."--Chicago Tribune on Rift Zone
"Reading Rift Zone, you'll be intrigued and spellbound. You can't help but follow the thread through a labyrinth of mystery to an absorbing conclusion."--Clive Cussler on Rift Zone
"Hillhouse's much-ballyhooed debut is going to create quite a stir, and justly so. Based on her own adventures as a black market smuggler between East and West Berlin and bolstered by meticulous research, the story shimmers with authenticity. An original voice of unusual authority, a resourceful female protagonist, sexual undertones, explosive tension, and tradecraft galore add up to a spellbinding tale. Expect heavy demand, as this appeals to male and female readers alike. Highly recommended. --Library Journal (starred review) on Rift Zone
"Rift Zone crackles with tension and moves at a whiplash pace. What's most impressive is its sense of absolute authority as it reveals the high-stakes suspense of Cold War espionage."--Tess Gerritsen on Rift Zone
"Hillhouse shows a firm grasp of suspense and intrigue in her auspicious debut, a satisfying international thriller."-Booklist on Rift Zone
"A marvelous, gritty thriller . . . We're going to be hearing a lot more from Raelynn Hillhouse."--Stephen Coonts on Rift Zone
"Hillhouse's gripping debut, a cold war thriller, has so many unexpected pleasures.... The book may be better for its two strong women and its incisive picture of a significant era in recent history than for its thriller elements, but Hillhouse is a welcome new voice." --Publishers Weekly on Rift Zone
"Impeccable, detailed research, the backstage of the Cold War comes vividly to life in this complex story."---Sara Paretsky on Rift Zone
"A steadily suspenseful . . . Cold War thriller. . . . The desperate and complicated political undercurrents . . . generate plenty of action."--Kirkus Reviews on Rift Zone
"Raelynn Hillhouse guides you into the murky, fascinating underbelly of Cold War Berlin with cloth of velvet prose and saber-sharp violence. Part politics, part romance, all adventure, this compelling suspense thriller will linger in your mind for a long time."--Gayle Lynds on Rift Zone
"A riveting story of international suspense and adventure, drawn from her own fascinating background . . . Too fascinating to put down. So well-written, so interesting, so intense and frightening you're going to love it. A real sink-into-it-and-digest-it thriller, destined to be a bestseller."--Rendezvous on Rift Zone
"A truly original and totally authentic voice . . . A page-turner in the very best sense of the word, with a cracking good plot and terrific writing that jumps off the page. Not since John LeCarre's George Smiley has a character come along who's as likeable as Faith Whitney. . . . Rift Zone is un-put-downable."-- Taylor Smith on Rift Zone
"The protagonist is . . . one heck of a woman. Hillhouse has a firm grasp of her subject and the way the various intelligence agencies and their agents interact. And she writes with real tension."--Detroit Free Press on Rift Zone
"Faith Whitney is a female Indiana Jones--a smuggler with a mysterious past and a master of disguise. Raelynn Hillhouse's Rift Zone is a fast-paced, suspense-packed race against time, just as the Berlin Wall is about to crumble."--Katherine Neville on Rift Zone
"It is almost astonishing to read a breathtakingly accomplished spy novel by a debut author-both insightful and realistic. . . . As terrifying and exciting as anything in the thriller subgenre. Make no mistake about it, Raelynn Hillhouse is potentially a very bright star in spy fiction. "--Larry Gandle, Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine on Rift Zone
"The Cold War is alive and well inside the mind of Raelynn Hillhouse. Her first novel is a triumph of twists and turns, full of adventure, intrigue and romance. This is one book you won't be able to put down until it's finished. If it's a first rate high-stakes suspense you're looking for, coupled with someone who makes you smile and groan and feel like you're watching your very best friend risk her life for some crazy chess set, you gotta have Faith."--The Best Reviews on Rift Zone
Review
Evocative, gripping.
Los Angeles Times
Review
As good as anything written by John LeCarré. A must-read. Hillhouse is an extraordinary new writer.
Nelson DeMille
Review
Flashy first novel. A Bonding experience: the story is slick and suspenseful: the heroine makes like a female 007.
