Pariah

by Dan Fesperman

An action-packed, adrenaline-fueled thriller about a disgraced comedian-turned-politician, who takes on the role of a infiltrating a corrupt Eastern European country to spy on their brutal dictator.

Hal Knight is a famous, if deeply polarizing, figure in Hollywood and on Capitol Hill. After a disastrous #MeToo encounter, Knight resigns from his seat, quits social media, and disappears to a Caribbean island. Upon his arrival, however, he is approached by a group of mysterious strangers, whom he discovers are CIA agents hoping to penetrate Bolrovia—a hostile, eastern European country. They want his help in doing so. Bolrovia’s oligarch, Nikolai Horvatz, is a fan of Knight’s movies, and the agents anticipate Knight will receive an invitation for an official visit imminently. Though Knight is skeptical about the mission, he realizes he has nothing more to lose and could—at last—do something truly meaningful with his life, whether or not anybody ever learns the truth about his hand in the matter. Reluctantly, he agrees to the job.

Arriving in Bolrovia as President Horvatz’s guest of honor, Knight is faced with his ultimate acting challenge. He brushes shoulders with Horvatz, Branko Sarič—the President’s ruthless head of state security—shadowy figures in their orbit, and another group of Americans whose motivations are unclear. The only people in his corner are a trio of agents led by Lauren Witt, who has her own troubles in the agency and despises Knight. What begins as an assignment to keep his eyes and ears open quickly turns into a life or death mission. With Pariah, Dan Fesperman has crafted a heart-pounding thriller about espionage, entertainment, and one man’s pursuit of redemption.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Espionage, Mystery, Humor, Crime

368 pages, Hardcover

First published July 22, 2025

About the author

Dan Fesperman’s travels as a writer have taken him to thirty countries and three war zones. Lie in the Dark won the Crime Writers’ Association of Britain’s John Creasey Memorial Dagger Award for best first crime novel, The Small Boat of Great Sorrows won their Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for best thriller, and The Prisoner of Guantánamo won the Dashiell Hammett Award from the International Association of Crime Writers. He lives in Baltimore.

Reviews

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hal Knight was an actor/comedian turned politician who was cancelled due to his sexist behavior. He has fled to a small island to lick his wounds, where he is approached by the CIA. They want him to accept the invitation from Bolrovia’s strongman ruler, Nikolai Horvatz. He just wants to hang out with Hal, his favorite actor. The CIA wants Hal to remain observant and report everything he sees to his three handlers.

This book has typical spy novel elements, as well as some more satirical elements. The story picks up in the last third when Hal stumbles upon something that is actually worth reporting. Theatre book held my interest and the author did a good job narrating his audiobook

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just a little off-center from the traditional spy novel – and one that is enjoyable on many levels.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Present day, Vieques and the fictional country of Bolrovia
Characters: Hal Knight, a former comedian and elected official, several key members of the CIA, other suspicious operatives, and an engaging, varied cast of characters in the Bolrovian regime
Overview: Hal Knight has made a critical error and is disgraced on Capitol Hill, leading him to seek solace on the island of Vieques. Nikolai Horvatz, Bolrovia’s oligarch, is captivated by Hal’s comedic talent and invites him to perform. The CIA looks at this as an ideal opportunity to convince Hal out of his self-imposed isolation and infiltrate Bolrovia’s inner circle to obtain secret information.
Recommendation: I rate this book 5 stars
Extras: This story is less serious than Fesperman’s previous books. It is more of a tongue-in-cheek, nip-and-tuck story, than his by-the-book, tried-and-true spy tales. It is thoroughly amusing and entertaining.
Thanx to NetGalley and Knopf for the opportunity to provide this candid review.

