Anna Pitoniak – författare

A mysterious First Lady. The intrepid journalist writing her biography. And the secret that could destroy them both.Tired of covering the grating dysfunction of Washington and the increasingly outrageous antics of President Henry Caine, White House correspondent Sofie Morse quits her job and plans to leave politics behind.But when she gets a call from the office of First Lady Lara Caine, inviting her to come in for a private meeting with Lara, Sofie's curiosity is piqued. Sofie, like the rest of the world, knows little about Lara - only that she was born in Soviet Russia, raised in Paris, and worked as a model before moving to America and marrying the notoriously brash future president.When Lara asks Sofie to write her official biography, and to finally fill in the gaps of her history, Sofie's curiosity gets the better of her. She begins to spend more and more time in the White House, slowly developing a bond with Lara.As Lara's story unfolds, Sofie can't help but wonder why Lara is rehashing such sensitive information. Why tell Sofie? And why now? Suddenly Sofie is in the middle of a game of cat and mouse that could have explosive ramifications.

'Elegant and well-paced ... Like "Emily in Paris" meets "Scandal"—fantastic fun.'— The New York TimesA mysterious First Lady. The intrepid journalist writing her biography. And the secret that could destroy them both.Tired of covering the grating dysfunction of Washington and the increasingly outrageous antics of President Henry Caine, White House correspondent Sofie Morse quits her job and plans to leave politics behind.But when she gets a call from the office of First Lady Lara Caine, inviting her to come in for a private meeting, Sofie's curiosity is piqued.Sofie, like the rest of the world, knows little about Lara - only that she was born in the USSR, raised in Paris, and worked as a model before moving to America and marrying the notoriously brash mogul.When Lara asks Sofie to write her official biography, and to finally fill in the gaps of her history, Sofie's curiosity gets the better of her.As Lara's story unfolds, Sofie can't help but wonder why Lara is rehashing such sensitive information.Why tell Sofie? And why now?Suddenly, Sofie is in the middle of a game of cat and mouse that could have explosive ramifications.'Spectacular... The story succeeds on every level' — Lee Child'A gripping legacy of the Cold War and its people' — People Magazine'Wholly original' — Entertainment Weekly

*A completely original, heartwarming and unforgettable love story*Evan and Julia are in love.In love with each other, in love with New York.New York is where they plan to build the life they've dreamt about.New York is where Evan will be drawn into the high stakes of finance, right before the crash.New York is where Julia, shut out of Evan's new world, will turn to someone from her past.They'll take chances and make mistakes in pursuit of their futures.But will New York bring them together, or tear them apart?'An emotional page-turner' Cosmopolitan'A story that feels familiar yet wholly original, like every heartbreak ever' Marie Claire 'I absolutely loved it' Jane Fallon

*A completely original, heartwarming and unforgettable love story*Evan and Julia are in love.In love with each other, in love with New York.New York is where they plan to build the life they've dreamt about.New York is where Evan will be drawn into the high stakes of finance, right before the crash.New York is where Julia, shut out of Evan's new world, will turn to someone from her past.They'll take chances and make mistakes in pursuit of their futures.But will New York bring them together, or tear them apart?'An emotional page-turner' Cosmopolitan'A story that feels familiar yet wholly original, like every heartbreak ever' Marie Claire 'I absolutely loved it' Jane Fallon

One of The Washington Post’s Best Thrillers of 2023 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 in this “delicious spy novel” (People).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 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 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 Affair is an “propulsive, captivating spy novel,” (Good Morning America)—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.

