The Romanian Gambit: A Statistical Spy Novel

by Elliott Ostler

A mysterious code, a provocative phone message, and the sudden disappearance of a disgraced CIA agent entice a talented group of Intelligence Community misfits to uncover the highly protected secrets of a 40-year old failed CIA mission that happened during the waning days of the Cold War.  The elusive truth as to why the Intelligence Community so staunchly guards the secrets of the past four decades is revealed by Agent Kurt Osis and his team through the use of a powerful but understated weapon… statistical analytics and reasoning.  This spy story is part of a literary genre known as instructional fiction .  The Romanian Gambit weaves crafty presentations and explanations of authentic, and academically sequenced statistical applications through a complex plot of international corruption and deceit.  As the plot thickens, the judicious use of basic statistical terms and concepts embedded in the story grows proportionately through the surprising conclusion.  One does not need a statistical inclination to enjoy or understand the plot so readers are invited to work alongside the characters, verifying their statistical findings, or simply enjoy a good story.  Whether reading for knowledge or leisure, The Romanian Gambit is perfect for instructors providing guided statistics instruction in the classroom and in personal collections as well. 

324 pages, Paperback

Published August 6, 2020