A directionless graduate finds himself ensnared in a high-stakes game of industrial espionage after failing to secure a formal position within British Intelligence. Alec Milius, a recent London School of Economics graduate, accepts a covert assignment to infiltrate a rival American oil firm under the guidance of MI6. As he navigates the complex social dynamics of his targets, Fortner Grice and Katharine Simms, he realizes he is merely a pawn in a larger geopolitical struggle between intelligence agencies. The narrative, presented with a focus on the psychological toll of deception, tracks his descent into a world where corporate interests and state security collide with lethal consequences.

This novel is frequently noted for its grounded approach to the spy genre, moving away from high-octane action toward the bureaucratic and psychological realities of intelligence work. Readers often highlight the protagonist's development from an aimless youth into a compromised operative as a central strength of the narrative. The prose is characterized by its clinical observation of the tradecraft involved in modern corporate spying. The work is generally regarded as a sophisticated entry in the genre that prioritizes authenticity and character study over traditional thriller tropes.