The Collaborators

Michael Idol, noted novelist, director, and screenwriter, delivers a debut gem of a spy thriller steeped in realistic, relevant international plots with fresh and vibrant millennial characters taking center stage. His portrayal of spycraft is amplified by witty and sarcastic dialogue.

Millennial CIA officer Ari Falk is thrust into chaos following the death of his best asset, compounded by the brutal slaying of two trusted colleagues in a cinematic assault scene. Ari, a case officer for the Covert Activities Department, operates under the guise of a media investment company to identify and cultivate dissident assets who aid in counter-propaganda dissemination. One of his key missions involves assisting Russian journalists in publishing stories damaging to the Kremlin.

His latest find is Anton Basmanny, a brash, openly gay, 27-year-old video blogger who has made a name for himself by confronting local officials with on-the-street interviews posing unanswerable questions. Anton’s most recent exposé led to the dismissal of a high-ranking official. Ari initiated a detailed plan to exfiltrate him before he could be mysteriously eliminated. Ari Falk evokes comparisons to Mick Herron’s character River Cartwright in Slow Horses.

The exfiltration goes awry when Anton is forcibly removed from a passenger jet bound for freedom. The plane is strafed by a MiG-29 jet and forced to land in Latvia. After intense interrogation, Anton is sent back on a flight to Istanbul, but not before overhearing the questioning—and apparent execution—of a mysterious couple: a Russian wife and her American husband. Why they were detained remains unclear, but Anton distinctly heard two gunshots.

Ari flies to Istanbul to question Anton, only for the blogger to suddenly seize, lose consciousness, and die during their debriefing—clearly poisoned with a long-acting agent, possibly Novichok. Ari’s investigation is just beginning.

Meanwhile, Maya Chou (née Obrandt) learns of her father’s death in Portugal, purportedly a suicide by drowning, while watching television. Maya, a feisty 23-year-old aspiring actress and Los Angeles heiress, is poised to inherit her financier father’s immense wealth, including a palatial home on the Algarve coast. Unconvinced by the official account of his death, Maya races off to LAX instead of writing his eulogy, determined to investigate what she suspects is a staged death.

Maya’s path soon crosses that of Ari Falk, and they realize their quests are intertwined. Their partnership evolves into a romantic connection, drawing comparisons to the iconic chemistry of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, spilling off the page.

Idol proves to be a masterful storyteller, weaving together a globe-trotting adventure laced with authentic tradecraft, escalating tension, and intrigue. This propulsive thriller, accented with humor and a touch of romance, culminates in a twisty, satisfying denouement. This immensely entertaining yarn is not to be missed.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner Publishing for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.