The Debriefing

The defection of a Soviet courier upends the life of the head of a secret U.S. government agency in this Cold War-era spy thriller.

With the publication of his New York Times bestseller The Company, Robert Littell reestablished his position as one of the top writers of intelligent, ironic, and always entertaining espionage thrillers. After many years The Debriefing is finally available again as Overlook brings back Littell’s classics . . .

From the secret meeting rooms of Washington to the interrogation chambers of the KGB, The Debriefing is a novel of exquisite suspense and dazzlingly tense drama. Stone is the Head of an elite arm of the Joint Chiefs of Staff—and a master of the sophisticated art of debriefing. When Oleg Kulakov defects from Russia, handcuffed to a sealed diplomatic pouch, it’s Stone’s job to find out if he’s genuine. He uncovers Kulakov’s every secret, probes the darkest reaches of Kulakov’s heart, and penetrates Russia itself to learn the chilling truth—a truth that tears his own world apart.

“Elegant . . . works like a clock with three sticks of dynamite attached to it.” —The New York Times

“The Debriefing is beautifully plotted . . .with a clever, ironic twist at the end. . . . Littell’s craftsmanship shines through.” —Chicago Tribune