Los Alamos

The novel opens with the murder of a Manhattan Project security officer at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1945, and a former intelligence agent is dispatched to investigate whether espionage is involved. The story unfolds amid the secrecy and paranoia of the atomic bomb program under J. Robert Oppenheimer's direction.

Yes, Los Alamos won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. The recognition helped launch Kanon's career as a prominent author of historical espionage fiction alongside writers like Alan Furst.

While the central murder is fictional, Kanon researched the Manhattan Project extensively and weaves in real historical context about the Los Alamos laboratory, the security apparatus, and the espionage fears of the period. The atmosphere of secrecy reflects documented concerns about Soviet penetration of the bomb program.

Readers who enjoy Los Alamos often seek out Kanon's other historical spy novels such as The Good German, set in postwar Berlin, and The Defectors, about Cold War espionage. His work is frequently compared to that of Alan Furst and John le Carré for its blend of real history and fictional intrigue.