The Swiss Agent

Imprint: No Exit Press

Category: Espionage & spy thriller, Political / legal thriller

The Swiss Agent

The Swiss Agent

An Amanda Cole novel

Anna Pitoniak

‘A wonderfully adroit and clever espionage novel with great characters and exceptional narrative verve. A terrific achievement’ William Boyd, author of Gabriel’s Moon

‘Twisty, brutal, and impossible to put down, Pitoniak also writes betrayal with elegance and unusual tenderness. This is the kind of spy novel you will lose sleep over’ David McCloskey, former CIA analyst and Sunday Times bestselling author of London Station

A chef’s body washes up on Capri. The night he died, his employer – a Russian oligarch with direct Kremlin ties – hosted NATO’s deputy secretary general for a private dinner. Amanda Cole, CIA station chief in Rome, knows exactly what that smells like.

Amanda Cole, CIA station chief in Rome, knows what that smells like. She calls Kath Frost: semi-retired CIA legend from the years when the rules were different. Kath is also unpredictable in ways that have always made Amanda nervous and this time that nervousness turns out to be justified.

Following the money from Moscow through Geneva to Washington, they uncover a Kremlin-backed operation to bribe NATO officials at the highest levels, run through the kind of Swiss banking that leaves no fingerprints. Until a banker named Julian Schmidt steps into the light – and it becomes clear that Kath knows him well. And has been keeping it quiet.

The choices Kath made during the chaos of the Soviet collapse have never gone away. Now Amanda has to decide whether her partner is the one person she can rely on, or the greatest threat to the operation.

The follow-up to The Helsinki Affair, from an author who understands that the most dangerous secrets are the ones closest to home.

Paperback

RRP: £9.99

ISBN: 9781835016961

Published: January 28, 2027

Extent: 300 pages

Ebook

RRP: £6.99

ISBN: 9781835016978

Published: January 28, 2027

Reviews

‘A wonderfully adroit and clever espionage novel with great characters and exceptional narrative verve. A terrific achievement’ William Boyd, author of Gabriel’s Moon

‘An intricate, vigorously told, and splendidly entertaining tale’ John Banville, Booker Prize-winning author of The Sea and the Snow, on The Helsinki Affair

‘I can’t remember the last time I read such an enjoyable spy novel’ Chris Pavone, New York Times bestselling author of The Expats on The Helsinki Affair

‘From a body on a Capri beach to the corridors of Langley and the slopes of the Alps, The Swiss Agent sinks in its teeth and never lets go. Twisty, brutal, and impossible to put down, Pitoniak also writes betrayal with elegance and unusual tenderness. This is the kind of spy novel you will lose sleep over’ David McCloskey, former CIA analyst and Sunday Times bestselling author of London Station

Frequently Asked Questions

What is "The Swiss Agent" about?

‘A wonderfully adroit and clever espionage novel with great characters and exceptional narrative verve. A terrific achievement’ William Boyd, author of Gabriel's Moon

'Twisty, brutal, and impossible to put down, Pitoniak also writes betrayal with elegance and unusual tenderness. This is the kind of spy novel you will lose sleep over' David McCloskey, former CIA analyst and Sunday Times bestselling author of London Station

A chef's body washes up on Capri. The night he died, his employer - a Russian oligarch with direct Kremlin ties - hosted NATO's deputy secretary general for a private dinner. Amanda Cole, CIA station chief in Rome, knows exactly what that smells like.

Amanda Cole, CIA station chief in Rome, knows what that smells like. She calls Kath Frost: semi-retired CIA legend from the years when the rules were different. Kath is also unpredictable in ways that have always made Amanda nervous and this time that nervousness turns out to be justified.

Following the money from Moscow through Geneva to Washington, they uncover a Kremlin-backed operation to bribe NATO officials at the highest levels, run through the kind of Swiss banking that leaves no fingerprints. Until a banker named Julian Schmidt steps into the light - and it becomes clear that Kath knows him well. And has been keeping it quiet.

The choices Kath made during the chaos of the Soviet collapse have never gone away. Now Amanda has to decide whether her partner is the one person she can rely on, or the greatest threat to the operation.

The follow-up to The Helsinki Affair, from an author who understands that the most dangerous secrets are the ones closest to home.

Who wrote "The Swiss Agent"?

"The Swiss Agent" was written by Anna Pitoniak.

Anna Pitoniak is the author of The Futures, Necessary People, and Our American Friend. She graduated from Yale, where she majored in English and was an editor at the Yale Daily News. She worked for many years in book publishing, most recently as a Senior Editor at Random House. Anna grew up in Whistler, British Columbia, and now lives in New York City.

Who would enjoy "The Swiss Agent"?
"The Swiss Agent" is perfect for readers who enjoy books about espionage & spy thriller and political / legal thriller.
Anna Pitoniak

Anna Pitoniak

Anna Pitoniak is the author of The Futures, Necessary People, and Our American Friend. She graduated from Yale, where she majored in English and was an editor at the Yale Daily News. She worked for many years in book publishing, most recently as a Senior Editor at Random House. Anna grew up in Whistler, British Columbia, and now lives in New York City.

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