Book Review: Spies Among Us

Reviewed by Peggy Kurkowski

The hunt for a spy turns into a larger security breach in the authentic Spies Among Us.

This fifth installment of the Alex Boyd series begins with Alex following his wife Rachel to an important posting in London at the U.S. Embassy that could advance her career at the State Department. 

As regional security officer, Boyd makes all the essential contacts at the embassy to start his own three-year assignment providing security for visiting dignitaries and American heads of state. Rachel’s new responsibilities include an interim posting as Deputy Chief of Mission at the embassy, which makes for moments of lighthearted banter between the couple: Rachel is now Alex’s “boss,” at least for a little while.

But an ongoing investigation into potential leaks at the higher levels of the U.S. government follow them to London. As both Alex and Rachel know, “the West was bleeding agents and classified material at an alarming rate,” to Russia. Little do they know—a smaller operation closer to home will reveal a connection neither of them would ever suspect.

Right under Rachel’s nose is her direct report, April Scott, another political officer working at the embassy. Madly in love with a handsome Swedish businessman, Lars Nilsson, April acts against her own interests by sharing intelligence with Lars that he claims is for his “Swedish friends” and only for business purposes. 

But Lars has a secret, which is no surprise. His real name is Dmitri Vasiliev and he is a deep undercover Russian agent. Love is blind, but April’s actions are treason…and she knows it. “Sometimes, you can only play the game one day at a time.” The subplot Harrison crafts around April and Lars is the main driver of the story, and their complex characters and backstories are both compelling and plausible. Meanwhile, Alex and Rachel shuttle from office meeting to office meeting.

Soon Alex and CIA Station Chief Anna Battles come to suspect April is passing intelligence and, along with British Intelligence Services and Scotland Yard’s Special Branch, set a trap that nets far bigger results: critical pointers to the high-ranking official responsible for a spate of arrests of CIA spies within the Russian government. 

As the net closes tighter around the second spy, danger rises in proportion for Lars and April, whom Alex and Rachel are sworn to protect. Harrison packs a punch in the novel’s climax that satisfies readers hungry for action in a mostly cerebral storyline.

Authoritative descriptions of agencies’ inner-workings reveal Harrison’s 28-year career with the U.S. State Department (most of it in the Diplomatic Security Service, like his protagonist), lending authenticity to every scene. 

Spies Among Us is a strong entry into the series with well-drawn characters, an intelligent plot-line, and just enough physical danger to keep the reader turning pages.

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