Sometimes you fall in love with a story. Sometimes you fall in love with the writing. Sometimes you fall in love with the character. A Shadow in Moscow captured me in all those areas. Katherine Reay’s writing!!!—so many sentences that I always want to remember. And the story—nothing like a good historical drama especially one that seems relevant today with the Russia/Ukraine saga. And A Shadow in Moscow also has great mother/daughter drama and love stories that last over time and will visit the reader in their dreams. A novel about history and freedom within one’s country and within one’s family. A novel of secrets and finding oneself, of love and strength, of contrasts between the US and Russia. May we find and enjoy the freedoms we have, to love and to be loved; to be brave and to be honest; and to pass on to or children the goodness of a life well-lived.

Thanks to the NetGalley and Harper Muse for the Advanced Review copy.

What a fascinating story!
This dual time story takes readers on an educational ride through Vienna, 1954 and US/Soviet Union 1980. It’s an intense story, filled with details about the Cold War that helps readers understand what went on during those times.
Ingrid lives with her parents in Vienna. Her life isn’t terrible, but she senses her parents are keeping secrets from her. What she discovers sets her on an unexpected course and will change her life completely.
Anya’s time in America is drawing to a close, finishing her degree at Georgetown as an exchange student from Russia. Having tasted another life outside the Iron Curtain, Anya is faced with questions that one cannot answer. And when she returns to Russia, she’s faced with life-altering decisions.
The connection between these two characters isn’t obvious at first, which makes the story that much more interesting.
Descriptions are fascinating, immersing the reader into historical Vienna and Moscow. Readers can easily connect to the individual characters, though I found Anya’s immaturity to be frustrating at times. However, there wasn’t anything in this story that didn’t make sense, and Anya’s immaturity would play a pivotal role in the entire novel.
It’s a heavy read, but really fascinating. For readers who want to know more about the Cold War, this is an ideal read. For those who love a great dual time story with the connection not easily guessed, pick up this book!
I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book slowly pulled me in and then did not let go. Two seemingly separate stories are told: One around Ingrid, a woman who lost everyone dear to her in the last days of WWII and the other around Anya, a young woman who grew up in Moscow only to get her college education in the States. I love the London House for the way it's dual timelines wove into a seemless story, and A Shadow in Moscow stunned me at the 60% mark when I saw the connection. This is a spy novel set in the dark days of the Cold War. It's a race to see who can survive, and with men like Aldrich Ames in the story, you know not everyone can. But it's a story of love, of sacrifice, of looking for truth and beauty in dark places. It's a book filled with the search for goodness and hope in points you can't expect to find it, and with the subtlest overlay of James Bond. I highly recommend it.

Forty years apart, two women choose to spy against the Soviets for the West.

In 1944, Ingrid is an Austrian whose parents are seized and killed by the Nazis controlling the country, and she can do nothing to help them. When Adam, the man with whom she has fallen in love, reveals that her parents had been working for Britain’s MI6 as in fact does he, Ingrid decides to exact her revenge on the Nazi regime by doing all that she can to continue to provide the Allies with information to defeat Hitler once and for all. When the war ends, she chooses to stay in Austria and provide intelligence against the Soviets who now occupy Austria rather than let Adam extract her and bring her to London. Time passes, and she marries a young but persistent Soviet man named Leo. All too quickly, they are moved back to Moscow, and Ingrid realizes that her life under the Soviet regime will be far worse than she could ever imagine. When she gives birth to a child she is determined to make the world a better and safer place for the next generation, and resumes her work for MI6. As Leo is promoted higher and higher, the quality of information to which she has access increases as well. Then in 1985 a list of names of those spying in Moscow for the West is leaked to the KGB and Ingrid must choose what she values most.

In 1980, Anya is a young Soviet woman who has been studying at Georgetown University in Washington DC for four years thanks to the Foreign Studies Initiative of her government. The KGB keeps tabs on her, as they do on all of the students in the program, to make sure that she behaves as the ideal Soviet while she earns her degree. She has excelled in her studies, but has also developed friendships and enjoyed freedoms that would be unheard of back in the USSR. One relationship in particular, with a young man named Scott, is almost enough to tempt her to stay beyond her graduation. Scott certainly wants her to do so, but she cannot imagine not going home to her friends and family….especially knowing what would happen to those people if she embarrassed her government by attempting defection. As her senior year draws to a close, she is called to the office of her professor and advisor and introduced to a man named Olivers. He attempts to recruit her to work as an agent for the CIA upon her return to Moscow. She refuses, but is advised to contact them in the future should she change her mind. Anya returns home to Moscow, and while she is happy to see her parents and lifelong friends again, she realizes that her time in the US has changed her and how she views Soviet life. She misses the freedom to offer her opinions even if they differ from others, the ability to just relax and be herself; in Moscow, someone is always listening, judging, and when necessary reporting on others. Anya’s closest childhood friend Dmitri, disillusioned and distressed by his work with the KGB, seeks to bring the spirit of rebellion brewing in neighboring Poland to the USSR. He attends underground meetings, and is drinking heavily. After a night out with Anya and other friends, an inebriated Dmitri heads out on his own and is found dead the next day. It appears to be a mugging gone bad, but Anya suspects that he has been killed by the same people for whom he works. It is the impetus she needs to reach out to someone at the US Embassy, sending a message back to Olivers….she is ready to do whatever is necessary to bring freedom to her country. She finds ways to take information and schematics from projects at the military lab where she works and send it through a handler to those in the West who can use it to counter Soviet military progress. She takes risks that are unwise, and is in a vulnerable position when that same list of spies is released to the KGB in 1985.
Two women choose loyalty to their homelands over love, and both risk their safety and their lives to contribute to the downfall of a communist regime when it costs them someone they love. Their lives are not the stuff of a 007 film, but what each is able to do has an impact on the Soviet regime nonetheless. Some chapters are from Ingrid’s point of view, spanning over forty years of her evolution in espionage; others are from Anya’s as she says goodbye to love and freedom at Georgetown, has to relearn how to live a circumspect life under continual observation and inspection, and finally must follow her conscience and act against her government without being discovered. Each woman comes to question past decisions made, struggles with the double lives they lead, and most of all never forget the men they chose to leave behind. In the canon of espionage novels, the spies whose lives readers are shown have generally been men. A Shadow in Moscow shows us that there were, and are, women taking the same risks and making the same sacrifices as well. The capabilities of women have been underestimated for so long, so it is no surprise that women have in fact been able to operate successfully in the shadows. Author Katherine Reay has done a wonderful job of creating two characters in Ingrid and Anya who act boldly and with conviction to achieve a measure of justice and peace for themselves and those they love. I highly recommend A Shadow in Moscow for lovers of espionage of any type, and especially those who have enjoyed books by Susan Elia MacNeal, Gayle Lynds, Paul Vidich, and Stella Rimington. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the advanced reader’s copy.

