The Double Game

A few years before the fall of the Berlin Wall, spook-turned-novelist Edwin Lemaster revealed to up-and-coming journalist Bill Cage that heвЂTMd once considered spying for the enemy. For Cage, a Foreign Service brat who grew up in the very cities where LemasterвЂTMs books were set, the news story created a brief but embarrassing sensation and heralded the beginning of the end of his career in journalism. More than two decades later, Cage, now a lonely, disillusioned PR man, receives an anonymous note hinting that he should have dug deeper into LemasterвЂTMs pronouncement. Spiked with cryptic references to some of CageвЂTMs favorite spy novels, the note is the first of many literary bread crumbs that lead him back to Vienna, Prague, and Budapest, each instruction drawing him closer to the complex truth, each giving rise to more questions: Why is beautiful Litzi Strauss back in his life after thirty years? How much of his fatherвЂTMs job involved the CIA? As the events of LemasterвЂTMs past eerily—and dangerously—begin intersecting with those of CageвЂTMs own, a “long stalemate of secrecy” may finally be coming to an end. A story about spies and their secrets, fathers and sons, lovers and fate, duplicity and loyalty, The Double Game ingeniously taps the espionage classics of the Cold War to build a spellbinding maze of intrigue. It is Dan FespermanвЂTMs most audacious, suspenseful, and satisfying novel yet. From the Hardcover edition. Amazon.com Review Amazon Best Books of the Month, August 2012: The Double Game begins as a playful spy caper within a spy caper, in which clues to a mystery are found in the pages and plots of old spy novels. OK, clever enough. But the story quickly becomes more refreshingly and unexpectedly mysterious with each turn of the page, and I realized that Fesperman has achieved something remarkable here: He's turned the spy novel on its head while paying homage to the genre, at the same time giving us an unlikely protagonist who discovers that he's lived his entire life in a world “where fact and fiction were virtually indistinguishable.” -- Neal Thompson Review "'The Double Game is not just a spy novel - it's a love letter to the genre...cleverly woven into a thrilling story. Brilliantly executed and a joy from start to finish.' -Olen Steinhauer, author of An American Spy * 'A tantalizing, timely thriller' - Washington Post * 'A thought-provoking and exciting read' - Observer * 'One of the best writers of intelligent thrillers based on contemporary events working today...observant, thoughtful, witty' - Baltimore Sun * 'A new book by Dan Fesperman is becoming a major literary event... an utterly compelling thriller and quite simply the best I've read all year.' - Sunday Telegraph * 'Fesperman is the closest thing America has to John le Carre, a writer of great elegance and sophistication whose novels are as topical as they are compelling.' - Bookseller" A few years before the fall of the Berlin Wall, spook-turned-novelist Edwin Lemaster revealed to up-and-coming journalist Bill Cage that he’d once considered spying for the enemy. For Cage, a Foreign Service brat who grew up in the very cities where Lemaster’s books were set, the news story created a brief but embarrassing sensation and heralded the beginning of the end of his career in journalism. More than two decades later, Cage, now a lonely, disillusioned PR man, receives an anonymous note hinting that he should have dug deeper into Lemaster’s pronouncement. Spiked with cryptic references to some of Cage’s favorite spy novels, the note is the first of many literary bread crumbs that lead him back to Vienna, Prague, and Budapest, each instruction drawing him closer to the complex truth, each giving rise to more questions: Why is beautiful Litzi Strauss back in his life after thirty years? How much of his father’s job involved the CIA? As the events of Lemaster’s past eerily—and dangerously—begin intersecting with those of Cage’s own, a “long stalemate of secrecy” may finally be coming to an end. A story about spies and their secrets, fathers and sons, lovers and fate, duplicity and loyalty, The Double Game ingeniously taps the espionage classics of the Cold War to build a spellbinding maze of intrigue. It is Dan Fesperman’s most audacious, suspenseful, and satisfying novel yet. From the Hardcover edition. Amazon.com Review Amazon Best Books of the Month, August 2012: The Double Game begins as a playful spy caper within a spy caper, in which clues to a mystery are found in the pages and plots of old spy novels. OK, clever enough. But the story quickly becomes more refreshingly and unexpectedly mysterious with each turn of the page, and I realized that Fesperman has achieved something remarkable here: He's turned the spy novel on its head while paying homage to the genre, at the same time giving us an unlikely protagonist who discovers that he's lived his entire life in a world “where fact and fiction were virtually indistinguishable.” -- Neal Thompson Review "'The Double Game is not just a spy novel - it's a