‘The Cormorant Hunt’ by Michael Idov

Published by Scribner,
21 May 2026.
ISBN: 978-1-66808228-7 (HB)

In December 2023 a journalist, famous for having released the so-called Harlow Dossier two years earlier, is killed in Prague.  The dossier had exposed damning evidence of a plot to rig Russia’s 1996 elections.  It also linked several murders, committed half a century later, to the original conspiracy. The broadcast featured the voice of a CIA boss who referred to the brains behind the plot simply as Cormorant.  Surprisingly, the journalist’s source was also CIA, a less senior agent called Ari Falk, who had long worried about the ethics of his profession.  The agency’s current top brass believed that they alone knew of Falk’s involvement, but the Prague murder suggests otherwise.  

It falls to Asha Tamaska, CIA’s Head of Covert Activities, to deal with the potential fall-out.  Falk has been off grid since the scandal broke, Tamaska needs to find him and chooses Jim Otterbeck, a third generation CIA agent, for the job.  Jim is a fastidious follower of rules whilst Falk is, as we already know, an unapologetic maverick.  The pair had clashed on a previous assignment and Otterbeck is delighted to be tasked with locating and bringing in the prodigal agent; the mission will not only exonerate his beloved CIA, but it won’t do his career any harm either!

Meanwhile, Falk is in Tbilisi where he realises that he will almost inevitably be framed for the reporter’s demise.  He has no choice but to return to the murky world of espionage and clear his name.  As Otterbeck prepares to seek his prey, Falk is already making tracks towards his new destination and thus begins an entertaining game of cat and mouse.

Whilst this unfolds, we are introduced to Felix Burnham, a successful and deeply unpleasant podcaster and self-proclaimed voice of alpha males everywhere.  Burnham’s followers are gullible and many.  Russian money enables his podcast to preach a fervent anti-western, anti-democratic message as Burnham begins to assemble a vile and violent “private army”.  As if she hasn’t enough on her plate, Asha Tamaska is also tasked with looking for ways to compromise the misogynist’s ever-increasing popularity.  It’s a complicated undertaking; she can’t be too heavy-handed because the agency is seen as unpopular, even untrustworthy, by a growing number of US citizens.  Thankfully Tamaska is a clear-thinking statistician, solution focused and happy to take on a challenge.

If the plot sounds complicated it is, and in a good way.  The narrative moves in one direction, only to do a quick about turn and introduce a delicious complication.  This proves to be as compelling and intriguing as the characters who are provocative, flawed and great to spend time with.  This includes Burnham – a despicable villain and a joy to detest.  The story ducks and weaves across a variety of countries, it even squeezes in a romantic liaison as it accelerates towards the dénouement.  The writer wears his understanding of espionage and complex socio-political knowledge lightly, no mean feat. 

The Cormorant Hunt is the second in Michael Idov’s trilogy and the novel works perfectly as a stand-alone.  The scope of this story is vast as it explores complex political and social themes in a stunning variety of locations.  There are twists and turns galore, hilarious one-liners, and a writing style that eases the reader into the intricacies of the intelligence service it depicts. 

Terrific fun and highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Dot Marshall-Gent

Michael Idov is a novelist, director, and screenwriter. A Latvian-born American raised in Riga under Soviet occupation, he moved to New York after graduating from the University of Michigan. Michael’s writing career began at New York magazine, where his features won three National Magazine Awards, and he has also been the editor-in-chief of GQ Russia. Michael has worked on numerous film and TV projects, including Londongrad, Deutschland 83, Leto, and The Humorist. He and his wife and screenwriting partner, Lily, divide their time between Los Angeles, Berlin, and Portugal. 

Dot Marshall-Gent worked in the emergency services for twenty years first as a police officer, then as a paramedic and finally as a fire control officer before graduating from King’s College, London as a teacher of English in her mid-forties.  She completed a M.A. in Special and Inclusive Education at the Institute of Education, London and now teaches part-time and writes mainly about educational issues.  Dot sings jazz and country music and plays guitar, banjo and piano as well as being addicted to reading mystery and crime fiction.