The Peacock and the Sparrow

WINNER OF THE 2024 EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL

WINNER OF THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL THRILLER WRITERS AWARD FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL

WINNER OF THE 2024 BARRY BEST FIRST MYSTERY OR CRIME NOVEL AWARD

WINNER OF THE 2024 MACAVITY BEST FIRST MYSTERY AWARD

SHORTLISTED FOR THE ANTHONY AWARD FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL

NOMINATED FOR THE STRAND MAGAZINE BEST DEBUT MYSTERY OF THE YEAR

One of the "top spy novelists of the 21st Century"The Times

'Gritty, propulsive, dark and twisty' David McCloskey, author of Damascus Station

'It's fantastic, I loved it' Steve Cavanagh, author of Thirteen

'IS Berry's debut The Peacock and the Sparrow has been deservedly garlanded with high praise... rich in insider agency knowledge while its notably nuanced character development quickly draws the reader deeply in.' Adam Lebor, Financial Times

'..the most impressive debut of the year to date and a spy novel to rank alongside the best of Mick Herron's Slough House series.'The Irish Times

'Sensually atmospheric, deftly constructed and written with flair...immediately elevates IS Berry, a former CIA case officer, alongside David McCloskey and Paul Vidich.' John Dugdale, The Sunday Times

'Berry has all of le Carré's cynicism about Western intelligence services, and outsoars him in her ability to convincingly evoke a love affair against an espionage backdrop. This is a star in the making.' Jake Kerridge, The Daily Telegraph

'A cracking debut thriller'The New Yorker

'Sensational...feels like every inch of the real world of espionage' Alex Gerlis, author of Every Spy a Traitor

'I.S. Berry is at the vanguard of a new generation of American spy novelists who have electrified the genre.' Charles Cumming, author of Judas 62

The thrilling debut from author and former CIA officer I.S. Berry, following an American spy's last dangerous mission.

Shane Collins, a world-weary CIA spy, is ready to come in from the cold. Stationed in Bahrain for his final tour, he's anxious to dispense with his mission — uncovering Iranian support for the insurgency. But then he meets Almaisa, an enigmatic artist, and his eyes are opened to a side of Bahrain most expats never experience, to questions he never thought to ask.

When his trusted informant becomes embroiled in a murder, Collins finds himself drawn deep into the conflict, his romance and loyalties upended. In an instant, he's caught in the crosswinds of a revolution. He sets out to learn the truth behind the Arab Spring, win Almaisa's love, and uncover the murky border where Bahrain's secrets end and America's begin.

Now optioned for film by Scott Delman of Shadowfox productions (Producer of HBO Max hit series Station Eleven).

Genre: Thriller

"Not since The Spy Who Came in from the Cold has there been such a riveting and thought-provoking story of international espionage. In the tradition of John le Carre and Graham Greene, former spy Berry has woven a twisted, richly evocative tale--one that plunges the reader into the depths of the Arab Spring and the blackest recesses of human nature. A breathless tour-de-force that smuggles the reader form the souks of Bahrain to the simmering streets of Phnom Penh, Berry's debut delivers the perfect spy tale." - Ian Caldwell

"The Peacock and the Sparrow is that rare thing: a genuine page turner that also has something to say. A sharp, knowing look at today's CIA, with the moral complexities of the best spy fiction and a Persian Gulf setting so richly detailed and immediate you feel you could reach out and touch it. A remarkable debut." - Joseph Kanon