Riveting, even heart-breaking, to the last moment. Catch a glimpse into the world of Soviet Europe and the network of spies that worked to pass information in and out of the regime. Reay’s suspense writing just gets better and better. It wasn’t until midway through the book that I even started guessing at the ended, and when I got there, I still had surprising waiting for me!

I received a copy for review via NetGalley and am giving my honest opinions in this review.

This book was stunning! A novel of the Cold War, told through the interwoven stories of a mother and daughter. This book was riveting!

I love the repetition of the phrase "Duc in altum," which is "put out into the deep," and was a phrase that Ingrid teaches her daughter. She teaches her, within the stifling framework of Cold War Russia, to press into life, to do the hard things, and to do what is right. Because of the significance of this phrase throughout the book, I was also delighted when I actually saw the cover to realize that the theme of water was carried into the artwork.

I stay away from thrillers as a rule, but this one was just my speed. It was suspenseful and exciting!

I received a complimentary #earc from #netgalley but all enthusiastic opinions are entirely my own.

This was my first book by Katherine Reay and I will most certainly be enjoying more! I’ve read a fair amount of historical fiction - and Christian-published historical fiction at that - and I feel confident saying that this is one of the best. It boasts good writing, strong characters, and historical elements to strengthen the context along with vibrant fictionalized components that enrich the overall story.

I was initially intrigued by the setting and timeframe of Soviet Russia during the Cold War era as it is one I have not read much historical fiction on. Reading this book spurred me on to be immensely grateful for the incredible freedoms I am blessed with as an American in this time.

Reay did an incredible job of building the two main characters, giving them each a unique voice and perspective. The control, mind games, and oppression of the Soviet was so well portrayed. Along with the power of sacrifice and risk for what you believe in and ultimately love; I FELT it as the reader.

The story carried me along, moved at a good pace, and concluded with a satisfying and hopeful ending. I enjoyed a few curves and surprised that were weaved in, and the thread of romance. Though the romantic relationships are not the chief focus of the story, they helped to add depth and feeling to the characters and fullness to the story.

Content: No language. A couple kisses & married sex vaguely alluded to, no description.

Thank you to HarperMuse and NetGalley for the complimentary ebook in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#AShadowinMoscow #NetGalle

A story set during the cold war. It is told in dual time periods. The story is about two female spies both living in Moscow Russia. The KGB are always watching and with cameras and bugs, they miss very little.
This book captured my attention from the beginning and the intense situations had my stomach in knots. I connected with both Ingrid and Anya. Katherine Reay is good at writing details, this was well researched.
'

I have not been as drawn to historical fiction lately, but I always love a book by Katherine Reay, and this one was no exception. The dual timeline was compelling and when the two timelines intersected, even though I could see it coming, it was almost like a controlled explosion. I loved the twists and turns of the story and Reay's take on history and how the characters reacted and felt to the Cold War and all its implications. Having most of the book set in Moscow really made it different than most historical fiction books I have read, and it seemed to me that everything was true to life (although my experience of foreign cultures is admittedly limited). I read this entire book in two days, I could not put it down. Cannot wait for her next one.

This is an absolutely mesmerizing story! Women who silently supported freedom by spying on the Nazis and the USSR government. Unsung heroines who remained in the shadows. Ingrid AKA Inga, who worked against the Nazis. Anya, who has a taste of freedom while attending college in the U.S. and later on finds Russian life intolerable. The story pulled me in fast and I sympathized with the characters so completely. An incredible amount of research has to have gone into the story to make it so realistic.

A Shadow in Moscow is a fascinating, compelling story of two women in the Cold War era of Soviet Russia who become disillusioned with their country's repressive regime and are recruited as spies for the West. The narrative alternates between their voices: Anya, a young woman sent by the Soviet government to college in 1980s America, and Ingrid, a young woman living in Vienna during the World War II Russian occupation, who marries a Russian soldier and then moves to Moscow with him.

Reay does an excellent job balancing various historical time periods, cultural norms, pivotal conversations, and interactions to bring each woman to life. Initially, I sometimes got lost as to which woman was the focus of a chapter. However, this concern disappeared as I got to know each character and became engrossed in her story.

The convergence of the two women's stories towards the end of the book was probably a bit far-fetched, but I still loved and totally bought into this plot twist. It was a catalyst for the subsequent climatic events, so was absolutely necessary.

The actual historical events of each era were seamlessly woven into the main narrative, providing a perfect backdrop for the story events. I grew up during the Cold War, so I have a child's memory that the possibility of nuclear war was a constant backdrop to daily life. This book taught me so much about historical events that had been whispers and fragments of conversations from my childhood.

