What is it about?
The author's website describes it as "a haunting debut novel set in 1980s Washington and 1990s Moscow about the power of allegiance, the mysteries of friendship, and the shape-shifting nature of truth."

 Why are we talking about it?
Though a debut author, Elliott Holt has been a part of the literary scene on Twitter for a while. The book received blurbs from A.M. Homes and Kevin Wilson (Family Fang), and was included in the highly regarded The Millions list of top releases in 2013.

 Who wrote it?
Elliott Holt is a Washington, DC-based author who has had fiction published in Guernica and Kenyon Review. She was runner-up for a PEN Emerging Writers Award in 2011.

Who will read it?
People who enjoy intelligent, well-written fiction. Readers interested in a smart combination of 80s politics, mid 90s Russia and a coming-of-age novel. People who enjoy debuts by writers who may well become significant figures in literary circles.

 What do the reviewers say?
New York Times: "A hugely absorbing first novel from a writer with a fluid, vivid style and a rare knack for balancing the pleasure of entertainment with the deeper gratification of insight."