DISPATCHES FROM MOSCOW

An American journalist documents the final years of the Soviet Union in Williams’ first historical thriller in a series.

In 1986, Natalie Chester lands her dream assignment for the American News Agency bureau in Moscow. Her first few months are marked by problems: Her boss, Max, doesn’t seem to support her, and the Soviet government’s tight restrictions lead her into trouble more than once. Early on, Natalie receives news of a seemingly minor accident at a nuclear reactor. While writing a perfunctory newswire item on the story, she fails to recognize the vast significance of the event, and Max is furious when more circumstances of the Chernobyl tragedy come to light. Natalie soon focuses her attention on human-interest stories of Russian Jews attempting to immigrate to Israel, Soviet tourists in Crimea, and the return of an exiled political dissident to Moscow. After accidentally trespassing at a military installation, Natalie evades prison time with the help of Anatoly “Tolya” Vladimirovich, a new deputy foreign minister. Natalie and Tolya are immediately drawn to each other and begin a secret romance. As she builds her career as a foreign correspondent and Tolya attempts to make changes in the government, their relationship faces continual challenges. Williams draws on her own experiences as a foreign correspondent for this novel, writing from a place of authenticity in a setting of historic upheaval. Natalie is a likable if somewhat naïve protagonist; her unshakable idealism is appealing but also makes her prone to misunderstandings and arrests. The love story between Natalie and Tolya is sweet but often feels rushed. Williams glides along the surface of Tolya’s character, never giving readers enough information about him to make him truly engaging. Still, this setting feels timely, and the inclusion of secret listening devices, codes, and spies enlivens the story.

This Cold War–era romance lacks some heat, but the plot provides enough interest to soldier on.