A Position of Trust

Throughout Hart's novel of espionage, the focus remains on the desperate, single-minded maneuverings of Jocelyn (Joss) Coast, a British intelligence agent. Relying on his studied charm, Joss has kept the trust of his superiors and co-workers through the years while he hands over secrets to the KGB. Now aware that a top Soviet operative is defecting to the U.S., Joss invents ploys to protect his cover and to prevent the Russian's revelations to the CIA. When his superiors learn of a traitor in their midst, Joss plants evidence incriminating an innocent colleague, a close friend, who dies of a heart attack when questioned. Similarly, the traitor abuses his relationships with his divorced wife and other women; he even drives himself to murder as the net tightens around him. The author's powerful drama holds one riveted to events in the life of a flawed human in extremis, who elicits pity as well as contempt. December 31