At times all the conversations between each woman and her various handlers slowed the pace. However, in retrospect, these conversations were integral to understanding what it was like to be a spy: long periods of planning and waiting, then heart-stopping moments of terror. The conversations also provided the opportunity to muse on important themes like differences in the notions of freedom between Soviets and Americans, the significance of even small acts of defiance, individuality vs the collective and the necessity for sacrifice. There were many times I felt compelled to write down a pithy opinion or read aloud a beautifully written section to someone, just because the comments were so insightful.

If you are interested in the Cold War era, I highly recommend this book.



--

Excellent! I loved A Shadow in Moscow by Author Katherine Reay! I was captivated from the start. From Anya Kadinova attending college in the United States in 1984, being exposed to other ideas and freedoms before returning to a job back home in Russia after graduation, to Ingrid Bauer who lost everyone she loved at the end of WWII, lives in Vienna, and in 1954 she marries a gentle Soviet man and moves to Moscow, deep within the Soviet Union's Totalitarian regime, I absolutely could not stop turning pages! I especially enjoyed turning pages to see if these two women's stories connected at all.

There is depth here. Depth of ideas, trying to make the world a better place, love, sacrifice, betrayals, propoganda, freedom, and choices.

The difference in freedom alone is staggering. In America, Anya could speak freely, debate ideas, and read what she wanted to, to her homeland where she has far fewer choices. These lessons remain with her.

She resonated with the idea that "we all have an 'end point', a point past which our consciences won't allow us to venture", based on Thomas More's philosophy.

In Moscow, Ingrid's home was frequently bugged by the KGB, and they were everywhere and seemed to know everything about everyone. She wants to make the world a better place for her daughter and starts working with MI6 to try to end the cold war. I love spy stories!

Ingrid shares her mother's phrase 'duc in altum' (into the deep) with her young daughter, teaching her daughter that she can find freedom and choices within those constraints.

I highly recommend this engaging story! Thank you to the publisher and net galley for allowing me to read an early copy of A Shadow in Moscow. All opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed the compelling story Katherine Reay tells in A Shadow in Moscow. Both parts of the dual time line are well paced and very interesting. And the way they merge together in the end is flawless and captivating. I wouldn’t normally pick up a “spy story” but I loved the author’s The London House and the beautiful cover and title of this new book lured me in. So well written, researched and all around enjoyable I look forward to more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to read for my honest review.

Stunning. Gripping. Powerful. This novel had all of the intrigue and spy games that you want in a Cold War thriller mixed with the heartfelt and poignant relationships found in the best fiction. I was blown away by Reay’s masterful weaving of Ingrid and Anya’s storylines throughout the decades as the Iron Curtain slowly crushed their lives but not their spirits. I was captivated from the very beginning and couldn’t put the book down until I knew how it ended. We often associate men with the Cold War, but this book makes it clear that there were countless numbers of strong women who were the true unnamed heroes behind the scenes.

I especially loved the mother-daughter storyline as someone who was very close with my own mother. The power of a mother’s love cannot be broken, and I loved how Reay writes this special yet complex relationship full of misunderstandings and deep love. It was real and believable.

I love reading books about the Cold War time period and especially enjoyed the 1980s setting of this book. Usually Cold War books focus on the earlier time periods, but with the sweeping nature of this book, all of the Cold War time is described in wonderful detail.

Anyone who loves historical fiction about strong women in trying times will like this book.

I have loved every Katherine Reay book that I’ve read. This was a fascinating story of 2 women who were spies in different generations and of the KGB and what life was like. Two very strong women, taking risks, being innovative and resourceful. A horrible time in history showing the resilience of the human spirit.

Thank you for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good spy story and this one definitely qualifies! A riveting page-turner, Cold War era female spies!

Wow was this good! An excellent cold-war, spy-centered thriller that I didn't know how much I was craving until I began this story. This gorgeously written historical thriller was amazing. It was absolutely lovely! Think Kate Quinn or Michelle Moran - that level of quality of writing. There are so many WWII books in the market nowadays, but this one stands out from the rest because of its unique setting (cold war) and the wonderful atmosphere of the novel. Every phrase was poetry, and the descriptions were so vivid it was like I was there. It short, it was unputdownable.
This book was everything I had been wanting and missing. Excellent dialogue, solid world building, an independent, likeable heroine. I just savored each page and was very sorry when it ended. I will definitely be buying this book in print! TEN STARS!

A Shadow in Moscow is a thrilling, heartstopping story that grabbed me from the first pages and never let go! Told in two separate story lines, first by Ingrid starting in the 1930's, and then by Anya in the 1980's, it's a story of love and self sacrifice, hidden within secrets and lies. Real historical events are deftly woven in further cementing the reality of the story. It's as spine chilling and suspenseful as The Red Sparrow, with an ending that will surprise you!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Muse for my copy of A Shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay in exchange for an honest review. It publishes June 13, 2023.
As usual, Katherine Reay writes another fantastic novel! I could not stop thinking about this one and kept coming back to it. It may be my favorite of hers so far! This book had my on the edge of my seat unlike some other cold war novels I've read.
I loved the overall theme of hope threaded throughout this and the epilogue was definitely perfect!

Wow, what a fast-paced, engaging read, from beginning to end! I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction book. And reading it over Memorial Day weekend, it brought new meaning to the freedoms we Americans enjoy, compared to the spy/communist reality for those living in Russia. Well done, Reay, on all your research to pull this book together!

I have loved every Katherine Reay book that I’ve read. This was a fascinating story of two very strong women,during a horrible time in history.
I enjoyed how strong these women were and thought it was interesting to read about how they decided where to put their loyalty and the reasoning behind their decisions.
Totally recommend this book.

A Shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay

This is a book that will stay with me. Two stories interwoven and connected in such a beautiful way.

Two female POVs told in different timelines each as tremulous as the last. This is a story of hope and doing all you can to shape the world into something better. There is love and sacrifice and making peace with yourself. Truly a fantastic story and would make an excellent book club pick!