People
Review
A fascinating story . . . Intriguing . . . A book to be read and savoured for its rare insight.
Anne Perry
Review
Absolutely riveting Hillhouse might well be the next--and perhaps the last--excellent novelist to come in from the cold.
Chicago Tribune
Review
You'll be intrigued and spellbound.
Clive Cussler
Review
An original voice of unusual authority, a resourceful female protagonist, sexual undertones, explosive tension, and tradecraft galore. A spellbinding tale.
Library Journal (starred review)
Review
Crackles with tension and moves at a whiplash pace.
Tess Gerritsen
Review
Hillhouse shows a firm grasp of suspense and intrigue in her auspicious debut, a satisfying international thriller.
Booklist
Review
Hillhouse's gripping debut . . . has so many unexpected pleasures . . . Hillhouse is a welcome new voice.
Publishers Weekly
Review
Steadily suspenseful. The desperate and complicated political undercurrents . . . generate plenty of action.
Kirkus Reviews
Review
A cloth of velvet prose and saber-sharp violence. Part politics, part romance, all adventure.
Gayle Lynds
Review
Riveting . . . Too fascinating to put down. So well-written, so interesting, so intense and frightening you're going to love it.
Rendezvous
Review
A page-turner in the very best sense of the word.
Taylor Smith
Review
Hillhouse has a firm grasp of her subject and the way the various intelligence agencies and their agents interact.
Detroit Free Press
Review
Faith Whitney is a female Indiana Jones. . . . A fast-paced, suspense-packed race against time.
Katherine Neville
Review
A breathtakingly accomplished spy novel. Both insightful and realistic. As terrifying and exciting as anything in the thriller subgenre.
Larry Gandle
Review
"RIFT ZONE is a fantastic time-machine trip back to the Cold War. This is AS GOOD AS ANYTHING WRITTEN BY JOHN LE CARRE. . . . This is a must-read. Raelynn Hillhouse is an extraordinary new writer." Nelson DeMille
Review
"A fascinating story . . . intriguing, could only have been written by somebody who has been there and experienced much. . . . A book to be read and savored for its rare insight." Anne Perry
Synopsis
A beautiful, cultivated trafficker of contraband on the cusp of Glasnost, Faith Whitney has searched for her father all her life. Zigzagging across Eastern Europe, she constantly pursues elusive, fruitless leads about the shadowy Communist Party hero who'd left her missionary mother a quarter century before. Now the Stasi--East Germany's efficient, ruthless secret police--make Whitney a tantalizing offer. If she'll use her smuggler's savvy to make a Moscow delivery, then they'll deliver Whitney's father, alive and well. And if she doesn't cooperate.... But if she does, she'll be bringing back to power the hard line communists that fear they will lose all in the new world order. In this riveting fast-paced thriller, Raelynn Hillhouse joins the ranks of John LeCarre and Alistair MacLean as a novelist of international intrigue that will keep readers guessing.
Synopsis
A woman who smuggles, spies and lies, Faith Whitney can run just about anything through the seemingly sealed borders of Eastern Europe. Now powerful people want to use her skills to carry out a small part of a massive conspiracy. One fateful day the East German secret police kidnap Faith and make her an offer she can't refuse. If she smuggles a single package into Moscow, the Germans will tell her everything she's always wanted to know about her mysterious father. If she doesn't, she'll be exterminated. As Faith navigates the shadows and back alleys of Berlin and Moscow, she realizes she is being used as a pawn by two nations with very different goals, and her life is not the only thing at stake. Thrown into a plot that may change the course of history, Faith must use every bit of skill and contact she's accumulated through the years to find a way out of this deadly Rift Zone.
About the Author
Raelynn Hillhouse has run Cuban rum between East and West Berlin, smuggled jewels from the Soviet Union and forged Eastern bloc visas. From Uzbekistan to Romania, she's been followed, held at gunpoint, and interrogated. Two of the world's most notorious intelligence services--the Libyans and East Germans-attempted to recruit her as a spy. They failed.
A former professor and Fulbright fellow, Hillhouse has not only faced the barrels of Kalashnikovs, but has also been caught in the crossfire of border guards' snowball fights.