Spy novels aren't usually a genre I read but I really liked Anna Pitoniak's last book, Our American Friend, so I decided to give this a try. It was a good book, but I would have liked more character development for Amanda. It was interesting to how it went back and forth between Amanda and her father's stories. The ending seemed to suggest there could be a sequel. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I enjoy spy thrillers but so many of them are written by men. I loved Pitoniak's take on things, I had very much enjoyed Our American Friend. I did find the novel needed some suspension of disbelief in terms of how spy networks work and how the MC ended up being responsible for so much. But I did enjoy the fast pace and the dynamics between characters.

A riveting spy story with family secrets, multiple timelines and a strong (but still flawed) female lead? Yes please. I had high expectations for this espionage thriller and it delivered!

The Helsinki Affair by Anna Pitoniak is the author’s first foray into the genre of full-fledged spy fiction, after her excellent novel Our American Friend, which leans more toward contemporary political and Cold War noir.
In this new novel, the protagonist Amanda Cole is a 40 yr-old CIA agent stationed in Rome, Italy. An American senator’s suspicious death in the States deep sixes her boss’s career and catapults Amanda into being station chief. Her father, Charlie, also a long-time CIA agent, gains some knowledge of the Senator’s death, which he shares with Amanda. Suddenly she becomes the lead investigator of a complicated fraud scheme involving Russioan oligarchs, international corporations, and stock manipulation. An undercurrent in this book involves Charlie and a disastrous mission in which he was involved in 1987 Helsinki.
There is a lot going on in this novel. Most of the action takes place in present day, with strong female characters, like Amanda and a seasoned agent, Kath Frost, driving the action and plotting an asset’s retrieval in Helsinki.
There were also plenty of references by Charlie and his old friend Maurice about the original Helsinki incident. So it is particularly exciting to see both timelines juxtaposed in the tense conclusion, set in the Finnish islands.
The author’s writing style feels fresh, detailed, and contemporary, compared to some older well known spy novels. The relationship between Amanda and her father Charlie is particularly well-written and nuanced, illustrating well the complicated emotions and parent-child baggage that a 70+ agent and his assertive, inquisitive 40 yr-old daughter experience.
This novel has very good suspense, with strong writing and interesting, female-centric espionage scenes, as well as family drama.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Escapist fiction that actually demands that you pay attention to follow the plot. While many will enjoy this tale of Amanda, the youngest CIA Deputy Chief of Station ever (and one who didn't go to college because it would be boring) and daughter of Charlie Cole who has toiled in obscurity in CIA Headquarters for many years, it's hard to get around the plot holes and issues with reality. Amanda fields a Russian walk-in to Rome station but unfathomably does not cable, call, or otherwise contact Hqs even as he claims a US Senator will die the following day because her Chief of Station doesn't want to call out Cairo Station. She then has direct contact with the Director (but not with anyone else in HQS) and sets off on a quest to untangle documents related to a financial scheme left behind by the Senator which include her father's name. Kath, an ace analyst of sorts, shows up in Rome with a pile of papers and sets up camp - and while I liked Kath, it's more than a stretch. Meanwhile, why did Charlie leave Helsinki? His timeline doesn't track btw but it's clear from the moment he meets Mary what's going to happen. And then there's his friend. Pitoniak makes a stab at layering in some tradecraft but...Thanks to the publisher for the arc. Over to others who have less critical eyes.

This is a fabulous spy novel. Amanda Cole is a "diplomat" posted to the nothing ever happens here embassy in Rome when she catches a walk in visit from a Russian man. He has information that he got somewhat inadvertently and if someone acts on it, it might save a life. Her boss is phoning it in and Amanda is a nose to the grindstone type. Does she do what she is told? What might the consequences be? Meanwhile, Amanda's father Charlie, a likable guy, used to be an active field agent but for years he has worked in Langley doing boring desk work. Charlie and his wife Helen separated when he was based in Helsinki. Eventually, he came back to the states for his desk job a few months later but the divorce was inevitable. Father and daughter are close, but it's complicated.

Can't say much more, because one of the most interesting parts of this involves technology, social media, finance and Russia but it would be a spoiler to go further. Pitoniak fills this novel with fabulous characters, the family friend Maurice who is wise and knows what to do when disaster looms. You should probably take Maurice's advice. But do you?. Kath, the older woman agent who can never get a vacation because she's always called back to work her magic in some situation involving Russia. A Senator and an Oligarch who are interacting about something. What is their relationship? There's a secret involving Charlie that starts to bother the very upright, committed Amanda. Despite her intense loyalty to her employer and country, Amanda finds here and there that it isn't always easy to know when your lies are for your country and when they suit you. The CIA is itself a character, with lots of different interpretations of what means are okay to an end, depending on who's in charge. A fast can't put it down read. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

I’ve been enjoying Pitoniak’s books for a few years now and was not disappointed by this one!! Her last novel was outside my comfort zone but I gave it a try anyway and loved it. So when given the opportunity to read this spy thriller from her, I didn’t hesitate even though this is not something I normally read.

