Rachel Kushner, author of The Flamethrowers and The Mars Room, is back with a literary spy novel, Creation Lake. In it, we meet former FBI agent Sadie Smith, who takes on undercover work in remote France. She is tasked with infiltrating a group of eco-activists who are planning to revolt against the construction of a proposed ‘megabasin’ in their town by corporate bigwigs and advocates of industrial farming. Her employers? A mystery. Her motive? An exorbitant sum of money.

The eco-activists are guided by a cave-dwelling elder, Bruno Lacombe, who claims he can hear the secrets of the universe from deep inside his dark cave. Sadie hacks into his emails, full of musings on Neanderthals and human history, which are regularly sent to the group’s leader, Pascal. Cynical Sadie does whatever it takes to infiltrate the group. She lies and manipulates those around her while laughing inwardly at Bruno’s philosophies. But the timer is ticking. Is Sadie’s own belief system as impenetrable as she thinks it is?

Kushner loves writing a tough-chick protagonist. This time around, there’s a heavier dose of nihilism with a touch of misanthropy, and some incredibly sardonic humour.

Readers who got a sick satisfaction out of reading Michel Houellebecq’s Serotonin and Guy Debord’s The Society of the Spectacle might gravitate towards Creation Lake for another hit of French politics, society and critical theory. Fans of Annie Ernaux’s The Years will also appreciate Kushner’s artful prose and her eye for historical account.

Kushner subverts the typical spy novel and constructs an intriguing narrative with nuanced characters and an ending that reminds us of our chaotic world. Do we really know what’s going to happen next? Kushner doesn’t think so.