Ex-FBI-agent-turned-bricklayer Steve Vail is in Washington, DC, on New Year's Eve for what he thinks is a date with FBI assistant director Kate Bannon. But that's not what happens. Upon his arrival, he becomes embroiled in another complex case that only his expertise can solve -- hunting down a cunning and elusive Russian spy within the US government.

Things become exceedingly complicated and Vail doesn't know who to trust, as someone is always one step ahead of him in the hunt. Can Kate really be involved some way, as her bosses seem to think? After learning that Kate is thought unstable due to a recent attempt on her life that the FBI labels an attempted suicide, Vail realizes he has to actually protect her from an assassin. Could things get any more complicated in this case?

Steve Vail is my kind of hero -- extremely smart and savvy, tough-as-nails, yet a romantic at heart. Noah Boyd has given readers another thrilling espionage suspense and a great follow-up to his debut THE BRICKLAYER, where we first met Steve Vail and Kate Bannon. Can't wait for the next installment!