★★★★★ Dr.Stephan Teichmann. 22.05.2023 amazon.de

The Kingfisher is a cool, small hunting bird, with a beautiful plumage and as such serves as a perfect code name for Cold War espionage. Grace Elliot is a journalist for an American tabloid and ghost writing a column for Elena Craig, divorced trophy wife of Anthony Craig, a successful business running for President in the upcoming 2016 US-election. Czech-born Elena herself is a successful business woman and invites Grace to travel with her to Prague, where Grace is intrigued by the small glimpse that Elena allows her to see from her past, which is the not very inspiring bleak concrete apartment block, where she lived with her parents, when she was a small girl. Grace somehow voices her idea to write a book about Elena’s life, which meets strong resistance from Elena. And there are obviously other forces that road block any investigation into Elena’s upbringing and model career in the US, up to the marriage with Anthony Craig. The story is becoming interesting for the journalist, as Grace’s shadowy opponents make life it clear that they are not just looking on while she is investigating. The chapters of the story alternate between the past and the making of Elena Craig and the present in 2016 with Grace trying to fathom Elena’s true story. There is a strong resemblance with actual living characters and if this is just fiction or carries a hint of truth, we will probably never know. Unless a real Mrs. Craig is willing to publish her memoirs. Interesting plot, the writing is a bit shallow.