It opens in a remote Andalusian village, gradually unfolding the story of a Russian mole in British intelligence.

[2][3] It was released on July 17, 2018 and debuted at number 1 in the August 5 edition of the New York Times Bestseller list.

[5] This novel depicts modern European intelligence services such as the SVR and MI6 still playing out the antagonism between the Soviet Union and the Western Bloc.

Kim Philby, the great mole in the historic MI6, exemplifies the dedication of Soviet sympathizers of the past.

The story of Kim Philby guides him to a confrontation with the real mole, who is captured by the British but then allowed to defect, since a formal trial would embarrass them.