Defectors A Novel
Defectors A Novel by Joseph Kanon is a reprint edition published by Atria Books on February 13, 2018. This 304-page novel explores the complex relationship between two brothers, Frank and Simon, set against the backdrop of Cold War espionage. In 1949, Frank, a CIA agent, is exposed as a Communist spy and disappears behind the Iron Curtain. Twelve years later, he invites Simon to Moscow to edit his KGB-approved memoirs, leading to a reunion fraught with tension and uncertainty.
As Simon navigates this dangerous reunion, he confronts the duality of Frank’s character, torn between familial loyalty and the treachery of espionage. The narrative delves into themes of deception and the moral ambiguities of political allegiance, immersing readers in a world where trust is elusive and survival is paramount. Defectors presents a gripping tale of intrigue, showcasing Kanon’s skill in crafting suspenseful narratives that reflect the complexities of loyalty and betrayal during a tumultuous historical period.
Official synopsis Publisher
The bestselling author of Leaving Berlin and Istanbul Passage “continues to demonstrate that he is up there with the very best…of spy thriller writers” (The Times, UK) with this “fascinating” (The Washington Post) novel about two brothers bound by blood but divided by loyalty.
In 1949, Frank Weeks, agent of the newly formed CIA, was exposed as a Communist spy and fled the country to vanish behind the Iron Curtain. Now, twelve years later, he has written his memoirs, a KGB- approved project almost certain to be an international bestseller, and has asked his brother Simon, a publisher, to come to Moscow to edit the manuscript. It’s a reunion Simon both dreads and longs for.
The book is sure to be filled with mischief and misinformation; Frank’s motives suspect, the CIA hostile. But the chance to see Frank, his adored older brother, proves irresistible. And at first Frank is still Frank—the same charm, the same jokes, the same bond of affection that transcends ideology.
Then Simon begins to glimpse another Frank, capable of treachery and actively working for “the service.” He finds himself dragged into the middle of Frank’s new scheme, caught between the KGB and the CIA in a fatal cat and mouse game that only one of the brothers is likely to survive.
“A finely paced Cold War thriller with [Kanon’s] usual flair for atmospheric detail, intriguing characters, and suspenseful action” (Library Journal), Defectors takes us to the heart of a world of secrets, where even the people we know best can’t be trusted and murder is just collateral damage.
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