The Peacock and the Sparrow

‘It’s cynical, fast moving and immensely readable’ National Public Radio (Best Books of the Year)

‘Crackling debut thriller’ The New Yorker

’…the most realistic espionage story I’ve read…heart-stopping’ - Joseph Weisberg, creator of The Americans

‘Outstanding… The plot’s many twists will captivate readers, and Berry’s gorgeous prose is its own reward with echoes of le Carré and Graham Greene’ Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘The Peacock and the Sparrow is that rare thing: a genuine page turner that also has something to say. A sharp, knowing look at today’s CIA, with the moral complexities of the best spy fiction and a Persian Gulf setting so richly detailed and immediate you feel you could reach out and touch it. A remarkable debut’ — Joseph Kanon, New York Times bestselling author of Istanbul Passage and The Good German

‘Not since The Spy Who Came in from the Cold has there been such a riveting and thought-provoking story of international espionage. In the tradition of John le Carré and Graham Greene, former spy Berry has woven a twisted, richly evocative tale—one that plunges the reader into the depths of the Arab Spring and the blackest recesses of human nature. A breathless tour-de-force.’ Ian Caldwell, author of The Fifth Gospel

‘This is a sensational novel which draws you in from the first page and doesn’t let go until long after the last one. The author racks up the tension and the intrigue with every twist, pulling the reader into what feels like every inch of the real world of espionage’ Alex Gerlis, author Every Spy a Traitor

‘Berry has achieved something remarkable. She has written what may prove to be the definitive novel of the Arab Spring…a highly authentic and gripping spy thriller and a moving account of a culturally complex relationship against the backdrop of a country riven by sectarian and political strife. A deeply impressive debut.’ Charles Beaumont, author of A Spy Alone

‘Every bit as good as I had been led to believe. I.S. Berry is at the vanguard of a new generation of American spy novelists who have electrified the genre.’ Charles Cumming, author of Judas 62

‘Vigilance, violence, paranoia, love, intrigue in the Gulf heat. An unforgettable portrait of venal, cynical, decadent American spies and diplomats’ SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIORE, author of Jerusalem

‘A stunning debut about an aging CIA case officer at the end of a lacklustre career during the Arab Spring in Bahrain. Tense action that mixes with a beautifully rendered depiction of one man’s descent into despair make this spy novel an instant classic’ PAUL VIDICH, author of Beirut Station

‘It’s dripping in authenticity you really feel like you’re there, you can smell the cigarette smoke, it’s fantastic, I loved it’ Steve Cavanagh

‘A fascinating, complex story with multilayered and complex characters. Anyone who has served in Gulf states will recognize Berry’s unadorned portrait of the underside of the splendid hotels and palaces that fill the landscape. Beautifully (written)…unforgettable’ John Limbert, former ambassador, The Foreign Service Journal

‘Riveting…and written by one who knows. Berry is the rising star of espionage noir fiction.’ James Grady, author of Six Days of the Condor

‘IS Berry’s debut The Peacock and the Sparrow has been deservedly garlanded with high praise… rich in insider agency knowledge while its notably nuanced character development quickly draws the reader deeply in’ Adam LeBor, Financial Times