Random House, Inc.
Praise for David Downing:

“[Downing]’s excellent at building suspense . . . and shows a keen eye for describing people and places.”—Sacramento Bee

“An extraordinary evocation of Nazi Germany on the eve of war, the smell of cruelty seeping through the clean modern surface.”—C. J. Sansom, author of Sovereign

Summer, 1939. British journalist John Russell has just been granted American citizenship in exchange for agreeing to work for American intelligence when his girlfriend Effi is arrested by the Gestapo. Russell hoped his new nationality would let him safely stay in Berlin with Effi and his son, but now he’s being blackmailed. To free Effi, he must agree to work for the Nazis. They know he has Soviet connections and want him to pass them false intelligence. Russell consents, but secretly offers his services to the Soviets instead—not for anything too dangerous, though, and only if they’ll sneak him and Effi out of Germany if necessary.

It’s a good plan, but soon things become complicated. A Jewish girl has vanished, and Russell feels compelled to search for her. A woman from his past, a communist, reappears, insisting he help her reconnect with the Soviets, who turn out to demand more than Russell hoped. Meanwhile, Europe lurches toward war, and he must follow the latest stories—to places where American espionage assignments await him.

David Downing is the author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction for adults and children, including Zoo Station, the first novel featuring John Russell. He lives in Guildford, England.

Perseus Publishing



Blackwell North Amer
Returning home to Berlin in July 1939, British journalist John Russell learns that his girlfriend Effi has been arrested by the Gestapo. Having agreed to work for American intelligence in exchange for an American passport, Russell hoped he could stay in Germany with Effi and his son if war with England broke out, but now he's being blackmailed.
The Gestapo will only free Effi if Russell will work for Nazi intelligence. His former Soviet connections make him a perfect spy. Russell agrees but secretly offers his services to the Soviets instead. He won't do anything too dangerous, though, and only if they'll sneak him and Effi out of Germany in an emergency.
It seems like a good plan, but soon things get complicated. A Jewish girl has disappeared, and Russell feels compelled to search for her when the police won't. And the Soviets end up demanding more than Russell expected. As Europe lurches toward war, Russell must chase the latest stories while trying both to satisfy his secret masters and to retain some sense of personal integrity.