Title:  The Spy From Beijing       

Author: Joan M. Kop        

Genre: Espionage Thriller

 

When flight attendant Jenny Chu is offered a role in the FBI by undercover agent Dave Kamakaris, she jumps at the chance and is assigned to a case involving Chinese spies working at Boeing Engineering.

However, there is a larger threat concerning harvesting American DNA data by the Chinese using COVID testing sites and biotech companies. Through the FBI’s investigation, Jenny meets Chinese defector, Yichén Zhang, with whom she has far more in common than either of them realizes.

Set against the backdrop of the early days of the Covid pandemic in 2020 and alternating mainly between Seattle and China, The Spy from Beijing boasts some solid research, especially into the Chinese intelligence service, the Ministry of State Security, and its methods.

Chapters are relatively short, snappy, and alternate between Jenny and Yichén’s third-person perspectives until both protagonists begin to encroach upon each other’s worlds shortly before halfway through.

Kop is an ambitious writer who is not afraid to make brave, decisive decisions with her characters and plot. After setting the scene for both Jenny and Yichén in the first two chapters, the third takes a dramatic turn for Jenny which is mirrored for Yichén in the fourth.

In the early stages, Yichén’s narrative is the strongest. The reader’s curiosity is immediately piqued, unsure at this point which choices Yichén will make and what will be their consequences. The scene between him and his father, Bohai, as they play the board game Weiqi, is loaded with unease and poignancy.

In addition to Kop’s familiarity with the MSS, she has a well-developed and interesting knowledge of China’s geography, customs, and socio-political climate which adds credibility and dimension to Yichén’s trajectory as a defector.

Jenny is a contrasting character. While she has highly developed sensibilities, she is also able to absorb and deflect a series of traumatic, life-altering events.  This emotional detachment often seems misplaced, rendering her slightly mechanical.

Nonetheless, the reader is made aware of her abandonment and trust issues as the novel progresses, which explains some of her apathetic responses. Her relationship with Dave adds a gentle gloss of romance, and he is capably utilized to drive several plotlines forward.

Indeed, through the central narrative, Kop spins off various inventive tangents. All maintain continuity and Kop showcases some highly creative twists and unexpected angles with most of the characters falling under suspicion of duplicity or dishonesty.

Jenny’s connection with Yichén is fairly obvious to the reader, but that does not lessen the impact of the eventual reveal. However, the nature of the blackmail that Yichén orchestrates against acquaintance John, and work colleague Carmen, is unpleasant and possibly unnecessary, especially as Yichén appears to escape appropriate censure.

Throughout, Kop’s prose is literal and straightforward with a lightness of tone, making The Spy from Beijing a fast, accessible read despite navigating some complex issues. Conversely, however, this easy fluidity does occasionally lend the weightier parts of the story a lack of conviction and depth.

Notwithstanding, Kop writes with full throttle as the reader is hurtled around toward the finale, throwing a number of surprising, definitive plot maneuvers. A lot is packed in these final chapters with the novel flickering competently between intelligence thriller and family mystery.

The conclusion is relatively abrupt but broadly satisfying. Some elements are left open-ended which does not detract from the outcome but gives the impression Kop might be toying with making the novel the first in a series.

Boasting a twisty tale and a feisty, engaging protagonist, The Spy from Beijing is an entertaining and imaginative novel, full of unusual intrigue and sharp, contemporary relevance.

 

 

This Editorial Review was written by the Book Review Directory staff. To receive a similarly honest, professional review for one of your own books, click here.