The explosive inside story of the most daring act of sabotage in modern history: the bombing of the $20 billion Nord Stream Pipeline. Written by the award-winning Chief European Political Correspondent of the Wall Street Journal. A Financial Times Book to Look Out For in 2026. - In September 2022, Scandinavian seismologists detected what seemed to be a huge undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption. These signals were caused by several devastating explosions that destroyed Nord Stream, the $20 billion pipeline carrying cheap Russian gas to Europe under the Baltic Sea. The mysterious blasts shifted global geopolitics, disrupted European economies and triggered a manhunt that strained relations within the NATO alliance. Despite capturing the imagination of millions, the mystery of who blew up the pipeline has so far gone unsolved - was it the CIA? Was it part of the shadow war between Russia and the West? Could Putin himself have been behind it? Drawing on years of first-hand reporting and exclusive access to key players - including the saboteurs, the investigators and high-level intelligence - this deeply reported non-fiction thriller by an award-winning Wall Street Journal correspondent reveals the true story behind one of the most remarkable geopolitical mysteries of our time. ‘Totally fascinating and deeply researched. As compelling as an international spy thriller that follows a winding thread through a submerged world of conspiracy - both a fantastic read and an important work of investigation.’ - Simon Sebag Montefiore. ‘A truly riveting account of the most notorious act of sabotage in modern history. Pancevski combines investigative flair with geopolitical insight to illuminate not only how the Nord Stream pipelines were destroyed, but why they matter so profoundly to Europe's energy, security and political future. A real-life page turner.’ - Peter Frankopan.