LoveReading Says
LoveReading Says
One of our Books of the Year 2013.
This is another first-rate crime novel, perfect for fans of John le Carre, from an author who is establishing himself as the pre-eminent writer of the modern spy thriller. The soon to be head of MI6 goes missing and a disgraced ex-spy is approached to find her without the news of her disappearance becoming public knowledge. We were hooked!
April 2013 Book of the Month.
In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for A Foreign Country a small number of Lovereading members were lucky enough to be invited to review this title - 'A pacey read, with lots of plot twists and action to keep the pages turning...' - Catherine Humphris. Scroll down to read more reviews.
Winner of the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2012.
Charles Cumming said "For spy writers, the Steel Dagger is our Booker prize, so I'm thrilled to have won such a prestigious award. Some great writers have picked up the Steel Dagger, including Henry Porter, Dan Fesperman and Tom Rob Smith. I'm honoured to have joined their ranks."
CWA Judges' comment: “Contemporary spy thriller. Gripping premise, expertly sustained, lots of believable spycraft and memorable supporting characters.”
Winner of the Bloody Scotland Crime Book of the Year 2012.
For some further intrigue, click here to see The Trinity Six by the same author.
Sarah Broadhurst
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A Foreign Country Synopsis
Six weeks before she is due to take up her position as the first female head of MI6, Amelia Levene vanishes without a trace. Her disappearance is the gravest crisis MI6 has faced for more than a decade. There has been no ransom demand, no word from foreign intelligence services, no hint of a defection. Should news of Levene's disappearance leak out, the consequences would be catastrophic. But for disgraced MI6 officer Thomas Kell, the crisis offers a chance for redemption. He is approached by his former employers and ordered to find her. Kell's search takes him first to France, then North Africa, where he discovers an extraordinary secret hidden deep in Levene's past. it is a secret that could fatally compromise Britain's national security - and for which Kell could pay with his life. This is another first-rate intelligent thriller which will cement Cumming's reputation as one of the most engaging British novelists writing today.
About This Edition
Press Reviews
Charles Cumming Press Reviews
Praise for The Trinity Six:
'An utterly absorbing and compelling novel. A brilliant re-imagining of events surrounding the notorious Cambridge spy-ring
William Boyd, bestselling author of Restless
'Sheer excitement'
Daily Telegraph
'Often talked of as a potential heir to John le Carre, Cumming confirms here that he's a reliably classy storyteller ! an assured and richly enjoyable thriller'
Sunday Times
'Delicate and supremely controlled, this is a spy story to be savoured, not rushed'
Daily Mail
'Intriguing and serpentine, and will bolster Cumming's reputation as heir to Le Carre'
Guardian
'The most surprising thing about The Trinity Six is not how splendidly written it is, but that the author himself is young ! Sam is a memorable creation'
Independent
'A subtle and gripping addition to the ranks of espionage novels' i
'For thrills, it's hard to fault' Shortlist
Praise for Charles Cumming:
'From the first page to the last it has the ring of absolute authenticity. Tautly written, cleverly plotted...it reminded me strongly of the early books of John le Carre'
Robert Harris
'The master of the modern spy thriller'
Mail On Sunday
Author
About Charles Cumming
Charles Cumming was our Guest Editor in March 2013 - click here - to see the books that inspired his writing.
Charles Cumming was born in Scotland in 1971. He has been described as ‘the man who most successfully gets under the skin of Britain’s intelligence agencies’ (The Times). In the summer of 1995, he was approached for recruitment by the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6). A year later he moved to Montreal where he began working on a novel based on his experiences with MI6, and A Spy by Nature was published in the UK in 2001.
Author photo © Toby Madden
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