Michael Idov

Venäjän valtiota kritisoiva bloggaaja yritetään salamurhata kesken lentomatkan. Samaan aikaan Portugalissa venäläistaustainen miljardööri tekee itsemurhan epäilyttävissä olosuhteissa. Pian tämän jälkeen aseistetut joukot hyökkäävät CIA:n yksikköön Latviassa. Miten nämä tapahtumat liittyvät toisiinsa? Agentti Ari Falk ryhtyy tutkimaan tapauksia ja saa yllättäen apua kuolleen miljardöörin tyttäreltä Maya Chou Obrandtilta. Alkaa intensiivinen, ympäri maailmaa vievä tutkimusmatka, joka ennen pitkää muuttuu pakomatkaksi. Kuka tai mikä on kaiken takana? Ketkä ovat lopulta vihollisia ja ketkä kätyreitä? Michael Idov yhdistelee taitavasti kylmän sodan aikaisia asetelmia ja nykymaailmasta tuttuja vakoojaelementtejä.

Valgevenes maanduma sunnitud Türgi lennukist saab hetkega ülemaailmne skandaal. Lennukis viibinud blogijast Anton Basmannõist aga CIA agent Falki suurim peavalu. Los Angeles. Olhao. Moskva. Berliin. Tangier. Riia. CIA agent ja miljardärist isa surmas kahtlev nooruke Maya Chou Obrandt kistakse globaalsesse vandenõusse, mis seab tänapäeva Venemaa vastamisi CIA-ga. Keegi on neist alati sammu võrra ees. Olukorras, kus valed muutuvad järjest jultunumaks, et provotseerida vastast järgmist saatuslikku sammu astuma, tajub agent Falk, et ta ei saa olla lojaalne millelegi muule kui ainult mälestusele nendest inimestest, kelle ta on kogemata hukule määranud. Michael Idov on Läti päritolu Ameerika stsenarist, rezhissöör ja kirjanik. Sündinud 1976. aastal Riias, emigreerus ta 16-aastasena koos perega USA-sse, kus õppis filmikunsti Michigani ülikoolis. Karjääri alustas M. Idov New Yorgis ajakirjanikuna, kirjutades peamiselt New York Magazine'ile. Oma artiklite eest pälvis ta kolm National Magazine Awardsi auhinda. Aastatel 2012-2014 töötas ta Moskvas ajakirja GQ Russia peatoimetajana, kuid lahkus Venemaalt peagi pärast Krimmi annekteerimist, kirjeldades seda kogemust hiljem oma mälestusteraamatus "Dressed Up for a Riot". M. Idov elab praegu vaheldumisi Berliinis, Los Angeleses ja Portugalis koos oma tütre ja stsenaristist abikaasa Lilyga, kellega kahasse on tehtud näiteks filmid "Humorist" ja "Jetlag".

A brilliant young intelligence officer and a troubled heiress stumble into a global conspiracy that pits present-day Russia against the CIA in this electrifying, globetrotting spy thriller. Combining realistic thrills with sophisticated spycraft and witty dialogue, The Collaborators delivers a gut-punch answer to the biggest geopolitical question of our time. How exactly did post-Soviet Russia turn down the wrong path? Criss-crossing the globe on the way to this shocking revelation are disaffected millennial CIA officer Ari Falk, thrown into a moral and professional crisis by the death of his best asset, and brash, troubled LA heiress Maya Chou, spiralling after the disappearance of her Russian American billionaire father. The duo’s adventures take us to both classic and surprising locales – from Berlin and Tangier to Latvia, Belarus and a semi-abandoned technopark outside Moscow. Dynamic, fast-paced and filled with captivating details that provide a window into a secretive world, The Collaborators is a first-rate thriller that pays homage to both meanings of ‘intelligence’. ‘A terrific espionage thriller with a propulsive plot and fantastic twists, but what really sets this book apart is the writing, sparkling on every page’ Chris Pavone, New York Times bestselling author of The Expats and Two Nights in Lisbon ‘Crackles with energy as it veers between international caper and more classic espionage thriller, laced with the promise of romance. Idov . . . brings a pleasing cinematic sweep, insider knowledge of Russia and sharp dialogue to this enjoyable tale as it roams around the world’ Financial Times ‘Gathers stories from the headlines – novichok, Ponzi schemes, Wagner Group mercenaries – and blends them into a hipster spy smoothie’ The Times, Book of the Month ‘A skilful story about manipulative spymasters in Russia and the United States. . . . Switching perspectives and continents and written with vivid intelligence, this is a great example of the international spy novel’ Literary Review ‘Idov breathes fresh air into [the genre] . . . A sparkling new voice in spy thrillers’ CrimeTime

