The Cold War is over and retired secret servant Tim Cranmer has been put out to pasture spending his days making wine on his Somerset estate But then he discovers that his former double agent Larry dreamer dissolute philanderer and disloyal friend has vanished along with Tims mistress As their trail takes him to the lawless wilds of Russia and the North Caucasus he is forced to question everything he stood for Set in a fragmented uncertain postSoviet world le Carrs brutal story of falsehoods and betrayal shows men playing dangerous games beyond their control