Secret Service
Written by Tom Bradby — With a plot that would have seemed far-fetched just a few years ago, Tom Bradby’s latest political thriller feels like it could have been ripped from the headlines. Deception, betrayal and the ethical vulnerability that compromise Western political leaders are…
The Spy and the Traitor
Written by Ben Macintyre — A pal of espionage master John Le Carré, Ben Macintyre just about mirrors the novelist’s gift for writing compelling characters and page-turning narrative to the nonfiction realm. This book, subtitled The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War, is based…
The Silent War
Written by Andreas Norman, translated by Ian Giles — Andreas Norman’s second novel is a hybrid – equal parts espionage thriller and domestic noir. Things get underway when Bente Jensen, head of Swedish Intelligence in Brussels, receives information which puts into question her country’s co-operation with…
The Drop
Mick Herron’s latest novella goes some way to satisfying the cravings of fans of his Slough House espionage novels who have already devoured last year’s London Rules and are eagerly awaiting the next novel, which won’t arrive until June. This short tale of duplicity within…
The Drop by Mick Herron
The Jackson Lamb series of satirical espionage novels have gained an impressive readership, and garnered considerable critical praise. Set in contemporary London, they feature a group of MI6 outcasts who, despite their failings, somehow manage to get their superiors out of the fire. Beginning with…
Firefly
Written by Henry Porter — These are interesting times. Trump and Brexit dominate the headlines, and there are so many other bad things going on in the world. Crime fiction can provide wonderful escapist entertainment for those with news fatigue, but it can also illuminate important…