The Red Sparrow Trilogy

A sizzling spy trilogy revolving around a young CIA officer and a seductive Russian double agent—written with the insider detail and real-world insight known only to a veteran CIA spook.

Out of desperation, disgraced ballerina Dominika Egorova accepts a job offer from the Russian Intelligence Service (SVR)—to become a “Sparrow,” a spy trained in the art of seduction. Elsewhere in Moscow, first-tour CIA officer Nathaniel Nash is handling a high-level Russian official: America’s most valuable mole. The Russians know Nash is his connection, but they don’t know the traitor’s identity. Assigned to seduce secrets from Nash, Dominika isn’t prepared for their electrifying attraction—or her thirst for revenge against a state dominated by Vladimir Putin. Red Sparrow follows Dominika as she embarks on a deadly course as a double agent and a forbidden love affair. The star-crossed spies continue their dangerous cat-and-mouse race in Palace of Treason, as SVR Captain Egorova expertly dodges exposure while her CIA handler, Nate Nash, risks his life for love. The high-level espionage and pulse-pounding action culminate in The Kremlin’s Candidate, with a desperate hunt for a Russian spy among the three top contenders for an appointment to the United States Cabinet.

Written by a CIA veteran, the Red Sparrow Trilogy draws listeners into the world of international politics and deception in a fast-paced plot ripped from the headlines. Along with intrigue, tradecraft, and passion, each chapter serves up a recipe for food prepared in the course of the action—with dishes ranging from Shrimp Yiouvetsi, Caviar Torte, and Pasta Alla Mollica to Old Lady’s Beet Soup, SVR Cafeteria Chicken Kiev, and Moscow Airport Cuban Sandwich.

Jeremy Bobb gives these thrillers top-level treatment. The accomplished narrator has also appeared on stage, in films, and on television, including recurring roles in the CBS drama Hostages and the Netflix series Russian Doll, and his experience comes through in his performance of Red Sparrow. To quote one listener: “English, French, and Russian rendered flawlessly. Bobb’s pacing, delivery, characterizations are simply brilliant.” Bobb keeps up with the story’s heart-pounding twists and turns—and delivers each chapter’s featured recipe in a way that’s mouthwatering.

Jason Matthews wrote his debut spy thriller, Red Sparrow, after retiring from a 33-year career with the CIA. During his tenure, he served in multiple overseas locations, engaged in clandestine collection of national security intelligence, specializing in denied-area operations, and conducted recruitment operations against Soviet, Middle Eastern, East Asian, and Caribbean targets. As Chief in various CIA stations, he collaborated with foreign partners in counterterrorism operations.

A New York Times best seller and winner of an Edgar Award, Red Sparrow was made into a major motion picture starring Jennifer Lawrence and Joel Edgerton. The New York Times Book Review called the trilogy’s finale, The Kremlin’s Candidate, “a primer in 21st-century spying…terrifically good.”