I'm a sucker for spy stories and intrigue... so in fairness, Ava Glass's The Traitor is pretty much made for me. A sequel to Glass's Alias Emma (which I have not yet read), the novel follows a British spy as she infiltrates the luxury yacht of a Russian oligarch. Her plan is perfect... but that doesn't keep her out of her enemies' crosshairs.

If this is a reader's first dive into the life of Emma Makepeace (a delightfully spy-ish name, by the way), it makes no difference. Much as with newcomers to the world of James Bond or any similar storied franchise, all one really needs to know is that she's a spy and she's good at what she does. Romantic, familial, and business ties will all drop in and out of the story, with just enough backstory to get new readers on board. Ms. Makepeace is a master of disguise, crafting and assuming alternate personalities with the help of her MI6 associates. We get a glimpse into just how much work goes into making a fictional persona, from wardrobe choice to social media presence, as the story begins.

Also as the story begins, we get a grisly look at what makes this mission so messy. Technically, Emma is the second spy on this case. The first had begun tailing two powerful Russian businessmen, believing they (and an unnamed third) were up to some shady dealings that could cost innumerable lives. When this spy got too close to the truth, he died... and now Emma, disguised as hired help on a yacht, is about to fly even close to what got this man killed.

However, job 1 quickly becomes staying alive. Her mark is suspicious, and all her carefully-laid preparations begin to fall away one by one. It's a fascinating take on the typical undercover spy story. Advanced gadgets count for very little, after all, if they're taken away from you on day 1. With her bosses keen to pull her out, her life on the line, and bodies hitting the waves, Emma has to choose between her own safety and discovering the truth.

As someone who's new to Emma Makepeace, I was immediately hooked. The deep dive into the nuts and bolts of spycraft may not be for everyone, but it was absolutely for me. The commitment to realism - both in the preparation and in the potential for it to all go wrong - was fascinating. And seeing how a mission is altered on the fly was thrilling.

It's worth noting that "Ava Glass" is "a pseudonym for a former crime reporter and civil servant." In other words, Glass knows the ins and outs of this life. Which I'm sure adds to its verisimilitude. Sometimes writing fiction on something in which you're an expert can bog the prose down, but this flows quickly. We learn what we need to learn, and any expositional sidebars are dedicated to the story, rather than educating the reader on the subject matter.

The Traitor is an exciting read, full of unexpected twists and turns right up to the end. Emma Makepeace is a fantastic protagonist, and one hopes that she has many more such adventures in her. 

The Traitor goes on sale September 19.