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When a marriage shatters, even love becomes dangerous.

Hector Kane is a man unraveling. The death of his only son has left him and Yubi—his brilliant, distant, spiritually drifting wife—living as strangers under the same roof. A year without intimacy has twisted his longing into something he barely recognizes: a mix of grief, desire, resentment, and guilt.

Then the CIA drags him into one last assignment: escort a group of students to a surreal, intoxicating island in Southeast Asia, a place so beautiful it borders on the unreal. When Yubi insists on joining him, Hector—too tired to argue and still hoping for the faintest chance of healing—agrees to bring her along.

But the island doesn’t mend anything—it exposes every fracture.

A Saudi prince contacts Hector with a revelation that detonates his world: Yubi, he claims, is a Chinese spy—and she hasn’t been faithful. The accusation strikes at everything Hector still clings to, igniting a storm of doubt, lust, rage, and misplaced hope.

With no one he can trust—not the CIA, not foreign intelligence, not even his own memory—Hector is forced into a maze of half-truths and moral ambiguity. The island’s haze begins to seep into every decision, every desire, every suspicion.

As the mission spirals into deception and danger, Hector must face the darkest parts of himself—and the woman he still loves—before the truth destroys them both.

A psychological espionage thriller about broken people, wounded marriages, and the thin line between love, desire, and betrayal.

"Engrossing... Hawkes keeps the twists coming... Fans of superior post–Cold War spy fiction will be satisfied." — Publishers Weekly

“A knotty and satisfying tale of action, drama, and secrets.” — Kirkus Reviews

“With its relentless pace, smart plot, and top-notch writing, The Haze makes for a most appealing and compelling read… The Haze is a must-read for fans of Spy Stories and is recommended without reservation.” — Book Viral

“A thoroughly enjoyable contemporary spy novel recommended to fans of the well-known ‘heavy hitter’ espionage writers.” — Reedsy