In this political espionage thriller, characters ponder their choices against the backdrop of the Ukrainian-Russian war.

Protagonists Paul Drake and his sometimes-paramour Katerina “Katya” Volkov are drawn into the conflict as the war continues over the three years the novel covers. Paul’s younger brother, Max, fights on the front lines for Ukraine, while other characters work behind the scenes, navigating betrayals, secrets, and personal challenges. Among the many subplots: Katya tries to get her uncle Yuri released after a kidnapping, and U.S. agents ponder possible ways to end the war, including regime change in Russia.

Although written as a stand-alone novel, this is the third in a series, and new readers may not fully understand some of the characters, notably an operative named Jo Richards. By contrast, the author front-loads the book with too much information on other characters—their beliefs and past alliances—instead of letting things play out organically; this makes for challenging reading early on.

Once Max arrives on scene, however, the book hits its stride. Readers can’t help but empathize with Max and the stark reality of war beyond the headlines.

Readers will appreciate the story’s authenticity and often-weighty themes, such as the meaning of art or personal freedom. The author is a former CIA agent, and his extensive knowledge of the topic shows in the details. There’s a strong sense of place, right down to maps of the countries in play. He also has an ear for dialogue. Unlike authors who over-exaggerate accents to distinguish foreign agents, his characters never sound stilted or cartoonish.

Readers would be well served to read the rest of the series to alleviate some of the story’s early confusion. Despite its dense beginning, the narrative’s pace eventually picks up, and readers will cruise to a satisfying ending—likely the setup for the next book.

Also available in hardcover, ebook and audio book.