In The Courier: Death of an Illusion, protagonist Ann Vaughan reminds us that covert Soviet activity in the Cold War era could seduce even the most fervent patriotic American. We feel the thrill of Ann's growing expertise in spy-craft and we cringe with her in horror when her idealism crumbles in the face of undeniable wrongdoing. Ann's intimate life follows the political roller-coaster ride as she befriends a mysterious contact, then hides her history to give love a chance. The loyalties and betrayals haunt Ann for decades, her conscience daring her to come clean. In our post-Snowden age of Russian meddling in US. internal affairs, this story has frightening relevance.