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Red Widow Hardcover – March 23, 2021

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,784 ratings

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“A wicked sharp spy novel…Equal parts Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Killing Eve.” –S. A. Cosby, author of Blacktop Wasteland and Razorblade Tears

An exhilarating spy thriller written by an intelligence veteran about two women CIA agents whose paths become intertwined around a threat to the Russia Division--one that's coming from inside the agency.


Lyndsey Duncan worries her career with the CIA might be over. After lines are crossed with another intelligence agent during an assignment, she is sent home to Washington on administrative leave. So when a former colleague--now Chief of the Russia Division--recruits her for an internal investigation, she jumps at the chance to prove herself. Lyndsey was once a top handler in the Moscow Field Station, where she was known as the "human lie detector" and praised for recruiting some of the most senior Russian officials. But now, three Russian assets have been exposed--including one of her own--and the CIA is convinced there's a mole in the department. With years of work in question and lives on the line, Lyndsey is thrown back into life at the agency, this time tracing the steps of those closest to her.

Meanwhile, fellow agent Theresa Warner can't avoid the spotlight. She is the infamous "Red Widow," the wife of a former director killed in the field under mysterious circumstances. With her husband's legacy shadowing her every move, Theresa is a fixture of the Russia Division, and as she and Lyndsey strike up an unusual friendship, her knowledge proves invaluable. But as Lyndsey uncovers a surprising connection to Theresa that could answer all of her questions, she unearths a terrifying web of secrets within the department, if only she is willing to unravel it....
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Finalist for the International Thriller Writers Award
A
New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice 

One of:
Northern Virginia Magazine's Best Beach Reads
BookPage's Most Anticipated Mysteries and Thrillers of 2021
Writer's Digest's 71 Books and Authors to Check Out in 2021

“Katsu, a longtime intelligence analyst for the C.I.A. and N.S.A, writes what she’s most professionally familiar with after years in the paranormal and horror novel trenches. The plotting is sophisticated and laced with surprises, but what stands out most is the emotional core of Lyndsey and Theresa’s alliance, and whether there is room, in a nest of vipers, for true sisterhood.”
The New York Times Book Review

“Terrific…Fans of FX’s ‘The Americans’ will recognize a world where professionalism can fall prey to sexism, careerism, and garden-variety klutziness. Duncan’s job is a lot ‘like juggling knives,’ and Katsu makes us care that she doesn’t bobble.”
The Washington Post

Red Widow is layered with inside knowledge of how CIA bureaucracy works; it is often a bleak workplace, it seems, where loyalty is in short supply and careers can be ended on a whim.” Financial Times

"This political thriller is years in the making because it's based on the author's own past as a woman working in the intelligence field. DC-area readers familiar with that world will appreciate the attention to detail and the way Katsu's experience shines through."
Northern Virginia Magazine

"Lyndsey is a likeable, slightly mysterious heroine readers will want to see again. And her creator, having traded ghosts and gore for more subdued thrills, still manages plenty of jaw-dropping revelations."
Charleston Post & Courier

“Alma Katsu’s main characters in
Red Widow are written with a depth and nuance that I found profoundly refreshing.” Diplomatic Courier

“In contrast to many other spy thrillers,
Red Widow does not rely on titillating and damaging stereotypes of women and tales of ‘sexpionage’ to advance the story line. Rather, the book realistically and refreshingly portrays female intelligence officers as highly professional, capable and ethical.” Cipher Brief

“The authenticity of [Katsu’s] experiences deepens every bit of this story….I raced to the end, and you will too.”
Suspense Magazine

“[Katsu] uses her 30-plus years of intelligence to create a suspenseful, entertaining spy tale laced with authenticity.”
–Washington Post

“An exhilarating spy thriller.”
The Nerd Daily
 
“Katsu succeeds brilliantly here in capturing the ambience of espionage in action.
Red Widow is a driving, step-by-step procedural bristling with suspenseful authenticity.” Washington Independent Review of Books

“[Alma Katsu] knows her stuff and already has proven that she can write an engaging thriller….The plot never allows you to catch your breath as the wheels keep turning with every new piece of information uncovered, and nothing is as it appears to be.”
–­BookReporter

“Katsu’s real-life experience and skill at maintaining taught, nail-biting tension make
Red Widow a standout espionage thriller.” BookPage (starred review)

“This fast-paced spy thriller offers a seemingly realistic look inside the CIA and raises plenty of questions about the ethics of spying. With a smart, plucky heroine; white-knuckle suspense; multiple twists; and a satisfying conclusion, this is a must for espionage fans.”
Booklist