[Pam Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dan Fesperman has been a staple of espionage novels for me since the early 2000’s. I especially like his series with CIA Agent Claire Saylor (Safe Houses, The Cover Wife and Winter Work). But Fesperman’s latest, Pariah, is a stand-alone about a comedian who has been cancelled for sexist comments which went viral. This comedian, Hal Knight, goes to a made-up Baltic country called Bolrovia because the Dictator President is a big fan and the CIA asks him to go. Apparently, the CIA wants Knight to see if he can pick up any information by just hanging out with the President. Not a very probable plotline at the outset.
The synopsis did not thrill me and truthfully, neither did the book. I never did find a character to like, and for me that is a problem in any novel. The one “more” honorable character who was Knight’s handler in Bolrovia, does not get enough attention in the novel to actually bring the reader to his side until the very end. I do not like made-up countries – Bolrovia? Why not use a real country and change the President’s name? That illustrates my problem with the book.
Up until this novel of Fesperman’s, all his espionage books have been realistic which is actually a requirement for spy novels! Any silliness at all and the believability of the novel goes out the window. In Pariah, there is a great deal of suspension of disbelief, thus making the novel less serious.
First Hal Knight is thinking of killing himself due to the cancelling and has taken himself off to a small tropical island to drink and brood before the CIA finds him. One thing goes wrong in this man’s life and he falls apart. Then off to an unreal country with a quirky President who has memorized all Knight’s juvenile movie lines. Next, Knight wonders around sticking his nose into all sorts of business he could not and would not be capable of in real life, all while the overtly evil security chief threatens him and chases him across the country.
I will say that I was interested in how Knight would extradite himself from this mess and finally redeem himself. Not because I liked him enough to care, but because I respect Fesperman’s other writings and could not imagine the author leaving the reader without an adequate ending. I will let you decide if you are happy with the ending. Suffice it to say, at least the action picked up.
I recommend ALL of Fesperman’s other espionage books wholeheartedly; but Pariah is only for those who like a bit of tongue-in-cheek lightness to their spy novels.

This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review. Pariah will be published on July 22, 2025.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

“And if experience had taught him anything, it was that bullies could be beaten, even bullies who seemed to hold all the cards.”

[Alyssa Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun! Former actor/comedian who turned politician to then get hit with #metoo movement allegations then gets recruited to work with the CIA?! Sold. I enjoyed this book so much. There was a hint of mystery throughout the book that kept my attention. When you see this book hit the shelves, pick it up.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐


Pariah hooked me fast. Hal Knight, a disgraced comedian-turned-politician, gets roped in by the CIA to cozy up to a dictator who’s basically a war-criminal fanboy of his jokes. Honestly? Great premise. Dark comedy + spy thriller = I was ready for a ride.

And at first? It delivers. But about 25% in, the pace hits quicksand. Suddenly I’m flipping pages like, “Wait… I still have how much left?” Took me two weeks to slog through because the middle just… drags.

Also, the names. First names, last names, code names. Half the time I didn’t know if we were dealing with Fake Putin, Trump-Kim mashup, or some random henchman with a grudge. Confusing AF.

That said, there are moments where it really nails the darkly funny spy vibe; Hal’s comedy instincts colliding with espionage tactics were some of the best parts. But it could’ve been tighter, sharper, and at least 150 pages shorter.

Potential 4+ star book that got lost in its own punchlines.

[Melba · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not my typical genre, but I did enjoy the book. I found myself thinking about the story even when I wasn’t reading. The characters were interesting, although I did have some difficulty remembering who was who for portions of the book. The meandering storyline was interesting, and did keep me interested. Overall a great book with a satisfying conclusion. 4/5 stars.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Entertaining spy novel. Different protagonist than most.

[Colin Hoogeboom · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not Dan Fesperman’s best work. It started slow and gradually became slower throughout the first 3/4 of the book. I had to put it down multiple times to read something with a better storyline. The last 1/4 of the book started to pick up and it turned out to finish with some action/adventure. I think this book could have been condensed into something half as long and it would have been a better read.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Thoroughly entertaining comic spy thriller, in which a comedian-turned-politician, recently cancelled thanks to a viral video of him being an a-hole, and now hiding out on a tropical island, is invited by a tinpot dictator in Bolrova (basically a fictional standin for Hungary) to perform. The CIA gets wind of it, and recruits him for a secret op.

