The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S. Berry - Paperback
The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S. Berry – Paperback
Award-Winning Masterpiece
- Thriller of the Year: The Times (London), The Telegraph
- Best First Novel Winner: Edgar Awards, International Thriller Writers Awards, Barry Awards, Macavity Awards
-A Best Book of the Year: The New Yorker, NPR, The Times (London), The Financial Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Diplomatic Courier
A Spy Torn Between Duty and Desire
In the throes of the Arab Spring, Bahrain is a cauldron of unrest, and Shane Collins, a weary CIA operative, is nearing the end of his career. Tasked with uncovering Iranian ties to the uprising, Shane expects a quiet end to his time in the field—until he meets Almaisa, an enigmatic artist who reveals a Bahrain far removed from the expat bubble.
Their growing connection awakens questions Shane has long avoided, but when a trusted informant is implicated in a murder, his final mission becomes a perilous maze of betrayal and shifting allegiances. As the revolution intensifies, Shane is forced to navigate a world where truth is a shadow, loyalty is fragile, and love is a dangerous vulnerability.
Written by former CIA officer I.S. Berry, The Peacock and the Sparrow combines the intrigue of classic spy fiction with the urgency of a political thriller. This compelling debut captures the complexities of espionage, the human cost of revolution, and the blurred lines between personal and professional loyalty.
For readers of John le Carré and Graham Greene, this is a story of love, deception, and the search for truth in a world teetering on the edge of chaos.
Author Profile
I.S. Berry spent six years as an operations officer for the CIA, serving in wartime Baghdad and elsewhere. She has lived and worked throughout Europe and the Middle East, including two years in Bahrain during the Arab Spring. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and Haverford College. Raised in the suburbs of Washington, DC, she lives in Virginia with her husband and son.
Critic Reviews
"[A] crackling debut thriller."
--The New Yorker (Best Books of the Year)
"A spy thriller that is engaging and utterly believable. . . cynical, fast moving and immensely readable."
--NPR (Best Books of the Year)
"[R]emarkably assured. . . a palpable authenticity. . . this captivatingly twisty tale has shades of both John le Carré and Graham Greene."
--The Guardian (Best Books of the Year)
"Berry's former role as an operations officer for the CIA lends authenticity to this morally complex espionage tale."
--The Washington Post
"Berry has all of le Carré's cynicism about Western intelligence services and outsoars him in her ability to convincingly evoke a love affair against an espionage backdrop. This is a star in the making."
--The Telegraph (Thriller of the Year)
"Sensually atmospheric, deftly constructed and written with flair."
--The Times (Thriller of the Year)
"A superb debut that oozes with atmosphere and nuance."
--The Daily Mail
"Reminiscent of le Carré's early novels. . . . The most impressive debut of the year to date."
--The Irish Times
"Deservedly garlanded with high praise and awards. . . rich in insider agency knowledge while its notably nuanced character development quickly draws the reader deeply in."
--The Financial Times (Best Books of the Year)
"Berry crafts a literary version of Bahrain that is utterly sumptuous and delectable. . . Each of Berry's details pulls the reader further into the world she creates. . . . Exceptional."
--Diplomatic Courier (Best Books of the Year)
"Fascinating, complex. . . . In Berry's skilled hands, these characters are anything but clichés. Beautifully [written]. . . unforgettable."
--John Limbert, former ambassador, The Foreign Service Journal
"Outstanding. . . . The plot's many twists will captivate readers, and Berry's gorgeous prose is its own reward with echoes of le Carré and Graham Greene."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Powerful. . . Provocative. . . I.S. Berry pulls no punches."
--SpyTalk
"The Peacock and the Sparrow is that rare thing: a genuine page turner that also has something to say. A sharp, knowing look at today's CIA, with the moral complexities of the best spy fiction and a Persian Gulf setting so richly detailed and immediate you feel you could reach out and touch it. A remarkable debut."
--Joseph Kanon, New York Times bestselling author of Istanbul Passage and The Berlin Exchange
"A stunning debut about an aging CIA case officer at the end of a lackluster career during the Arab Spring in Bahrain. An instant classic."
--Paul Vidich, author of Beirut Station and The Matchmaker
"The most realistic espionage story I've read, heart-stopping without any contrived glamour."
--Joseph Weisberg, creator of the TV series The Americans
"Not since The Spy Who Came in from the Cold has there been such a riveting and thought-provoking story of international espionage. In the tradition of John le Carre and Graham Greene, former spy Berry has woven a twisted, richly evocative tale. . . A breathless tour-de-force, Berry's debut delivers the perfect spy tale."
--Ian Caldwell, New York Times bestselling author of The Fifth Gospel
"One of the best characterizations of a CIA case officer in print... Brilliantly authentic and engrossing. Gritty, propulsive, dark, and twisty."
--David McCloskey, former CIA officer and author of Damascus Station and Moscow X
"From the pitch-perfect opening to the stunning twist at the end, The Peacock and the Sparrow is gorgeously written with a surefootedness rarely seen in a debut. Sure to be a new classic among spy novels."
--Alma Katsu, former CIA officer and author of Red London
"An astonishing debut. CIA officer Shane Collins is the most realistic representation of a spy I've encountered in fiction."
--Lindsay Moran, former CIA officer and bestselling author of Blowing My Cover
"An excellent debut. Vigilance, violence, paranoia, love, intrigue in the Gulf heat. An unforgettable portrait of venal, cynical, decadent American spies and diplomats."
--Simon Sebag Montefiore, New York Times bestselling author of The World and Jerusalem
"Extremely complex and well written. The author has the CIA credentials and experience to make the book ring true. . . reads like both a classic espionage novel and a current political narrative."
--Robert Richer, former Associate Deputy Director for Operations at the CIA, The Cipher Brief (Best Reads of the Year)Product Details
ISBN: 9781982194550
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Binding: Paperback
Publication Date: 16th April 2024
Pages: 320
Country of Origin:
Age Group:
Dimensions (CM): L21.59W13.97H2.03
Weight (KG): 0.25