“Gripping...An intriguing look at the day-to-day office politics and jostling that goes on behind Langley’s walls. Best known for her novels of psychological terror, Katsu shows a sure hand at a new genre.”
Publishers Weekly

“Women serving in the CIA face unique challenges and Alma Katsu’s exhilarating
Red Widow captures the reality and nuances with deadly accuracy, style, and truly enjoyable writing. As a former CIA official, Alma writes with welcome insight about the ‘wilderness of mirrors.’” –Valerie Plame, former covert CIA ops officer

“A first-rate thriller.
Red Widow provides an intoxicating, insider’s view of the CIA, betrayal, revenge, and espionage at the highest levels and the highest stakes.” –Robert Dugoni, author of The Last Agent

"Superb! Part savvy geopolitical spy thriller in the tradition of John le Carré, part whipsawing investigative procedural, part gripping psychological suspense,
Red Widow grabs you in the harrowing opening scene and never lets go—and I don’t mean at the last page; this novel stays with you long after you’ve finished it. Author Katsu brings an incisive and resonant voice to her tale and has populated it with truly distinctive, fully formed characters, including one of the sharpest and most appealing protagonists in recent fiction: Lyndsey Duncan. Did I say superb? Well, consider it said once more." –Jeffery Deaver, author of The Goodbye Man

Red Widow is a spy thriller that shines with authenticity and heart.” –Karen Cleveland, author of Need to Know

"Red Widow is a novel only Alma Katsu could have written—a gripping story of secrets and loyalties that nails the brutal tradeoffs involved in high-stakes espionage. Tense, smart, and fearless." —Joseph Finder, author of House on Fire

About the Author

Alma Katsu is the award-winning author of five novels, most recently The Deep and The Hunger. Prior to the publication of her first novel, she had a thirty-five-year career as a senior intelligence analyst for several U.S. agencies, including the CIA and NSA, as well as RAND, the global policy think tank. Katsu is a graduate of the master's writing program at the Johns Hopkins University and received her bachelor's degree from Brandeis University. She lives outside of Washington, D.C., with her husband, where she is a consultant to government and private industry on future trends and analytic methods.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ G.P. Putnam's Sons (March 23, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0525539417
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0525539414
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.24 x 1.18 x 9.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,784 ratings

About the author

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Alma Katsu
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"Deeply, deeply disturbing. Hard to put down, not recommended reading after dark." -- STEPHEN KING

"Supernatural suspense at its finest" - NY Times

One of the Most Celebrated Horror Books of 2020

Oprah Magazine, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, Book Riot, the NY Times and many more

WINNER Best Novel (Translated) of 2019, Celsius 232, Spanish festival of science fiction, fantasy, and horror

Twice nominated for Stoker Award for Best Novel and Locus Magazine for Best Horror Novel

One of NPR's 100 favorite horror stories

2018's Best Books - The Observer, Barnes & Noble, Powell's Books

Winner 2019 Western Heritage Awards Outstanding Novel

One of the 21 best horror novels written by a woman - Unbound Worlds

“Katsu shows an acute understanding of human nature. … [She] is at her best when she forces her readers to stare at the almost unimaginable meeting of ordinary people and extraordinary desperation, using her sharp, haunting language.” - USA Today (3 1/2 out of 4 stars)

"[A] blockbuster.... Combines meticulous historical research and a keen understanding of human nature with a monstrous original metaphor to reimagine the ill-fated Donner Party..." - Salon

"The story she writes of human failings and despair is so powerful and so well-written... Hauntingly good." - The Times (UK)

(Starred review) “A wildly different take on the historical tragedy of the Donner Party…. For fans of historical fiction and the supernatural, Katsu’s goosebumpy and spooky plot makes for an original and surprising read.” - Library Journal

(Starred review) "Katsu injects the supernatural into this brilliant retelling of the ill-fated Donner Party... Fans of Dan Simmons' The Terror will find familiar and welcome chills." - Publishers Weekly

"Like The Revenant but with an insistent supernatural whisper. The setting and the story are utterly chilling. And the telling of it is so well done."- Sarah Pinborough, author of Behind Her Eyes

“Equal parts unputdownable and must-put-it-down-or-I-am-going-to-have-a-heart-attack… You travel into this book and there is no escape. Katsu is an exceptionally gifted writer and the dread-soaked pages are with me every day as both a writer and a scaredy cat.”” – Author of YOU Caroline Kepnes on TODAY.com