It’s a very silly plot but Fesperman balances the comedy and suspense very well. Think Mick Herrons Slough House books for a similar vibe. I’ve read one other book by Fesperman, Winter Work, and it was much more of a straight spy thriller with a more somber tone. So this was a pleasant surprise and a super fun read. I stayed up way too late plowing through the last 50 pages, and it ends on the perfect tongue in cheek note.

Great book!

[Mal Warwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The CIA recruits a disgraced comedian for an undercover mission

Dan Fesperman’s new spy novel, Pariah, might begin, “A comedian walks into a bar.” Except that the comedian, a popular movie star, is already drinking himself into a stupor in a bar on the Caribbean hideaway of Vieques Island. Then three officers of the Central Intelligence Agency approach him.

It turns out that the funnyman is, in fact, former U.S. Representative Harold C. “Hal” Knight, Democrat of California. He had resigned after a video went viral of him committing what looked to be an inexcusable and embarrassing act in the midst of a profanity-laced diatribe. And there was nothing funny about that, even though he’d never actually done what it looked like.

Hal was now simmering in his own juices and contemplating whether to use one of the poison pills he’d sequestered in his hotel room and end it all. Then things start to get interesting.

An East European dictator is a big fan

The three from the CIA introduce themselves as Susan, Chris, and Sal. He knows they’re CIA because they tell him, “We work for the U.S. government.” “But not the IRS.” “And not the FBI.” They’re there to talk to him about Nikolai Horvatz, the president “of Bolrovia, in Eastern Europe. The one all the Republicans love.” “And, well, turns out he’s quite a fan of yours.” “Has all your movies, all your stand-up routines.” “And apparently watches ’em all the time.” So, naturally, some genius in Langley has decided that it would make great sense to recruit Hal for an undercover mission to spy on the secretive and paranoid dictator. Which, when at length it happens, turns out to be, well . . . very interesting, indeed. And therein lies this tale.

A long and twisty road to the end

Reading all this in the early chapters of Pariah you might get the impression that you’ve got a comic novel on your hands. You wouldn’t be all wrong. There’s humor here, because how could it be otherwise given this set-up, but the story that ensues is complex and disturbing. Hal has gotten himself into trouble almost from the start. Serious stuff happens.

Once in Bolrovia, Hal encounters Pavel Lukov, the clueless young administrative aide to President Horvatz. The terrifying head of the secret police, Branko Sarič, has assigned Pavel as Hal’s minder, never to let him out of his sight. Others who soon enter the picture are Wally Wallek, Horvatz’s scheming political adviser; Ian Farkas, a friendly British barfly who is anything but innocent; and a coterie of famous right-wing American media figures who are up to nothing good. Of course, things will all turn out to be more or less okay in the end, but it’s a long, windy road to get there. It’s a funny story in essentials, but enough grim reality peeks through the comic action to be disturbing. You’ll recognize reality lurking in the background.

About the author

Dan Fesperman is the award-winning author of 13 novels, of which Pariah is the latest. A former reporter for the Baltimore Sun, he is a graduate of the University of North Carolina. Born in 1955 in North Carolina, he lives with his wife and two children in Baltimore.

[Maine Colonial · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read a free advance digital review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

Hal Knight is a comic actor turned politician whose life comes crashing down after he’s “canceled” for sexist remarks. (I put the word in quotes because I don’t believe that anyone is really canceled today, given our social division and gnat-like attention span.) Though his publicists have a plan for his rebirth, Hal wants nothing to do with it. He issues a no-excuses apology and leaves both his comedy and political careers, going ultra-low profile, which at the outset of the book involves a low-key visit to the island of Vieques.

