Throw Away the Key: A Novel

A former CIA locksmith turned glorified janitor is haunted by a botched Cold War operation with ramifications that extend to the present day. New York Times bestselling author Jason M. Hough pens a fast-paced thriller packed full of action, perfect for fans of Alma Katsu and David McCloskey. Lars Bergman is no ordinary janitor. He's the CIA's locksmith. Formerly part of the CIA's infamous Surreptitious Entry Team, Lars is now responsible for every padlock, safe, and secure door across the CIA headquarters. He's never met a lock he couldn't pick...except one, which he tried and failed to open during a botched mission in Warsaw at the end of the Cold War. Cruising toward retirement, Lars's life is upended when a senior CIA official dies and he's called upon to open the safe in her office. Inside the safe is a clue only Lars would notice, left by someone he'd worked with in his heyday. As he investigates, Lars soon realizes that his failed Warsaw operation has come back to haunt him and perhaps give him another chance at picking the one lock that's ever eluded him. What Lars doesn't realize is that what the lock is protecting could have dire ramifications for the organization he has spent his whole adult life safekeeping.

About the Author :
Jason M. Hough (pronounced "Huff") is the New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, including The Dire Earth Cycle, Instinct, and the near-future spy thriller Zero World, which Publishers Weekly called "a thrilling action rampage that confirms Hough as an important new voice in genre fiction." In a former life, Jason was a 3-D artist, animator, and game designer (Metal Fatigue, Aliens vs. Predator- Extinction, and many others). He has worked in the fields of high-performance cluster computing and mobile user interfaces and is named as coinventor on three patents related to mobile content and licensing. He lives near Seattle, Washington, with his family. When not writing, reading, or hanging out with his kids, he spends his time chasing espresso perfection (with mixed results) and taking long road trips in his electric car.

Review :
Praise for Throw Away the Key:
“[A] well-oiled espionage thriller . . . calls to mind the best of James Grady.”
—Publishers Weekly

“This amiable thriller unfolds humorously as Hough doles out the plot, through both past and present, in tiny revelations that gradually build to a dangerous situation.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Rarely have I had so much fun! Hough’s flawed locksmith—possessed of no special strength or martial prowess—is far more plausible than the average thriller protagonist, and it makes for a very relatable and entertaining read. Should Lars Bergman get in more trouble in the future, as seems likely, I will happily devour each and every adventure.”
—Kevin Hearne, New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Druid Chronicles

“Jason Hough once again gives us a taut, clever thriller with a fantastic hero, showing us how any skill becomes a superpower when you’re the best there is at it.”
—New York Times bestseller Peter Clines, author of God's Junk Drawer

Praise for Jason M. Hough:
“Twisty, funny, and downright delightful . . . grabbed me from the first page and refused to let go all the way through its rollicking climax.”
—Pierce Brown, New York Times #1 bestselling author of the Red Rising series

“Intense, and satisfying. I couldn't put this book down.”
—Hugh Howey - #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wool

“I would recommend this if you like action movies, if you like thrillers like Jason Bourne novels . . . I need moooooooore.”
—Felicia Day, actress and producer of Buffy and Supernatural (among others)

“One hell of an entertaining read. Hough continues to deliver white-knuckle books anchored by unusual and fascinating characters.”
—Kevin Hearne, New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Druid Chronicles

“There is no safe place to rest inside these pages, no lag in the full-throttle action . . . the only way out is forward.”
—Brian Staveley, author of the Emperor’s Blades series