The Peacock and the Sparrow

THRILLER OF THE YEAR: The Times (London) - The Telegraph
BEST FIRST NOVEL WINNER: Edgar Awards - International Thriller Writers Awards - Barry Awards - Macavity Awards
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New Yorker - NPR - The Times (London) - The Financial Times - The Guardian - The Telegraph - The Diplomatic Courier

During the Arab Spring, an American spy's final mission goes dangerously awry in this "crackling debut thriller" (The New Yorker) from a former CIA officer heralded as one of the "top spy novelists of the 21st century" (The Sunday Times, London).

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 has little use for his mission--uncovering Iranian support for the insurgency against the monarchy. Then Collins 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 inside the opposition 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.

Author: I. S. Berry
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: 04/16/2024
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.55lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9781982194550


Award: Edgar Allan Poe Awards - Nominee

About the Author
Berry, I. S.: - I.S. Berry spent six years as an operations officer for the CIA, serving in wartime Baghdad and elsewhere. She has lived and worked throughout Europe and the Middle East, including two years in Bahrain during the Arab Spring. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and Haverford College. Raised in the suburbs of Washington, DC, she lives in Virginia with her husband and son.