An international thriller set in Kyrgyzstan. A young Foreign Service officer must choose between her conscience and her country's aims.

A twisting thriller in which one woman must choose between morality and compromise with potentially deadly consequences. Perfect for fans of Frederick Forsyth and Charles Cumming.

Kate Hollister is a US Foreign Service officer recently assigned to Kyrgyzstan. This is no chance assignment: she grew up there and her uncle, the US ambassador, has secured her the position.

The US wants to build a huge airbase in Kyrgyzstan to expand the American presence in Central Asia and outpace Russia and China in the competition for regional influence. With the move controversial due to the Kyrgyz regime’s human rights record, negotiations are balanced on a razor’s edge.

Amid these events, an underground movement has been sabotaging the Kyrgyz regime's supporters. Kate’s uncle assigns her to infiltrate the movement and discover its aims. Yet nothing in the mission is as it seems.

When forced to choose between morality and compromise, will Kate lay her life on the line for what she knows is right?

'A fine read' Kirkus
'A satisfying thriller' Booklist
'Palmer is a rare talent' Gayle Lynds
'A first-class storyteller' Bill Clinton

"Lets the reader see the action up close and in vivid, colorful detail… A fine read with a heroine too honorable to shoot the dog." - Kirkus Reviews

"Palmer makes the nuances of diplomacy come alive, capturing the contrast between the tedium of diplomatic work and the dangers of espionage." - Publishers Weekly

"[A] satisfying thriller... Palmer does an excellent job of incorporating details about how our government works overseas... A good choice for anyone interested in real-world diplomacy." - Booklist