‘This novel confirms Michael Idov as the real deal. . . The writing has the required sense of authenticity and lean pace . . . above all, there is an agile intelligence and lightness of touch’

‘Idov invests even familiar staples of spy fiction – a mole hunt, a reckless love – with a vital spark . . . the plot has a ripped-from-the-headlines immediacy . . . Idov’s smart, agile writing moves so quickly it would be easy to underestimate how much is going on’

‘Michael Idov ups the pace with verve. . . He writes with a wit and humour rare in the genre . . . Falk wonders if the agency is still ‘the same clusterf*ck of bureaucracy, cruelty, hubris, and over-reach, just in a fun new millennial wrapper’. The answer soon becomes clear in this cracking tale’

'Full of twists, turns, cynical wisdom and genuinely nail-biting border crossings, this really does merit comparisons to vintage le Carre'

'An ingenious and exciting novel'

‘Brilliantly written with twists and turns galore’

‘Confirms his elevated status amongst the current munificent wave of spy thrillers, alongside the likes of McCloskey, Berry, Fesperman, Vidich and Herron . . . Breathless but fascinating and with a sinister ring of truth’

‘Another explosive, fast-paced and superbly plotted thriller which is as visually exciting as it is verbally entertaining . . . leaves readers gasping for breath’

‘Left me breathless with its nimble plot work and sheer storytelling audacity. . . As the plot careens along, Idov embellishes it with gorgeous descriptions. . . My expectations for Idov’s next book are very high’