Two sets of people are very interested in Hal. The first, weirdly out of left field, is a secret group from the fictional eastern European country of Bolrovia. Turns out their premier, Nikolai Horvatz, really loves him some Hal Knight and wants him to come for an extended visit and hang out. The CIA knows about the plan, and the second set of interested parties is a three-person team wanting to convince Hal to be their eyes and ears in Bolrovia, as Horvatz seems to be leaning more heavily toward relationships with Russia and China.

I’ve read a few Fesperman political thrillers, and this one is a bit different in that it has a comedic touch and is set in a fake country with fake politicians. Still, it’s hard to miss the resemblance of Nikolai Horvatz to Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, a side character named Baxter Frederickson is an obvious stand-in for Tucker Carlson, and there is another character who is an amalgam of the many Fox News blonde fembots. Hal Knight himself has a little bit of a resemblance to Al Franken, at least in being a comedian-turned-politico who loses his careers for dumb sexist stuff.

Hal becomes friendly with his minder, Pavel Lukov, who is Horvatz’s new chief administrative aide and increasingly uncomfortable with Horvatz’s authoritarianism and the Beria-like attitudes and actions of his top security man, Branko Sarič. Hal and Pavel get themselves in trouble in short order, and both will have to find their true selves as they face the trouble.

I was looking forward to an eastern European espionage novel, and I thought that if it included a bit of comedy, that would be fine. Unfortunately, I found little evidence that Hal was funny or had ever been funny. Other than Pavel, most of the characters were flat and not fully developed. It was a slog to get through the book. I expected a better effort from Fesperman.

[Leane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never disappointing, Fesperman always supplies the reader with the necessary Spy elements: exquisite procedural detail, propulsive Pacing after a sometimes immersive build, compelling CHs all embedded in a realistic array of Settings and a growing, harrowing Tone. He also always surprises me with a different angle, and in this novel, a damaged, conflicted, and hilarious protagonist, Hal, the Pariah of the title, now disgraced former popular comedian, screen star, and recently-resigned congressman who is contemplating suicide and drinking too much on an exotic island when he is approached by agents for the US government who wish him to accept an invitation to a small European country (Bolrovia) by its dictator, his biggest fan, and do some selective listening. You need to take this journey on your own, but Fesperman sets the scenes and the players well from an assortment of spies, bureaucrats, political movers and shakers, both foreign (British, Bolrovian, Russian, etc.) and American. The dialogue and Hal’s inner thoughts are hilarious, some of the situations, slap-stick-like but also some great switch-plays and threatening chases. Hal’s inner conversations with his old “dresser” Shirley is LOL. Great social, economic, political, cultural (Want me some Chimney Cake!), and historical detail add to the Tone as the author introduces friend and foe and we see a variety of POVs as well as thematic content from the Me-Too movement, Cancel Culture, the Deep State, Liberal vs Ultra-conservative political dilemmas around immigration policies and cyber surveillance, seeking profit over justice and equitable governance, and the nuts and bolts of creating entertainment from scripts to comedy riffs to newscasts. If you read a lot of Spy stuff, you will see some of the plot points coming; however, I did not see them all and enjoyed the ride when I did immensely. RED FLAGS: Violence; Torture; Danger to Innocents. Readalikes are Anna Pitoniak’s The Helsinki Affair for the mixture of good Spy procedure, Eastern European Setting, Tone, and great CHs, as well as Jonathan Payne’s Citizen Orlov for the same plus the humor, Jason Matthews, David McCloskey, and Paul Vidich.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this engaging novel, the main protagonist is a former Congressman (think Al Franken) and belligerent stand-up insult comic (think Don Rickles) whose reputation and emotional state are both in rapid decline. The comic, Hal Knight, is drafted by intelligence agents to accept the invitation from a dictator of an Eastern European country (think Hungary or Belarus) and to perform for the dictator, who is a serious fanboy of the comic's raunchy jokes.