“Uneasy, nauseous, slow-burning tale that marries historical fiction with a hint of the supernatural. Great detailing; colorful characterization; some supremely ominous stuff, but always reined in at the final moment to rack up the tension even more. Loved it!”- Joanne Harris,

author of Different Class and Chocolat

Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of March: Atmospheric horror meets the Donner Party in Katsu's retelling of the doomed pioneers.- Omnivoracious: The Amazon Book Review

“The Hunger is a bold and brilliant novel, heavy with foreboding and dread, and with a rich vein of humanity at its core. I challenge you to read it without experiencing your own hunger pangs.”- Tim Lebbon, author of Relics and The Silence

"If you think the story of the Donner Party can’t get more horrific, think again. In this gripping, atmospheric reimagining of that dark tale, Katsu has created a deeply unsettling and truly terrifying masterpiece.”- Jennifer McMahon, author of Burntown and The Winter People

“The Hunger is a perfect metaphor of our times, a study in the best and the worst of human nature, our propensity to see evil in those on whom we depend, and the terror that comes when community falls apart. Beautiful, lyrical, utterly grounded in the wagons, the land, and the people, this is the best--and scariest--story I’ve read this year. Don’t start late at night and expect to sleep!”- Manda Scott, author of Hen's Teeth

"The tension is perfect: the novel is a model for how to construct the slow build... Well-written and gripping with a strong conclusion, The Hunger is an inventive take on an already morbidly fascinating historical event. Recommended!"- Historical Novels Review

“Katsu’s latest novel…grips readers from the opening paragraphs and doesn’t let go. Full of richly drawn and fascinatingly flawed characters, this is a story that is respectful of the history it relates, but doesn’t shy away from the sins, mistakes and bigotry of the past, to impressive effect.”- RT Book Reviews

"We think we know how the story will end [but it] ends with a twist that I certainly didn't see coming."- Criminal Element

Ms. Katus's debut novel, The Taker, was selected by Booklist as one of the top 10 debut novels of 2011. She is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins Writing Program and Brandeis University, where she studied with novelist John Irving, and an alumni of the Squaw Valley Writers Conference. Like many writers, she has a day job, too: for over 30 years, she was an intelligence analyst for the federal government and RAND, and is currently a consultant on emerging technology.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
1,784 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging with an intriguing plot and well-written, simple English sentences. They describe it as a solid read that never disappoints. Readers appreciate the compelling characters and strong female characters. The book keeps them hooked with its fast-paced storytelling and satisfying conclusion.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

61 customers mention "Suspenseful"51 positive10 negative

Customers enjoy the suspenseful spy story with its intriguing investigative processes and interesting characters. They find the plot outstanding and well-written, guiding them through the twists and secrets. The book is a fictitious story about US and Russian spies written by an insider.

"...The novel is tightly and skillfully plotted. Katsu writes in simple and clear English sentences...." Read more

"...and I almost was going to give upon it about 30 pages in but it got more interesting and better written pretty quickly to the point where I didn’t..." Read more

"...And the setting—CIA headquarters at Langley, for the most part—well described...." Read more

"...She unveils many convoluted conspiracies. Don’t work in the CIA or the FSB, office politics can be deadly or worse." Read more

26 customers mention "Writing quality"22 positive4 negative

Customers find the book's writing clear and easy to read. They appreciate the simple English sentences and find it interesting and well-written.

"...Katsu writes in simple and clear English sentences. She retains a walking pace throughout the novel, as she unfolds her story...." Read more

"...The writing flowed well and was descriptive, but sometimes repeated details became telling rather than showing, which caused the pace to slow...." Read more

"...upon it about 30 pages in but it got more interesting and better written pretty quickly to the point where I didn’t want to put the book down so,..." Read more

"Find to read lots of actions good character.Development well written. I will read the next episode as soon as I can" Read more

22 customers mention "Readability"22 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-crafted. They say it's a solid read that never disappoints, with interesting characters and secrets. The author makes it a real page-turner, and readers never become bored with the book.

"...suspenseful and intriguing with compelling characters that kept me turning the pages...." Read more

"A good read...." Read more

"Great book! I’ve been a fan of Alma Katsu from the beginning! Her books never disappoint! can’t wait for her next one!" Read more

"...There are plenty of bad actors and good and a lot of secrets. There isn't a lot of black and white, and plenty of grey...." Read more

18 customers mention "Character development"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging with compelling characters and strong female characters. They mention there are plenty of bad actors and good ones, and the characters fit into their roles with sufficient twists.

