ABOUT THE BOOK

Evan Michael Tanner is 34 years old and hasn't slept a wink since a piece of shrapnel destroyed the sleep centre in his brain during the Korean War.

In a moment of drunken sentiment, Tanner had made an absurd promise to a friend - sure he'd smuggle himself into the Soviet Union, find his friend's long lost love and then smuggle them both back to the U.S....but the long-lost love - she had a sister. And the sister - she had these ten girlfriends, the sexiest Olympic team the Russians had ever sent to the Games.......but how do you smuggle all these people out of Russia? You don't - unless you create a little diversion, like suddenly spinning the world towards the brink of international war....

CRITICAL ACCLAIM

'Wonderfully detailed and inspiring writing' - The London Guardian

'Block is one of the best' - Washington Post

'..if you are coming new to Lawrence Block.....it will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship' - Vincent Banville, Irish Times

'A master of crime fiction' - Jonathan Kellerman