After some recent reading disappointments, I turned to one of my favourite authors - Simon Mawer. And I'm happy to say. He did not disappoint. It's the writing style I appreciate. He doesn't rush ioward the dramatic moments. Rather letting the weight of what might come to emerge.
And Tightrope is the difficult line that Marian Sutro walks. She returns from captivity under the Nazis, in the concentration camp at Ravensbrück. Only to find the world has changed. Former allies are now enemies, atomic secrets rule the world, and Marian needs to walk a thin line between Soviet and British intelligence services, while using her sexuality as a means to find what she needs. That includes herself.
Only halfway through the book, I realised this is actually the second book. The Girl Who Fell from the Sky comes first. I don't think it matters. The story, and more importantly Marian's character study - stands on its own.