The Shadow List

Description

A cutting-edge novel of international crime and its consequences, from Nigeria to Russia to Washington, from the former deputy assistant secretary of state. A cutting-edge novel of international crime and its consequences, from Nigeria to Russia to Washington, from the former deputy assistant secretary of state. We laugh when it pops up in our inbox- the scam letter promising a windfall. We wonder- How does anybody fall for these things? But it is no laughing matter. It is one of the biggest organized crime rackets in the world, it is deadly - and State Department crisis manager Judd Ryker has fallen right into the middle of it. The disappearance of a young American in London sends Ryker into the heart of a corruption scandal in Nigeria, at the same time his CIA agent wife Jessica finds herself chasing a Russian master criminal known as the Bear. Unknown to either of them, they are pulling at two ends of the same lethal thread, a staggeringly vicious enterprise of piracy, extortion, and murder. The world is messy and dangerous, Jessica warns her husband.More dangerous than you know. But he is about to find out.

Todd Moss is Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Development, a Washington DC think tank, and a nonresident scholar at Rice University's Baker Institute. From 2007 to 2008, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, where he was responsible for diplomatic relations with sixteen West African countries. Previously, Moss worked at the World Bank and the Economist Intelligence Unit, and taught at the London School of Economics and Georgetown University. He is the author of four nonfiction books on international affairs and the Judd Ryker thriller series, including The Golden Hour, Minute Zero, Ghosts of Havana, and The Shadow List. He lives in Maryland.

Praise for The Shadow List "Moss, once a top State Department Africanist, ramps up the suspense and the action well into the red zone. His sketch of Nigeria is fascinating and edgy...The world really is messy and dangerous, and Moss brings it all to vivid life." -Booklist "Moss's rewarding fourth Judd Ryker political thriller... fans will be happy to follow the couple into whatever trouble the U.S. government has in store for them." -Publishers Weekly "A thrilling novel! The Shadow List exposes the intricate world of organised crime and our own modest efforts to tackle the behemoth. Todd Moss has enriched this story with his gripping style and engaging prose. I see myself in these pages, and it makes me nostalgic." --Nuhu Ribadu, first head of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission "Fascinating characters populate the pages... The action moves swiftly from Langley to Lagos to Saint Petersburg, with hardly time for a quiet bowl of borscht-trouble is always boiling, danger always present. But living on the edge for the CIA is a career well suited for Judd and Jessica, because they thrive on tension and challenge. The two are smart, appealing characters readers will enjoy spending a few hours with. Far more action than diplomacy in this page-flipping yarn. Fans of diplomatic thrillers will love this one."-Kirkus Reviews Praise for Ghosts of Havana "Another good read from Moss...Fast-paced and fun. A taut international thriller exploiting current events and showing how thin the line can be between success and disaster." - The Huffington Post "State Department crisis manager Judd Ryker battles shadowy factions maneuvering to undermine America's thaw in relations with Cuba. Diplomats jealous of the CIA's star treatment in pop culture might want to read this new thriller!" - Washingtonian "A lively, informed, and timely political novel about Cuba's future and American's role in it." - Kirkus Reviews "Moss brings a wealth of personal experience to his narrative, lofty credentials put to very good use in his writing." --BookPage "A lot of fun to read...Short chapters and multiple points-of-view keep the plot moving [with] a sharp, up-to-the-minute feel in terms of crazy politics, self-serving politicos, and mainstream diplomatic strategists trying to keep the lid on." --Crime Fiction Lover "A timely third novel featuring State Department troubleshooter Judd Ryker...Moss does a good job depicting the tactics that our intelligence agencies might employ in negotiating with a foreign power." - Publishers Weekly