If I Should Spy Before I Wake — Sara M. Barton

Inspired by a now-declassified United States government-funded research program to test psychic skills....What is so special about student Maddy Walker in 1978 that makes the Inner Sanctum of Atlantis psychics so determined to recruit her? Is it a plot to use her in a government-sanctioned psychic spy research program or is it part of a 50-year Soviet plan in 1950 to penetrate the U.S. government? Are the psychics really able to read minds and move objects with their thoughts? The answer chases Maddy, a budding psychologist, through the next 3 decades of classified secrets, deep cover ops, and spies. Introduced to the so-called psychics by her psychology professor, Dr. Ben Pynchon, expert on mystical transient death experiences, Maddy observes the psychological coercion used on dissenters and non-believers, and her concern only grows with time and exposure to the indoctrination efforts. Pursued by a well-hidden Soviet spy network that targets Vietnam War vets and college students, Maddy is drawn into a world that doesn't play fair. Using psychological games, propaganda, and covert ops, the spy network works to achieve their goals of transforming the US government, and once caught in their web, Maddy finds her life forever changed. Now Maddy has to find a way to survive, even as the Inner Sanctum works hard to control every aspect of her life, in order to maximize their opportunities to gather defense secrets. No US government agency is safe from the long reach of the well-funded, well-connected spy network. Leaving a trail of victims and dead bodies in their wake, they make progress, thanks to a cooperative Congressman and his staff. It won't be easy to contain the damage to national security. How far will the bad guys get before they're stopped?