A tense thriller that starts with the discovery of an explosive Russian document in Washington in 2014 and wends its way through Europe and Southeast Asia, as well as the Gorbachev-era Soviet Union, to a stunning climax in Vladimir Putin’s Moscow.

by Philip Lazar 
Page Count: 240
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Publish Date: March 3, 2025
Imprint: The Agency Books
Genre: Fiction

FICTION / Thrillers / Crime  
FICTION / Thrillers / Espionage
FICTION / Mystery & Detective / International Crime & Mystery

Reviews

An intricately plotted tale set against the modern world of media and soft espionage. Startlingly realistic, brilliantly told, gripping, and cautionary, The Tiger and the Bear dives into the ruthless world of Russian interference and high-stakes political machinations. And the cherry on top: an ending that will shock you and leave you breathless.

–I.S. Berry, Edgar Award-winning author of The Peacock and the Sparrow

The Tiger and the Bear is the best sort of spy novel: a rollicking, globe-trotting adventure filled with intrigue, espionage, and mayhem. Philip Lazar has concocted a brilliant story about the race to unravel a Russian conspiracy and the price paid by those in search of the truth. Highly recommended. 

–David McCloskey, former CIA analyst and internationally bestselling author of The Seventh Floor

Philip Lazar’s The Tiger and the Bear explores the shadowy intersection of journalism, espionage and politics. His novel has the gritty, mysterious feel of Graham Greene and the political timeliness of Daniel Silva or David Ignatius. He takes us from the urine-soaked stairwells of Moscow to the sticky back alleys of Southeast Asia, and inside the boozy relationships in Washington where everything is not what it seems. In the process he provides a story that is at the same time, hard-to-believe and authentic.

–John Sipher, 28-year veteran of the CIA’s clandestine service. Cofounder of Spycraft Entertainment film production company.

Little is what it seems in this expert, fast-paced thriller down to its devastating conclusion. The Tiger and the Bear is remarkably credible as it hops from Capitol Hill to Europe and Southeast Asia, reflecting a craftsmanship in the marshaling of its gripping material.

–John Burton, former Financial Times foreign correspondent

Philip Lazar has produced a fast-paced, page-turning, taut tale of an American newsman in pursuit of a scoop with a global war the possible outcome. The book is set in Washington, D.C. – someone in Russia is playing a dangerous game. The story centers around a document that needs verification and threatens to change the map of Asia.  This story of espionage has all the usual suspects; The CIA, NSA, FSB, and a self-serving Washington journalist seeking a Pulitzer Prize. Lazar’s novel abounds in twists, turns, and spy tradecraft bouncing to Rome, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, and Moscow.  It ends in an unexpected turn; it is a cautionary and timely tale. I highly recommend it.

–Barry Broman: retired senior office of the Clandestine Service of the CIA and author of The Spy From Sukhumvit Road

The Tiger and the Bear is an old-school thriller fit for the 21st century that sucks the reader into the deadly arts of espionage and the harsh realities of frontline journalism. With an insightful knowledge of global affairs and life inside Southeast Asia’s most difficult countries, Lazar delivers a compelling read.

–Luke Hunt, Southeast Asia Correspondent, The Diplomat

A ripped-from-the-headlines spy novel that cleverly conjures the behind the scenes elements of media machinations in the nation's capital. Lazar's story starts slow, but as the plot begins to unfold, and the action moves from one realistically rendered overseas location to another, the pace picks up. By the closing chapters, as the bodies start to pile up, the narrative is speeding like a bobsleigh around the dramatic plot twists that keep the reader guessing until the last page. 

–Shaun Waterman , national security reporter