Read for the
🪆Undercover spy vibes
🪆Beautiful familial relationships
🪆Breathtaking prose
🪆Satisfying ending
🪆Edge of your seat action

Content: death of loved ones

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

****Publishing June 13, 2023*****


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This dual-timeline book is a highly detailed account of Anya’s participation in the Foreign Student Initiative experience as a college student during the Cold War at Georgetown University and the career path she chose after graduation in Moscow and Ingrid’s experience as a spy in the 1940’s in Vienna, Austria and then moving to Moscow in the 1950’s. Their experiences showed the lengths they had to go to protect themselves and survive with the daily “games” they had to play. Can you imagine not being able to trust anyone and every decision and movement could expose you? One bad decision and that could be it! Can Anya and Ingrid keep under the radar and make good decisions or will they succumb to their own mistakes?

If you love Historical Fiction, then this is a must read! You can tell this author did an incredible amount of research on this well-told and fascinating story. I love how the author gives us a detailed perspective from Anya and Ingrid’s points of view on their work, their lives and the daily risks they take! It emphasizes how risky and dangerous their work was. This book would make a great T.V. mini-series.

Thanks to Harper Muse, I was provided an ARC of A Shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Two young women in two different eras face a choice: to take a dangerous step into the world of spies and betrayal and stand up for what they believe in, or to stay safe and play by the rules. Simultaneously, we follow two stories: in 1944 Vienna, Ingrid's parents are killed by the Nazis for their work in espionage and resistance. It isn't until years later that she finds meaning again in her love for Leo, a Soviet official. They move to Moscow and only then does she realize the danger of living a life under constant scrutiny. Then, in 1980, we meet Anya as she finishes her foreign exchange program in Washington, DC. The faces the choice to go home to Russia to her family and a good job, or to stay in the US with her boyfriend Scott, and perhaps never see her homeland or loved ones again. She chooses to go home, but now that she's been exposed to other ideas and options, home isn't all she remembered it being.

Ultimately the book is about the making of a spy--two origin stories that delve into the motivations rather than the detailed mechanics of what spies do. It also explores the philosophy and psychology of espionage in general. The author unspools the yarn slowly, at just the right pace to hold the tension and the reader's attention. The imagery is phenomenal and the feelings are very human and very deep--I could see it playing before my eyes like a movie. There are so many parallels between the two women's stories, showing yet again how history can repeat itself. I would have appreciated it if the book were less obviously ideologically bent toward the glories of the US (in opposition to the evils of the Soviet Union), and showed that there are nuances and neither side is wholly good or wholly evil. But really, the two stories kept me holding my breath and turning the pages until the explosive ending.

Beautiful prose, and wonderfully written. This book carried me back and forth from World War II at the end of the war into Moscow during the cold war with the Soviet Union.. The transitions from the time lines were seamless and I turned the pages effortlessly until the very end. In fact, I had a book hangover for days. I have picked A Shadow In Moscow as my next book club pick. If you are looking for a historical book about the cold war, spies, espionage and romance, then this book is for you.
This book is probably one of the best books I have read this year. I truly enjoyed it.
*I was given a copy of this book by Harper Muse and this is my honest opinion.

I have read many of Katherine’s books and enjoyed them all. It was almost ten years ago when I read her Jane Austen retellings and just a couple of years ago The London House, which I still remember well. So, I knew I was in for a great read …. I just did not realise how great a read this would turn out to be.

‘She laid down her pride and truly became the shadow she needed to become.’

A Shadow in Moscow is an incredible Cold War novel that is so sophisticated and compelling that I highly recommend it. Katherine masterfully interweaves two stories - one of Ingrid starting in Vienna in 1954 and then Anya in Washington 1980 and the convergence of the two plots is mindblowing. I love the two viewpoints, the two eras, the two contrasting lives. There is just so much to this tale.

“… you said you wanted to make the world a better place for her. So did I. Our ideas of what that world should be differed. They still do.”

This is a masterclass on how to write a spy novel. The richness of history interwoven through fact and fiction is seamless. To be in the mind and understand what these people went through is truly eye opening. Katherine so eloquently opens readers eyes to both the pros and cons of Soviet politics and philosophy in a way that was most compelling from the conclusion of WWII, to the Cold War and living behind the Iron Curtain. This is a fresh take on post war/Cold War spy novels - feminine at its heart with two incredibly strong female protagonists and their determination to build a better world.

‘Nothing feels right here. Some people believe we are closer than ever to the utopian and global Marxist-Leninist world dream, but we aren’t. It’s slipping away because it was never attainable’

As the story draws to its tension filled ending you will be on the edge of your reading seat in this absorbing Cold War tale. Memorable characters detailing incredible tales of bravery and espionage that lead to shattering conclusions. Everything about this book is well done. As I stated at the outset, I have been a fan of Katherine’s books for many years, but this one … well I think it is top of the list. It is that good! Be sure not to miss it.

“That’s the pain of the Cold War, Ingrid. Cold can burn low for a long, long time, never reaching the heat necessary to burn out . . .”







This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

I love historical fiction and this book is unlike anything I have read recently. It hooked me from the beginning and didn’t let go.

This book is about the Cold War and goes back and forth between Vienna in 1954 and Moscow in 1980.

We get to know Ingrid Bauer, who after losing her family at the end of WWII, married a Soviet embassy worker. As she begins to see that things are not what they seem, she reaches out to Britain and begins passing information to Mi6. Not only was this incredibly risky, it wasn’t common for women to be doing this during this time. Add to it her living in the Soviet Union and the risk was even higher.

We also get to know Anna Kadinova. She was in the United States via the Foreign Studies Initiative which a strict directive that at its completion she would return to the Soviet Union. Once back, she begins to see things that do not add up. Then the KGB murders her best friend and she is determined to do whatever she can. She begins passing into to the CIA, at very great risk to herself and those she is closest to.

