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A Shadow in Moscow: A Cold War Novel Library Binding – Large Print, January 1, 2024

by Katherine Reay (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 572 ratings
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In the thick of the Cold War, a betrayal at the highest level risks the lives of two courageous female spies: MI6's best Soviet agent and the CIA's newest Moscow recruit.

Vienna, 1954

After losing everyone she loves in the final days of World War II, Ingrid Bauer agrees to a hasty marriage with a gentle Soviet embassy worker and follows him home to Moscow. But nothing within the Soviet Union's totalitarian regime is what it seems, including her new husband, whom Ingrid suspects works for the KGB. Inspired by her daughter's birth, Ingrid risks everything and reaches out in hope to the one country she understands and trusts--Britain, the country of her mother's birth. She begins passing intelligence to MI6, navigating a world of secrets and lies, light and shadow.

Moscow, 1980

A student in the Foreign Studies Initiative, Anya Kadinova finishes her degree at Georgetown University and boards a flight home to Moscow, leaving behind the man she loves and a country she's grown to respect. Though raised by dedicated and loyal Soviet parents, Anya soon questions an increasingly oppressive and paranoid regime at the height of the Cold War. Then the KGB murders her best friend and Anya chooses her side. Working in a military research lab, she relays Soviet plans and schematics to the CIA in an effort to end the 1980s arms race.

The past catches up to the present when an unprecedented act of treachery threatens all agents operating within Eastern Europe, and both Ingrid and Anya find themselves in a race for their lives against time and the KGB.

"Eloquently portrays the incredible contributions of women in history, the extraordinary depths of love, and, perhaps most important, the true cost of freedom." --Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Veil

  • An exciting story of two brave female spies in Cold War Moscow
  • Includes discussion questions for book clubs
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    500 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Premier Fiction Series
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2024
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1638089965
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1638089964
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

This book is a consummately rendered and captivating espionage account of the Cold War, told from the perspective of two sympathetic and admirable women . . . Filled with surprise twists and turns, and ultimately uplifting and inspiring, I found this superlative novel an enduring gem. Five stars!--Historical Novel Society

Katherine Reay's latest has it all--intrigue, twists and turns, acts of bravery and sacrificial love, and an unforgettable Cold War setting with clever, daring women at the helm. An expertly delivered page-turner by a true master of the craft!--Susan Meissner, USA TODAY bestselling author of The Nature of Fragile Things

Rich with fascinating historical detail and unforgettable characters, A Shadow in Moscow deftly explores two female spies who will risk everything to change the world. Katherine Reay eloquently portrays the incredible contributions of women in history, the extraordinary depths of love, and, perhaps most important, the true cost of freedom in her latest stunning page-turner. A story that will leave readers examining what they hold most dear and positively brimming with hope, this is an important, timely tour de force--and a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered if just one person can make a difference.--Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Veil

This riveting story of two female spies operating in Moscow during different eras has everything you could ever want in a novel--suspense, intrigue, compelling characters, exotic settings, deep insight, and gasp-inducing plot twists. A word of advice: clear your calendar before opening A Shadow in Moscow. Once you start, you won't be able to stop until you regretfully reach the last page of Katherine Reay's masterfully written novel.--Marie Bostwick, New York Times bestselling author of Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly

In her nail-biting latest . . . Reay builds an immersive world behind the Iron Curtain, full of competing loyalties and a constant, chilling sense of paranoia. Readers will be enthralled.--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Katherine Reay is a national bestselling and award-winning author who has enjoyed a lifelong affair with books. She publishes both fiction and nonfiction, holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University, and currently lives outside Chicago, Illinois, with her husband and three children. You can meet her at katherinereay.com; Facebook: @KatherineReayBooks; Twitter: @katherine_reay; Instagram: @katherinereay.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Premier Fiction Series; Large type / Large print edition (January 1, 2024)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Library Binding ‏ : ‎ 500 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1638089965
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1638089964
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.34 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 572 ratings

About the author

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Katherine Reay

Katherine Reay

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Katherine Reay is a national bestselling and award-winning author of several novels and one work of nonfiction.

