A British playwright is caught in the political turmoil of an unnamed Eastern European country in the renowned author's early Cold War thriller.

When Yordan Delchev is charged with treason, Foster is dispatched to cover the proceedings for an American newspaper. As a West End playwright with no experience as a reporter, it's clear that they intend to capture the theatrics of what appears to be an Authoritarian show trial.

Accused of membership in the sinister Officer Corps Brotherhood and of masterminding a plot to assassinate his country's leader, Delchev's life and reputation are at stake. But when Foster meets Madame Delchev, the accused's powerful wife, he suddenly becomes enmeshed in more life-threatening intrigue than he could have imagined.