I was very young during the Cold War and this novel helps me understand so many things about it, about the efforts of the different agencies to help and stop the Cold War.

Ingrid and Anna are two strong women driven by the need to answers and to understand. What follows is a story that keeps me engrossed the entire time.

As with all dual-timeline stories, the past and the present collide and I still remember my jaw dropping when I put the pieces together. Katherine Reay wrote and incredible story and this just might become my favorite book by her. I loved everything about it. The mystery, the intrigue, the history, the espionage.

If you like historical fiction and want to read about a time period not often explored in the genre, I highly recommend this one.

Thank you to Harper Muse via Uplit Reads for the copy of this book. All views are my honest opinion.

In this dual timeline slow=burning thriller, the stories of Ingrid and Anya are told. In 1954, Ingrid Bauer finds herself married to a Russian man and living in Moscow. She is told to keep her British mother a secret and begins to suspect that her husband is working for the KGB.

In 1982, Anya has graduated from Georgetown and is immediately forced to return to her home in Soviet Russia, where she is expected to be a loyal comrade in the arms race against the United States. Then her best friend is killed, and it may have been by her own government.

The first twenty percent or so of this intriguing spy thriller is a bit of a slow burn, but as suspense builds it becomes more and more captivating. In both timelines, the innermost thoughts of both women indicate love, loss, and the decision to make tough choices. The difficult, dangerous, harrowing life of a spy is well described, and the reader learns what it might have been like to live behind the Iron Curtain.

The ability of the author to delve deep into the innermost thoughts of her characters is admirable.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in U.S. and Russian history.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Harper Muse, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Fiction, General Fiction, Espionage
Format: Dual POV, Dual Time Period
Spice level: Low
Violence level: Low
Language: Low
Interest: High!

I've loved other books by Katherine Reay, and even though I've never read a book with spies, I wanted to see what I think. Wow! What a ride!

The danger with any dual point-of-view or dual time period is that readers will be more interested in one than the other. I was so vested in both storylines!

WWII is always interesting when we see different stories and perspectives. But this novel bridges from the 40s to the post-war era in the 50s and on. Ingrid has a fascinating life, and her eyes of what happened in Austria is heartbreaking. She is faced with so many choices with such large consequences. Having lived through the 80s, I instantly related to Anya and the attitudes and living through the height of the Cold War. I can't believe the heartbreaking choices she makes.

As we continue to see Russia's politics in the news, this seems like a timely novel.

I was lucky enough to go to four cities in Russia in 1993. This novel helped me solidify some of my experiences and expand my viewpoint. I also feel like A SHADOW IN MOSCOW is written so well that anyone will get sucked into the story. I mentioned how much I loved this book to my husband, and he can't wait to read it too.

Yes! I absolutely recommend this book!
I ate this book up in a couple of days.

Happy reading!

A Shadow in Moscow alternates between the Cold War of the early 1980s & the establishment of that ideological conflict, from post-war Austria to the highest echelons of Soviet power, Reay spins the story of two female spies separated by years but with a common passion: freedom, & a common goal: preventing another conflict.

I love dual-time narratives, & it is refreshing to read one where both timelines are historical, & there is no attempt to insert a contemporary storyline. Its not that I don’t enjoy the typical dual form, but this was a welcome change & kept the tension ratcheted throughout the novel as Reay weaves together her spies’ lives through over three decades of Cold War tensions.

I cannot remember the last time a novel brought me to tears. This is an exceptional examination of women in history, particularly those who in a time & a society were oft overlooked – ironically making them even more effective in high-risk activities more often attributed to men. This is an aspect of history that I will never tire of exploring or championing, the stories of women like Ingrid & Anya who accomplished extraordinary feats in tumultuous times, who stepped into the gap & answered the age-old question: if not now, when?

The phrase “duc in altum” echoes its challenge throughout the narrative: put out into the deep. When it comes to counting the cost of freedom & choice, there is a victory in doing the hard thing because you know in the marrow of your bones that it is right. Ingrid & Anya are a study in the impetuosity of youth v. the wisdom of experience. Its so easy to look at circumstances & rail (often rightly); but Ingrid’s story powerfully illustrates the beauty & sacrifice of dying to self, counting the cost, & finding the true freedom within that no government or ideology can destroy.

This is a story of politics & spies, but more than that an unforgettable story of hope, redemption, & sacrifice. This is a rich, challenging character study that I already long to revisit. Reay’s storytelling continues to astound.

✨ Review ✨ A Shadow in Moscow: A Cold War Novel by Katherine Reay; Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, Lisa Flanagan

I read this entire book in one sitting! I was so caught up in it that I literally couldn't put it down. I did alternate between the print book and the audio, and both were great ways to experience this book!

The book is a dual timeline/POV book that follows Ingrid Bauer, starting in 1954 Vienna to her life married to a (likely) member of the KGB, and Anya Kadinova in 1980 who returns to Moscow after finishing her degree at Georgetown University as part of the Foreign Studies Initiative.

NOTE: I recommend going into this book without reading the description on the back of the book -- more fun to leave this one mysterious.

Both Ingrid and Anya have a strong commitment to their own personal ethics, and are a delight to follow through their lives. Talking more about what I enjoyed would be spoiler-y I suspect :(

I do wish this had been a bit more directly critical of "The West" rather than pinning it as the ideal; while a critical reader could find criticism of capitalism, the CIA, and other markers of the West, sometimes this felt a little lost under a celebration of the free choice available in the West. I also wish it had dug a little more into Soviet culture and life, though I really appreciated the insight that this book did give me.

