The Peacock and the Sparrow: A Novel

AN EDGAR AWARD NOMINEE A NEW YORKER BEST BOOKS SELECTION AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR During the Arab Spring, an American spys final mission goes dangerously awry in this explosive and remarkable debut (Joseph Kanon, New York Times bestselling author) from a former CIA officer that is perfect for fans of John le Carr, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Alan Furst. 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, hes anxious to dispense with his missionuncovering 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 and his growing romance with Almaisa upended. In an instant, hes caught in the crosshairs of a revolution. Drawing on all his skills as a spymaster, he must navigate a bloody uprising, win Almaisas love, and uncover the murky border where Bahrains secrets end and Americas begin. A breathless tour-de-force, the perfect spy tale (Ian Caldwell, author of The Fifth Gospel) and dripping with authenticity, The Peacock and the Sparrow is a timely story of the elusiveness of truth, the power of love and belief, and the universal desire to be part of a cause greater than oneself.