The Kremlin's Candidate: A Novel

Praise for the First Two Books in the Red Sparrow Trilogy

REDSPARROW

“A primer in twenty-first-century spying . . . Terrifically good.”

—The New York Times Book Review

“A smart, intriguing tale rooted in his own experience . . . Fans of the genre’s masters including John le Carré and Ian Fleming will happily embrace Matthews’s central spy.”

—USA Today

“You, too, may also conclude that Red Sparrow is the best espionage novel you’ve ever read.”

—The Huffington Post

“[A] sublime and sophisticated debut . . . Red Sparrow isn’t just a fast-paced thriller—it’s a first-rate novel as noteworthy for its superior style as for its gripping depiction of a secretive world.”

—The Washington Post

“This debut novel from a thirty-three-year CIA veteran delivers action as pulse-pounding as it is authentic.”

—New York Post

“Matthews’s exceptional first novel will please fans of classic spy fiction. . . . The author’s thirty-three-year career in the CIA allows him to showcase all the tradecraft and authenticity that readers in this genre demand. . . . [A] complex, high-stakes plot.”

—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“An intense descent into a vortex of carnal passion, career brutality, and smart tradecraft, this thriller evokes the great Cold War era of espionage.”

—Library Journal (starred review)

“A compelling and propulsive tale of spy versus spy . . . Red Sparrow is greater than the sum of its fine parts. Espionage aficionados will love this one.”

—Booklist (starred review)

“Features enough action to satisfy even the most demanding of adrenaline junkies . . . The author’s CIA background and the smart dialogue make this an entertaining tale for spy-novel enthusiasts.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Not since the good old days of the Cold War has a classic spy thriller like Red Sparrow come along. Jason Matthews is not making it up; he has lived this life and this story, and it shows on every page. High-level espionage, pulse-pounding danger, sex, double agents, and double crosses. What more can any reader want?”

—Nelson DeMille

“[Jason Matthews is] an insider’s insider. He knows the secrets. And he is also a masterful storyteller. I loved this book and could not put it down. Neither will you.”

—Vince Flynn

“The spy thriller is back in full force thanks to newcomer and CIA insider Jason Matthews. . . . I have not read a more exciting, gripping novel in a long time.”

—Doug Stanton, New York Times bestselling author of Horse Soldiers

“All the tradecraft and cat-and-mouse tension of a classic spy thriller—a terrific read.”

—Joseph Kanon, author of Istanbul Passage

PALACE OF TREASON

“Red Sparrow, Jason Matthews’s debut thriller, is a challenging act to follow. Palace of Treason, the sequel to Red Sparrow, does not disappoint. The book is enthralling. Matthews deftly weaves in enough backstory to hook both new readers and those returning. Palace of Treason shimmers with authenticity. The villains are richly drawn . . . the scenes of them on the job are beyond chilling. Whether in Vienna, Moscow, or Washington, Matthews’s scene-setting is superb, and he has a fine eye for telling details.”

—The New York Times Book Review

“As authentic a spy novel as you are ever apt to read, rendered in exciting prose by a master who helped craft the rules by which spying is conducted. A ten-cloak, ten-dagger read.”

—The Washington Times

“On a scale of one to five stars, Palace of Treason is a six. With Palace of Treason, Jason Matthews has resurrected the spy novel from the doldrums of silly car chases, martinis shaken not stirred, and dubious tradecraft to reflect the deadly serious stakes of the new Cold War.”

—New York Journal of Books

“Like the first novel, [Palace of Treason] is as suspenseful and cinematic as the best spy movies around. Matthews knows his tradecraft, and he knows his writing craft, too.”

—The Philadelphia Inquirer

“[Palace of Treason] is every bit as good as [Red Sparrow]. Authentic tradecraft, a complex plot that steadily builds tension, and credible heroes and villains on both sides make this a standout.”

—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“You’ll never see Vladimir Putin in the same light after reading this chilling portrait. Matthews’s characters seem to leap out of the page; his firsthand familiarity with the toys and routines of the spy world is a definite plus. VERDICT: Seldom is a sequel as stunning as the original, but this one absolutely triumphs.”

—Library Journal (starred review)