Elegant Lie

In the year 1949, Hanno Dasch is the king of the black market in Cologne, Germany. The CIA sets up an undercover operation to infiltrate and destroy his empire, but it is compromised by a counterfeiting ring with the sole purpose of destroying the Soviet economy. Carter is caught in the middle and faces the danger of his cover being blown, leading to a race between the Russian and American spy agencies to uncover who is responsible before it escalates to war.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 07 February 2019
Publisher: Faber & Faber

In the aftermath of World War II, amidst the bombed-out ruins of Cologne, Hanno Dasch reigns supreme as the director of the most successful black market operation in post-war Germany. With an unparalleled supply of extravagant and rare goods, Dasch has maintained a loyal client base, offering items that were nearly impossible to find even during Germany's peak conquests. The secret behind his success remains shrouded in mystery, known only to him, his enigmatic daughter, and the war criminal serving as his bodyguard. However, this intricate web of deceit has not gone unnoticed by Allied Intelligence, who are confronted with the daunting challenges of systemic corruption and the growing threat posed by Stalin's KGB. Fearing that Dasch will soon expand his business to include dealings with Russia, thereby inviting further meddling by Russian agents in the West, the CIA initiates an undercover operation to infiltrate and ultimately dismantle Dasch's empire.

Enter Nathan Carter, a disgraced American Army officer, who is recruited to approach Dasch with the promise of stolen army supplies. As Carter delves deeper into Dasch's world, he becomes increasingly aware of the black market ring's compromised state, but the true danger lies ahead. Unbeknownst to Dasch, he has unwittingly entered into a business partnership with a counterfeiting ring, whose sole purpose appears to be the destruction of the Soviet economy. With the superior quality of the forged bills they are producing, this counterfeiting ring poses a significant threat to global stability.

Carter finds himself caught in the middle of this escalating conflict, with both the Russian and American spy agencies racing against time to uncover the identity of the responsible party. The stakes are high, as any misstep could lead to a full-scale war. As Carter navigates the treacherous waters of espionage, he must use all his skills and resources to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control. With danger lurking around every corner, Carter must stay one step ahead of his opponents and unravel the intricate web of deceit that threatens to engulf the world.

Weight: 278g
Dimension: 130 x 198 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780571335695
Edition number: Main