When I started reading this 2025 novel, two movies came to mind. Two films that no one under the age of 46 would probably remember.... The In-Laws from 1979 (Alan Arkin, Peter Falk) and Moon Over Parador from 1988 (Richard Dreyfus, Raul Julia) had similar plots. Author Fesperman has written several novels of suspense and intrigue, but that have a sly undertone. The comic in the novel, Hal, sees this as a path out of his despair. The dictator, Nikolai Horvatz, is also rendered in more than one dimension. What adds credence to this novel, is that the characters from Bolrovia... as well as some secondary characters from a FOX News and Newsmax-style broadcast network... are portrayed in a level that goes somewhat beyond cliche. Knight is assisted by a local, Pavel, who plays a key role in the plot, and is one of the book's most appealing characters.

The ending comes up just a bit too quick in comparison with the general pace of the first three- quarters of the plot. But overall, this is a solid, entertaining, well-written novel, helped by the strength of its characters. (3.9-4.3 stars/5.0 stars).

[Roswitha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a smart, well-plotted novel that addresses the cancel-culture zeitgeist and combines it with knowledge of U.S. espionage techniques and the way even the spy agencies today are roiled by politics. The political switch-ups have never been more dizzying and foreboding about the possibility of a second Trump administration seeps through the novel’s action. Hal Knight is a successful comedian with an alcohol problem who started out doing stand-up and ended up with a number of successful movies under his belt – Adam Sandler with an edge. Unlike Sandler, he screwed up – bigly – on the set of one of his movies, creating a viral social media moment that ended his career. This is all in the rear view mirror when, while laying low by drinking his way through the Caribbean, Knight is approached by a trio of American intelligence operatives who persuade him that the president of Bolrovia, a fictional former Soviet satellite, is a huge fan, and that this can prove useful in ferreting out intel about the Bolrovians, the Russians, and, as it turns out, some conservative American media personalities. What ensues is both entertaining and genuinely suspenseful. You care about poor self-destructive Hal Knight as well as the things going on under the radar in Eastern European autocracies. And if it weren’t for Fesperman’s devotion to splitting infinitive (six times, by my count), I would have no complaints about this book.

[skip thurnauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hal Knight is a washed up comedian and short-term congressman. A me-too moment during a film shoot was widely viewed on social media, tanking his film career and also leading to a hasty resignation from Congress. Hal is enduring a self-imposed exile on the remote Carribean island Vieques when he is corralled by a couple of CIA agents. They want him to go undercover in Bolrovia, an Eastern European country ruled by a despotic president, Nikolai Horvatz. Horvatz learned English by watching Hal’s films and is a huge fan. The has CIA learned Bolrovia is sending emissaries to invite Hal their country as a special guest of the president. Before Hal leaves for Bolrovia, the Agency gives him instructions to keep his eyes and ears open to any information that might be useful, as well as explicit instructions on communications and security. At the airport Hal is met a government official, Pavel Lukov, who will become his constant companion and overseer. After checking into his hotel, Hal is met by the head of government security, Branko Saric, an intimidating threat to Hal’s personal security and his CIA mission. When Hal stumbles across some useful intelligence information, his cat-and-mouse game with Saric becomes deadly and he’s forced to run for his life. Pariah offers an entertaining and darkly humorous portrayal of international espionage and political intrigue.

[Becky Motew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a disappointment.

First of all, I don't like made-up countries such as the one here, Bolrovia? Really? It feels fake the whole way through. Olen Steinhauer, another very competent spy writer, wrote at least one like that and I quit a quarter of the way through. I finished this one.

The premise seemed really preposterous. I mean what? CIA agents decide to recruit someone who knows nothing about the agency, even less about how to act like an agent, and less again in terms of tradecraft, skill, and motivation, They give him his instructions (some quite complicated) in a couple of hours on a boat in the middle of the Caribbean and expect him to learn it by heart. Well if you say so.

