“A wicked sharp spy novel…Equal parts Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Killing Eve.” –S. A. Cosby, author of Blacktop Wasteland and Razorblade Tears An exhilarating spy thriller written by an intelligence veteran about two women CIA agents whose paths become intertwined around a threat to the Russia Division--one that's coming from inside the agency. Lyndsey Duncan worries her career with the CIA might be over. After lines are crossed with another intelligence agent during an assignment, she is sent home to Washington on administrative leave. So when a former colleague--now Chief of the Russia Division--recruits her for an internal investigation, she jumps at the chance to prove herself. Lyndsey was once a top handler in the Moscow Field Station, where she was known as the "human lie detector" and praised for recruiting some of the most senior Russian officials. But now, three Russian assets have been exposed--including one of her own--and the CIA is convinced there's a mole in the department. With years of work in question and lives on the line, Lyndsey is thrown back into life at the agency, this time tracing the steps of those closest to her. Meanwhile, fellow agent Theresa Warner can't avoid the spotlight. She is the infamous "Red Widow," the wife of a former director killed in the field under mysterious circumstances. With her husband's legacy shadowing her every move, Theresa is a fixture of the Russia Division, and as she and Lyndsey strike up an unusual friendship, her knowledge proves invaluable. But as Lyndsey uncovers a surprising connection to Theresa that could answer all of her questions, she unearths a terrifying web of secrets within the department, if only she is willing to unravel it....
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Historical horror and espionage fiction intersect in terrifyingly grounded ways through supernatural retellings of real tragedies and insider spy thrillers. Alma Katsu achieved widespread critical recognition with The Hunger, a dark historical horror novel reimagining the ill-fated Donner Party expedition through a speculative lens.
Before gaining acclaim in historical speculative fiction, Katsu published her debut novel The Taker in 2011, establishing her reputation for intricate narrative structure and deep research. Her work has earned nominations and awards across suspense, horror, and western genres, with translations into over a dozen languages worldwide.
Born in Fairbanks, Alaska, and raised near Concord, Massachusetts, Katsu earned her BA in writing from Brandeis University, where she studied under novelist John Irving, and later completed an MA at the Johns Hopkins Writing Program. She also attended the Squaw Valley Writers Conference. Alongside her creative career, Katsu spent nearly three decades as an intelligence analyst working for the NSA, CIA, U.S. State Department, and the RAND Corporation, focusing on foreign policy and emerging technology issues. This extensive background directly informed her turn toward espionage thrillers such as Red Widow.
Katsu's writing has earned accolades including nominations and wins for the Bram Stoker, Goodreads Choice, International Thriller Writers, Locus, Western Heritage, and Spain's Celsius 232 festival awards. Her titles frequently appear on Best Books of the Year lists from NPR, The Observer, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Goodreads, and Amazon. She currently lives in the mountains of West Virginia with her husband, Bruce, and their two dogs, Nick and Ash, after relocating from the Washington, D.C. area. In addition to writing novels, she reviews thrillers for the Washington Post Book World and consults on emerging technology.
Katsu's signature style blends rigorous historical research with supernatural, horror, and psychological elements. Whether re-examining maritime catastrophes in The Deep, Japanese-American internment camps in The Fervor, or classic lore in The Wehrwolf, her stories examine human behavior, panic, and morality under extreme survival conditions. In her spy fiction, she leverages real-world tradecraft and analytical detail to construct grounded suspense.
Red Widow
