From the author of New York Time bestseller The Tourist... Olen Steinhauer's acclaimed crime series set in Eastern Europe has taken readers from the first shots of the revolution and through the chaos of the 1960s. Now, it is 1975, and one of the People's Militia investigators is bound for Istanbul when his plane is hijacked by Armenian terrorists and explodes in midair. Gavra Noukas, a secret policeman, and Katja Drdova, a homicide detective, are assigned to the case. Both believe that Brano Sev, their enigmatic superior and career secret policeman, is hiding the true motives of their investigation, but they can't figure out why until they learn that everything is connected to a seven-year-old murder with far-reaching consequences. The compelling politics and history for which Olen Steinhauer's novels have been praised turn intimate in this ambitious novel. “It is an exhilarating and enjoyable ride.” ― Los Angeles Times “An inspired choice---giving history and politics a chance to simmer over the flame of murder.” ― Chicago Tribune “Dazzling . . . a skilled writer working at the top of his form.” ― Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Steinhauer again displays his masterful manipulation of character, plot, and reader expectations. . . . A fast, intriguing read.” ― Library Journal (starred review) “Cool and cerebral crime thriller.” ― Kirkus Reviews "It is an exhilarating and enjoyable ride." --- Los Angeles Times Olen Steinhauer's acclaimed crime series set in Eastern Europe has taken readers from the first shots of the revolution and through the chaos of the 1960s. Now, it is 1975, and one of the People's Militia investigators is bound for Istanbul when his plane is hijacked by Armenian terrorists and explodes in midair. Gavra Noukas, a secret policeman, and Katja Drdova, a homicide detective, are assigned to the case. Both believe that Brano Sev, their enigmatic superior and career secret policeman, is hiding the true motives of their investigation, but they can't figure out why until they learn that everything is connected to a seven-year-old murder with far-reaching consequences. The compelling politics and history for which Olen Steinhauer's novels have been praised turn intimate in this ambitious novel. "It is an exhilarating and enjoyable ride." --- Los Angeles Times Olen Steinhauer's acclaimed crime series set in Eastern Europe has taken readers from the first shots of the revolution and through the chaos of the 1960s. Now, it is 1975, and one of the People's Militia investigators is bound for Istanbul when his plane is hijacked by Armenian terrorists and explodes in midair. Gavra Noukas, a secret policeman, and Katja Drdova, a homicide detective, are assigned to the case. Both believe that Brano Sev, their enigmatic superior and career secret policeman, is hiding the true motives of their investigation, but they can't figure out why until they learn that everything is connected to a seven-year-old murder with far-reaching consequences. The compelling politics and history for which Olen Steinhauer's novels have been praised turn intimate in this ambitious novel. Olen Steinhauer is the New York Times bestselling author of the Milo Weaver novels, including The Tourist and An American Spy . He is also a Dashiell Hammett Award winner, a two-time Edgar Award finalist, and has been nominated for the Anthony, Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, Ellis Peters Historical Dagger, Macavity, and Barry awards. He is also the creator of the Epix TV series Berlin Station . He was raised in Virginia, and now divides his time between New York and Budapest. Peter 1968 • “Two days ago—Saturday—we find you in the middle of C?eské Bude?jovice, walking the main street in a daze. Correct me if I’m wrong, please. You don’t have the documents to be in C?eské Bude?jovice, because you’re supposed to be here, in Prague. You’re a student of . . .” The Slovak officer bent over the table, the ceiling lamp reflecting off on his hairless scalp as he squinted at his clipboard. “Musicology. A musician?” “I study theory,” said Peter, “but I don’t play.” “I see.” As the officer stood, his chair scratched the stone floor. “I’m not a mystic, comrade; I can’t read minds. So, before sitting down with you here, I ask the faculty; I ask your roommate, this Josef. A feisty one, he is. Almost spits in my face when he tells me you’re in Austria by now—safe from the Russian tanks that, as he puts it, will never crush the flowers of Prague’s spring.” The officer rubbed the edge of his long nose, mustache twitching. “But headstrong Josef is wrong, because by the time of his rash statement you’re back in Prague, aren’t you? Our esteemed Warsaw Pact comrade-soldiers have brought you and other sundry hooligans back from the Austrian border. Funny, no?” He blinked twice, waiting, but Peter didn’t answer. “According to your roommate, you left on the twentieth of August, just before the liberating tanks arrived. With your