During the Arab Spring, an American spy’s final mission goes dangerously awry in this explosive and eerily realistic espionage debut from a former CIA officer
Shane Collins, a world-weary CIA spy, is ready to come in from the cold. Stationed in Bahrain off the coast of Saudi Arabia for his final tour, he is anxious to dispense with his mission—uncovering Iranian support for the insurgency against the monarchy. But then he meets Almaisa, a beautiful and enigmatic artist, and his eyes are opened to a side of Bahrain most expatriots never experience.
When his trusted informant becomes involved with a murder, Collins finds his growing romance with Almaisa and Bahrain upended. In an instant he’s caught in the crosshairs of a revolution. Now he must rely on his skills to navigate a bloody uprising, win Almaisa’s love, and uncover the blurred lines between the dark secrets of both Bahrain and the United States.
The Peacock and the Sparrow is a timely story of the elusiveness of truth, the power of love and belief, and the universal human desire to be part of a cause greater than yourself.
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“Narrator Pete Simonelli embodies Shane Collins, a world-weary alcoholic spy…Simonelli’s portrayal of Collins is steady and relaxed, pleasing to the ears. As narrator, he maintains the same pacing for detailed descriptions of locations, secondary characters, and tense scenes of violence.”
— AudioFile
“A spy thriller that is engaging and utterly believable…cynical, fast moving, and immensely readable.”
— NPR“Outstanding…The plot’s many twists will captivate readers, and Berry’s gorgeous prose is its own reward.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)“The perfect spy tale.”
— Ian Caldwell, New York Times bestselling authorBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
I. S. Berry spent six years as an operations officer for the CIA, serving in wartime Baghdad and elsewhere. She has lived and worked throughout Europe and the Middle East, including two years in Bahrain during the Arab Spring. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and Haverford College. The Peacock and the Sparrow is her first published novel.
Pete Simonelli is a writer, audiobook narrator, and vocalist for the band Enablers.