Red London - (Red Widow) by Alma Katsu (Hardcover)

About the Book

"After her role in taking down a well-placed mole inside the CIA, Agent Lyndsey Duncan arrives in London fully focused on her newest Russian asset, deadly war criminal Dmitri Tarasenko. That is until her MI6 counterpart, Davis Ranford, personally calls for her help. Following a suspicious attack on Russian oligarch Mikhail Rotenberg's property in a tony part of London, Davis needs Lyndsey to cozy up to the billionaire's aristocratic British wife, Emily Rotenberg. Fortunately for Lyndsey, there's little to dissuade Emily from taking in a much-needed confidante. Even being one of the richest women in the world is no guarantee of happiness. But before Lyndsey can cover much ground with her newfound friend, the CIA unveils a perturbing connection between Mikhail and Russia's geoplitical past, one that could upend the world order and jeopardize Lyndsey's longtime allegiance to the Agency."--Publisher marketing.

Book Synopsis

CIA agent Lyndsey Duncan's newest asset might just be her long-needed confidante...or her greatest betrayal.

After her role in taking down a well-placed mole inside the CIA, Agent Lyndsey Duncan arrives in London fully focused on her newest Russian asset, deadly war criminal Dmitri Tarasenko. That is until her MI6 counterpart, Davis Ranford, personally calls for her help.

Following a suspicious attack on Russian oligarch Mikhail Rotenberg's property in a tony part of London, Davis needs Lyndsey to cozy up to the billionaire's aristocratic British wife, Emily Rotenberg. Fortunately for Lyndsey, there's little to dissuade Emily from taking in a much-needed confidante. Even being one of the richest women in the world is no guarantee of happiness. But before Lyndsey can cover much ground with her newfound friend, the CIA unveils a perturbing connection between Mikhail and Russia's geoplitical past, one that could upend the world order and jeopardize Lyndsey's longtime allegiance to the Agency.

Red London is a sharp and nuanced race-against-the-clock story ripped from today's headlines, a testament to author Alma Katsu's thirty-five-year career in national security. It's a rare spy novel written by an insider that feels as prescient as it is page-turning and utterly unforgettable.

Review Quotes

One of CrimeReads' Best Espionage Fiction
One of CrimeReads' Most Anticipated Crime Fiction of 2023
One of BookPage's Most Anticipated Mystery/Suspense of 2023

"Katsu paints a vivid picture of modern London at the intersection of a vast, dangerous game being waged between Russia, its monied exiles, the British upper classes, and American intelligence." --CrimeReads

"For those who love spies and thrillers, Alma Katsu's latest Red London is a thrilling detour into the fictional world of CIA agent, Lyndsey Duncan....An intriguing protagonist, sensitive, principled, highly capable, but down-to-earth. As the story's tension escalates it is sure to leave eager readers on the edge of their seats." --Hill Rag

"A well-written and fascinating look at a CIA officer and a Russian oligarch in post-Putin London...Katsu captures the mystique and mystery of the shadowy world of espionage." --The Washington Times

"Alma Katsu is a top-flight writer....What allows the book to rise above Red Widow is the intimate way that Katsu threads together the minute details about the espionage world that only someone on the front lines would know. This, coupled with a fine blending of interpersonal relationships, makes Red London an outstanding and immensely readable thriller." --Book Reporter

"Katsu's knowledge of world events and spy craft make for a believable and compelling spy novel. The book's ending is especially satisfying." --The Big Thrill

"An engaging read, with breathtaking international intrigue, Russian skullduggery, and old-fashioned Anglo-American intelligence cooperation . . . Masterful in its character development . . . The interaction of the two women as case officer and target makes for an absorbing spy plot . . . . A refreshing transition to post-Putin espionage and an entertaining portrayal of the oligarchic diaspora and its international machinations in a complex and ever-evolving geopolitical vortex . . . Well-written, suspenseful." --Cipher Brief

"A superb spy thriller ripe for the times . . . Katsu transposes the traditional male heroes from the likes of John le Carre and Len Deighton in crafting a thriller that matches up to the best from both of them. Lyndsay is a post-modern, female version of George Smiley and Red London is every bit as much fun as his greatest adventures." --BookTrib

"Katsu's second book in this taut spy series is even better than the first with the requisite suspense driving the twist-laden plot....Starring an outstanding, multidimensional protagonist." --Booklist (starred review)

"Katsu paints a vivid picture of modern London at the intersection of a vast geopolitical game between Russia, its monied exiles, the British upper classes, and American intelligence." --CrimeReads

"Katsu, a former intelligence officer, shows us how intelligence-gathering works, how spies relate to each other, how intelligence agencies uneasily coexist. What sets the novel apart even more is the smoothness with which the author builds her tense narrative and characters--Lyndsey is unflashy but sensitive and principled and good at what she does, while Emily is one of the most sympathetically drawn victims in recent spy fiction. A strong second installment in a series we hope continues." --Kirkus Reviews

"Entertaining . . . Katsu knows her tradecraft. . . . A spy novel that focuses on relationships, women, and family is a refreshing change. . . . Katsu should win new fans with this one." --Publishers Weekly

"Tense, smart, and surprising--from page one, Red London draws you into a web of power, money, seduction, and betrayal. A top-notch espionage novel." --Meg Gardiner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Shadow Tracer and Phantom Instinct

"An elegantly written novel of espionage, reminiscent of the great Daniel Silva. Well-plotted, wholly credible, and enormously tense--spy fiction fans simply must read this one!" --Mark Greaney, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Burner, a Gray Man novel

About the Author

Alma Katsu is the award-winning author of eight novels, most recently Red London, The Fervor, and Red Widow. Prior to the publication of her first novel, she had a thirty-five-year career as a senior intelligence analyst for several U.S. agencies, including the CIA and NSA, as well as RAND, the global policy think tank. Katsu is a graduate of the masters writing program at the Johns Hopkins University and received her bachelors degree from Brandeis University. She lives outside of Washington, DC, with her husband, where she is a consultant to government and private industry on future trends and analytic methods.