For her fiction, Katherine writes love letters to books, and her novels are saturated with what she calls the “world of books.” They are character driven stories that examine the past as a way to find one’s best way forward. In the words of The Bronte Plot’s Lucy Alling, Katherine writes of “that time when you don’t know where you’ll be, but you can’t stay as you are.”

Katherine holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University, and after several moves across the globe, lives outside Chicago.

Please visit Katherine on social media, on FB at Katherinereaybooks, Instagram @katherinereay, or visit her website at www.katherinereay.com

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
572 global ratings
Compelling Dual Timeline Novel Featuring Cold War Moscow
4 Stars
Compelling Dual Timeline Novel Featuring Cold War Moscow
I'm a long-time fan of Katherine Reay’s novels. A Shadow in Moscow, her new release, is a dual timeline story set in Cold War Moscow. Both stories feature strong women characters who make brave choices in the face of intense danger.Alone after her parents' deaths at the end of World War II, Ingrid marries a man she doesn't know well who takes her home to Moscow. Over time, she learns more about her husband and his suspected role within the KGB. With the hope of creating a better future for her newborn child, Ingrid becomes a spy, giving the British government Russian military secrets she learns while acting the part of a perfect wife and hostess.In 1980 Washington, DC, Soviet student Anya treasures the freedoms she experienced and people she met while studying at Georgetown University. With her degree earned, she's escorted back to Moscow by a KGB agent and struggles to reacclimate to her homeland. Her best friend's murder drives her to share Soviet military plans she's privy to due to her job with the US CIA to end the 1980s arms race.Due to my lack of knowledge about Cold War history, the first chapters were somewhat confusing as I became familiar with the characters. But the plot quickly became very interesting as each women realizes her circumstances and uses her unique situations to pass along strategic information. I was amazed by the amount of planning required to safely share even the smallest bits of intelligence, and more than once, I held my breath while Ingrid or Anya were in a particularly dangerous setting.The ending of this novel is very satisfying. Ms. Reay shares small clues that hint at the conclusion, but after I figured out the link between the timelines, there was a surprising aspect that I particularly enjoyed.The audiobook was a meaningful way to read this title. Talented and prolific narrators Lisa Flanagan and Saskia Maarleveld each narrated a main character, making it simple to track whose story was being shared.Thank you to Harper Muse, Uplit Reads, and Libro.fm for the print, ebook, and audio editions of this intriguing and inspiring novel.
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Top reviews from the United States

JB ROGERS
5.0 out of 5 stars Take a trip with this book
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024
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Captivating read from start to finish. So detailed I could see the clothing and offices and city streets. Excellent story and a virtual trip to both time periods.
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Becca - Reflections From My Bookshelves
5.0 out of 5 stars Shadow in Moscow
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2024
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I took my time reading this story simply because I wanted to savor and enjoy the adventure. I found myself thinking about this book when I wasn't reading it. I enjoyed the two time periods and how they connected at the end. The present day was a little more interesting but I think its because it happened during my lifetime. I enjoyed getting to know Ingrid and Anya. The felt very real to me.
I loved all the spy stuff in this book. It was fascinating.
The story is written from the perspective of Ingrid and Anya who grew up in Russia. It really gave me a different perspective on how they lived in Russia under soviet control. It was fascinating and the story really brought history to life.
This thought from Anya really stuck with me. It made me appreciate the freedoms i have.

"I’ve learned that Americans are hard in ways I couldn’t have imagined and find absolutely exhausting. To have all these constitutionally protected freedoms is enviable, but it also means you have to respect them, uphold them, and fight for them. "
"The whole thing takes strength—the illusory peace that conformity brings has no place here. Here peace and freedom rest on Americans’ ability to live in tension and to discuss, debate, and refine. To live like that takes constant commitment and energy—every opinion, every decision, every day. :

I know that this story is fiction but i have no doubt that there were many men and women who put their life on the line for their beliefs.

I cannot wait to read more stories by Katherine Reay.
I recommend this to my family and friends.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
One person found this helpful
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Adam
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Cold War intrigue
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2023
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A SHADOW IN MOSCOW was a great read, and I really enjoyed the Cold War storyline. There's something about historical spy fiction that excites me, and Katherine Reay did a superb job. Alternating between two timelines, one at the end of WWII and the other in the 1980s, Katherine develops some amazing characters and intrigue--and coupled with her writing, this was a fun book to read.

