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A Reluctant Spy - by David Goodman (Paperback) - 1 of 1

A Reluctant Spy - by David Goodman (Paperback)

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Highlights

  • RIGHT PLACE.
  • About the Author: David Goodman is an author of espionage and speculative fiction.
  • 384 Pages
  • Fiction, Thrillers

Description



Book Synopsis



RIGHT PLACE. RIGHT TIME. WRONG MAN.

'Engrossing...ingenious...Goodman combines traditional elements - the nods to Buchan, Fleming and le Carré - with the topicality of 2020s technology and the threat from Russia' SUNDAY TIMES, THRILLERS OF THE MONTH
'A propulsive, intelligent, ripped-from-the-headlines spy novel that's guaranteed to cost you hours of sleep. Highly recommended' DAVID McCLOSKEY
'A twisty storyline and convincing action scenes make this a very promising debut' FINANCIAL TIMES
'A gripping debut, perfect for fans of Mick Herron and David McCloskey' THE SUN

Jamie Tulloch is a successful exec at a top tech company, a long way from the tough upbringing that drove him to rise so far and so quickly.

But he has a secret...since the age of 23, he's had a helping hand from the Legend Programme, a secret intelligence effort to prepare impenetrable backstories for undercover agents. Real people, living real lives, willing to hand over their identities for a few weeks in return for a helping hand with plum jobs, influence and access.

When his tap on the shoulder finally comes, it's swiftly followed by the thud of a body. Arriving at a French airport ready to hand over his identity, Jamie finds his primary contact dead, the agent who's supposed to step into his life AWOL and his options for escape non-existent.

Pitched into a deadly mission on hostile territory, Jamie must contend with a rogue Russian general, arms dealers, elite hackers, CIA tac-ops and the discovery of a brewing plan for war. Dangerously out of his depth, he must convince his sceptical mission handler he can do the job of a trained field agent while using his own life story as convincing cover.

Can Jamie play himself well enough to avoid being killed - and to avert a lethal global conflict?

'In the very top tier of espionage fiction' M. W. CRAVEN
'An excellent debut with terrific pace...will grip you to the end' JAMES SWALLOW
'A twisting, edge-of-your-seat tale of mercenaries, greed, corruption, and espionage' I.S. BERRY
'I was on the edge of my seat the whole time' ANTONY JOHNSTON
'A rip-roaring page-turning keep-you-up-all-night thriller' NICHOLAS BINGE, author of ASCENSION
'Smart, riveting, and eerily prescient' SUNYI DEAN, Sunday Times Bestselling author of THE BOOK EATERS
'A pulse-pounding, twisting thrill-a-minute read that Slow Horses fans are going to absolutely love' ADAM SIMCOX



Review Quotes




A Reluctant Spy hits the ground running and never lets up. Clever, witty and all too believable; it's in the very top tier of espionage fiction

A brilliant high concept, fast-moving and impeccably told. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

A rip-roaring page-turning keep-you-up-all-night thriller

A twisty storyline and convincing action scenes make this a very promising debut.--FINANCIAL TIMES

A Reluctant Spy is a revelation: smart, gripping and laced with dark humour - a cutting-edge classic.

All-too-relatable spy thriller that raised my heart rate and kept it hammering.

An excellent debut with terrific pace, David Goodman's 'A Reluctant Spy' will grip you to the end

Delving into the messy alliances of our post-Cold War world, A Reluctant Spy delivers a twisting, edge-of-your-seat tale of mercenaries, greed, corruption, and espionage set in sultry Zanzibar. Taut and suspenseful, it's as sharp as the salt and lime on a Tanzanian margarita.

Gleaming with freshness and verve, A Reluctant Spy is a pulse-pounding, twisting thrill-a-minute read that Slow Horses fans are going to absolutely love. There's a new spy king in town...

Innocents have been caught up in espionage ever since The Thirty-Nine Steps. David Goodman's engrossing thriller offers an ingenious variation on the trope. Goodman combines traditional elements - the nods to Buchan, Fleming and le Carré - with the topicality of 2020s technology and the threat from Russia--SUNDAY TIMES

One of the most polished assured debuts I've read in recent years. A killer concept, artfully executed. A Reluctant Spy is a galloping globe-trotting runaway read that I guarantee will have you in its clutches till the very last page.--ROBERT RUTHERFORD

Smart, riveting, and eerily prescient

Ultra-modern espionage, globe-trotting action and high-octane fun - this is Spooks on steroids

Wow. This book is worth the hype! A deliciously gripping thriller from a debut author. Punchy and tense, high stakes and characters to root for, I can see it on the big screen. Fantastic for spy/espionage/military fans or those that enjoy an unputdownable thriller.

A Reluctant Spy is electrifying - a razor-sharp, warp-speed, tech-savvy spy thriller with a bang up-to-date geopolitical backdrop. Goodman will have you on the edge of your seat until the last page.



About the Author



David Goodman is an author of espionage and speculative fiction. He lives in East Lothian, Scotland with his family. You can learn more about David and his writing at his website, www.davidgoodman.net.
Dimensions (Overall): 7.7 Inches (H) x 4.9 Inches (W) x 1.0 Inches (D)
Weight: .45 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 384
Genre: Fiction
Sub-Genre: Thrillers
Publisher: Headline
Theme: Espionage
Format: Paperback
Author: David Goodman
Language: English
Street Date: September 23, 2025
TCIN: 1007644554
UPC: 9781035416028
Item Number (DPCI): 247-28-5898
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Estimated ship dimensions: 1 inches length x 4.9 inches width x 7.7 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.45 pounds
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