LoveReading Says
Simply fabulous. ‘A Divided Spy’ slices through theatrics and pierces the essential heart of a spy thriller. This is the third in the ‘Thomas Kell’ series, yet my first, and I found it could be read perfectly as a standalone novel. I will definitely nab a copy of the first two, as I forgot I was in reviewing mode and just disappeared into Thomas Kell’s world. The former MI6 officer is seeking revenge, his chance comes when he attempts to recruit a Russian agent, however the small matter of a potential terrorist attack interrupts his personal vendetta. Charles Cumming has won a number of prestigious awards, his writing is subtly powerful, and so very very readable. The terror plot made my mind flinch as it bit with daunting intensity, it felt honest and substantially real. Superbly crafted, ‘A Divided Spy’ weaves a powerful and thrilling web of political intrigue and game playing, and I highly recommend it.
Liz Robinson
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Charles Cumming Press Reviews
Praise for A Divided Spy:
'Wonderful stuff - Charles Cumming is the one true heir to John Le Carre and Ian Fleming. A Divided Spy is an intelligent, high-octane thriller that is as contemporary as tomorrow's headlines. Nobody documents life in the shadows quite as brilliantly as Charles Cumming - the new spymaster on the block.'
Tony Parsons, author of The Murder Bag
'A DIVIDED SPY is Charles Cumming's best work yet. I read it in two sittings'
Adam Rutherford
Praise for A Foreign Country:
'We are in Smiley country, but with extra 21st century nuance ... Cumming has an exquisite touch and we should treasure him'
Daily Mail
'A thriller that has everything you could ask for - a twisty, sexy plot, topical themes, memorable characters and plentiful spy lore'
Sunday Times, Books of the Year
'Refreshing, plausible and effective ... Best of all is the sheer pace of the narrative'
Spectator
'You are likely to be up for most of the night to find out how this novel ends. It grips from the first page ... A fast-moving treat'
The Scotsman
Praise for Charles Cumming:
'Charles Cumming is a man put on this earth to perpetuate the spy thriller'
Daily Telegraph
'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
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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