Intelligence operative Cat Powell has long been haunted by her best friend's final email-a message hinting at her unease with someone she had met. When the photograph of an unknown male is discovered in her belongings several years later, Cat sets out to determine his connection to her death. Suspecting that the man's mundane business is a front for illegal activity, Cat pushes to uncover the truth-and discovers more than she bargained for. As the body count mounts and evidence points to powerful forces intent on crippling American infrastructure, Cat and her team engage in a battle to avert a catastrophe. Set against the backdrop of the Yugoslav Wars of the early nineties, LM Reynolds' One Deliberate Act weaves a tale of deception, betrayal, and murder as a Russian master spy plots to destabilize America's position on the world stage.