A Shadow in Moscow: A Cold War Novel

Written by Katherine Reay

Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld and Lisa Flanagan

In the thick of the Cold War, a betrayal at the highest level risks the lives of two courageous female spies: MI6’s best Soviet agent and the CIA’s newest Moscow recruit.

Vienna, 1954

After losing everyone she loves in the final days of World War II, Ingrid Bauer agrees to a hasty marriage with a gentle Soviet embassy worker and follows him home to Moscow. But nothing within the Soviet Union’s totalitarian regime is what it seems, including her new husband, whom Ingrid suspects works for the KGB. Inspired by her daughter’s birth, Ingrid risks everything and reaches out in hope to the one country she understands and trusts—Britain, the country of her mother’s birth. She begins passing intelligence to MI6, navigating a world of secrets and lies, light and shadow.

Moscow, 1980

A student in the Foreign Studies Initiative, Anya Kadinova finishes her degree at Georgetown University and boards a flight home to Moscow, leaving behind the man she loves and a country she’s grown to respect. Though raised by dedicated and loyal Soviet parents, Anya soon questions an increasingly oppressive and paranoid regime at the height of the Cold War. Then the KGB murders her best friend and Anya chooses her side. Working in a military research lab, she relays Soviet plans and schematics to the CIA in an effort to end the 1980s arms race.

The past catches up to the present when an unprecedented act of treachery threatens all agents operating within Eastern Europe, and both Ingrid and Anya find themselves in a race for their lives against time and the KGB.

“Eloquently portrays the incredible contributions of women in history, the extraordinary depths of love, and, perhaps most important, the true cost of freedom.” —Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Veil

• An exciting story of two brave female spies in Cold War Moscow
• Also by Katherine Reay: The London House

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harper Muse
• Release date: Jun 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9781400243051

Katherine Reay

Katherine Reay is a national bestselling and award-winning author who has enjoyed a lifelong affair with books. She publishes both fiction and nonfiction, holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University, and currently lives outside Chicago, Illinois, with her husband and three children. You can meet her at katherinereay.com; Facebook: @KatherineReayBooks; Twitter: @katherine_reay; Instagram: @katherinereay.

Reviews for A Shadow in Moscow

[Jamie Vaughan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing full bodied story full of rich details and intriguing plot!

[claudia.castenir · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had not read many, if any, books set largely in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Katherine Reay's A Shadow in Moscow is an enthralling tale of two female spies working within Moscow. Ingrid's story spans from 1944 into 1985, Anya's from 1980 into 1985 with a brief glimpse into her life in 2023 in the epilogue. Their exploits and sacrifices are amazing and echo those of real-life MI6 and CIA spies. As much as I learned about Soviet culture, I was also reminded of both positive and negative aspects of our American culture, aspects that may be masked at times by more current cultural issues. A Shadow in Moscow is not only a fascinating read, but is also quite thought-provoking. I give it five stars without hesitation. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Harper Muse via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[sue222-941906 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I hadn’t read anything by Katherine Reay since her early women’s fiction and romances. I had missed her last novel, The London House, but having read A Shadow in Moscow, it is now on the top of my to-read pile!I was able to listen to the audiobook version of A Shadow in Moscow, thanks to NetGalley, in exchange for a review. I took a chance on this when I saw Saskia Maarleveld was among the narrators, and I am so glad I did! I was captivated by this story of women spies during the Cold War. It was a terrific listen. So involving, emotional, and well-researched. There were perhaps a few too many coincidences to be entirely realistic, but it was altogether a great story which I listened to compulsively for three days. I highly recommend this to any fans of well-written, women-centered historical fiction.

[Rachael Scheinman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a well researched and well written book! It surprises me that the book doesn’t fall under the category of historical fiction. If it had, I probably would have found it earlier. I’ve read/listened to other “historical fiction” books with much more fiction and drama and very little historical knowledge. This author does an incredible job of weaving a story around historical facts. It’s definitely worth the listen/read!

[Marie Sontag · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The beginning moved slowly and I almost lost interest. However, after about chapter 15, I couldn’t PIT it down. Well researched. I love historical fiction like this that actually has historic events to move the plot forward:

[Myra Harper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had no idea what a story I was going to enjoy! The intrigue of both women involved as the main characters we both astonishing and spectacular! It’s definitely worth late nights and another drive around the block! I will read more from this author! She has impeccable knowledge from her research on the history from the era! Enjoyed it immensely!! Go ahead and jump in!!

[Molly Cernicek · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best books I’ve read lately. Very insightful into the Cold War spy craft.

[Ann Bush · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of the best stories I've read in a while. Besides being a great spy story, it described what was going on during the Cold war. As a teen, I heard tidbits, but the reality was so interesting and terrible!