CIA Russia operational chief Artemis Proctor graduated "The Farm" together with five other recruits who shared intense experiences and had grown close. When a Russian asset is killed and an agent goes missing, Proctor is unceremoniously kicked off the seventh floor, and her career is over. Sharing her fate is the head of the "Dermatologists," the CIA investigation unit rooting out "moles" or counterspies. Proctor tries to make sense of her downfall, wrestling gators for money and living in a shack in Florida. But the missing agent, one of her colleagues, appears at her work with the story of what happened to him in a Russian prison, tortured for months. There IS a mole and he is operating in the upper echelons of the CIA on the seventh floor and he is also one of her colleagues.
The reader gets two views of what is happening through tough cookie Proctor and the Russian agent running the mole who is poised to topple the pyramid of American espionage. As Proctor puts together the whole scheme, she has to drop her idea of history and friendship, as she figures out on whom she can rely and how deep the conspiracy goes.
This was a thoroughly exciting read which had me dashing to its conclusion. McCloskey has created a fantastic character in Artemis Proctor and I hope to read more of her CIA exploits.
Reviewed by Donna Ballard
Publication date - October 1, 2024
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