Lies, spies, and gymnastics in the frozen heart of the Cold War.

Helsinki, 1979. The Cold War casts a long shadow over the snow-covered streets of Finland's capital. When a Soviet Embassy worker turns up dead, British ex-naval officer Iain Collins finds himself reluctantly recruited into MI6. His first assignment: watch a returning Finnish diplomat whose loyalties may be dangerously divided.

Across the city, teenage gymnast Pia Mäkelä dreams of Olympic glory. But when her best friend disappears and she's selected to represent her school in a Moscow–Helsinki "Friendship Trophy," Pia is pulled into a deadly web of espionage. The KGB's ruthless Kovtun—nicknamed the Red King of Helsinki—has already marked her as a pawn in a much larger game.

As East and West collide in one of the Cold War's most fragile borderlands, Iain and Pia must navigate a world of hidden agendas, betrayals, and icy danger—where every ally could be an enemy, and every choice could be fatal.

What Readers Are Saying

"Wonderfully tense spy-story in late '70s Helsinki. The Soviet presence strongly felt in everyday life—authentic and chilling."

"Excellent read... very interesting characters. Having experienced Finnish winters, I loved how the setting mirrored the tension."

"Atmospheric and full of suspense. Intrigue, young love, disappointment, and espionage—chilling in every sense."

Perfect for fans of John le Carré, William Boyd, and Helen Dunmore.

Step into a Helsinki where neutrality is fragile, friendship is perilous, and the Cold War turns every snow-covered street into enemy territory.