The Collaborators is a clever espionage thriller that is steeped in the memory of opposition leader Alexei Navalny: Russian security goons hunt down dissident bloggers who mock and expose Kremlin corruption online; Novichok is their preferred poison. This is Cold War espionage Putin-style, pitting Russian intelligence officers, apparatchiks, and propagandists against C.I.A. agents and their sources. The story is fast-paced and suspenseful but also believable, possibly because the author knows the setting all too well. Michael Idov, an American journalist and screenwriter, was born in Latvia during the Soviet era and worked for a time in Moscow as the editor of GQ Russia. He captures the rhythms and contradictions of contemporary Russian life as well as the paranoia and dark humor. Most importantly, he understands human nature, which, as John le Carré and so many others have proved, is as important to espionage as tradecraft. ($29, simonandschuster.com) —Alessandra Stanley

We know and love Boden for its kids clothing, but I’ve recently discovered their women’s collection—and it’s a secret I’m almost hesitant to share. The British brand’s basics are solid (think cashmere crews in every color for just $150), but it’s the playful side that truly shines. Vibrant Fair Isle patterns and bold color-blocked knits inject some fun into your wardrobe without going overboard. The pieces are easy to wear and not too precious—ideal for park days with the kids (furry or human) or running errands—but polished enough to pair effortlessly with that Prada skirt you’ve been waiting to wear to dinner.($220, bodenusa.com) —Jen Noyes

The Somerset Collection, in Troy, Michigan (on the outskirts of Detroit), is technically a shopping mall. But it’s really more of a style emporium, and now there’s a new jewel in its crown. Prada has opened a 4,250-square-foot boutique there, just in time for the holiday shopping season. There will be many familiar touches, especially the signature green shade and the black-and-white checkered marble floor, which is an homage to the house’s original store in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. But there are plenty of discoveries to be had as well, including the latest ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes, and accessories for men and women—some of which include the leopard print that the style set has, so far, been unable to resist. (thesomersetcollection.com) —Ashley Baker

Anyone who has spent a serious amount of time in Lower Manhattan over the past 30 years thinks of Cafe Gitane as an old friend. Now a beautiful new scrapbook commemorates and celebrates the French-Moroccan café’s story as well as that of its owner, Luc Lévy. Cafe Gitane: 30 Years (published and sold exclusively by McNally Jackson) was written by Isobel Lola Brown and photographed by Melanie Dunea. The book also includes interviews with regulars such as Norman Reedus, Supreme founder James Jebbia, and photographers Inez & Vinoodh. Produced in a limited edition of 1,000 copies, it’s an ideal gift for any downtown denizen. Especially since it also reveals the recipes for some of its most celebrated dishes: avocado toast, spicy meatball tagine, and Moroccan couscous, for starters. ($150, mcnallyjackson.com) —Ashley Baker

From a history of The New York Times to the Mafia and sex in America, the work of Gay Talese knows no bounds. I have read the author’s classic profile of Frank Sinatra so many times that I felt I was coming down with a cold myself. But New York has always been his richest subject. A new collection of Talese’s best reporting on the city, A Town Without Time, shows his extraordinary range: from the steelworkers who built the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to the famed parties in George Plimpton’s apartment. There is a wonderful introduction by Alex Vadukul—a New York Times features writer who specializes in New York City—where we learn that Talese does not think the Sinatra piece is his best magazine story. That distinction belongs to “Mr. Bad News,” a 1966 profile of Alden Whitman, then the chief obituary writer for The New York Times. As the kicker for his story, Talese asks Whitman to write his own obituary. ($29.99, harpercollins.com) —Jim Kelly

We all know that our smartphones track us, but do we really know to what extent? Ronan Farrow does. After becoming the target of cyber-surveillance while reporting on Harvey Weinstein, the Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist—and son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen—took matters into his own hands. He began investigating the billion-dollar commercial-spyware industry, traveling to Tel Aviv, Barcelona, and New York to understand how our phones are monitored. Turns out, it’s worse than we thought. In Surveilled, Farrow uncovers how companies such as NSO Group operate with minimal oversight, selling spyware capable of hacking and controlling the devices of 450 million people (think activists, reporters, and politicians) without their knowledge. Directed by Perri Peltz and Matthew O’Neill, the documentary unveils the secrets, dangers, and staggering scale of this covert world behind our screens. (play.max.com) —Jeanne Malle