The sinister head of security in the made-up secret police organization seems to do nothng except leer around corners . I never had the first clue what he was after, but he was sneaky and mysterious-seeming so I guess that was enough..

The recruited guy, Hal Knight, a comedian recently "canceled" back home, shares some funny and interesting facets of a show biz life here and there and those seemed believable. I know DF is a popular spy writer and I enjoyed SAFE HOUSES a few years ago, but this one seems a bit forced, not completely thought through. Not enough "there" there.

I would still read another one though.

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

The relevance of the book’s premise, especially in this era of misinformation and disinformation campaigns, is undercut by several execution flaws. For a story centered on a comedian, his humor is only alluded to rather than shown. And really, who invites their civilian ex to join them on an op? I found myself screaming in frustration more than once and almost DNF’ed.

The biggest issue, though, is pacing. The first half is unnecessarily wordy and dragging (so much so that my unmedicated ADHD self struggled for days to finish the first chapter), yet the reveal—the most important part—is rushed. Not a full chapter, or even a page, is dedicated to fleshing out its implications, or mechanics, or to showing how fake news as an industry has built governments and destroyed countries. The book only mentions in passing that such tactics were being planned for use in the 2024 U.S. elections.

This was the perfect opportunity to expound on that theme. I wouldn’t have nitpicked this hard if not for the over-description of everything and everyone else, including details that add little to the plot. Yet when it comes to the part that matters most, the story falls disappointingly short.

[Candy Wood]

Toward the end, a character’s comment suggests that the time is before the 2024 election, but much of the book could have been written today. Hal Knight, a comedian and film star who has been elected to Congress, is drowning his sorrows in disgrace when the CIA recruits him to spy in the fictional East European Bolrovia, whose autocratic president is a big fan. By shifting focalizing characters to include Lauren (the CIA operative in charge) and Pavel (the president’s assistant who is Hal’s guide), Dan Fesperman provides varied perspectives on the action. The Bolrovian security chief is a more stereotypical villain, making the other characters even more sympathetic. The book is dedicated to “all allies, near and far, in the fight against disinformation,” and Hal’s struggles to decide whom to trust and what to do fit in with that. Lots of action without bloody violence and with a humorous touch make for an enjoyable read.

[Mario Mirabelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like the main characters life, a rollicking good time with plenty of highs and some mighty lows. Hal Knight is/was a successful comic and movie star who accidentally parlayed that into a vacant seat in Congress. With the #me too movement and changing times, Hal became a bit of a dinosaur which led to his sudden demise. Alone is a distant Caribbean island hiding from any all news for two months, he felt like a dinosaur too.
Unknown to Hal, the president of a far far right Eastern European country, had invited him to come to his country and to be celebrated and treated with dignity. Within a 36 hour period, Hal agrees to help an undisclosed US intelligence agency (CIA) and is invited by and heads off to the above mentioned European nation. Hijinks definitely ensue. Well worth the trip. Enjoy.

[Corny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This espionage thriller is extremely convoluted. Fesperman has a way of building extremely intricate plots and then resolving them in the last 10 pages. The Pariah is no exception. Hal Knight a disgraced comedian laid low by the MeToo movement is in the throes of self pity when a CIA operative makes him a proposition. The autocratic president of the fictional Bolrovia is a fan and wants Hal to perform for him. The CIA wants Hal to do some spying while he is there. From this simple premise, the plot expands to include many different players, each it seems with their own agenda. The resolution is overly contrived and leaves many unanswered questions. That said, the writing is good and the characters well drawn. A fun if not entirely satisfying read.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A spy thriller that captures one’s attention from beginning to end. This feels highly contemporary with it’s barely concealed mentions of real politicians and culture.

