The Peacock and the Sparrow

WINNER OF THE EDGAR AWARD, BARRY AWARD, INTERNATIONAL THRILLER WRITERS AWARD, AND MACAVITY AWARD FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL • A NEW YORKER, FINANCIAL TIMES, NPR, TELEGRAPH, AND GUARDIAN BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • THE TIMES THRILLER OF THE YEAR

During the Arab Spring, an American spy's final mission goes dangerously awry in this "crackling debut thriller" (The New Yorker) written by a former CIA officer and hailed as "an instant classic" (Paul Vidich, author of Beirut Station).

Shane Collins, a world-weary CIA spy, is ready to come in from the cold. Stationed in Bahrain off the coast of Saudi Arabia for his final tour, he's anxious to dispense with his mission—uncovering Iranian support for the insurgency against the monarchy. But then he meets Almaisa, a beautiful and enigmatic artist, and his eyes are opened to a side of Bahrain most expats never experience, to questions he never thought to ask.

When his trusted informant becomes embroiled in a murder, Collins finds himself drawn deep into the conflict. His budding romance with Almaisa—and his loyalties—are upended; in an instant, he's caught in the crosswinds of a revolution. Drawing on all his skills as a spymaster, he sets out to learn the truth behind the Arab Spring, win Almaisa's love, and uncover the murky border where Bahrain's secrets end and America's begin.