I liked that this was not an action-packed spy thriller. It was quiet, behind the scenes uncovering of conspiracies both past and present. Well written with interesting and like-able characters, although I wish we would have gotten deeper dives into them.

I enjoyed my time with this and look forward to her next release!

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Amanda is a second-generation spy. When her current case hints at something her father Charlie was involved in while in Helsinki, she must decide whether her allegiance is to him or the agency.

I enjoyed this spy thriller from a female perspective, but it was a little hard to keep straight. It has many plot points going here and there and I was invested in the story, I just felt a little like I was holding on. I am so reading The Sisterhood, a history of women in the CIA, and it was a really good pairing with these two books.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

The Helsinki Affair follows the story of Anna, a new Station chief in Rome, and her father Charlie, an ex spy handling a desk job. It was intriguing to read about the day to day workings of spy operations. Makes you wonder if you are really seeing what is going on in front of you. But what should Anna do when her father’s name appears in an investigation? We learn more about Charlie’s past with flashbacks (that could have been referred to a little better- some times I was lost) and Anna does her due diligence. I can only say i now know I could not be a spy.

3.5 stars rounded up

I've read other books by this author and loved them, but this just didn't do it for me. I didn't like the constant time jumping and character jumping within the chapters, and I didn't really like any of the characters either. I wish she had stayed with historical fiction, as this left me very disappointed.
I would not recommend this to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

An enjoyable spy novel with strong female characters. The main character, Amanda, the daughter of a CIA officer, unexpectedly finds herself promoted to the CIA's Rome office after a stranger shows up while she's the only person holding down the fort over the lunch hour. She uncovers plots within plots, including one involving her father.

The novel has a strong backstory involving the protagonist's father during the Cold War. Both stories dovetail beautifully near the end of the novel off the coast of Helsinki. The main character develops a character flaw that comes out of nowhere on the back end of the book, but otherwise, the characters were well done. As with all spy novels, the plot gets a bit tricky to follow, but a strong story made up for that.

I really enjoy books with spies in them. The fact that this book had to do with a father and daughter who both work for the CIA is what initially got my attention.

There are so many layers to the story that slowly come to light through Amanda’s current case. As she learns the connection to her father’s career, she also learns things she never knew about him.

There were parts of this story that were full of suspense and when the whole story came together, I found myself surprised at how it all played out.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the copy of this book. All views are my honest opinion.

Taking place in Rome, London, Russia, Finland, all the intrigue of the cold war is here. With Finland physically so close to Russia, Helsinki has seen a lot of KGB and CIA action. I liked the female characters, especially Kath, an older, savvy, top notch spy. In addition to the Cold War espionage, there is also a very contemporary plot line involving stock manipulation.

There are two timelines, Amanda’s present day investigation and her father’s past involving an affair in Helsinki. As the excitement peaks, the action quickly alternates between the two. The writing is fast paced, engrossing. I did think some of the characters were pretty loose lipped with confidential information. But, after all, this is a work of fiction.

Spy fiction is not my go to genre and I don’t like the James Bond, hard to believe action stories. This one had a decent plot, not too much incredulity, and not a lot of violence; what there was was not overly graphic. It was refreshing to have a female centered spy thriller

The end of the book introduced some continuing story lines, perhaps hinting at a sequel or possible series? I certainly would read another book by Pitoniak featuring these characters.

Definitely more of a spy novel than a “thriller,” but it was good. I like that it felt more accessible than a lot of spy books and didn’t let the reader suffer in the weeds too much. Recommended.

Couldn’t put this one down! An old-school spy novel that feels very fresh. The plotting kept me guessing until the very end.

I really enjoy spy/espionage fiction, but it really is a genre dominated by male authors and male main characters. So, I’m always excited to see female leads and authors within the genre!

I feel like the author really delivered on an intriguing story of subterfuge that managed to be complicated while remaining digestible. It is a bit slow at times, but not so slow that it makes you want to shop reading.

I really loved the two female characters most present in this story: Amanda, our MC and mostly narrator, and Kath, an older agent with a sharp wit. I think it was cool that Amanda was more of a methodical, intelligent character; bold and brash can of course be a lot of fun, but not every female character needs to be that way to be strong or capable!

