An Honorable Man

A Novel

By: Paul Vidich

Narrated by: George Newbern

This heart-pounding thriller from the author of The Poet’s Game is “cold War spy fiction in the grand tradition” (Joseph Kanon, New York Time bestselling author) as it follows one man determined to find a deadly double agent in Washington, DC. Perfect for fans of Alan Furst and John le Carré.

Washington DC, 1953. The Cold War is heating up; McCarthyism, in all its fear and demagoguery, is raging in the nation’s capital, and Joseph Stalin’s death has left a dangerous power vacuum in the Soviet Union.

The CIA, meanwhile, is reeling from the discovery of a double agent within their midst. Someone is selling secrets to the Soviets, compromising missions and endangering lives around the globe. The CIA director knows any news of the traitor, whose code name is Protocol, would be a national embarrassment and weaken the entire agency. He assembles an elite team to find Protocol.

George Mueller seems to be the perfect man to help the investigation: Yale-educated; extensive experience running missions in Eastern Europe; an operative so dedicated to his job that it left his marriage in tatters. Mueller, though, has secrets of his own, and as he digs deeper into the case, making contact with a Soviet agent, suspicion begins to fall on him, as well. Paranoia and fear spreads and until Protocol is found, no one can be trusted.

Critic reviews

Paul Vidich's tense, muscular thriller delivers suspense and intelligence circa 1953: Korea, Stalin,the cold war, rage brilliantly, and the hall of mirrors confronting reluctant agent George Mueller reflects myriad questions. Just how personal is the political? Is the past ever past? An Honorable Man asks universal questions whose shadows linger even now. Paul Vidich's immensely assured debut, a requiem to a time, is intensely alive, dark, silken with facts, replete with promise. (Jayne Anne Phillips, New York Times bestselling author of Quiet Dell and Machine Dreams)

"A cool, knowing, and quietly devastating thriller that vaults Paul Vidich into the ranks of such thinking-man's spy novelists as Joseph Kanon and Alan Furst. Like them, Vidich conjures not only a riveting mystery but a poignant cast of characters, a vibrant evocation of time and place, and a rich excavation of human paradox." (Stephen Schiff, writer and co-executive producer of the hit FX series, THE AMERICANS)

"An Honorable Man is an unputdownable mole hunt written in terse, noirish prose, driving us inexorably forward. In George Mueller, Paul Vidich has created a perfectly stoic companion to guide us through the intrigues of the red-baiting Fifties. And the story itself has the comforting feel of a classic of the genre, rediscovered in some dusty attic, a wonderful gift from the past." (Olen Steinhauer, New York Times bestselling author of ALL THE OLD KNIVES)

"Cold War spy fiction in the grand tradition--neatly plotted betrayals in that shadow world where no one can be trusted and agents are haunted by their own moral compromises." (Joseph Kanon, New York Times bestselling author of Istanbul Passage and The Good German)

“An Honorable Man is that rare beast: a good, old fashioned spy novel. But like the best of its kind, it understands that the genre is about something more: betrayal, paranoia, unease, and sacrifice. For a book about the Cold War, it left me with a warm, satisfied glow.” (John Connolly, #1 Internationally Bestselling Author of A Song of Shadows)

“A richly atmospheric and emotionally complex...tale of spies versus spies in the Cold War . . . . Vidich writes with an economy of style that acclaimed espionage novelists might do well to emulate. This looks like the launch of a great career in spy fiction.”

“A moody debut spy novel inspired by real events. . .Dead-on Cold War fiction. Noir to the bone.”

“Paul Vidich is a very strong new voice in spy fiction. The writing is powerful, the setting real, the characters magnetic. Vidich portrays the paranoia of America's anti-communist moment brilliantly, and he captures the grey, gritty realities of counterintelligence. If you love Charles McCarry, read Vidich.” (Adam Brookes, Author of Night Heron)

“If you like movies such as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or Tom Hank’s 2015 spy flick A Bridge of Spies, you need to read this book.”

Tense, Suspenseful Espionage Story of Betrayal

Overall, this was a serious tale told well of the convoluted lives of early members of the OSS and CIA fraternity in 1953 with dubious pasts and corrupted integrities. The characters were well developed through effective narration and terse dialogue.

Audible's narration brought the story to life with dramatic personality portrayals that added emotional realities to the storyline. My only disappointment was that the recording did not include the book's last chapter.

Who's Honorable?

This was a good story but lacks some of the literary style of John LeCarre, one of my favorite spy novel writers.

Excellent 1950s Spy Thriller

Kept me hanging until the end, great characters - excellent first novel by Paul Vidich, can't wait for the next one.

What a first book

Knocked it out of the park. He nails the historic espionage genre, and creates a world you want to explore. Fantastic first book!

Look elsewhere

This writer is bad. His descriptions of people and places and events are poor. The story was written as if he needed to fulfill an obligation to the publisher. I have read Cummings , le care , Deighton, Harris, all excellent writers. This guy is bad. Save a credit look elsewhere.