Prologue –  Moscow – 2023:   Ivan Volkov Moscow – receives messages re spying in space and possible war – satellites have become dangerous in Russia’s war in Ukraine.  Ivan has lost his father and his son because Russia is now a bad place and very dangerous. He types a note revealing the plans for a satellite – or to sabotage US satellites .

Phantom Orbit
By David Ignatius
2024
Read by Eduardo Ballerini 9h 56m
Rating: A / sci-fi-spy 

Then the story turns to much earlier days when Ivan was getting his education and to when he met Edith Ryan,  a young American scientist. They met as foreign students in China.  This is after the USSR has fallen and gross capitalism has taken its place – it goes right up to when they’re bombing Ukraine.  Everyone suspects trickery and theft or worse as that’s quite often what happens. 

I enjoyed this. It’s pretty suspenseful and it keeps you guessing until the end, but I wouldn’t say it’s up to the level of “thriller.” I think I needed the little change of pace.