Lena's Secret War: A Spy Thriller

by Fred G. Baker

It is 1971 and espionage is in the air in Soviet Russia. Lena Kristoff is a researcher in the economics department at Leningrad Technical Institute. While working on the highest priority project of the time, a computer model of the entire Soviet economic system, she is inadvertently recruited by the CIA. If she can smuggle a copy of top secret files to the West, she can help change her country’s totalitarian government and buy freedom for her family.

Then she meets an American CIA courier named Eric Larson and they fall in love. Seizing an opportunity to copy the model files, she gives them to Larson to transport out of the country. Their happy days in Leningrad are interrupted when Larson’s cover is suddenly blown and he must flee Russia. Confronted by border guards, both he and Lena are shot and presumed dead.

Or so it seems.

Lena escapes. But can she elude the powerful GRU, Russian military intelligence, and the dreaded KGB? She must risk everything to save her family. Her secret war against her government seems doomed to failure.

A magnificent story of love, loss, and courage, Lena’s Secret War illustrates how one brave individual can profoundly alter the trajectory of her gray, spirt-crushing world. It is a work of suspense and compassion reminiscent of Dr. Zhivago and The Russia House.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Thriller, Fiction

500 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 9, 2021

About the author

Fred G. Baker is a hydrologist, historian, and writer living in Colorado. He has B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and M.S and Ph.D. degrees from University of Colorado – Boulder, the later in Geology. He worked as an environmental consultant for many years and has traveled widely.

He is the author of An Imperfect Crime, Desert Sanctuary, Zona: The Forbidden Land, The Black Freighter, and the Modern Pirate Series of short and long stories. He is also the author of nonfiction works such as Growing Up Wisconsin, The Life and Times of Con James Baker of Des Moines, Chicago, and Wisconsin, The Light from a Thousand Campfires (with Hannah Pavlik), and other nonfiction works.

Reviews

[Shoane Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secret War A Must read

This book was very very interesting. I can honestly say that this book was great from the beginning to the end. A magnificent story of love, loss, and courage, Lena’s Secret War illustrates how one brave individual can profoundly alter the trajectory of her gray, spirt-crushing world. It is a work of suspense and compassion reminiscent of Dr. Zhivago and The Russia House. This story touched all aspects of love and war. I loved the characters in this story as well. Lena escapes but where will she end up? Then she meets an American CIA courier named Eric Larson and they fall in love. Seizing an opportunity to copy the model files, she gives them to Larson to transport out of the country. I was caught in the story like I was apart of it. There was a lot of suspense in this story as well and that is what I like about reading stories that have suspense. While working on the highest priority project of the time, a computer model of the entire Soviet economic system, she is inadvertently recruited by the CIA. I highly recommend this book to be read, and I am glad that I bought this book as well. The author did a wonderful job writing this book, and I will continue to read more books from this author. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Susan Fay · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the most part, this is a good book. The dialogue is sometimes stilted but it doesn't distract from the story. The main characters, Lena and Eric, are likeable and you care what happens to them. Lena is a smart mathematician living in Russia. Eric is an American who studies in Sweden. They fall in love, but also get into trouble together and separately. I don't want to spoil the details, but there is definite suspense. I would recommend it to anyone who likes to be kept on their toes.

What I found superfluous was the Epilogue. Eric is pursuing graduate degrees and he has friends at the school, all of whom are secondary to the story. They were at the school, then he left. The characters were accounted for sufficiently. Then at the end, the author choses to explain what happened to them all. I don't know if he is setting up further novels, but it seemed unnecessary to me. You decide.

[Jay Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lena is a Russia trying to end of Communists. Eric is an American student living in Swedish. As they meet as agents for spy contacts. The writing makes them exciting as each come to together, then leaves as each of them believes killed in Eric to run out of Russia. While most of the story is about Lena as she eventually has to escape from Russia, not because she is a spy, but because she is mistakenly found to cause a problem for an arrogant tech scientist. Two different Russia organization are trying to catch her when she is forced to escape. The action is very exciting, and the descriptions are extremely realistic. Near the end Lena and Eric find each other, but the ending is doubt of the very end. I found the story so great, I went back to read again.

[Marbea Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok at first I thought the writing was being too modest and vanilla starting off. I'm glad I stuck it out, because the storyline became a well rounded espionage adventure drama! I admired the author's intensity to not over dramatize every aspect of the characters play in each of their perspectives. Even if told from second or first person view. I'm glad that Lena was the main focus, but the additional characters scenes and chapters were given adequate information respect to conclude a complete picture. This was a great telling of a fictional story with great historical facts integrated that was way better than if it were hundred percent what really happened. Who knows with all our three letter agencies across the globe, these things surely has happened eh? *smiles*

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this suspenseful story. This is a new author for me which I enjoyed. The characters are connectable and pull you into the story from the beginning. Their growth throughout the story is great and I enjoyed how supportive they are as well. The twists and turns had me sitting on the edge of my seat just waiting to see what is lurking in the next page. This is a great story that I truely enjoyed and what the characters brought to the story. It is a fast paced story that is enaging and full of non stop action. I highly recommend this book.

[Bruce K. Beyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Love of Country

This story started slowly but soon pulled the reader in completely as events and activities unfolded. This is a story of love between 2 people that transcended time and distance, as well as love of country. Events progressed rapidly and dangerously, further adding to the tension experienced by all of the characters.

[Adam E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing spy story with lots of twists. Baker is a great storyteller.

[Liz Melton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A SPY THAT MADE ME CRY ( tears of sadness and joy)

The Book “Lena’s Secret War” A SPY THRILLER by Fred G Baker is a non stop thriller from the start of the book to the end. The book began with Eric the male main character having a “prophetic dream” about being aboard a ship and witnessing a beautiful blonde woman die saving him. Through tour the book you meet Eric an American going to an over sea’s college who gets approached by a “government agency “ to be a “ go between/ delivery “ person. Eric does this for quite a while enjoying the pay out and mingling with other college students along the way. The book goes between ERIC and Lena when you meet Lens she is also working for a “government agency “ but at some point discovering a new piece of information and when she wants to get it through to
The other side some mistakes are made and she and Eric meet for the “. first time” Eric realizes she is the mysterious beautiful blonde from
His dream and they become
Attracted to each other. I will not add any spoilers in this review because this is one of the few books I have read that was not predictable! This was well written and I enjoyed this so much! I would recommend it to anyone! God Bless!