An insightful thriller of global intrigue and behind-the-scenes international politics from the critically acclaimed author of The American Mission . Sam Trainor's outspokenness left him marginalised in the competitive Washington establishment. Formerly a top South Asia expert in the State Department, Sam has moved to the private sector, now working as an analyst for consulting firm Argus Systems. Yet despite outward similarities to his old role, Sam finds this profits-driven work difficult to adjust to. When Sam stumbles across the transcript of a phone conversation discussing ways to provoke conflict between India and Pakistan, he knows that conversation can't have taken place -- because he is having an affair with one of the alleged participants. Someone is deliberately stoking the simmering conflict between India and Pakistan, nuclear-armed rivals that have already fought multiple wars. Sam must work out the answers in a deadly game that could also implicate his new employers.