This was an enjoyable, fast-paced spy novel. Interesting geopolitical dynamics, particularly regarding Russian upper-crust society in the face of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. My favorite part: lots of interesting women! Most of the primary characters were women – Sia, Artemis, Anya – and they were each dynamic and complex characters (and their complexities were not rooted in their relationships to men). Anya, the Russian, was particularly interesting. What she really wanted, more than love or money or professional success, was to win, to defeat her enemies. I loved that energy (very relatable, ha). There is a purity to it, which lends itself to extremism, but when you consider that she is surrounded by a society of Russian oligarchs and FSB who are deeply corrupt and focused on skimming funds for their own bank accounts, her idealism and focus was an appealing alternative. Also, I enjoyed that Sia’s cover job was being a corporate lawyer at a fancy London firm – though, it seemed very unrealistic that she could maintain that intensive pace of work as a cover while also continuing to do spy stuff.
Ultimately, this book is very entertaining: CIA agents, global travel, high-tech gadgets, a concealed lipstick gun! It is an absorbing modern story, and a relatively quick read.
