A Spy in the Struggle by Aya de León

A Spy in the Struggle

by Aya de León 

Paperback, 352 pages

Published December 29th 2020 by Kensington Books

Goodreads synopsis: 

Winner of the International Latino Book Award, Aya de Leon, returns with a thrilling and timely story of feminism, climate, and corporate justice—as one successful lawyer must decide whether to put everything on the line to right the deep inequities faced in one under-served Bay Area, California community.

Since childhood, Yolanda Vance has forged her desire to escape poverty into a laser-like focus that took her through prep school and Harvard Law. So when her prestigious New York law firm is raided by the FBI, Yolanda turns in her corrupt bosses to save her career—and goes to work for the Bureau. Soon she's sent undercover at Red, Black, and Green—an African-American “extremist” activist group back in her California college town. They claim a biotech corporation fueled by Pentagon funding is exploiting the neighborhood. But Yolanda is determined to put this assignment in her win column, head back to corporate law, and regain her comfortable life...

Until an unexpected romance opens her heart—and a suspicious death opens her eyes. Menacing dark money forces will do anything to bury Yolanda and the movement. Fueled by memories of who she once was—and what once really mattered most—how can she tell those who’ve come to trust her that she’s been spying? As the stakes escalate, and one misstep could cost her life, Yolanda will have to choose between betraying the cause of her people or invoking the wrath of the country’s most powerful law enforcement agency.

***

4.5 stars

This is a contemporary thriller by Aya de Leon.

I am wondering if this book will be the first one in a series. It has series potential, that is for sure! Yolanda has been struggling to find her place in the world. She got her law degree but her firm gets raided by the FBI and her career goes into the toilet. She ends up finding a job at the FBI using her law degree but the pay isn’t as good as it could have been. Then she gets transferred to another location in order to place her inside what they deem an African American extremist group. Of course, it isn’t that at all. She finds a great guy while jogging whom she doesn’t realize until later is part of this group.

This is a beautiful story of looking for identity and finding connection in the most unlikely of places. I loved how the teens were so respectful and the adults were looking for ways to make things better for them.

I enjoyed seeing this through Yolanda’s eyes. She was in a difficult position. It was almost as if her life had prepared her for this exact situation. I think a lot of people are like Yolanda. Life is hard but they find their way in the end.

If you like a good contemporary thriller, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.