love letter to the genre...cleverly woven into a thrilling story. Brilliantly executed and a joy from start to finish.' -Olen Steinhauer, author of An American Spy * 'A tantalizing, timely thriller' - Washington Post * 'A thought-provoking and exciting read' - Observer * 'One of the best writers of intelligent thrillers based on contemporary events working today...observant, thoughtful, witty' - Baltimore Sun * 'A new book by Dan Fesperman is becoming a major literary event... an utterly compelling thriller and quite simply the best I've read all year.' - Sunday Telegraph * 'Fesperman is the closest thing America has to John le Carre, a writer of great elegance and sophistication whose novels are as topical as they are compelling.' - Bookseller" Suspense A Thrillingly Inventive Novel About Spies And Their Secrets, Fathers And Sons, Lovers And Fate, And Duplicity And Loyalty - A Maze Of Intrigue Built From The Espionage Classics Of The Cold War. A Few Years Before The Fall Of The Berlin Wall, Spook-turned-novelist Edwin Lemaster Reveals To Up-and-coming Journalist Bill Cage That He'd Once Considered Spying For The Enemy. More Than Two Decades Later, Cage, By Then A Lonely, Disillusioned Pr Man, Receives An Anonymous Note Hinting That He Should Have Dug Deeper. A Novel With References Throughout To Famous Spy Novels. This Is A Thrillingly Inventive Novel About Spies And Their Secrets, Fathers And Sons, Lovers And Fate, And Duplicity And Loyalty -- A Wonderful Maze Of Intrigue Built From The Espionage Classics Of The Cold War. A Few Years Before The Fall Of The Berlin Wall, Spook-turned-novelist Edwin Lemaster Reveals To Young Journalist Bill Cage That He'd Once Considered Spying For The Enemy. For Cage, A Fan Who Grew Up As A Foreign Service Brat In The Very Cities Where Lemaster Set His Plots, The Story Creates A Brief But Embarrassing Sensation. More Than Two Decades Later, Cage, By Then A Lonely, Disillusioned Pr Man, Receives An Anonymous Note Hinting That He Should Have Dug Deeper. Spiked With Cryptic References To Some Of His And His Father's Favorite Old Spy Novels, The Note Is The First Of Many Literary Bread Crumbs That Soon Lead Him Back To Vienna, Prague, And Budapest In Search Of The Truth, Even As The Events Of Lemaster's Past Eerily -- And Dangerously -- Begin Intersecting With Those Of His Own. Why Is Beautiful Litzi Strauss Back In His Life After 30 Years? How Much Of His Father's Job Involved The Cia? Did Bill, As A Child, Become A Pawn? As The Suspense Steadily Increases, A Long Stalemate Of Secrecy May Finally Be Broken. It Is Suitable For Fans Of Intelligent Thrillers And Espionage Fiction -- Le Carre, Sam Bourne, And John Lawton. Dan Fesperman. Includes Bibliographical References. From the acclaimed author of Layover in Dubai —the story of a journalist’s journey to Vienna, Prague, and Budapest in search of the truth about a spy-turned-novelist’s decades of dark secrets... “As fiendishly clever a spy story as you could hope for.... A guaranteed delight for any espionage fan.” — The Seattle Times A few years before the fall of the Berlin Wall, spook-turned-novelist Edwin Lemaster reveals to up-and-coming journalist Bill Cage that he’d once considered spying for the enemy. For Cage, a fan who grew up as a Foreign Service brat in the very cities where Lemaster set his plots, the story creates a brief but embarrassing sensation. More than two decades later, Cage receives an anonymous note hinting that he should have dug deeper. Spiked with cryptic references to some of his and his father’s favorite old spy novels, the note is the first piece of a puzzle that will lead Cage back to Vienna, Prague, and Budapest in search of the truth, even as he discovers that the ghosts of Lemaster’s past eerily—and dangerously—still haunt the present. As the suspense steadily increases, decades of secrets begin to unravel.... A Seattle Times Best Mystery of the Year A Times of London Best Crime/Thriller Book of the Year A few years before the fall of the Berlin Wall, spook-turned-novelist Edwin Lemaster reveals to up-and-coming journalist Bill Cage that he’d once considered spying for the enemy. For Cage, a fan who grew up as a Foreign Service brat in the very cities where Lemaster set his plots, the story creates a brief but embarrassing sensation. More than two decades later, Cage receives an anonymous note hinting that he should have dug deeper. Spiked with cryptic references to some of his and his father’s favorite old spy novels, the note is the first piece of a puzzle that will lead Cage back to Vienna, Prague, and Budapest in search of the truth, even as he discovers that the ghosts of Lemaster’s past eerily—and dangerously—still haunt the present. As the suspense steadily increases, decades of secrets begin to unravel. Decades after his favorite author confesses that he considered spying for the enemy during the Cold War, former journalist Bill Cage follows a trail of literary bread crumbs through Vienna, Prague, and Budapest to discover links between the author, a beautiful woman, and the CIA.