Espionage Aficionados discussion

What are you currently reading in the area of Spy/Espionage fiction (or have just read, or are about to read, etc)?

I've just finished Rain Fall by Barry Eisler. Does "assassin" fiction count here?? Anyway, I was impressed. Rich Tokyo details and constant action, and a protagonist who is not your typical politically correct crime fiction hero. This guy kills people for money, short and sweet (his rules do include no women or children...which I guess is kinda PC).

I may start Deighton's Game-Set-Match trilogy next, or go more recent with Berenson's The Faithful Spy...which I just picked up from Half Price for $2.

I am currently halfway through John Le Carré's "Karla trilogy". I have already read Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, and I am halfway through the Honourable Schoolboy. Smiley's People is the last. After that I will probably pick up some Tom Clancy then maybe get back into Ludlum.

I must say, reading Le Carré immediately after finishing all of Fleming's Bond books is like night and day. Fleming's books are light, easy to read, and short. Le Carré's books are really plot-heavy with multiple characters and story lines going on at the same time. I really enjoy both author's writing styles, but it's just amazing how different they can be.

I recently finished The Company, Robert Littell's epic novel of the CIA. One of its greatest strengths is the deft interweaving of historical events with an imaginative and compelling storyline. It's a long one, but well worth the read.

The Last Spymaster by Gayle Lynds is a good read. Ms. Lynds has also done some of the Ludlum books. (I prefer the first three Ludlum books.) The several Alex Berenson books (The Faithful Spy, The Ghost War, The Silent Man) are very good reads too.

I read the LeCarre and Deighton books so long ago it is difficult to relate to them now. They were relevant to the times when first written and were fascinating. I lived through that era reading those books, I am more interested in today's authors. Yes, good spy fiction does reflect its times.

Today it is easier for me to identify with books by authors Barry Eisler, Dan Fesperman, Brent Ghelfi, Jack Higgins, Francine Mathews, Brett Battles, and Kyle Mills. Fast action, brutal action, and clever heros (versus early era "devious" heros).

Now is the era of technology rather than humint so it is difficult to write the same kind of books as the earlier era authors.
By the way, Netflix has the BBC's TV series of Smiley's People.

Read Deighton's Sampson series (from Spy Game through Spy Sinker) in last quarter of 2009 - light on action, but great story with clever dialog. I enjoy the Cold War stories. I keep looking for authors similar to Deighton, Forsyth, early Ludlum. Don't care for Clancy or LeCarre. Could Littell be the one?

"Assassin fiction" as Scott called it, The Silver Bear by Derek Haas.

Gritty. Dark.

And at just over 200 pages, a short read.

Peter Cheyney's I'll Say She Does! Cheyney was a British writer whose books gained a huge following in Europe. There were at least a dozen French movies during the 1950s and early 1960s featuring the adventures of FBI agent Lemmy Caution. They're pulpy and hardboiled but rather tongue-in-cheek, and generally fun. Definitely not to be taken too seriously.

Agents of Treachery , a collection of short fiction by top espionage/mystery and spy-genre writers. An anthology like this is pretty rare — most authors in this genre don't bother because it's tough to tell a complicated tale of intrigue in often foreign lands and sometimes historical periods in short form.

I just started it and it's working well for me. The first story's by Charles McCarry and it's great writing and reading. Others in the book include Joseph Finder, Robert Wilson and Lee Child.

Alan Furst edited an anthology also, by the way, but his was novel excerpts. These are true short pieces.

Have at it!

Scott wrote: "What are you currently reading in the area of Spy/Espionage fiction (or have just read, or are about to read, etc)?

I've just finished Rain Fall by Barry Eisler. Does "assassin" fiction count he..."

I love Barry Eisler's books. I've read all of them except for Inside Out, which was just came out last June.

Steve wrote: "Agents of Treachery, a collection of short fiction by top espionage/mystery and spy-genre writers. An anthology like this is pretty rare — most authors in this genre don't bother bec..."

I had a great time reading Joseph Finder's latest, Vanished.

I'm curious if anyone's read John Lawton's crime/espionage novels set in England during World War II and the Cold War. Would like to know if I should move him to the top of my TBD pile. It sounds like good stuff.

Steve wrote: "I'm curious if anyone's read John Lawton's crime/espionage novels set in England during World War II and the Cold War. Would like to know if I should move him to the top of my TBD p..."
Not here. Tell me how it is?

Russell wrote: "Steve wrote: "I'm curious if anyone's read John Lawton's crime/espionage novels set in England during World War II and the Cold War. Would like to know if I should move him to the t..."

I'll be sure to pass the word. Looks like it's rising to the top of the pile for sure.

Steve wrote: "Russell wrote: "Steve wrote: "I'm curious if anyone's read John Lawton's crime/espionage novels set in England during World War II and the Cold War. Would like to know if I should m..."


Sweet. Keep me informed.

