The Helsinki Affair is an explosive tale of treachery and deception that details the dark side of espionage. Anna Pitoniak drops this fresh take on historical spy craft and how one decision can affect decades leading to built up tension and suspense.
Learning to embrace her new career as a CIA station chief, Amanda Cole has been primed for this her whole life. Her Father Charlie was an Agent in the CIA as well with some questionable history. Cole is met by a junior Russian GRU contact who warns of an imminent threat to an American official.
Cole learns of some problematic decision making from fellow agents as she’s thrust into investigation mode. While learning that her families history has a large part of damage potentially done to the United States best interests, she must focus on keeping her contact alive and the U.S. safe.
Pitoniak brings to life a story of deceit and redemption by one career family and really embraces the spy culture from beginning to end. You get a story that spans decades that will take you on the journey from exciting opportunities to fallacy riddled decisions that preempts death. This isn’t your normal action backed blockbuster drama, but a detailed look at how tedious and methodical the life of a spook is.
The character buildup from beginning to end is amazing as you get to know the Cole family and why father and daughter are so much alike, yet so different. The story tracks easily from the start with a whole host of Russian and American characters, all with their own unique problems and quirks. Internal conflict is present as well as Pitoniak cleverly jumps from problems in personnel, to decision making issues that Cole must resolve before moving forward. I really enjoyed this one as it has a classy cinematic feel while blending decades of espionage.
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