28th October 2023

This is an odd spy novel in which for a long time I wasn’t sure that much was happening. I’m still not quite sure I follow what happened either.

It’s a story of two brothers, who have very different relationships with their father, who in turn is killed in suspicious circumstances. Between them, they are drawn into his life as a spy from different ends.

It’s definitely a captivating narrative, despite the confusion. I raced through it and enjoyed the characters and the moments between them.

However the book feels surprisingly dated for something only 20 years old. There’s a total lack of diversity in the cast, and the only female character is presented in a way which feels very uncomfortable to a modern reader. The lack of technology really stands out, and I wonder if perhaps this will become more readable on that front in another 29 years as it becomes more of a period piece.

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24th December 2022

Charles Cumming’s first spy novel is an interesting take on the genre. It opens classically, then very quickly pivots into a new direction and feels like it skips over a key chapter, leaving the reader to wonder what’s going on.

I was quite gripped, keen to find out what was going on, and raced through to a conclusion that I’m still not sure how I feel about.

I don’t think it’s as good as his later novels which I’ve already read, but I suppose that’s not unexpected.

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16th August 2020

The third Thomas Kell novel is an interesting one. Everything that happens is a follow-up to what’s gone before, so it wouldn’t work as a standalone read, and my memory of the second book was a bit patchy and probably could have done with more of a refresher than this book gave.

Kell is surprised when an opportunity for revenge appears in front of him, and naturally he snaps it up. In keeping with the previous novels, it is really good at being a spy novel - the action moves at a decent pace and it keeps my attention reasonably well.

My struggle with this novel though is that it felt a bit light on plot. There are two plot lines, but it almost feels like one of them is the story that Cummings wants to tell, and the other is just there to add a bit more excitement to it, and so the two don’t feel well balanced or blended.

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29th July 2019

The second Thomas Kell novel sees the exiled former spy called back into action when his former boss suspects one of their colleagues of being a mole, leaking intelligence to Russia.

As with the first book, it really quickly grabbed my attention and was a compulsive read. There’s a lot going on, and yet the author manages to put it together in a way that’s easily readable and fun to roll along with.

I’ve really got back into spy novels recently and Cumming’s have been a big enabler of that. It’s the classic mix of exotic locations, mixing work and pleasure, and that impression of a secret world just below the surface that you can almost see out of the corner of your eye.

Another excellent story, and a series and author I will return to soon.

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15th December 2018

I’m not entirely sure where I picked up this, the first novel by Charles Cumming that I’ve read, but I’m very glad I did.

Thomas Kell is a recently excommunicated intelligence agent, struggling to find his place in the outside world, when the opportunity comes to find his way back in, when a case comes up that nobody on the inside can be trusted with.

I’ve got back into spy novels over the past few years, and I really loved this one. The character of Kell feels very real and relatable, and spending time with him was a pleasure. The plot is similarly enticing,

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