In this action-packed book, readers return to the Cold War, a time during which friends could be enemies and enemies might prove to be unlikely friends. In the sea's depths, "many miles from Mother Russia," a Soviet submarine finds its final resting place at the bottom of the Bay of Biscay. Meanwhile, in Moscow, tensions flare with the Americans, and Soviet naval prowess falls into question.

Readers then find themselves traveling with U.S. Naval Lieutenant Commander Max Millen, whose life is forever changed by Pan Am flight attendant Natalie. Romance blossoms between Max and Natalie, but as one relationship buds, another—Max's friendship with his submarine mate, Peter—unfolds into a potentially disastrous espionage scenario of international proportions. Nonetheless, Max must also navigate what his relationship with Natalie means for the rest of his personal life, which is as threadbare as the ever-escalating relationship between the Soviets and the Americans.

In this novel, the tenacity of Lee Child and Tom Clancy meet, forming an epic thriller reminiscent of The Hunt for Red October. Though the book is set approximately fifty years in the past, the events it depicts could be seen in any current headline. It is evident that the novel has been thoroughly researched, but what will most intrigue readers is the competition between the CIA and KGB. Part of Mia and Natalie's intrigue is that they are portrayed as undercover agents who hold commonplace jobs as flight attendants. This portrayal leaves readers to wonder how much espionage occurs before the public's eyes without ever being noticed. The narrative tenuously walks the fine lines between the secret and the public, the daring and the outright dangerous. This page-turner will leave readers wanting more even after they've finished the last page.

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