Synopses & Reviews
An unnamed spy is dispatched to Shanghai to aid a shadowy U.S. agency known only as HQ. There he meets a mysterious woman named Mei and begins a torrid affair that threatens to expose him to Chinese intelligence, the notorious Guoanbu. As danger waits for him around every corner, and the enigmatic Mei moves into and out of his life, he finds himself drawn further into a deadly cat-and-mouse game between Guoanbu and HQ that threatens not only to end his life but to also dangerously destabilize East/West relations.
Review
“Meticulous, intelligent. . . . A must . . . for genre aficionados and McCarry’s many fans.”
—Publishers Weekly [HC starred review] Publishers Weekly
Review
“The plot is appropriately sinuous, but it is the narrator’s voice and worldview that make this a must-read for espionage aficionados. . . . Wildly entertaining and further proof that McCarry is a modern master of the genre on a par with le Carré and Robert Littell.”
—Booklist [HC starred review] Booklist
Review
“This is an intricately plotted tale of believable espionage that, read by Stephen Bowlby, becomes an intriguing audio.”
—BookPage
Review
“Stephen Bowlby adopts the perfect tone in this audio edition. . . . [His] characters are distinct and he differentiates between each of them subtly, never going over the top into caricature. Fans of McCarry will be as pleased, both with this latest outing and with Bowlbys smooth, professional reading.”
—Publishers Weekly BookPage
Review
“Bowlbys low-key performance mirrors McCarrys carefully imagined, mundane world, but one permeated with an undercurrent of danger, source unknown, a fact that heightens the sense of menace. . . . . Bowlby portrays the large cast of Chinese characters . . . in authentic-sounding accents. A strong sense of place effectively adds to the impact of this cerebral, interior thriller.”
—Booklist
Synopsis
From one of the greatest espionage writers of all time comes the labyrinthine tale of a young American operative caught in a bewildering web of intrigue between the U.S. and Chinese governments, where nothing is as it seems, no one can be trusted, and the balance of world power may be at stake.
About the Author
STEPHEN BOWLBY earned his BA in Speech & Theater at Westminster College in Pennsylvania, a short trip from his native North Jersey. His career quickly moved from commercial radio into television and film production as a writer, editor, and director with voice work ever present. With more than 35 years experience hes expanded into audiobook performance, studying with such industry greats as Pat Fraley, Scott Brick, and Stefan Rudnicki.
CHARLES MCCARRY served under deep cover as a CIA operations officer in Europe, Asia, and Africa. He is the author of several previous critically acclaimed novels, as well as numerous works of non-fiction.