I did hate Amanda’s dad in this. He’s another agent whose past we see in a dual timelines set-up. I know he’s supposed to redeem himself somewhat, but I think the author did too good of a job of making him unlikable haha.

Overall, this was a super solid contribution to the spy fiction genre! Pick this one up if you like stories with political and international intrigue, strong female characters, and more understated action.

What fun to get back into the spy mystery genre! It’s been quite a while for me and I’ve missed it! Kudos to the author, Anna Pitoniak, for a nicely convoluted plot with believable characters and a credible story line!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Simon and Schuster, for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. I’ll look for additional thrillers from this author.

The CIA, spies and Russia – what’s not to love? The story was easy to follow, a tad slow to build as the characters are slotted into place. The history and backgrounds of the distinctive characters took time to set up. It was anything but boring and built to an unexpected climax. Amanda is beyond weary of her administrative drudgery at the Rome station. A visiting Russian man has a pang of conscious over some bragging chatter he’d overheard. Amanda will be faced with difficult choices as she tries to unravel decades of history leading up to this. Few will believe her instincts as she tries to use a slippery asset for critical intelligence. Another highly intelligent and methodical agent, Kath, will be invaluable to the case and to Amanda personally. Always on her mind and In the background is Charlie, who is Amanda’s father and was also a spy. His complicated life hovers over everything. There are conspiracies, double and triple agents, recruits and handler’s, Oligarchs and moles. All of the characters were well fleshed out, interesting and believable. The locations and setting cross the globe in intriguing scenes. I could barely read fast enough to see how it would end. Who will betray their country and who will hold fast to loyalty and honor? It comes down to the lies we tell ourselves for justification of our sins.
This was the first time I had read this author and would definitely read more of her novels. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy of “The Helsinki Affair” by Anna Pitoniak, published by Simon & Schuster. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without any compensation.

BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of The Helsinki Affair by Anna Pitoniak from Simon & Schuster/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

Engaging addition to the spy genre. Particularly enjoyed how the author took us back and forth between multiple timelines, and how she had a two-generation family of “spooks.” Absolutely hope this is the first in a series.

Also, had some fun with this after finishing The Helsinki Affair by asking my husband who all he thought of people we know/knew might be CIA [friends, family, co-workers, former classmates…..]

In the end, we were convinced everybody BUT us…….and then we weren’t quite convinced that we weren’t lying to each other.

PS
God, how much do I hate Norman Mailer for dying before finishing the sequel to Harlot’s Ghost???

DESCRIPTION
IT’S THE CASE OF AMANDA’S LIFETIME, BUT SOLVING IT WILL REQUIRE HER TO BETRAY ANOTHER SPY—WHO JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE HER FATHER.

SPYING IS THE FAMILY BUSINESS. Amanda Cole is a brilliant young CIA officer following in the footsteps of her father, who was a spy during the Cold War. It takes grit to succeed in this male-dominated world—but one hot summer day, when a Russian defector walks into her post, Amanda is given the ultimate chance to prove herself.

The defector warns of the imminent assassination of a US senator. Though Amanda takes the warning seriously, her superiors don’t. Twenty-four hours later, the senator is dead. And the assassination is just the beginning.

Corporate blackmail, covert manipulation, corrupt oligarchs: the Kremlin has found a dangerous new way to wage war. Teaming up with Kath Frost, a fearless older woman and legendary spy, Amanda races from Rome to London, from St. Petersburg to Helsinki, unraveling the international conspiracy. But as she gets closer and closer to the truth, a central question haunts her: Why was her father’s name written down in the senator’s notes? What does Charlie Cole really know about the Kremlin plot?

The Helsinki Affairis a riveting, globe-trotting spy thriller—but this time, with a refreshing female-centric twist. Perfect for fans of John le Carré and Daniel Silva, this book introduces Pitoniak as a singular new talent in the world of spy fiction.

Advance Praise
“I’m a sucker for propulsive spy thrillers, whether they’re books or movies. But so many of them feature almost all-male casts, with any female characters relegated to love interests or sexy distractions. That’s not the case with The Helsinki Affair! The spies at the center of the novel are women—ambitious, complicated, sometimes messy women. Our protagonist is CIA agent Amanda Cole. She’s stubborn and determined and impulsive—all characteristics that make her a good spy, but also a frustrating colleague! Amanda teams up with a legendary spy named Kath who is brash and funny and totally independent. They’re a fierce, often very funny dynamic duo who are impossible not to root for every step of the way in this propulsive, twisty novel.”
—Carina G., Senior Editor, on The Helsinki Affair