Eva Pasco

Goodreads: 5-Stars
July 5, 2025

Spine-Chilling!

Author Linda Watkins’ ‘Cesspool of Spies’ is a spine-chilling novel. For the most part, taking place in Istanbul, post-World War II 1950, the reader gets a savory taste of history via the threat of Communism posed by the Russian and Chinese governments.

Indeed, a cesspool of conniving spies and double-crossing agents from all over the globe convene in Istanbul, propelling this story forward at breakneck speed. The reader follows in the stealthy footsteps of undercover agent, Simon Biggs, and CIA recruiter, Major Brad Sullivan, who highly endorses Biggs for the job. There are plenty of other characters raising suspicion and sending the reader down a blind alley.

While the dirty business of spying and secrecy is intriguing in its own right due to Watkins’ plot twists and turns, the chills have yet to be set in motion. There’s more than meets the eye regarding Biggs and Sullivan.

One of the best espionage thrillers around, I highly recommend booking passage to Istanbul.