This book wouldn’t exist without the help of five people: my editor, Jonathan Karp; my literary agent, Raphael Sagalyn; my friends Lincoln Caplan and Garrett Epps; and my wife, Eve Ignatius. The book emerged out of discussions with them over the past several years and their comments on early drafts. I am especially grateful to Jon for his counsel. I owe special thanks to my cousin, Dr. Michael Ignatius, an assistant professor of neurobiology at the University of California at Berkeley, for his help in understanding the world of prions and neurotrophins; to Richard Drezen for his research help; and to my colleagues Dan Graham, Len Downie and Doug Feaver for giving me time and support.

Author’s Note

AUTHOR’S NOTE

While set in real places, this book is a work of fiction. The characters, events, companies and institutions are products of the author’s imagination and should not be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual companies or people is unintended. In the few instances where well-known names are used—such as with the renowned French restaurant Taillevent—the related characters, incidents and dialogue are entirely fictional and are not intended to depict any actual people or events.

Praise

Praise for

A FIRING OFFENSE

By David Ignatius

“A compelling, clever morality tale in which an upwardly mobile young newsman, Eric Truell, is tempted by the devil, in this case the CIA, to sell his journalistic soul for a big story.”

—Derek Lochte, Los Angeles Times

“For all his skill at rendering the inarguably fascinating details of intelligence work, what really distinguishes Ignatius’s novels is that he never loses sight of the larger questions of why one nation should seek to control another, and how, and whether, indeed, such control is possible.”

—Washington Post Book World

“[Ignatius] has a notable gift for elegant plotting and pacing and a finer ear for language than most thriller writers. And his portrayal of the CIA as dangerous and dry-rotting feels authentic.”

—Mark Harris, Entertainment Weekly

“Ignatius ranks with Graham Greene in his knowledge of espionage and the human heart.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Ignatius can handle tradecraft as well as le Carré.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“The intrigue is compelling and plausible, the subtexts are beautifully crafted, and the characters are vividly rendered.… [A] tremendously satisfying entertainment that richly deserves the best-seller status sure to come.”

—Thomas Gaughan, Booklist

“A crisply written, fast-paced espionage thriller. The writing is clean and straightforward, and the situations both in the newsroom and on assignment ring true.”

—Linda Lee Landrigan, Library Journal

Also by David Ignatius

ALSO BY DAVID IGNATIUS

Agents of Innocence

Siro

The Bank of Fear

Bloodmoney

The Sun King

Body of Lies

The Increment