EDITOR’S CHOICE
A masterfully crafted espionage thriller—tense, intelligent, and gripping. Roxanne von Andrian delivers intrigue, history, and suspense with flawless execution.
Roxanne von Andrian’s Deception is a taut, high-stakes spy thriller that plunges readers into the shadowy world of espionage, betrayal, and revenge in the turbulent years following the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Told through the perspective of Ingrid, a CIA agent deployed to Romania, the novel masterfully interweaves fact and fiction, pulling the reader through a gripping narrative that spans Bucharest, Budapest, Paris, London, Monaco, and even the volatile Crimea. The story centres on a clandestine operation involving four former officials from Ceausescu’s regime, the Miklos Fund, and a dangerous plot to steal enriched plutonium from a Russian base. What unfolds is a deadly game of deception, where alliances with French operatives and Italian assassins converge on a plan to assassinate a former KGB officer in London—an act designed to appear as the work of the Russian FSB.
Von Andrian excels at grounding her thriller in historical context while maintaining a fast pace and sharp intrigue. The settings are vividly evoked, offering a sense of authenticity that enhances the tension. Characters like Oscar, Ferencz, Adi, and Cornel are skilfully drawn, their moral ambiguities adding depth to the story, while Ingrid’s role as both strategist and participant anchors the narrative.
The blend of political machinations, international espionage, and moral dilemmas makes Deception a compelling read for fans of Le Carré or Forsyth, yet with a distinctive voice of its own. It is a novel that keeps the reader guessing, balancing action with intelligence, and suspense with subtle romance.
A razor-sharp espionage tale, Deception is both thrilling and thought-provoking—a must-read for lovers of spy fiction.