Steve wrote: "I'm curious if anyone's read John Lawton's crime/espionage novels set in England during World War II and the Cold War. Would like to know if I should move him to the top of my TBD p..."

Hi Steve, Just acquired Black Out (1995) & Old Flames (1996) So top of my reading list. Also highly suggest you read Charles Cumming A pal and a Damned good Writer!

Hi Vic. Thanks for the tip. My reading list is getting longer than my street, but it will be worth it. I will definitely check out Charles Cumming and look forward to reading Lawton. I've been watching the Foyle's War series and always thought such a thing would be even better as a book.

Steve Anderson

Steve wrote: "Hi Vic. Thanks for the tip. My reading list is getting longer than my street, but it will be worth it. I will definitely check out Charles Cumming and look forward to reading Lawton. I've been watc..."
Yes, my favourite of them all in the UK was Foyles War. I loved Frost/Morse/Wexford et al but I thought they caught the mood exactly for Foyle. My Favourite in the USA is Jesse Stone. Not espionage but wonderful casting, I find it impossible to read them now without hearing Tom Selleck! Maybe one to watch for when the TV boys wake up from their "Reality" is Charles Todd. This mother and son writing pair have conjured up a superbly complex character in Inspector Ian Rutledge, haunted by The Great War and literally haunted by the man he executed during that war.I would have thought him great TV or Movie fodder. Finally, I see you include The Master in your list of favourites, Am I alone in being unhappy with TV's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy? I felt some of the best of the book was omitted but it is a minor niggle when viewing the whole body of work that TV produced. Noting that you are a Soccer fan,while it is nice to know you, please confirm that you worship at the correct shrine, namely The Theatre of Dreams - Old Trafford and not elsewhere in the home of FOOTBALL! Have a good day Envy you Portland from the Desert.

Vic, now I'm going to have to read Charles Todd. Sounds great. There needs to be a lot more revisiting the WWI-era in any case, and the Spanish Civil War for that matter. I might have to go there. Like you, I didn't think the TV Tinker Tailor captured it, but how could it?

As for football, I can't confirm I'm a Man United supporter. So, nice knowing you! Seriously, I respect the club. I'll leave it at that. I'm a half-hearted Fulham follower if only for the (however lackluster) Yanks they've hired. Here I follow my hometown Portland Timbers who are being "promoted" to MLS next year (fun fact: I saw Man United play the Timbers on astroturf here in a friendly way back in 1982). But I'm also into the Bundesliga since I used to live in Germany.

Thanks also for the fan follow, sir, and I look forward to more great recommendations.

Nice chattin,
Steve

Vic, now I'm going to have to read Charles Todd. Sounds great. There needs to be a lot more revisiting the WWI-era in any case, and the Spanish Civil War for that matter. I might have to go there. Like you, I didn't think the TV Tinker Tailor captured it, but how could it?

As for football, I can't confirm I'm a Man United supporter. So, nice knowing you! Seriously, I respect the club. I'll leave it at that. I'm a half-hearted Fulham follower if only for the (however lackluster) Yanks they've hired. Here I follow my hometown Portland Timbers who are being "promoted" to MLS next year (fun fact: I saw Man United play the Timbers on astroturf here in a friendly way back in 1982). But I'm also into the Bundesliga since I used to live in Germany.

Thanks also for the fan follow, sir, and I look forward to more great recommendations.

Nice chattin,
Steve

A few months back I read Charles Cummings Typhoon, very good set in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Gonna start The Eiger Sanction soon.

I'm in the process of reading Inside Out, the follow-up to Fault Line, both by Barry Eisler. Great book so far.

Has anyone read Once A Spy by Keith Thomson?

I just bought it this morning and can't wait to tuck into it!

Maybe someone might want to join me in reading it for discussion here?

I LOVED Once A Spy -- it was one of my favorite reads of last year. I look forward to hearing what you think of it.

Okay, I plan to inhale it in short order. Maybe we'll get a snow day here in Gotham tomorrow and I can read all day! (crossing fingers!)

Alan Furst is my newest, and I just can't believe how recently I discovered him. And read Spies of the Balkans. Now I've found 4 more earlier ones in a used bookstore that I will be reading also. Am planning to read everything he wrote!

Alan Furst is amazing. They're all great, but I highly recommend Night Soldiers, The Polish Officer, The World at Night, and Kingdom of Shadows.

A couple of these I have picked up, probably can do the rest through the library. Furst is fabulous. I'm so glad I discovered him!

i am an avid fan of Frederick Forsyth.......can anyone please suggest someone else who can take you right there....Nelson DeMille, Christopher Reich are other favourites too........

Just started Field Gray by Philip Kerr. It's historical espionage and crime noir: former Berlin detective Bernie Gunther has to come clean about his role in WWII, and the story switches between the 1940s and 1950s. Like it so far. It's already better than his last one and definitely my kind of story.

