The Cormorant Hunt (a continuation of Idov's The Collaborators, that I see I forgot to post a review) is an electrifying, character-driven spy thriller thick with contemporary geopolitics, intrigue, and razor-sharp wit. The story centers around a disgraced CIA officer Ari Falk, exiled in the Republic of Georgia after exposing a massive conspiracy via what might be considered to be a WikiLeaks kind of disclosure.
But the CIA hasn't forgetten (or forgiven) Falk for his role in the lead of trade secrets. The new Deputy Director of Cover Operations, Asha Tamaskar, has a plan for Ari . . . assuming she can find him. Now that the intelligence community knows that Falk is on the outs with the CIA, he might just be what the other side might be able to use, assuming he could be turned. And that's just what Tamaskar wants to do. She wants Falk to ingratiated himself in a shadowy organization bent on drilling some holes in the western capitalistic way of life. They are well funded and organized with tentacles crossing multiple borders, nationalities, and ways of life. If Falk can weasel his way in, the CIA could gain vital intel on how to disrupt plans and, with any luck, break up this cabal. The front man is Felix Burnham, Russian born but grew up in the US to the point of working in the CIA before dropping off the grid. Means Falk, who is used to being the one doing the recruiting of foreign, now has to become the one being recruited, this time by a skilled manipulator.
As with any double agent, Falk struggles with being both a hero and a traitor, especially when alliances are always shifting. Dangerous new intelligence arises around most every corner. This complex covert assignment pulls Ari into a complex labyrinth of extremist groups and shadowy operatives across Europe as he is vetted at every stop. Burnham is a chilling, narcissistic antagonist with radical intentions to threaten global security and stability. Idov’s narrative moves briskly from Tbilisi to Prague and Russia taking us to seemingly authentic settings and pulse-pounding action; prepare to be constantly guessing.
Idov treats the reader to smart dialogue and moral ambiguity with real-world consequences, The Cormorant Hunt is quite the page-turner challenging us with the cost of loyalty and betrayal in a fractured world. If you like LeCarre and other modern storytellers of espionage, this is a story just for you.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance review copy. Publication date is
ECD
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