"...Lyndsey is a likeable character who is lonely, isolated, and questioning her career. However, she is determined to find and expose the traitor...." Read more

"...The characters are fairly well drawn. And the setting—CIA headquarters at Langley, for the most part—well described...." Read more

"...There are plenty of bad actors and good and a lot of secrets. There isn't a lot of black and white, and plenty of grey...." Read more

"...It has an exciting story line and interesting characters. I had a hard time putting the book down. It was a non stop read...." Read more

9 customers mention "Enjoyment"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it engaging and fascinating, despite limited stakes. The story makes them think about what really happens.

"...facts and fiction tinker the story believable, interesting and exciting and all without much of the senseless violence, cursing and sex that few..." Read more

"I enjoyed this book and it made me think a lot about what really b happens in our government that we don't know about...." Read more

"...The writing is crisp and entertains on every page. I highly recommend this thriller and author." Read more

"...I found it to be exciting and it made me eager to know what was going to happen next...." Read more

9 customers mention "Pacing"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find the plot twists and human touch engaging, keeping them hooked until the satisfying conclusion. The story is well-written and keeps readers fully involved with interesting characters and commendable operational savvy. However, some felt the book was unrealistic.

"...She retains a walking pace throughout the novel, as she unfolds her story...." Read more

"...With a fascinating story, it kept me fully engaged in learning who the traitor was. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author...." Read more

"...The story is so well told, it kept me totally engaged." Read more

"I don't know if I have read this before. It was OK, but extremely unrealistic. Beyond wild dreams sorts of stuff...." Read more

A captivating, and thrilling mystery
4 out of 5 stars
A captivating, and thrilling mystery
When Lyndsey Duncan agreed to the assignment she was at first surprised to receive the offer, she had been placed on a forced leave and thought her career was over. Her former boss had contacted her because he suspected a mole was working within the CIA and knew that Lyndsey could crack the case. As she builds her suspicions and interviews everyone involved, she finds that every answer leads to another question. Yet, she trusts her instincts and uses her inner lie detector to find the truth. Unfortunately she discovers that even friends have secrets that can’t be shared.I’ve honestly never read a spy thriller though cannot imagine why, as I’ve enjoyed countless movies containing espionage. Thankfully, this book was the perfect first read. Captivating and thrilling, a slow burn that collects all the details and keeps the reader guessing. There was a moment, midway through, where I thought the case was solved and was quickly corrected. A great read and highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a mystery.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2021
    Alma Katsu is a successful fantasy-horror writer who worked as an analyst at the National Security Agency and at the CIA. This is her first espionage novel. It’s rich with deceit and plot surprises. Much of the novel is set in the CIA office in Langley, Virginia.

    It’s highly competitive environment, where co-workers look for a weakness to use against you, or just to ruin your career. Perhaps the (fictional) scene at Langley is a dramatization of common office politics. I love to read spy novels with well-considered characters because nothing, aside from lust, is more human than lies. I want to learn how spies manage their lies, how the lies change them, whether, at some level, they believe their lies.

    The protagonist is Lindsey Duncan, a thirty-something woman case officer at the Beirut station. She's sent back in disgrace for an affair with a British agent, which violates the rules. It turns out that if the theme of the book is untangling deception, the sub-theme is loneliness. Lying isolates her from sex and love. I wonder how spies handle their separation from others and deception of even their families.

    On her return to HQ, her boss tasks her with discovering the reasons for the murder of a high-value Russian agent, who she once recruited in Moscow. The assignment leads to the revelation of layers of deceit and double and triple cross.

    The novel is tightly and skillfully plotted. Katsu writes in simple and clear English sentences. She retains a walking pace throughout the novel, as she unfolds her story. The calm tone of her style contrasts with the rising tension of the plot. The novel ends with a hint that the CIA is an onion, more layers of deception remain to be unpeeled. A true fan should concoct their own ending.

    The novel is a Russian piroshki (pastry), crisp, filled with fine Siberian lingonberry jam ---and novichuk. If you like this genre, This novel is a must-read.
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2022
    Alma Katsu switches genres with RED WIDOW . Instead of horror, fantasy, and the supernatural, she draws on her experience as an intelligence analyst with several U.S. agencies in this engrossing espionage mystery. Similar to her other books, she manages to reveal human weaknesses and their consequences in a compelling and very readable way.

