I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A promising CIA Agent must infiltrate a cartel by posing as an opera singer and discovers a far more sinister plot at work than anyone realized in author Kay Sparling’s “Mission Thaw: A Kaitlyn Stewart Spy Thriller.”
The Synopsis
Near the end of the Cold War, Kaitlyn Stewart lands an apprenticeship at the Vienna State Opera. Soon after arriving, she is recruited by the CIA as the only female high profile operative in Mission: THAW. Both CIA and MI6 are in a race against time to uncover a human trafficking cartel set up by fascist Western politicians who are in business with the East Germans and KGB. They are exploiting refugees from the former satellite countries of the USSR. Mission: THAW must infiltrate the cartel in order to shut down the trafficking and destroy the slave labor in East Germany. If the GDR economy fails, the Berlin Wall will come down. Covering as an opera singer, Kaitlyn infiltrates the inner circle of the KGB and neo-Nazis, only to find out that they have a much more deadly, lucrative plan in the making: blueprints for a dirty bomb. MI6 agent Clive Matthews, who is considered the best secret agent in the free world, skillfully guides Kaitlyn through the crazy maze of the mission. Based on fact.
The Review
What a fun and engaging spy thriller! The author did an incredible job of capturing the tension and heavy atmosphere of the Cold War era, a time when spies were prevalent in the social fabric of our world. The action and suspense that came with the narrative of this novel, from the perils of human trafficking to the danger of a dirty bomb and the fate of entire nations as a whole, played well on the page and kept the reader invested efficiently.
This narrative’s unique character development, perspectives, and themes were spectacular. The protagonist, a mix of James Bond meets Clarice Starling with an opera singer twist, is such an engaging protagonist to root for, and her humorous takes on the world help elevate the tension and fear of her mission as it takes on a life of its own. The particular time frame that this novel takes place in, at the end of The Cold War, was a great new perspective to bring readers, and the themes of patriotism, morality, and the power secrets hold were greatly threaded into the story and gave readers a fresh take on a fan favorite genre.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, entertaining, and gripping, author Kay Sparling’s “Mission Thaw” is a must-read spy thriller and suspense novel. The narrative’s twists and turns, the fantastic pacing that kept readers interested while hinting at growing plot points, and the characters’ emotional development made this a memorable novel that readers won’t want to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Kay Sparling is an international opera and sacred singer. Now retired, she lives in the Upper Midwest with her feline writing buddy, the invincible Paducah. When not teaching voice lessons or writing, Kay enjoys gardening, hiking, adventure travelling, and cooking for family and friends.
