A NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF 2025 '' An adrenaline-fueled thriller about a disgraced comedian-turned-politician who takes on the role of a lifetime: infiltrating a corrupt Eastern European country to spy on their brutal dictator
Hal Knight, a comedian and movie star-turned politician, is no stranger to controversy. But after an embarrassing and humiliating encounter on set, Knight resigns from Congress, quits social media, and disappears to the tiny Caribbean island of Vieques to drink dirty martinis and nurse his wounds. Shortly after his arrival, he is approached by a trio of CIA operatives hoping to recruit him to infiltrate the power structure of Bolrovia—a hostile, Eastern European country whose despotic president, Nikolai Horvatz, happens to be a longtime fan of Knight’s adolescent male humor. Knowing that Horvatz plans to invite the disgraced star for an official visit, the CIA coaxes Knight to accept. Skeptical, but with little to lose, Knight accepts the challenge, sensing this might be his one chance to do something worthwhile, even if no one else ever finds out.
Upon arrival as President Horvatz’s guest of honor, Knight confronts his ultimate acting challenge. What begins as an assignment to keep his eyes and ears open quickly turns into a life-or-death battle of wits, with consequences reaching all the way to Washington. With Pariah, Dan Fesperman has crafted a heart-pounding thriller about espionage, entertainment, and one man’s pursuit of redemption.
Genre: Thriller
Hal Knight, a comedian and movie star-turned politician, is no stranger to controversy. But after an embarrassing and humiliating encounter on set, Knight resigns from Congress, quits social media, and disappears to the tiny Caribbean island of Vieques to drink dirty martinis and nurse his wounds. Shortly after his arrival, he is approached by a trio of CIA operatives hoping to recruit him to infiltrate the power structure of Bolrovia—a hostile, Eastern European country whose despotic president, Nikolai Horvatz, happens to be a longtime fan of Knight’s adolescent male humor. Knowing that Horvatz plans to invite the disgraced star for an official visit, the CIA coaxes Knight to accept. Skeptical, but with little to lose, Knight accepts the challenge, sensing this might be his one chance to do something worthwhile, even if no one else ever finds out.
Upon arrival as President Horvatz’s guest of honor, Knight confronts his ultimate acting challenge. What begins as an assignment to keep his eyes and ears open quickly turns into a life-or-death battle of wits, with consequences reaching all the way to Washington. With Pariah, Dan Fesperman has crafted a heart-pounding thriller about espionage, entertainment, and one man’s pursuit of redemption.
Genre: Thriller
Praise for this book
"Fesperman wins again with this well-crafted tale of modern espionage - of Russian soft influence, changing social norms, conflict both internecine and international. At times laugh-out-loud funny, at times sobering and cautionary - and filled with flawed, human characters - Pariah illuminates the thorniest geopolitical issues of our times bravely, wittily, and entertainingly." - I S Berry
"Dan Fesperman's Pariah is a masterful blend of espionage, political intrigue, and dark humor with a plot that is as entertaining as it is breathtakingly timely. Fesperman crafts a gripping narrative of a man - comedian, actor and politician - caught up in international intrigue that explores the allure of power, the sting of betrayal, and the cost of second chances too good to be true." - Kathleen Kent
"Twisty, topical, and often darkly comedic, Pariah is Fesperman at his best, spinning a tale not just of suspense, double-dealing, and international intrigue, but a deeper story about love and redemption. This is essential spy reading for understanding the turbulence of our modern times." - David McCloskey
"Pariah is a penetrating political satire . . . Thrilling and hilarious." - Paul Vidich
"Dan Fesperman's Pariah is a masterful blend of espionage, political intrigue, and dark humor with a plot that is as entertaining as it is breathtakingly timely. Fesperman crafts a gripping narrative of a man - comedian, actor and politician - caught up in international intrigue that explores the allure of power, the sting of betrayal, and the cost of second chances too good to be true." - Kathleen Kent
"Twisty, topical, and often darkly comedic, Pariah is Fesperman at his best, spinning a tale not just of suspense, double-dealing, and international intrigue, but a deeper story about love and redemption. This is essential spy reading for understanding the turbulence of our modern times." - David McCloskey
"Pariah is a penetrating political satire . . . Thrilling and hilarious." - Paul Vidich
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