Slow Horses meets Red Sparrow in this electrifying spy thriller and follow-up to The Collaborators, where a disillusioned CIA officer infiltrates an extremist group in the heart of Europe. Disheartened CIA officer Ari Falk, now hiding in the Republic of Georgia, is hailed as a hero by some and branded a traitor by others after blowing the lid off a massive conspiracy. But his quiet exile is shattered when a mission arises--one perfectly suited for someone as jaded and unpredictable as him. This stand-alone sequel thrusts us into a modern era of geopolitical conflict, where a hot war in Europe and shadowy political schemes set the stage for danger at every turn. Enter Asha Tamaskar, a brilliant, neurodivergent CIA officer with her own secrets, and Felix Burnham, a chilling antagonist with radical alliances that could change the global balance of power. From Tbilisi to Prague, Andorra to Bethesda, Idov crafts vivid, authentic settings that amplify the pulse-pounding action. Far from the usual spy thriller, The Cormorant Hunt is brimming with razor-sharp dialogue, heart-stopping twists, and complex character dynamics that bring humanity to the chaos. Every border crossed carries real-world consequences, making this a thriller that feels both urgent and unforgettable. Blending suspense, wit, and authentic storytelling, it's a must-read for fans of political intrigue, espionage, and thrillers that don't play by the rules.

Named a Best Book of the Year by Vogue Slow Horses meets Red Sparrow in this "sharp, freshly conceived, and] thoroughly entertaining" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) spy thriller featuring a brilliant young intelligence officer and a troubled heiress who stumble into a global conspiracy that pits present-day Russia against the CIA. Combining realistic thrills with sophisticated spycraft and witty dialogue, The Collaborators delivers a gut-punch answer to the biggest geopolitical question of our time: how, exactly, did post-Soviet Russia turn down the wrong path? Crisscrossing the globe on the way to this shocking revelation are disaffected millennial CIA officer Ari Falk, thrown into a moral and professional crisis by the death of his best asset; and brash, troubled LA heiress Maya Chou, spiraling after the disappearance of her Russian American billionaire father. The duo's adventures take us to both classic and surprising locales--from Berlin, to Latvia, Belarus, and an abandoned technopark outside Moscow. Dynamic, fast-paced, and filled with captivating details that provide a window into a secretive world, The Collaborators is a first-rate thriller "with a propulsive plot and fantastic twists" (Chris Pavone, author of The Expats) that pays homage to both meanings of "intelligence."

A brilliant young intelligence officer and a troubled heiress stumble into a global conspiracy that pits present-day Russia against the CIA in this electrifying, globetrotting spy thriller.

A brilliant young intelligence officer and a troubled heiress stumble into a global conspiracy that pits present-day Russia against the CIA in this electrifying, globetrotting spy thriller. Combining realistic thrills with sophisticated spycraft and witty dialogue, The Collaborators delivers a gut-punch answer to the biggest geopolitical question of our time. How exactly did post-Soviet Russia turn down the wrong path? Criss-crossing the globe on the way to this shocking revelation are disaffected millennial CIA officer Ari Falk, thrown into a moral and professional crisis by the death of his best asset, and brash, troubled LA heiress Maya Chou, spiralling after the disappearance of her Russian American billionaire father. The duo’s adventures take us to both classic and surprising locales – from Berlin and Tangier to Latvia, Belarus and a semi-abandoned technopark outside Moscow. Dynamic, fast-paced and filled with captivating details that provide a window into a secretive world, The Collaborators is a first-rate thriller that pays homage to both meanings of ‘intelligence’. ‘A terrific espionage thriller with a propulsive plot and fantastic twists, but what really sets this book apart is the writing, sparkling on every page’ Chris Pavone, New York Times bestselling author of The Expats and Two Nights in Lisbon ‘Crackles with energy as it veers between international caper and more classic espionage thriller, laced with the promise of romance. Idov . . . brings a pleasing cinematic sweep, insider knowledge of Russia and sharp dialogue to this enjoyable tale as it roams around the world’ Financial Times ‘Gathers stories from the headlines – novichok, Ponzi schemes, Wagner Group mercenaries – and blends them into a hipster spy smoothie’ The Times, Book of the Month ‘A skilful story about manipulative spymasters in Russia and the United States. . . . Switching perspectives and continents and written with vivid intelligence, this is a great example of the international spy novel’ Literary Review ‘Idov breathes fresh air into [the genre] . . . A sparkling new voice in spy thrillers’ CrimeTime

Inspired by the author's own coffeehouse hell, Michael Idov's Ground Up is a sharp and funny portrait of a New York constantly reinventing itself, and a surprisingly tender story of falling out of love and back in it again. Light streams through the windows as the espresso machine roars; a gorgeous, rich scent fills the air; and witty conversation unspools over the porcelain cups. That's the caf dream. Mark and Nina are about to experience the reality. Determined to re-create the perfect Viennese coffeehouse, they descend on New York's gritty but hip Lower East Side to educate the locals on authentic caf culture. Soon Mark and Nina are in a downward spiral that will strip them of money, friends, sex life, status, shelter, and, finally, sanity--and offer salvation through something they have never experienced: disaster.