A Killer of Spies by J. Warren Weaver is an outstanding suspense thriller. Erik is a second-year medical student who is traumatized by the murder of his grandfather, Victor. Erik and his family are on holiday in Europe and on their way to Oslo to spread his grandfather’s ashes. A mysterious woman makes contact with him in Berlin. She knows who Erik is and claims that she and Victor were friends. She had given Victor evidence of a terrible crime for him to hide. She needs the evidence to clear her name as the suspected Stasi killer and bring the actual killer to justice. The woman is killed, and Erik is framed for her murder. Erik must decipher his grandfather's ledger to find the hidden evidence. Influential people are after this proof, and Erik is on the run for his life.

J. Warren Weaver delivers a compelling read, and I was engaged from the first page until the end. A Killer of Spies was suspenseful and intriguing. There was never a dull moment with all the action. It was fast-paced and never felt rushed. I was on the edge of my seat, turning pages. There was a surprise waiting around every corner. So many different events took place without the thread of the story being lost. The events were descriptive, and it was easy to experience all the exciting action. The characters are authentic, with complex qualities and attitudes. I could identify with them and feel their emotions. Erik was my favorite and he never shied away from danger. It was exceptionally well written and executed, and it exceeded my expectations.

A Killer of Spies is the second installment in the Shadow of a Spy trilogy by J. Warren Weaver. The story of Erik continues as he decides to put a hold on his education and take a trip to Europe to give his dead grandfather Victor a proper sendoff. However, he is not expecting to have his life further complicated by the ghosts of his grandfather’s past. When Monika Martin approaches him about some evidence his grandfather kept hidden for her about a serial killer, Erik doesn’t think anything of it. But when her body is found in a dumpster, and he becomes a suspect in her murder, Erik knows he is again caught in a mess. With the authorities hot on his heels, Erik is hounded by merciless mercenaries who also want the evidence Monika Martin is after. On the run again, Erik is on borrowed time as he tries to stay alive while deciphering the code for Victor’s ledger. But does the ledger have the answer?

A thrilling tale of suspense and mystery, A Killer of Spies had me biting my nails and holding my breath as Erik raced against time to crack the ledger open. The opening scene is fantastic. It starts with Erik’s confusion and desperation as he is unable to understand why he is handcuffed and questioned. From there, everything goes downhill for Erik. He is hounded and has dangerous people sniffing at his heels for one mistake. The pace is neck-breaking at times, but it all adds to the experience and directly reflects Erik’s progress. Even though I didn’t read the previous novel in the series, I was hooked on Erik’s journey from the beginning. The dialogues are fun to read, but nothing could have prepared me for the intensity of the descriptions. I felt like I was right beside Erik as he ran, screamed, and cried to survive. As I finished it, I was already anticipating the next installment in the series.