All the Old Knives, Olen Steinhauer

Carmel, California: the waitress seats two former colleagues, a still-pretty woman wearing a wedding ring and a careworn older man at the only non-reserved table in the overpriced restaurant. The couple, Henry and Celia, used to be lovers but this isn’t a cozy catch-up.

Henry is CIA, Celia used to be; until a disastrous airplane hijacking put the Vienna office under a microscope. Personally and professionally Henry and the rest of his team barely survived the fallout. Now, six years later, rumours of a mole have resurfaced and Henry has been sent to question everyone involved and bury the case once and for all.

Tonight’s meal comes with a side of revenge and betrayal.