A globe-spanning thriller of love and betrayal about a mysterious first lady with an explosive secret.Paris, 1974. Lara Orlov and her family arrive from Moscow at the height of the Cold War, thanks to her father''s position as a diplomat. The years pass, and Lara becomes more and more enamored with the City of Lights. As a teenager in Paris, she falls deeply in love with a fellow Russian expat: the passionate, intellectual Sasha, who opens her eyes to the ills of the Soviet Union. Decades later and across the globe, journalist Sofie Morse is taking some much-needed time off after several chaotic years covering Washington politics. But when she gets a call from the office of First Lady Lara Caine, her curiosity is piqued. Sofie, like the rest of the world, knows little about Laraonly that she was born in Soviet Russia and raised in Paris before marrying Henry Caine, the brash future president. After decades of silence, Lara is finally ready to speak candidly about her past: about her father''s work for the KGB and about her ill-fated relationship with Sashawhich may be long in the past, but which could have explosive ramifications for the future. As Sofie begins to write Lara''s biography, she can''t help but wonder: Why is Lara revealing such sensitive information? And why now? Caught in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse, both Lara and Sofie must ask themselves what really mattersand confront their own power to upend the global political order.

One of The Washington Post’s Best Thrillers of 2023 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 in this “delicious spy novel” (People).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 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 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 Affair is an “propulsive, captivating spy novel,” (Good Morning America)—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.

A Times Thriller of the MonthOne of The Washington Post’s Best Thrillers of 2023'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 in this “delicious spy novel' (People).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. Amanda races from Rome to London, from St. Petersburg to Helsinki, unravelling 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?

‘A wonderfully adroit and clever espionage novel with great characters and exceptional narrative verve. A terrific achievement’ William Boyd, author of Gabriel's Moon'Twisty, brutal, and impossible to put down, Pitoniak also writes betrayal with elegance and unusual tenderness. This is the kind of spy novel you will lose sleep over' David McCloskey, former CIA analyst and Sunday Times bestselling author of London StationA chef's body washes up on Capri. The night he died, his employer - a Russian oligarch with direct Kremlin ties - hosted NATO's deputy secretary general for a private dinner. Amanda Cole, CIA station chief in Rome, knows exactly what that smells like.Amanda Cole, CIA station chief in Rome, knows what that smells like. She calls Kath Frost: semi-retired CIA legend from the years when the rules were different. Kath is also unpredictable in ways that have always made Amanda nervous and this time that nervousness turns out to be justified.Following the money from Moscow through Geneva to Washington, they uncover a Kremlin-backed operation to bribe NATO officials at the highest levels, run through the kind of Swiss banking that leaves no fingerprints. Until a banker named Julian Schmidt steps into the light - and it becomes clear that Kath knows him well. And has been keeping it quiet.The choices Kath made during the chaos of the Soviet collapse have never gone away. Now Amanda has to decide whether her partner is the one person she can rely on, or the greatest threat to the operation.The follow-up to The Helsinki Affair, from an author who understands that the most dangerous secrets are the ones closest to home.

A globe-spanning thriller of love and betrayal about a mysterious first lady with an explosive secret.Paris, 1974. Lara Orlov and her family arrive from Moscow at the height of the Cold War, thanks to her father’s position as a diplomat. The years pass, and Lara becomes more and more enamored with the City of Lights. As a teenager in Paris, she falls deeply in love with a fellow Russian expat: the passionate, intellectual Sasha, who opens her eyes to the ills of the Soviet Union. Decades later and across the globe, journalist Sofie Morse is taking some much-needed time off after several chaotic years covering Washington politics. But when she gets a call from the office of First Lady Lara Caine, her curiosity is piqued. Sofie, like the rest of the world, knows little about Lara—only that she was born in Soviet Russia and raised in Paris before marrying Henry Caine, the brash future president. After decades of silence, Lara is finally ready to speak candidly about her past: about her father’s work for the KGB and about her ill-fated relationship with Sasha—which may be long in the past, but which could have explosive ramifications for the future. As Sofie begins to write Lara’s biography, she can’t help but wonder: Why is Lara revealing such sensitive information? And why now? Caught in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse, both Lara and Sofie must ask themselves what really matters—and confront their own power to upend the global political order.