A Drop of Courage

A Drop of Courage is a historical political thriller set during one of the twentieth century’s most turbulent turning points. As the old assumptions about East and West give way to confusion and danger, competing criminal, political, and intelligence networks pursue their own dark agendas against the backdrop of the collapsing Soviet system.

A memorable cast of allies and adversaries gather around Alex: loyal activists from Brighton, an enigmatic underworld figure, rigid Soviet bureaucrats, and humane policemen. Alongside determined Estonian patriots fighting for their freedom, he must also evade relentless IRA pursuers whose own mission intersects with his in increasingly lethal ways.

In a world where no one possesses the whole truth, survival depends less on force than on trust, improvisation, and the willingness to cooperate with unlikely allies. As Estonia moves toward independence, friends vanish, loyalties shift, and Alex finds himself caught in a reality where no one seems to know who is truly in charge.

Rich in authentic atmosphere, the novel explores friendship, courage, and moral compromise, asking a fundamental question: What do ordinary people do when the institutions around them begin to fail?

Following Lamb to the Slaughter, this second Alex Martin novel continues a series where meticulously researched historical events provide the backdrop to deeply compelling fiction. It is the perfect read for fans of international crime fiction, espionage, and the dramatic final years of the USSR.