Winner of the 2025 Christie Award, Best Historical Thriller or Mystery, Historical Fiction Company

"A gripping, ingenious cat-and-mouse thriller set just before the end of World War II. A high-stakes plot and fascinating historical background." -- RG Belsky, author of Clare Carlson mysteries

In 1945, a young American intelligence officer is caught in a web of deceit. Lieutenant Julius Orlinsky, a veteran of clandestine operations in Prague, is thrust back into the field when a seemingly routine assignment leads to murder and blackmail.

Determined to uncover the truth, Orlinsky's quest takes him from the quiet suburbs of Washington, D.C., to a prisoner-of-war camp in Maryland, and, finally, to the city of Budapest under siege. It's a shadow world where allies can be enemies, and the lines between patriotism and treason are blurred. And the personal stakes couldn't be higher. Investigating who was responsible for a family's tragedy in Prague could expose a betrayal by the first woman he has ever loved.

Orlinsky has no choice. Racing against the clock, he must confront the ghosts of his past as he navigates a terrain of double agents, war-hardened German and Russian soldiers, and fanatics who will stop at nothing to silence him.

"A gripping cat-and-mouse political thriller, with an intelligence officer finding himself in an espionage battle involving Americans, Nazis, and Russians. A high-stakes plot and fascinating historical detail."
-- R.G. Belsky, author of the Clare Carlson mystery series

This thrilling espionage novel, with its captivating plot of secrets, conspiracy, and trust betrayed, is perfect for fans of Philip Kerr, Alan Furst, James R. Benn, and Susan Elia MacNeal.

Praise for Max Eastern's debut, The Gods Who Walk Among Us, a Kindle Scout winner:

"I found a great new-to-me author in Max Eastern. I love how he brought his characters to life and made the situations in this novel seem as though they were happening in front of me."
-- Terrie Farley Moran, bestselling co-author of the Jessica Fletcher Murder, She Wrote mystery series

"This is a smart, sharp read that would appeal to Elmore Leonard fans and people who actually peruse a newspaper from time to time."
-- Mariah Fredericks, author of The Girl in the Green Dress

"This debut is superbly executed, and I could not get enough of the down-on-his-luck, failing lawyer turned paparazzi. A fun ride."
-- Robert K. Lewis, author of Critical Damage, finalist for Shamus Award

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• Mystery, Thriller & SuspenseThrillersPolitical
• Literature & FictionHistorical FictionMystery, Thriller & Suspense
• Mystery, Thriller & SuspenseThrillersEspionage

• Publication Date: December 9, 2025
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 322 Pages
• File Size: 13 KB