Many thanks to my friends at @simonbooks and @simon.audio for the #gifted copies of this book.  

 

Secrets and betrayal!  

 

When a US Senator is killed, CIA agent, Amanda Cole, realizes that the tip she received from a low-level Russian agent was true.  A quick promotion thrusts her into a high stakes game involving Russia and Afghanistan, and it’s not long before she realizes an old CIA case of her father’s ties in... somehow.   

 

I loved seeing the script flipped in this spy thriller, with a focus on competent, strong females in the lead.  Main character, Amanda, is partnered with Kath, an older agent with experience and connections.  The two women, complex and multifaceted, showcase exactly why females shouldn’t be counted down even in a male dominated field.  

 

The timeline jumps between the current situation with Amanda at the helm and the past, where her father’s secretive career unfolds.  The intersection of the two prove that the past is never really gone and forgotten.  

 

This read started off strong… bustling with energy.  Somewhere along the way, it lost some steam, potentially needing a bit of an edit.  But the relationship between Amanda and Kath kept me engaged.  And I hope to see more of them in the future!  

 

🎧 Tinged in suspense, the narration by Amanda Dolan truly shined, showcasing the adventure and emotion.  Though well executed, the jumps in the storyline sometimes made it hard to follow on audio.  Still, I enjoyed the listen.