Details
- Book Title: The Collaborators
- Author: Michael Idov
- Publication Date: November 19, 2024
Description
The Collaborators by Michael Idov is a modern espionage thriller that opens the Cormorant Trilogy and sets present-day Russia against the CIA. It follows Ari Falk, a disillusioned millennial CIA officer reeling from the death of his most valuable asset, and Maya Chou, a brash Los Angeles heiress unraveling after her Russian-American billionaire father vanishes. Their paths collide and pull them into a conspiracy that stretches from Berlin and Tangier to Latvia, Belarus, and an abandoned technopark outside Moscow. Published by Scribner and running a brisk 269 pages, the novel trades gadget-driven spectacle for old-fashioned tradecraft, sharp dialogue, and a hard question at its center: how did post-Soviet Russia end up on the path it took? Vogue named it a Best Book of the Year, and Kirkus gave it a starred review.
Author Bio
Michael Idov was born in Riga, Latvia, when it was still part of the U.S.S.R., and moved to the United States with his family in 1992 at the age of sixteen. He studied film at the University of Michigan, a path that led into movie criticism and more than a decade in New York journalism before his debut novel, Ground Up, appeared in 2009. Along the way he co-owned a short-lived coffee house, sang in an indie rock band, and served as editor-in-chief of GQ Russia. Now based in Berlin, he splits his time between writing books in English and creating films and television series in Russian.
What Readers Are Saying
- “The Collaborators is written in the style of an old-fashioned spy novel, but takes place in the modern day. The characters are fascinating and the author’s expertise on Russia, the United States, and the world of finance really shines.” — Alex Kruglov, five-star Amazon reviewer
- “Excellent tale! Cannot wait for the next volume of the trilogy. Author seems to have good knowledge of the situations described.” — David M. Tenenbaum, five-star Amazon reviewer
- “Excellent book. Strong characters, engaging plot — can’t wait to read more by this author!” — john d. keith, five-star Amazon reviewer
- “Great story. Great book. Great characters. Couldn’t put it down for one minute. Fast and furious.” — G.G., five-star Amazon reviewer
- “A rare find that combines a compelling story with several really surprising twists with real literary talent. A must have!” — Amazon Customer, five-star Amazon reviewer
- Holds a 4.3-star average across more than 870 Amazon ratings.
Why We Think It Should Be Your Next Book
If you miss spy fiction that feels like it could actually happen — grounded tradecraft over CGI set pieces — The Collaborators belongs near the top of your list. Idov writes from real knowledge of Russia, America, and high finance, and channels it into a fast, witty, twisting story that readers say they simply could not put down. As the first book in the Cormorant Trilogy, it is the start of a smart new series worth getting in on early.
❤️ Click here to buy The Collaborators by Michael Idov on Amazon today. ❤️
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Sources: Amazon product page and customer reviews for “The Collaborators” by Michael Idov.