This is the best "spy" novel that I have read in decades and I can see why it received all the acclaim that it did. The novel primarily takes place in the country of Bahrain where revolutionary forces are out to take down the king and the existing government. Shane Collins is a CIA agent stationed there and seemingly neutral. The great strengths of the novel are the humanity of the well drawn characters and the clarity she writes about complex issues. I get lost in a lot of other spy novels but not this one. ( )