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The Dollar Compass: Supercomputers, Power Politics, and Moral Deception in the Autumn of the Cold War
John le Carré meets Robert Harris, with this business-and-moral-dilemma dimension of a corporate geopolitical thriller.
★★★★★
“An exciting novel that feels like a genre of its own – entertaining, thought-provoking, and beautifully written. I was hooked from page one.”
August 1985. The Cold War is beginning to thaw. But in Moscow, nothing is ever simple.
Henrik Bertelsen is not a spy. He is a Danish computer salesman, sent behind the Iron Curtain to help secure a deal that could save his struggling American employer.
The reward is cutting-edge supercomputers for the Soviet raw materials and energy industries. Under Gorbachev’s glasnost and perestroika, Moscow wants Western technology to modernise a stagnating superpower. American corporations see a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Intelligence agencies see a nightmare.
Henrik eyes adventure and a career-making assignment.
But from the moment he arrives in Moscow, he discovers that business is only the surface. His hotel room is searched. Helpful strangers appear at convenient moments. Diplomats offer advice with hidden meanings. Soviet officials speak in riddles. And the KGB is watching—not because Henrik knows secrets, but because one day he might.
In a system built on secrecy, hierarchy, fear, and favours, technical superiority is not enough. To win, Henrik must learn how power really through unofficial channels, personal loyalties, quiet threats, and carefully placed money.
A dinner. A favour. A discreet payment. A harmless shortcut.
Each compromise seems manageable. Each one brings him closer to the contract. And each one pulls him further from the values he thought were non-negotiable.
At home in Denmark, his wife and children are paying the price for his ambition. In Moscow, the deal grows larger, darker, and more dangerous. What began as a business opportunity becomes a test of loyalty, judgment, and moral courage.
Meticulously researched and set against the real tensions of the late Cold War, The Dollar Compass is a gripping political and business novel about ambition, corruption, espionage, and the price of letting money become your guide.
When the compass points to money, how long before it leads you away from yourself?
Early readers
★★★★★
“Caught between American and Soviet values, Henrik’s story is a Cold War novel like no other—where private life, business, and politics intertwine.”
★★★★★
“I rarely read fiction, but this one captivated me. A surprising, compelling story that lingered long after the final page.”
★★★★★
“Bech writes like a man who has tasted both vodka and Villy’s walnut schnapps – and still stands upright. A perfect armchair travel companion.”
★★★★★
“An exciting novel that feels like a genre of its own – entertaining, thought-provoking, and beautifully written. I was hooked from page one.”
August 1985. The Cold War is beginning to thaw. But in Moscow, nothing is ever simple.
Henrik Bertelsen is not a spy. He is a Danish computer salesman, sent behind the Iron Curtain to help secure a deal that could save his struggling American employer.
The reward is cutting-edge supercomputers for the Soviet raw materials and energy industries. Under Gorbachev’s glasnost and perestroika, Moscow wants Western technology to modernise a stagnating superpower. American corporations see a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Intelligence agencies see a nightmare.
Henrik eyes adventure and a career-making assignment.
But from the moment he arrives in Moscow, he discovers that business is only the surface. His hotel room is searched. Helpful strangers appear at convenient moments. Diplomats offer advice with hidden meanings. Soviet officials speak in riddles. And the KGB is watching—not because Henrik knows secrets, but because one day he might.
In a system built on secrecy, hierarchy, fear, and favours, technical superiority is not enough. To win, Henrik must learn how power really through unofficial channels, personal loyalties, quiet threats, and carefully placed money.
A dinner. A favour. A discreet payment. A harmless shortcut.
Each compromise seems manageable. Each one brings him closer to the contract. And each one pulls him further from the values he thought were non-negotiable.
At home in Denmark, his wife and children are paying the price for his ambition. In Moscow, the deal grows larger, darker, and more dangerous. What began as a business opportunity becomes a test of loyalty, judgment, and moral courage.
Meticulously researched and set against the real tensions of the late Cold War, The Dollar Compass is a gripping political and business novel about ambition, corruption, espionage, and the price of letting money become your guide.
When the compass points to money, how long before it leads you away from yourself?
Early readers
★★★★★
“Caught between American and Soviet values, Henrik’s story is a Cold War novel like no other—where private life, business, and politics intertwine.”
★★★★★
“I rarely read fiction, but this one captivated me. A surprising, compelling story that lingered long after the final page.”
★★★★★
“Bech writes like a man who has tasted both vodka and Villy’s walnut schnapps – and still stands upright. A perfect armchair travel companion.”
417 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2026
About the author
Hans Peter Bech
25 books48 followersHans Peter Bech holds an MSc in Economics from the University of Copenhagen and has established himself as a leading voice in the field of international business development, particularly within the software industry. As a keynote speaker, consultant, and blogger, Hans Peter has shared his insights and expertise with a global audience, helping companies navigate the complexities of expanding their operations across borders.
In addition to his work in business development, Hans Peter is a bestselling author, known for his thought-provoking writings on the intersection of business and technology. His most recent literary achievement is the novel 'Tumult in Mecca', published in 2024. This work marks the beginning of 'The Henrik Bertelsen Saga', a compelling series that blends rich storytelling with profound reflections on the human condition.
Hans Peter's diverse career and deep knowledge make him a sought-after expert and a captivating author, whose work continues to resonate with readers and professionals alike.
In addition to his work in business development, Hans Peter is a bestselling author, known for his thought-provoking writings on the intersection of business and technology. His most recent literary achievement is the novel 'Tumult in Mecca', published in 2024. This work marks the beginning of 'The Henrik Bertelsen Saga', a compelling series that blends rich storytelling with profound reflections on the human condition.
Hans Peter's diverse career and deep knowledge make him a sought-after expert and a captivating author, whose work continues to resonate with readers and professionals alike.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 27, 2026
Subterfuge, bureaucracy and greed, The Dollar Compass is a curious look at doing business behind the Iron Curtain. Henrik is out of his depth in Moscow. Will his head be turned by money or beauty? Will his resolve fail after too much vodka? Hans Peter writes with such warmth for his characters that you cannot help but be drawn in.
July 2, 2026
KGB did not have business cards LOL enough said
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews