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Red Widow Hardcover – March 23, 2021
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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....
- Print length352 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherG.P. Putnam's Sons
- Publication dateMarch 23, 2021
- Dimensions6.24 x 1.18 x 9.3 inches
- ISBN-100525539417
- ISBN-13978-0525539414
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Editorial Reviews
Review
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
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
NOVEMBER 2018
NEW YORK CITY
The gentleman in seat 2D was in medical distress when he boarded, the flight attendant is sure of it.
He was the first on the plane, leading the rush of premium club members. She noticed he was already having trouble, stumbling in the narrow aisle, sweat visible on his face. He shoved his overnight bag into her arms to stow for him and asked for a drink right away, a vodka neat. She is used to this kind of treatment from business class passengers, especially on this hop from JFK to Reagan National, which is often full of VIPs, senators and businessmen. He looks to her like a politician, the worst of all. She knows better than to argue with him.
She brings him a glass of water, too, even though he didn’t ask for it, in case he needs to cool off or take medication. He’s not in great shape—three hundred pounds easy, squeezed into a suit at least two sizes too small. His face is pale, but there’s a deep flush creeping up from under his collar.
He grumbles to himself throughout the boarding process, but is otherwise quiet. His cell phone is clutched in one hand as the rest of the passengers squeeze by, his face turned to the tiny window, shunning any possibility of contact. He pays no attention through the safety demonstration but then again no one does anymore, and the flight attendant stopped taking offense long ago.
As the plane taxis onto the runway, she checks the manifest. His name is Yaromir Popov and he came to JFK via an Aeroflot flight from Heathrow. A Russian businessman, then.
No sooner has the Airbus A330 lifted into the night sky than the Russian starts having problems. From the jump seat in the galley, the flight attendant sees his face has turned bright pink and that he’s having difficulty breathing. Could he be choking on something? He hasn’t pressed the call button so it might just be garden variety anxiety. Takeoffs are the worst for many passengers. She counts the minutes until the fasten seat belt signs go off.
The flight to Washington, D.C., will be quick. Because the plane is barely one-third full, the airline cut back on flight attendants. Tonight, it’s just her and another woman, the bare minimum. Still, there’s plenty for them to take care of and she doesn’t think about Popov again until it’s time to take drink orders. By then, he’s gotten worse. He is shaking in his seat and on the verge of convulsions. His eyes bulge, and his bright red face is shiny from sweat.
She is glad the cabin is dark and the plane practically empty. She doesn’t want to alarm the rest of the passengers. Most have their heads down anyway, trying to catch a quick nap on the ninety-minute trip.
She leans over him, bringing her face close to his so she can check for the smell of alcohol. “Are you okay, sir? Is there something I can do for you?”
He opens his mouth but no words come out, only a gurgling, choking noise.
Something’s seriously wrong. Her pulse immediately quickens. She’s never had to give emergency medical aid on a plane and she frantically tries to recall what she’s supposed to do next. Loosen his tie? Check his airway for obstructions? Signal for the other flight attendant to come help her?
Bubbles form in the saliva that coats his lips, like a rabid dog. She darts into the galley for another plastic cup of water which he gulps down greedily but it does nothing to help him to speak. The shaking increases; it is like he is riding his own personal wave of turbulence. There is a strangled look of panic in his eyes—he knows something is very wrong—but stubbornly keeps trying to speak, as though he is determined to give a message to her.
Spooked, she leaps to her feet and sprints for the cockpit. She knocks on the door and waits for the click of the lock as it disengages before popping her head in. The pilot and copilot look up at her at the same time without even a hint of curiosity as to why she needs to see them. Maybe they think she is bringing coffee.
“We’ve got a passenger in medical distress. In business class,” she adds, knowing that sometimes makes a difference.
A look of annoyance flits across the pilot’s face. “How bad is he?”
“I don’t know. He seems pretty bad.”
The pilot twists in his seat to look directly at her, like this is her fault. “Do we need to turn back?”
“We’re almost over Trenton,” the copilot says, looking at the instruments. “Even if we turn around, we’d have to circle at JFK for an hour before we could land. It’s only another forty minutes to D.C. We can ask for priority landing and for a medical team to be waiting at the gate.”
She can tell by the glassy look in the pilot’s eyes that his mind is made up. “Yeah, sure, that’s what we’ll do. You”—he turns to the flight attendant, not having bothered to remember her name—“keep him as comfortable as possible. See if he can give you anything we can radio on ahead to Washington—the name of a doctor, what medications he’s on, anything.”
She hesitates. “Could you see if there’s a doctor on the flight?”
Both pilot and copilot exchange glances; it’s the kind of thing they hate to do. It makes the passengers nervous. Ask over the intercom if there’s a doctor on the plane and some passengers immediately assume that Ebola has broken out and start freaking out. But the pilot gives a quick nod.
By the time she gets back, Popov is having a full-blown seizure. Luckily, after the announcement on the intercom, the flight attendant from economy class came forward to help. She has the confidence of the very young and—thank goodness—remembers first aid training from her time as a lifeguard at the town pool. She’s brought the plane’s automated defibrillator with her. The two women huddle over Popov. Given his size, putting him on his side is out of the question, even in the more spacious business class seat. The attendant tucks one of the small, thin pillows under his head and spreads a blanket over him. He’s not cold—his clothes are soaked through with sweat—but she does it for privacy more than anything else.
