ANNA RESNIKOV

       Anna Resnikov is a freelance agent.
       Aged 29 when the story told in the first book of the series commences, shortly after the election of Boris Yeltsin in what was becoming the new Russia, Resnikov was the youngest KGB agent to reach the rank of Colonel. While some might whisper that her position was because of her father's influence, she suffered no doubts that she had earned her rank and her stature.
       Resnikov's mother was the daughter of the Soviet's leading economist, a man that the Politburo listened to carefully and who was wise enough to never tell them things they did not want to hear. Her father was a prominent agent with the KGB's prestigious First Directorate, a man who taught her well that good agents were often the real power in any government.
       With her grandfather's and her father's different occupations but similar access to luxuries most Russians never dreamt of, Resnikov might have grown up spoiled and lazy but her grandmother took charge of her upbringing and made sure the young girl was solidly grounded. When she decided to follow her father into the spy business, it was with a determination to succeed on her own. Power given by someone else, she learned, can be taken away but that which was inside her was hers to keep.
       The series about Resnikov is one of a survivor who meets a British agent and falls in love with him while the two uncover secrets that some very powerful people want kept hidden. Together they bring down a huge conspiracy but it has its cost in her lover and in her career.
       As the series continues, she is given a chance for a new life in the West but she often finds that keeping what she has means doing chores for MI6 and later the CIA. She is very good at these chores and though she does not particularly like doing them, she is too good to not be asked and too smart to not say yes.

       What a delightful series this is. Mr. Dryden's words flow so easily and smoothly that the pages fly by. The main character feels like she is telling me the story without unnecessary words but without leaving anything important out. I quickly grew to enjoy her presence and to look forward to more about her. Luckily we have 4 terrific adventures. Unluckily, there are only 4 adventures.
       I have seen more than one listing talk of this as the Finn series, referring to the British agent Resnikov meets, works with, falls in love with, and then leaves her homeland with. However, Finn does not stay beyond the first book and there is little doubt from the first words that that is likely going to be the case. After that it is Ms. Resnikov and she never stops being a delight to follow.