    Lyndsey Duncan has been recalled back to CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. She’s been sent home on administrative leave after dating a foreign intelligence agent during her assignment in Beirut when a former colleague who is now chief of the Russia Division recruits her for an internal investigation. Three Russians providing information to the United States have been disappeared or died, including one she recruited when she was a handler in the Moscow Field Station. The CIA is convinced there’s a mole, but who is it?

    Lyndsey is a likeable character who is lonely, isolated, and questioning her career. However, she is determined to find and expose the traitor. Other major characters include Theresa Warner, Eric Newman, and Raymond Murphy. Theresa is the wife of a former CIA chief killed in the field and has a young son. She and Lyndsey become friends during the course of the story. Eric is the one that brings Lyndsey in to work on the investigation. He has a tendency to be controlling, but supportive. Raymond Murphy is from the Counterintelligence division of the CIA and the person working with Lyndsey to find the mole.

    While I have seen this novel categorized as an espionage thriller, it more closely resembles a police procedural. This is a story about the investigation and the people involved. It isn’t full of action, although there are a few action scenes. The suspense is built as the investigation evolves and discoveries are made.

    Katsu includes some plot twists that may catch some by surprise. Information on the CIA and part of its structure is weaved into the story. The story largely takes place within the walls of the CIA headquarters building. One of the revelations that struck me was how similar office employees are, whether they work for the CIA or a corporation. There are meetings, collaborations, computer work, paper work, secrets, projects, reports, office politics, competition, and gossip. The writing flowed well and was descriptive, but sometimes repeated details became telling rather than showing, which caused the pace to slow. Themes include violence, murder, loyalty, betrayal, lies, friendship, ambition, deceit, morality, national security, and much more.

    Overall, this was suspenseful and intriguing with compelling characters that kept me turning the pages. With a fascinating story, it kept me fully engaged in learning who the traitor was. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

    This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date was March 23, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2021
    First off, I used to be involved in the intelligence field and new several high ranking retired officials so I have a pretty good grasp of how things work there. Initially, this book started out with the same basics as most others written about this field and I almost was going to give upon it about 30 pages in but it got more interesting and better written pretty quickly to the point where I didn’t want to put the book down so, not very far into the book until it got good. As most people that worked in this field know, the books written with all the action and excitement that you see in the James Bond type movies couldn’t be farther from what it’s really like to live and work in this field. That being said, making a book realistic and still exciting is not easy to do, moreover with the things you cannot reveal. It also goes without saying that most people that work in a field and know it well, cannot necessarily write an interesting book about it, much less a fictional book but with enough truth to make it realistic, especially to others who worked in the field. The author, who worked 35 years in this field and who somewhat surprisingly to me, became a successful author writing books not based on her experience, decided to try her hand at writing a novel based on her prior career and I personally feel she did an excellent job combining facts and fiction tinker the story believable, interesting and exciting and all without much of the senseless violence, cursing and sex that few authors seem to not know how to abstain from and still write an exciting book. I can only hope that the author continues writing books in this genre.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • MD
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic story!! .
    Reviewed in Canada on October 24, 2021
    Looking forward to the follow up book, of Lyndsey's next Russian assign. Would Like to read a series from said character or movie series.
  • R
    1.0 out of 5 stars Malísima, simplona, mal escrita, sin la más mínima credibilidad.
    Reviewed in Spain on August 18, 2024
    Malísima, simplona, mal escrita, sin la más mínima credibilidad.
  • TS Becker
    4.0 out of 5 stars Cool thriller
    Reviewed in Germany on September 8, 2023
    Alma Katsu has spent time herself in the CIA and paints a realistic picture, as always. I missed a bit the action, but I guess that is not what happens in the agency all the time.
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars A decent story and female lead 👌👏
    Reviewed in Australia on April 30, 2022
    Firstly thank the stars for strong female characters written by a female. If you liked the Red Sparrow series but got sick of the cringe worthy "special hair brush" references etc (🤮) then you'll probably dig Red Widow. The main character could just have easily been a typical male spy character if you changed the name which I loved. The author didn't do some weird cliché over-feminising. So refreshing.
    It's a well written spy novel which delivers what you hope it will.
    I gave four rather than five stars because the story was a bit predictable at times. You're taken as a passenger on the characters (very enjoyable) journey, but you know pretty much exactly where you're going. That said, I was absorbed and finished it in a couple of days so definitely worth a read.
  • Tom Glover
    4.0 out of 5 stars every bit the suspense you’re looking for
    Reviewed in Canada on September 5, 2023
    Red Widow teases and taunts … slowly offering clues. But which leads are true and which are a trap? Prepare for an enjoyable read.