The flight attendant notices a man has crept forward from economy class, watching from a couple seats back. He didn’t announce himself to the attendants so he’s probably not a doctor. He’s just morbidly curious. He is middle-aged but tough looking, like he’s former military. She holds out hope for a second that he’s an air marshal—she will take all the help she can get at this point—but knows they wouldn’t put an air marshal on this flight, not a midnight run.
There is a cold curiosity in his eyes. “Are you a doctor, sir?” she asks.
He says nothing, just gives a curt shake of his head.
“Then would you return to your seat, please?” she asks with only a hint of irritation. People can be unthinkingly rude; she has learned this in her ten years on the job. “We need to give him air.”
After one more look at the sick man over the attendant’s shoulder, the passenger retreats down the aisle.
The attendant turns her attention back to the Russian. She pats his hand. “Mr. Popov, is there someone we can contact for you? Someone waiting for you in D.C.?” She wishes she had thought of this earlier as the Russian is now nearly unconscious. His eyes are rolled back in his head, his face freezing in a rictus of fright and surprise. He is unresponsive to their questions. His hands are balled tightly, his arms and legs rigid and shaking. Worst of all, foam is coming out of his mouth in waves, like a washing machine gone out of control, like something you might see on a television show. She can’t imagine what’s wrong with him; she’s had passengers with food poisoning and one heart attack, but it was mild. She’s never seen anything like this. She is nearly paralyzed from fright.
She glances at her watch. Twenty more minutes. “Hang on, we’re almost there,” she tells him, though she doesn’t think he can hear her.
That’s when she sees the note. A scrap of napkin. She can’t make out what he’s written. It could be a name, but the ink has bled into the napkin’s porous fibers. If he was trying to tell her something, she’s at a loss.
The rest of the trip goes by in a blur. When she sees that he’s slipped into unconsciousness, she and her colleague in economy do as they were trained. One strips the clothing from his upper torso while the other readies at defibrillator. She breathes a silent prayer of thanks for the muscle memory of the classes; it makes what they’re doing now seem less unreal. This is something she can do. She attaches the pads to the man’s chest and side as indicated, sits back on her heels as the machine searches for his pulse. No heartbeat detected. It delivers a shock. The other flight attendant begins CPR and she waits impatiently for her turn as the machine counts off two minutes before it will check again. The pair take turns doing CPR, two cycles, four cycles . . . Before long she is damp with sweat and shaky from nerves as each time the machine says No heartbeat detected and shocks him again . . .
By the time the first wheel touches the ground—the bounce and sudden deceleration as rubber catches on the second touch—she is ready to accept that he is gone. If not dead then so far gone that it doesn’t matter.
They will not be able to keep the other passengers on the plane while waiting for the medical crew to remove the body—they are like thirsty cattle that smell water in the distance—and so she does her best. The other flight attendant ran down the aisle just before landing to get her cabin ready, leaving her alone with the Russian. She takes a second blanket from the overhead bin and drapes it over Popov so his entire body is covered. She stands in the next seat to block the view as passengers disembark, her knees trembling. They shuffle by quickly, eyes averted, even Mr. Curious, who can’t get off the plane fast enough.
It’s not until the last passenger is gone that the medical crew comes down the jet bridge with a gurney. The crew is nudged aside as the EMTs congregate around the body. The flight attendant stands in the galley, craning her neck to see what’s going on, but the EMTs’ body language is clear: the passenger is gone. The way they handle the body, there can be no doubt, pulling it out from the tight space like a beached whale and then—drafting in a member of the cleaning crew for assistance—lugging it over to the gurney. The flight attendant takes one last look at the dead man’s face as they struggle past her. Poor man.
Then she remembers the note. She had left it next to the passenger, thinking that it might come in handy at the hospital. But it’s gone. Disappeared.
Maybe the EMTs took it with them.
Whatever he was trying to tell her, she will never know.
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
- Best Sellers Rank: #145,116 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,129 in Espionage Thrillers (Books)
- #1,144 in Science Fiction Crime & Mystery
- #12,274 in Suspense Thrillers
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
"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
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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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A captivating, and thrilling mystery
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2021Alma 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2022Alma 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2021First 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.
Top reviews from other countries
- MDReviewed in Canada on October 24, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic story!! .
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.
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RReviewed in Spain on August 18, 2024
1.0 out of 5 stars Malísima, simplona, mal escrita, sin la más mínima credibilidad.
Malísima, simplona, mal escrita, sin la más mínima credibilidad.
- TS BeckerReviewed in Germany on September 8, 2023
4.0 out of 5 stars Cool thriller
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 CustomerReviewed in Australia on April 30, 2022
4.0 out of 5 stars A decent story and female lead 👌👏
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 GloverReviewed in Canada on September 5, 2023
4.0 out of 5 stars every bit the suspense you’re looking for
Red Widow teases and taunts … slowly offering clues. But which leads are true and which are a trap? Prepare for an enjoyable read.