This was the first book of Katherine's I've read, and I'm happy to say I'll be reading more of her work! LONDON HOUSE is next ...
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Abbijoy
5.0 out of 5 stars Gain insight on Russia during the cold war
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2024
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I rarely give 5 stars to fiction, because I reserve it for true stories. But the characters represent spies who wanted the future to be better in Russia. Learn history through a brilliantly woven story with a dual timeline. Be sure to read the author's notes at the end if you love history and want to appreciate her research. I'll be reading more of her books!
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Marinda Fowler (@rindasreads)
5.0 out of 5 stars A Story worth Savoring
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2024
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This book has sat on my shelf unread for far too long. At first, I couldn't bring myself to read it because then it would be over (IYKYK), but also because I knew it would take more of my heart than I had ready to give. Sometimes books come to you in their own time, and this one is one I'm glad I saved until now, when I could truly savor it.

Because of this story, I better understand freedom. I value the ability to make my own choices even more strongly. I better comprehend what life was like for my parents, growing up during the cold war. That term didn't make sense to me...until Katherine Reay explained it to me.

Ingrid and Anya exemplify the kind of quietly courageous women that the world often overlooks--because they fade into the background on purpose. They don't ask for fame, glory, or money to save the world--they do it because they have an inherent need to do what is right. And though mistakes are made along the way, the choice to follow their heart is one that doesn't hold regrets.

Five HUGE stars. Highly recommend.
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sooziekayh
5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!!!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2024
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WOW!!! This is a amazing story. A peek into a hidden world of heroes that seem like like you and me, and villains that are still operating.
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KatieMa
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2024
I enjoyed this book about 2 female spies in Moscow. Have read several books on WWll female spies and was intrigued by a story of more modern spies. I thought this book was very well written and did a good job of exploring the women's lives as well. I will be reading more books by Katherine Reay.
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Meagan | She Reads Wherever She Goes
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible read!
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2023
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5/5 stars.

This book is amazing! _Wow_! Definitely one of those I paused reading at times, just to soak in a turn of phrase or ponder a twist/turn/event. Reay obviously did her research (I didn't expect anything less, based on her previous books), and it shows on every page.

The read isn't lighthearted, by any stretch; it's more in line with The London House than Dear Mr. Knightley--but well worth the read. The second half, in particular, stood out to me as the action picked up and the two storylines converged.

The Cold War was (not much) before my time, and I appreciated the book's nuanced, detailed insight into life during that time, both stateside and in Moscow. Whatever one's present-day political leanings, this merits a read for that insight alone. It's a harrowing reminder of what life was like not that long ago, and frankly how it could still be today in certain parts of the world (and more, if some have their way; say it ain't so, and come quickly, Lord Jesus). The equality promised was not equal at all, and we see that clearly on the page here.

Moving and powerful; highly recommended.

I will note, faith plays but a small part in the read, mostly in passing references (though more overtly in the latter third or so). I would have personally enjoyed seeing it more overtly had it been possible.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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Top reviews from other countries

cyncyn
5.0 out of 5 stars Love love love!
Reviewed in Canada on June 29, 2023
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I had read The London House and thought it was pretty good. I have always enjoyed most of Katherine Reay's books so I decided to give this new one a try as it was about spies. Sounded very intriguing. I was hooked from the first chapter. And it was VERY hard not to read through the whole thing in one sitting. I had to slow down to savour it and DID NOT want it to end. This is one of those books that is best read in paperback rather than on a kindle as I had to flipped back and forth to keep the dates straight. Don't want to give too much away but definitely a page turner and highly recommend!
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Barb in London
5.0 out of 5 stars Harrowing, SO well researched, fantastically satisfying
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 7, 2024
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I absolutely adored A Shadow in Moscow. I was continually awestruck by the level of historical detail that went into the story - SO much research. I loved the time jumps and the twists - I’d wondered about each before they were revealed and was delighted when I had guessed correctly; it just added to my enjoyment of the story. So engaging! Empathic, complex characters I wanted to spend more time with. Just brilliant!
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trina horgan
5.0 out of 5 stars It’s based in Russia
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 17, 2023
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Really enjoyed this book, couldn’t let it down
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