Book review: Defectors by Joseph Kanon – tense espionage noir in a world of mistrust where nobody is safe

My first Joseph Kanon book was Los Alamos – more years ago than I care to remember!  I loved the atmosphere of secrecy – the book was set in the Manhattan Project, so one big secret hid another secret - murder.  The protagonist’s affair with a scientist's wife added more layers of lies and duplicity to the plot.  I just loved it.  Kanon’s books all have a dark noirish atmosphere about them and when I saw details of his latest book Defectors, it became a must read for me.

So, what’s it about?  Defectors is set in the 1960s, Simon Weeks’ brother Frank is an American defector living in Moscow, with his wife Jo.  Frank has decided to write his memoirs and asked Simon to publish and promote his book.  Simon flies to Moscow to meet Frank face to face, quickly realising that the book is a cover for Frank’s latest manipulative scheme.  Frank uses his charm, psychology and Simon’s remaining goodwill to put his plan into practice, but as always, things never quite work out the way they were planned – be prepared for more than one OMG moment.

So, what did I think of Defectors? Superb.  I loved the dark atmosphere – an ever rising tension where Simon is never sure if what’s being said is true or simply a cover for Frank’s manipulation, or to put off the ever watchful KGB keeping an eye on them.  As Defectors unfolds, Simon meets other defectors – a sad group of people who’ve all gone to seed, having outlived their usefulness.  Whilst they are all rewarded materially and live a privileged lifestyle they are constantly watched and “protected”.  Even their dachas are in a guarded compound where they can be closely monitored.

The atmosphere of mistrust is all-pervading – the defectors are always looking over their shoulder as they are constantly accompanied by KGB “helpers” and “assistants”.  Their “companions” are polite kind and attentive, but always there, watching, listening and of course, reporting on them.  Nobody is ever really comfortable or relaxed, constantly in a state of awkward tension that has become an accepted part of daily life.

The underlying theme of betrayal and mistrust runs through the whole novel – who can you trust?  If you’ve betrayed your country once, can you ever be trusted again, even by your adopted country – after all you could just do it again, couldn’t you?

Final verdict –- a dark atmospheric novel of mindgames, mistrust and betrayal that’s simply superb. Defectors is a definite “must read”.

Romancrimeblogger