A RELUCTANT SPY

In Teukolsky’s novel, a woman’s life is turned upside down in the wake of her husband’s death when she is approached with a shocking invitation to continue his secret work as a spy.

When readers first meet Madeline Geiger, she is plummeting through the sky. After a desperate, ultimately futile, attempt to save her husband Mike while skydiving, she is left with broken bones and a broken heart. What’s even worse is that Mike’s death is deemed suspicious: An FAA safety inspector reports that Mike’s parachute was tampered with. After a short interview with a detective reveals Madeline’s resentment over their professional relationship—Mike’s prestige as a computer science professor always outshone hers as his research assistant—she seems to become a person of interest in her husband’s death. Things are not quite so simple, though; Madeline is approached at Mike’s funeral by FBI agent Joe Shelmann, who explains that, allegedly, someone in her husband’s department at the university is providing encryption software to illegal pornographers, and Mike was the FBI’s informant. Joe has come with a proposition for Madeline to take over Mike’s work to see the case through. She initially refuses, but her relationship with her workplace and colleagues continues to sour, and she discovers that her husband had been stealing her research, so she decides to take the job on—with all of its risks—not only for justice, but also for her own satisfaction. Teukolsky has built this story in such a way that as Madeline becomes more invested in uncovering the truth and advocating for herself, so too does the reader. The author introduces a cast of characters fit for a proper mystery—Madeline’s coworkers are rendered suspicious by their behavior with her (“Do you think for a moment anyone here will take you seriously?” asks the department head). Teukolsky does an incredible job of interweaving Madeline’s personal story with the investigation, finding multiple ways to engage readers. This novel is a great fit for anyone seeking an unconventional take on the spy story—one seasoned with self-discovery and personal growth along with the usual excitement and intrigue.

A captivating story of a woman who untangles mysteries and comes to know the importance of self-worth.