Meet New Books
Book Cover

Red Sparrow

Book 1 in the series:Red Sparrow

Save:
Find on Amazon

Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews is a spy thriller that follows the story of Dominika Egorova, a Russian spy with unique abilities, and Nate Nash, a young CIA agent. The book delves into the world of espionage, double agents, and the intricate relationships between the characters from different intelligence agencies. The plot is filled with twists, violence, tradecraft, and a touch of romance between the lead characters. The writing style includes detailed descriptions, realistic details, and even includes recipes at the end of each chapter related to the food mentioned in the story.

Characters:

Characters are multi-dimensional and compelling, particularly Dominika and Nate, who experience significant development throughout their espionage careers.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is nuanced and descriptive, providing an authentic glimpse into the world of espionage, although it may at times feel dense.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative centers on Nathaniel Nash and Dominika Egorova, weaving a complex tale of espionage filled with tension and unexpected developments between CIA and Russian intelligence.

Setting:

The setting encompasses the espionage landscapes of Moscow and Helsinki, enriched with historical and political contexts.

Pacing:

Pacing varies throughout the book, starting slowly before intensifying as the plot unfolds, but some may find sections overly detailed.
Twelve hours into his SDR Nathaniel Nash was numb from the waist down. His feet and legs were wooden on the cobblestones of the Moscow side street. It had long since gotten dark as Nate ran the survei...

Notes:

The author, Jason Matthews, is a former CIA officer, which lends authenticity to the espionage details in the book.
The main character, Dominika Egorova, is a former ballerina who becomes a Russian intelligence agent.
Dominika possesses synesthesia, allowing her to see colored auras around people, which helps her gauge their emotions and intentions.
She is trained at Sparrow School, a secret institute that teaches agents to seduce and manipulate foreign targets.
The novel explores the moral complexities of espionage and the troubled relationships between the CIA and Russian intelligence services.
Nathaniel Nash, Dominika's counterpart, is a young CIA officer navigating the challenges of espionage.
Both Nate and Dominika are tasked with trying to recruit one another as spies while also uncovering secrets from their respective agencies.
The book includes recipes at the end of each chapter, adding a culinary element to the narrative, which some readers found distracting.
Matthews' writing incorporates authentic tradecraft and detail about espionage practices, drawn from his own experiences in the field.
Red Sparrow is the first book in a trilogy, followed by Palace of Treason and The Kremlin's Candidate.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of sexual violence, emotional manipulation, torture, and graphic violence, as well as a portrayal of government corruption and betrayal.

Has Romance?

Romance is present but not the central focus, as it develops through the cat-and-mouse dynamics between two spies, creating tension without overshadowing the espionage plot.

From The Publisher:

Now a major motion picture starring Jennifer Lawrence and Joel Edgerton! From the New York Times bestselling author and veteran CIA officer Jason Matthews comes the electrifying modern spy thriller Red Sparrow. In contemporary Russia, state intelligence officer Dominika Egorova has been drafted to become a "Sparrow"-a spy trained in the art of seduction to elicit information from their marks. She's been assigned to Nathaniel Nash, a CIA officer who handles the organization's most sensitive penetration of Russian intelligence. The two young intelligence officers, trained in their respective spy schools, collide in a charged atmosphere of tradecraft, deception and, inevitably, a forbidden spiral of carnal attraction that threatens their careers and the security of America's valuable mole in Moscow. For fans of John le Carré and Ian Fleming and featuring "high-level espionage, pulse-pounding danger, sex, double agents, and double crosses" (Nelson DeMille), Red Sparrow is a timely and electrifying thriller that is impossible to put down.

Ratings (13)

Incredible (2)
Loved It (7)
Liked It (3)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (28):

Read It (13)
Want To Read (11)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (3)

About the Author:

Jason Matthews was an officer of the CIA's Operations Directorate. Over a thirty-three-year career he served in multiple overseas locations, spoke six foreign languages, and engaged in clandestine collection of national security intelligence, specializing in denied-area operations. Matthews conducted recruitment operations against Soviet-East European, East Asian, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean targets. As Chief in various CIA Stations, he collaborated with foreign partners in counterproliferation and counterterrorism operations. His first novel, Red Sparrow, won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and was made into a major motion picture starring Jennifer Lawrence. He continued the Red Sparrow trilogy with Palace of Treason and The Kremlin's Candidate. Jason Matthews passed away in 2021.

 
Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.