West Berlin, 1979. Helen Abell oversees the CIA’s network of safe houses, rare havens for field agents and case officers amidst the dangerous milieu of a city in the grips of the Cold War. Helen’s world is upended when, during her routine inspection of an agency property, she overhears a meeting between two people unfamiliar to her speaking a coded language that hints at shadowy realities far beyond her comprehension. Before the day is out, she witnesses a second unauthorized encounter, one that will place her in the sight lines of the most ruthless and powerful man at the agency. Her attempts to expose the dark truths about what she has witnessed will bring about repercussions that reach across decades and continents into the present day, when, in a farm town in Maryland, a young man is arrested for the double murder of his parents, and his sister takes it upon herself to find out why he did it.
Topics Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Murder investigations. Conspiracies. Cold War (1947–1991).
SRC Level 6.300000
SRC Points 29.000000
Lexile HL800L
Trim Size 9 1/2" x 6 1/2"
JLG Span Fall
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2018-07-02
JLG Release Date Sep 2018
Minimum grade 11
Maximum grade 12
Reading level High
Format Print
Adult Fiction for Teens Plus (Grades 11 & Up)
Adult Fiction for Teens Plus
Adult Fiction for Teens Plus (Grades 11 & Up)
For Grades 11 & Up This collection features 14 adult fiction titles per year selected for strong appeal to older teens. Selections emphasize accessible storytelling and compelling narratives, centered on relatable characters facing challenges and themes that resonate with readers ready to move beyond traditional YA fiction. Some selections may explore identity, relationships, and real-world challenges, including LGBTQIA+ themes, strong language, social issues, and sensitive topics such as sexual abuse and suicide.