Overall, this was an exciting historical fiction that read a bit like a spy thriller. I really enjoyed this one, and appreciated how it placed women in an important role of international diplomacy during the cold war. I wished perhaps for even more commentary on what was based in fact.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: historical fiction, women's fiction, Cold War spies & international relations
Setting: Washington D.C., Vienna, Moscow - mostly between 1950s through 1980s
Reminds me of: Ruta Sepatys, Kate Quinn
Pub Date: June 13, 2023

Read this if you like:
⭕️ historical fiction set in the East -- reminded me a bit of Ruta Sepatys and Kate Quinn
⭕️ spy thrillers featuring women
⭕️ Cold War intrique
⭕️ love stories across continents

Thanks to Harper Muse, Uplit Reads, and #netgalley for advanced copies of this book!

A Shadow in Moscow was a phenomenal Cold War spy book set in Vienna, Moscow and Washington DC in the 1950s and 1980s.

This is dual timeline and dual perspective and honestly I liked both characters a lot. I wouldn't say this is a slow start, because I liked how the book built up the storylines but the action isn't really into the second half.

I loved that this was very much a historical fiction. The author did a lot of research on female spies and the era but the stories of Ingrid and Anya are fictional. I love when you can just immerse yourself in historical fiction without wondering oh how true is this to what really happened during this event.

I listened and the audiobook was fantastic. It's just under 12 hours and I was glad I had a long stretch of driving since I didn't want to stop listening!

A Shadow in Moscow comes out Tuesday - June 13th and I highly recommend if you're looking for a Cold War era spy novel!

1954-1985 Vienna, Moscow and Washington DC

What a journey! Intrigue, history and love are central to this time slip novel.

Ingrid's tale begins in 1954 Vienna as her world falls apart and she chooses which path to take next. Was the path she chose the best one? Perhaps not, but Ingrid made the most of what she had for herself and others.

In 1980, Anya is a Russian student blessed with a study abroad opportunity. She's educated at Georgetown University getting a taste of a different life. Yet it's her home in Moscow that she yearns to return to.

There is a ton of history and culture woven into the pages and the author's note at the end elaborated on that as well as her own motivation in writing this novel.

Spectacular! Many more thoughts are surfacing, but I don't want to include any spoiler comments. If you enjoy historical fiction, add this to your list.

Katherine Reay had me hooked on her writing since her debut novel of Dear Mr. Knightly, but I think she has really come into her own with London House and this novel, A Shadow in Moscow. This novel weaves together the stories of CIA's newest Moscow recruit during the Cold War with an MI6 spy in Moscow shortly after World War II. I love historical novels that have me researching to see what events are true and which ones were part of the author's imagination. These stories were done so well that the fact and fiction blended seamlessly. I highly recommend this book to anyone would loves historical fiction as well as suspense.

Having lived through the Cold War, Reay's look into the events and people of this time period brought back so many memories. This was a heartbreaking and riveting look into two eras that brought vast disagreement between two countries political philosophies. Two women from two different eras both linked to Russia see the inequity of the lives of Russians compared to the freedoms of other countries particularly the United States. One becomes a recruit for M16 and goes on to become one of their best Soviet agents, and the younger for the CIA. Neither knows the connection or the work of the other.

Although this moved a bit slow at the beginning the pace continued to excelerate with every page that turned. Reay brought the events to life until I felt like I was standing beside either Anya or Ingrid as they spied their way through life. Their strength, courage, and intelligence shone through each of their lives as they fought for what they believed was right. The Russian leaders names throughout each reminded me of what was happening in my life during their tenure: things such as duck and cover drills in our school classrooms.

Reay couldn't have done a better job of bringing the Cold War period to life, and this book made it to the top of my list of favorite books from Katherine Reay. Don't miss it.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

** “Another (thing I want) was that I wanted to do everything I could to make the world a better place, one that honored the dignity of humans and allowed each and every person to thrive.” **

Katherine Reay delivers an incredible historical fiction novel with “A Shadow in Moscow,” a story of hope and freedom that follows two women living during the Cold War era.

Ingrid Bauer finds herself searching for a way to make humanity better post-World War II. After marrying a man she suspects is a KGB officer, she finds a way to further the cause of freedom using her special position in life.

Anya Kadinova takes part in Russia’s 1980s Foreign Studies Initiative at America’s Georgetown University. Upon graduation, she is placed in an elite engineering position — a job that will allow her to decide which side of history she want to be on.

Throughout their lives, both women have deeply loved and lost — putting them on a journey to seek truth and justice. Will they successfully find the hope and freedom they are searching for? And will their paths cross?

Reay does an incredible job of diving into the Cold War era with a deeply researched story that offers both historical facts and fictionalized tellings filled with emotion and inspiration. She creates incredibly strong characters.

She also fills “A Shadow in Moscow” with several great themes, like “meaning conveys when words cannot”; the power of freedom and choices; and we can do more than endure. A huge theme is hope — overcoming hopelessness (“We chase it away at night, but it catches us every morning. Desperation. Hopelessness”) and the fact that we have to carry, act on and take risks to grow hope; as well as shadows — becoming a shadow when one needs to, hiding in the shadows, and taking advantage of the shadows.

Fans of historical fiction and stories with strong women characters will love “A Shadow in Moscow,” as well as fans of authors like Kate Quinn, Rachel McMillan and Kristy Cambron.

Five stars out of five.

Harper Muse provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

What is your favorite book, movie, or TV show about a spy?

A Shadow in Moscow is an intriguing and unique cold war historical fiction novel. It is a dual story told in both the 1940s/50s and 1980s. In Vienna, Ingrid loses her family and everything she loves during WWII. After the war, she marries a Soviet Embassy worker and follows him to Moscow. She finds herself reaching out to her mother’s home country of England with information about the communist regime.

