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Jonathan is a concert guitarist who has an opportunity to showcase his talents to an international audience. He has been booked on a five-city tour throughout Europe, but his optimism is soon countered by skepticism as he has been requested to meet with representatives from a shadowy business group. Two particularly imposing gentlemen request that Jonathan deliver a package to a nearby embassy. Their request is more akin to a demand. Jonathan attempts to alert outsiders to his task, but to no avail, as there are eyes and ears alert to his every movement. When Jonathan believes he has shed his new employers, they are quick to remind him of his obligations and the consequences for not fulfilling them. He has become the pawn in an intelligence operation. His will to survive will necessitate outmaneuvering and outwitting deadly foes.
Nitkin's narrative skills are on full display in a tale filled with action and international intrigue revolving around the ill-fated adventures of a brilliant guitarist. A plot featuring a naive but good person being manipulated for nefarious purposes is a familiar literary trope, but the protagonist's actions upon realizing his predicament are what keep the readers' interest in this novel. In Jonathan Lanbourne's case, he pushes back against blindly walking into a trap and only acquiesces when backed into a corner. Loyalty is a characteristic that runs deep in Jonathan's veins, whether it be to his country or to his wife. His unflinching devotion to both render him a compelling hero. The tension begins with a hint of subtlety and steadily increases to a near frenzy topped off with a fusillade of bullets. This is a terrific read from beginning to end.