"A Zhukov Evening" is a post-Cold War epic. History is resurgent, and ambitions are flaming among contenders for dominance in Northeast Asia in the 21st century. Vital national interests of Russia, China, Japan and the United States are at stake. Military confrontations emerge and the spectre of nuclear war looms.

Sy Raskin is stung by the news of Bonney Herrsch's death-and then perplexed by his obituary. Raskin had known the long-time intelligence operative for forty years. Herrsch was Raskin's mentor, and they'd shared risks and danger. But in all that time Herrsch never mentioned a family. He had died in Switzerland and been buried on an estate there-another surprise.

Herrsch led an OSS team on an operation at the time of the Normandy invasion. Shortly after the three operatives parachuted into eastern France, the Germans were onto them. They had been betrayed, as had the men they'd be sent to replace. Eluding the pursuing German troops, Herrsch made it into Switzerland. Raskin knew about this history, but knew nothing more about a Swiss connection.

Now Raskin is determined to uncover his friend's past. He enlists the assistance of Fritz Kohl and Alex Fletcher, two former CIA analysts who were briefly acquaintances of Herrsch. The trio follows a trail that leads them to Switzerland-and to dumbfounding revelations about Bonney Herrsch's extraordinary life.

Sy Raskin is stung by the news of Bonney Herrsch's death-and then perplexed by his obituary. Raskin had known the long-time intelligence operative for forty years. Herrsch was Raskin's mentor, and they'd shared risks and danger. But in all that time Herrsch never mentioned a family. He had died in Switzerland and been buried on an estate there-another surprise.

Herrsch led an OSS team on an operation at the time of the Normandy invasion. Shortly after the three operatives parachuted into eastern France, the Germans were onto them. They had been betrayed, as had the men they'd be sent to replace. Eluding the pursuing German troops, Herrsch made it into Switzerland. Raskin knew about this history, but knew nothing more about a Swiss connection.

Now Raskin is determined to uncover his friend's past. He enlists the assistance of Fritz Kohl and Alex Fletcher, two former CIA analysts who were briefly acquaintances of Herrsch. The trio follows a trail that leads them to Switzerland-and to dumbfounding revelations about Bonney Herrsch's extraordinary life.

"A Zhukov Evening" is a post-Cold War epic. History is resurgent, and ambitions are flaming among contenders for dominance in Northeast Asia in the 21st century. Vital national interests of Russia, China, Japan and the United States are at stake. Military confrontations emerge and the spectre of nuclear war looms.