Anya is a young Russian girl going to college in 1980. She grows to respect the United States as she finishes her degree at Georgetown and also finds that she has fallen in love with an American, Scott. She has to return to the USSR for her safety and her family’s safety. After the KGB murders a good friend, Anya becomes a spy sending top secret information from a military research center to the CIA in hopes of ending the arms race. Will either Ingrid or Anya be caught?

I have not read too many historical fiction novels set during the cold war and I really enjoyed this novel. I enjoyed both stories equally, which is important in a dual narrative novel. Both Ingrid and Anya are strong female leads with intriguing back stories. I have enjoyed Katherine Reay’s novels in the past and this one did not disappoint with great characters and an riveting plot. The plot and romance were both slow burn as the novel set up the story, but I was intrigued and couldn’t stop reading once the story got revved up. I love a good spy story with all of the feels!

This novel has a great author’s note and discussion questions at the end. I feel like I learned a lot about the Cold War in this novel.

Book Source: Review Copy from HarperMuse. Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A remarkable story of two brave women changing their harsh reality.

I've a soft spot for WW2-based novels, docos and films after studying this era of history as a teen. It's such a tragic time on the human calendar, and the stories can be suffocating and heartbreaking, yet there's always a glimmer of hope somewhere.

But the Cold War? It's a less familiar part of history to me (probably because I haven't obsessed over it, LOL). I knew more about the suffering of the Russian people and less about the espionage. Despite my ignorance, I was able to fully immerse myself in Anja and Ingrid's worlds.

I fell in love with Ingrid the moment she graced the pages and enjoyed seeing her growing from the hurting girl of the 1940s to the courageous woman she became. I mourned her many losses - family, love, freedom - but cheered her choice to make a difference in the world.

Anja's first scene was shockingly bleak that I HAD to know what happened to her, so was happy to travel back in time and see how she'd ended up where she did. I sympathised with her pull to Scott despite knowing it could never be, the futility of her life and expectations back in Russia, and her internal fight.

The characters throughout this book were phenomenal, regardless of whether I liked them, loathed them, or struggled to know where to place them in my heart. I don't think I've been as invested in a story like this in a long time. The tragedy overwhelms me because fiction always finds its root in reality.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Katherine Reay has done it again. This is a well-researched and well-written story that takes us into the cold war, from the beginnings and into the heart of it.

Ingrid is from Austria, her papers say she is Russian. She witnesses much regarding her parents and the Nazis during WWII. She ends up becoming a spy as she does not have many options and eventually marries a Russian man. What she doesn't tell anyone in her new homeland; her mother was British. Her husband grows through the ranks and the more this happens, the less she feels his love.

The other timeline is Anya. Anya is given an opportunity to study in the United States. This is an honor and she is meant to return to her homeland. She falls in love, but duty brings her back to the Soviet Union. Before she returns, she is recruited by the CIA.

These two women both have much to lose, but find themselves fighting a war that no one can see. They use the tools they have to work for a better world.

The story is well written from these two perspectives creating a story of espionage and intrigue that kept me turning pages to figure out what would happen next, Their very lives were on the line. As it builds, there are things the reader learns that makes the story all the more intriguing and ultimately satisfying. I could not put this one down. This is a spy novel of the best sort.

The character growth is beautifully written and the reveals are timed perfectly. I highly recommend this book full of suspense and humanity.

I received an early copy through the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest review.

This is one of the most powerful books I've read in a long time. Ingrid and Anya live in different decades, but their lives are intertwined in this historical fiction novel. It's got all the biggies — FBI, CIA, double agents. This is one read you won't be able to put down until the very end. Highly recommended.

A Shadow in Moscow is one of the best espionage thrillers that I've read and the first book by Ms. Reay. The story starts during WWII and ends in the 21st century portraying the life of a family that starts in Europe and ends in the USA. It deals with the horror of a possible nuclear war, shows how the countries led by the communist regime fell in Europe, and especially how Russia operates in the world puzzle game and how it treats (or treated?) its citizens.
It's also a powerful story of love and strong women. Beautifully written and very entertaining.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

This book is stunning.

The characters have moments of bravery and moments of indecision. They are so human I often forgot they were fictional.

@katherinereay weaves through her story the truths fiction sometimes glosses over. Spies who make mistakes, countries that let us down and love that is imperfect and can’t solve everything.

But she also beautifully portrays that love is a choice; and hope, humanity and freedom are worth fighting for.

The plot twist is created in such a way that you are expecting in, but are still left in awe when it happens.

She writes fascinating cultural details and ideas that speak newness on both sides. Written in such a way that it leaves an impression on your heart.

I loved the generational nature of the story and the difference between the facade and the strength of the women.

I loved the history and the emotion.

I loved the pacing and the suspense.

This story is a must read.

WHAT. A. RIDE! A Shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay should be required reading. This story is the kind that strikes fear into the reader’s heart, then crushes it, and then leaves the reader in a book fog that will last for quite a while. This story had me travel a gamut of emotions: I was terrified, angry (SO, SO angry), frustrated, excited, intrigued, curious, and sad. This is a heavy story that depicts a heavy time in history. What I have come to realize, though, is that all time in history — including now — is a heavy time. And I really struggle with this. Reay has crafted very real, very human characters. I loved how Reay juxtaposes Ingrid’s story with Anya’s. Two strong women in their own rights both living and surviving in the USSR during the 1st an 2nd Cold War eras. Each woman deals with life differently, but ultimately with the same goal in mind: make the world a better, safer place. Anya, if I am honest, frustrated me something fierce. She acts and then thinks, and all that does is get others hurt or put in danger. She is well-meaning, but impetuous. She feels so naïve. Then there is Ingrid. Ingrid is AMAZING. She is so perfectly human and lovely and brave and HIGHLY intelligent. I loved her chapters the best. And I learned SO much from her character — when to be quiet, when to speak, when to sit still, when to act, and when to be sacrificial. Ingrid is a truly remarkable character. In addition to the characters, I also really loved all the many topics brought up in this book. Of the many topics, the one that really struck me is that maybe we don’t know our parents as well as we think we do. Anya believes she knows her parents. She loves and appreciates them. And she can see them every day, so she assumes her assessment of them is the whole picture. But it’s not even close. Her assessments of her parents illustrate the myopia and narcissism of youth. We think we know, we think we are so smart and so right, but we don’t know. And that is why sitting down with our parents, if they are willing and able, and learning their stories is so important. I’m not sure we can ever really know our parents fully, but we can show them we care about their past, their stories, and what makes them tick. And I think this is one of the most important take-aways from this excellent, poignant, heavy story.