A disgraced (think Me Too movement) famous comedian is recruited by the CIA to visit a (fictitious) eastern bloc country whose despot leader is a big fan. Something is going down and the CIA needs to get close to their president.

This has amusing moments but it is not a spoof novel. With steady tension throughout, loyalties are tested on both sides. Heavy surveillance tactics, hackers, people who have ‘disappeared’ and the disadvantages of social media are all on display.

Excellent read for fans of the Jason Bourne series.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read that I wish had been on my Kindle so that I could look up different characters, whom I kept forgetting. It didn't really matter in the end.

I thought it was far-fetched that the bad guy would leave his water bottle alone like that, since he was so obssessed with safety in that regard. And in the end I'm not sure I'm entirely positive what was going on in that building behind the Apple Store. I think it was Russians maybe doing fake news and maybe scamming people but it was never spelled out, although it was definitely a right-wing endeavor.

None of the characters were very likeable except for Pavel, Hal's caretaker from the president's staff. And then I was surprised to learn that the country where the events take place is supposed to be part of the European Union!

[Frederick Bingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this on audio, mostly on a car ride to the mountains. The narrator was great. Mild spoilers follow.

This is a fast-paced thriller set mainly in the fictional country of Bolrovia (?). The country sounds a lot like Belarus. It is a dictatorship in eastern Europe, with a capital called Blatsk (?). Hal Knight is a washed up comedian who has been #cancelled by #metoo due to some sketchy behavior on a movie set. He is sent to Bolrovia to spy for he US. He turns out to be very talented at the spying business.

The plot was straightforward enough that I could follow it in the audio format, which I appreciated.

[Kip Gire]

A fantastic, high paced thriller! So good!

This is my first book by the author, but it will not be my last. What a great adventure! The synopsis of the book may paint a bit of a disjointed picture, but do not fear; this book is fantastic. The humor coupled with the skullduggery of a great spy novel will pull you in, and like myself, you'll plow through this in one sitting. The characters are wonderful and fully realized with flaws and reasons to cheer. All around, such a great book. Highly recommend!

[Ernest Spoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually read nonfiction espionage books though as a young man I devoured Ian Fleming's James Bond books and films. But not much else. So I even surprised myself when I picked up this novel at my neighborhood branch library. I couldn't help but see Will Ferrell as Hal Knight, the disgraced stand-up comedian and movie director. Though if this book ever gets a film treatment I suspect by that time Ferrell will be a little long in the tooth. You know, I can't really say if I think the plot is plausible but, it sure as hell is topical.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is probably a better book than I'm giving it credit for. Great writing, an interesting premise with clear contemporary cultural and political overlap. But ultimately, I think I just read it at the wrong time. Too exhausted to make it past a couple of pages when I tried to read it at night, and absolutely not the right fit for reading beachside in Mexico. I'm not a big re-reader, so I'm unlikely to revisit this book another time, but I do wish I would have read this book with the brain space it deserved from me.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hal Knight, former politician, former comic relief, gets caught up in the “me too movement” and is disgraced! Next we find him drinking his sorrows at a beach where he is recruited for a job with the CIA and has an invitation to Bolrovia from its President. Then the story gets action packed when his e-mails, phone and person are followed. The Bolrovia personnel have great character development. A good page turner. Enjoy

[Marvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my usual fare--I have to wonder the mood I was in when I put this on my reading list--but this spy novel set in a fictional Eastern Europe dictatorship, featuring a disgraced comedian recruited to spy for the CIA, was a welcome, mildly entertaining change. It does address, if somewhat superficially, several world and domestic issues, especially the political urge to demonize immigrants and refugees and the banes of social media and electronic surveillance.

[Chris Breitenbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Thrillers" aren't usually my jam but the premise of this one caught my eye, so why not. And you know, it wasn't bad. Maybe a touch too tidy in the end, but a fun, readable book with good momentum, fun characters-- and like any good thriller, some wonderfully implausible shenanigans in those final chapters.