Publisher Review

"An ambitious espionage thriller ... with a startling finale ... Pitoniak continues to show strong instincts for the art of cloak-and-dagger." - Publisher's Weekly "In this delicious female spy novel, CIA up-and-comer Amanda and her mentor Kath untangle a global conspiracy involving Russian oligarchs and-gulp-Amanda's own father, an agency lifer himself." - **People Magazine** "The Helsinki Affair has everything: high stakes, mortal peril, moral ambiguity, torn allegiances, tradecraft and subterfuge, love and sex and loneliness, and every type of risk. I can't remember the last time I read such an enjoyable spy novel." - CHRIS PAVONE, New York Times bestselling author of The Expats "If you are one of those people--we are not a few--who think they don't write thrillers like they used to, then The Helsinki Affair is for you. An intricate, vigorously told and splendidly entertaining tale." - JOHN BANVILLE, author of Snow and Booker-Prize winning author of The Sea "What makes a great spy novel? A plot that is intricate and clever but also believable and realistic. A story line that doubles back and plunges forward, that twists and turns in ways both alarming and satisfying. Heroes who are bold and cool but imperfect and all-too-human. The Helsinki Affair has it all. Move over Alan Furst and Daniel Silva and say hello to Anna PItoniak." - EVAN THOMAS, author of Road to Surrender "Pitoniak artfully deploys all the tricks and tropes of the spy genre, and she creates for Amanda a wonderful ally - a 73-year-old CIA superstar named Kath Frost.... The developing mentorship and friendship between Amanda and Kath as well as the unfolding of the Cole family's unhappy past give the novel emotional weight and interest that add to its espionage plot. These excellent female spy characters deserve a series." - Kirkus "Pitoniak does everything well in this twisty spy thriller that should please the most discriminating connoisseur of the genre." - Library Journal "A must-read for fans of spy thrillers. CIA agent Amanda Cole must confront her father's past as she tries to thwart an international conspiracy. Will she be forced to choose between loyalty to her family and her allegiance to her country?" - Country Living