Resurrection was intended to be a non-violent protest movement encouraging ordinary citizens to speak out individually against socially divisive propaganda, a movement that somehow quickly escalates into the most dangerous terrorist organization on three continents. Anyone with a platform who speaks out for male supremacy, anti-Semitism, or women’s rights becomes targets of retribution. Bloggers, politicians, radio broadcasters, editorial columnists — all were unsafe anywhere, open to kidnapping right off the street and murder.
Ivan Simakov was Resurrection’s founder. He was a mesmerizing speaker who instilled his followers to almost blind discipleship. An explosion in a Moscow apartment, killed a young adherent named Curtis, a young mother and her daughter in the corner apartment, and Simakov himself according to the Russian counterterrorism task force that arrived on the scene.
Lazlo is the code name of Lara Bartok, former girlfriend of Simakov, now being interrogated by Somerville, British intelligence. She is known as The Moroccan Girl.
Christopher “Kit” Carradine is an author of spy novels whose father had been and up-and-coming agent until the Kim Philby affair heading for an authors’ conference in Marrakech when he is recruited by British Intelligence to spend a few days in Casablanca to keep his eyes open for a woman named Lara Bartok.
The two stories intertwine — Lazlo being debriefed and Kit searching for her in Morocco — and come together in the end with many twists and surprises along the way. Lots of action, atmosphere, and suspense before the complicated truth is revealed.
This is the first book I’ve read by Charles Cumming but I will definitely read more. A complex tale with lots of interesting characters and intrigue. * * * *
Other books by Charles Cumming:
A Foreign Country — The Thomas Kell Spy Series, Book 1
A Colder War — The Thomas Kell Spy Series, Book 2
A Divided Spy — The Thomas Kell Spy Series, Book 3
The Trinity Six
A Spy By Nature
Ms M's Bookshelf 