The Friend

A Swedish diplomat gets caught in a terrorist conspiracy this "fresh, raw, and exciting" international espionage thriller by the author of The Believer (Sunday Times (London)).

"Thought-provoking… . . . Thriller fans who enjoy flawed, achingly human characters won't be able to put this one down." —Publishers Weekly

November 2015. Jacob Seger arrives in Lebanon eager to make the most of his internship at the Swedish embassy in Beirut. But when he meets the handsome and mysterious Yassim at a glamorous party his first night in the city, he is swept up into a passionate, obsessive affair that renders everything else in his life insignificant. When terrorist claims against Yassim are brought to light, Jacob must confront his role in a complicated game he is wholly unprepared to play. Unsure who to believe or trust, he knows only that he must flee Beirut—and fast.

Meanwhile in Sweden Klara Walldeen returns to the Stockholm archipelago to bury her beloved grandfather, her best friend Gabriella by her side. What should be a trip of mourning and solitude quickly turns perilous, however, when Gabi is arrested under suspicion of terrorist activity. After finding notes in Gabi's purse about a clandestine meeting with a young Swedish diplomat, Klara springs into action, determined to clear her friend's name.

Following Gabi's trail, Klara comes face-to-face with Jacob, as well as with George Loow, a suave lobbyist from her past to whom she finds herself inexorably drawn. Now Klara, George, and Jacob set off on a race across Europe to stop a pending terrorist attack—and get to the bottom of Yassim's true identity.

"Joakim Zander's prose style is razor sharp, perfect for thrillers. Brisk, present-tense sentences and tightly coiled dialogue. Overall, a great read." —Christopher Rice, New York Times–bestselling author