A Shadow in Moscow is an exceptional story. This review cannot do this book justice. I’m not sure any review can do this book justice because this story is just too BIG for a review. This story must be experienced! So, if you are a fan of superbly written novels with outstanding attention to historical detail that will leave you breathless, then I implore you to purchase a copy of this novel today. You will not want to miss out on this memorable story.

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Harper Muse, via AustenProse PR. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This story intrigued me from the moment I first heard of it. I'm so happy that I was able to read it here. As I'd hoped it was a lovely story and I adored meeting these characters! Atmospheric and emotional, this is an unforgettable read!

“True choice is hard won. It resides in faith and must be cultivated over time.”

Another amazing, brilliantly written historical fiction by Katherine Reay! A Shadow in Moscow is a testament to the brave often underestimated female spies who risked everything to bring down a brutal Soviet regime. From the start, I was drawn in to the dual timeline narrative. Both characters’ stories were so compelling. I loved the romance, suspense, intrigue, and history. It kept me up late reading into the night because I had to know what happened next!

Ingrid Bauer grew up in Austria during the 1920’s and 30’s and tragically lost all her family during the war. Needing to leave the country as WWII is winding down, she hastily marries a Russian and moves to Moscow, trading one totalitarian regime for another. Disaffected by her new country and wanting a better life for her child, she offers to work with MI-6 despite the fact that her husband works for the KGB.

In the 1980’s, Anya Kadinova is one of the lucky few to study abroad in the United States and is shocked yet enamored by the freedom and choices. Returning to Russia after graduating, she’s disillusioned by her new life and misses the man she fell in love with in America. She was once offered the opportunity to work for the CIA and turned them down, but after the brutal murder of her friend, she begins a dangerous spy mission obtaining secrets from the military research lab she works for.

Both Ingrid and Anya were amazing! I admired their courage, strength, and sacrifice. I loved the way Ingrid obtained her information. Like her mother before her, she used her position as hostess for her husband’s dinner parties to glean secrets. Her ability to appear docile and nonthreatening allowed those around her to underestimate her abilities and intelligence. The cat and mouse game she plays kept me on the edge of my seat.

Anya is just as admirable! By the 1980’s, the surveillance technology has advanced and every time she tries to smuggle out papers, I held my breath. I loved her relationship with Scott and how he never gave up on her or their love. Her relationship with her parents is complicated, yet so poignant.

The story is rich with history and culture. The suspense kept me on the edge and hurriedly turning the pages. It also tugs on the heartstrings. There’s a scene towards the end which completely brought me to tears. It’s a must read for historical fiction fans and a beautiful tribute to those who gave everything to end the Cold War. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily given.

True to all Ruth Ware books, this one takes you on a slippery sliding thrilling ride. This one seemed a bit different from her other ones that I've read. A little bit more thriller and less gothic, but it was still a fantastic read! I loved trying to figure out who was behind it all and I did at one point take a guess at it and was correct, but there was still so much more to discover that I really enjoyed it.
Side note if bad language offends you, this may not be your cup of tea.

This book is amazing! A Shadow in Moscow is a look into Russian history, post WWII, that I haven’t encountered often. CIA, Mi6, KGB, spies and traitors fill this book with non-stop action. I didn’t want to put the book down. Also, I’m inspired by so many historical facts, that I’ve given myself research homework to look-up and learn more about them.

I had not read many, if any, books set largely in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Katherine Reay's A Shadow in Moscow is an enthralling tale of two female spies working within Moscow. Ingrid's story spans from 1944 into 1985, Anya's from 1980 into 1985 with a brief glimpse into her life in 2023 in the epilogue. Their exploits and sacrifices are amazing and echo those of real-life MI6 and CIA spies. As much as I learned about Soviet culture, I was also reminded of both positive and negative aspects of our American culture, aspects that may be masked at times by more current cultural issues. A Shadow in Moscow is not only a fascinating read, but is also quite thought-provoking. I give it five stars without hesitation.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Harper Muse via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Even though this was a historical fiction novel, I learned something about this time frame of the Cold War. I was fascinated by these two women living secret lives and the connection to the war efforts. The detail into the languages and dialects was especially interesting and I found myself researching many of the topics brought up in this novel. I appreciate all of the author’s research and attention to detail in this book! The amount of information is endless! I would love to see this one on the screen!

Top "semi-intellectual" Book Club Pick for 2023!

Blew my mind. SO well written. Part spy novel, part drama, part soul-search. I loved everything about this novel and I stayed up late each night to finish it!

Mostly the story is about Anya, the daughter of a top Soviet official. She is sent to the US to study abroad as part of a cultural exchange, and there she falls in love with an American. However, as a good communist, she returns to her family and takes a well-placed job in Moscow. I really enjoyed reading about life in the 1980s (I am old enough to remember all of this).

The other perspective is told by Ingrid, an Austrian who moved to Moscow after WWII. She has secrets to keep hidden. Her life is traced from the 1940s onward.

While this is fiction, the author took care to weave in several real-life spies and officials to make this seem like a story that really could have happened.

Overall it is well worth reading and I look forward to other books by this author in the future.

I received an ARC of this book as a reviewer for NetGalley. #sponsored