The Wayward Spy
For those espionage aficianados who are tired of the Cold War tales, try 'The Wayward Spy.' The time period is 1992, and Russia, just emerging from Communism, is signing a secret arms deal with Syria, then under the thumb of Assad's father, Al Assad. MI6, the UK's spy agency, recruits a former journalist to get the goods on the multi-billion dollar clandestine arms deal.The spymasters at MI6 have discovered that Michael Vaux, the former newspaperman, was very friendly with one Ahmed Kadri when they were at college together. Kadri is now Syria's chief arms negotiator--so MI6 figure they're about to make a coup.
Vaux does his job but the results are greeted with derision by the ubiquitous CIA allies who are still skeptical spectators in the wake of Britain's leaky intelligence service which too often in the past has run a hot incubator of double agents, defectors and Soviet spies. MI6 rejects the CIA's suspicions with upper-class disdain. They dispatch Vaux to Tangier where Kadri has sought self-exile in the wake of a palace putsche in Damascus. There they hope that Vaux will pump the supposedly unhappy top Syrian official for a treasure-trove of information about the Assad regime. What happens to Vaux in Morocco is as much a startling surprise to him as to his MI6 agent runners.

The Perfect Deceit

An intriguing and fascinating book on how countries vie against each other to be top dog on the world stage. Spies, double agents, love triangles -- it’s all in a day’s work for super spy Alexey! In today’s interconnected world, this book gives an interesting perspective on how much competition goes on behind the scenes with ambitions and stakes running high. Hearts are broken and for some power is gained.

Illuminating book on the espionage sphere. Lots of mind games involved. Great book with high drama which makes for a perfect summer read!

I'm currently reading "Paris is a Bitch" by Barry Eisler.

Russell Brooks

Finished "Paris is a Bitch" by Barry Eisler. Classic John Rain novel. Loved it.

Russell Brooks

Hi. New to the group.

Saw some of you read the George Smiley series. Didn't want to start my own topic, but I was wondering...

I've only read the first book, Call For The Dead. Is it necessary to read them in order? Or can you jump around? I'd really like to read Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy before it comes out in the movies.

Movie trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aco15S...

No, you definitely don't have to read Le Carre in order. Except, Tinker Tailor should be read before Smiley's People. Enjoy!

Picked it up and hoping to start it today.

Thanks so much!

Hi Everyone! I bet I am the youngest member (age 12). I wrote an espionage spy thriller titled The Impenetrable Spy. It is available on Kindle, Smashwords, iBooks, and nook. Paperback will release soon. If you want to read it I'll send you a coupon code :)

Thank you John! The only other 12 year old authors I found were on CNN and other talk shows. Maybe someday I'll be able to be on one. Haha, we can all dream big.

Thanks for the advice John. This group should post more often :)

Not specifically a spy novel... But I'm reading HMS Surprise by Patrick O'Brian. Stephen Maturin, one of the main characters is a ship's surgeon / spy during the Napoleonic wars.

Currently reading Event, not a spy story, but there are some aspects of it that match. Recent reads include The first three Covert One books (Robert Ludlum et all) and James Rollins Sigma Force. Past reads include some Clive Cussler and Desmond Bagley along with some Alistair MacLean and Hammond Innes.

Elizabeth wrote: "Not specifically a spy novel... But I'm reading HMS Surprise by Patrick O'Brian. Stephen Maturin, one of the main characters is a ship's surgeon / spy during the Napoleonic wars."

All of O'Brian's Jack Aubrey/Stephen Maturin novels are worth reading. You definitely need to read them in sequence, starting with Master and Commander.

I've recently read William le Queux's Mystery of the Green Ray, a delightfully weird spy tale from 1915. And yes, it features a death ray.

I recently read and reviewed The Quest for Anna Klein by Thomas H. Cook for Noir Journal. It's about a would-be American spy who, starting in WWII, spends a lifetime tracking down the woman he longs for — and must avenge. I liked the second half of the book but the first half can be slow going for some. It's espionage but reads more like a literary novel, and really shows the costs of pursuing vengeance.

Recently read The Debriefing by Robert Littell. Pretty good...I'm definitely a fan.

Currently reading Schism by Bill Granger, second of the long running November Man series. Very entertaining series.

Hi everybody! I'm brand new to the group, so thank you for letting me join in. I just finished reading A Spy By Nature by Charles Cumming. Being a major fan of the genre, it was a fun read, and I am definitely hooked. I'm starting his sequal to that novel entitled The Spanish Game. I also see Robert Littell's name consistent throughout the discussions. He seems to come highly recommended, but I have not tackled anything by him yet. Is there a good one I should start with by Robert Littell? Thanks again and I look forward to hearing from the group.

Has anybody read "Agent 6," the third book in the Leo Demidov trilogy, by Tom Rob Smith? Oh my God, it's amazing!

Helen wrote: "Has anybody read "Agent 6," the third book in the Leo Demidov trilogy, by Tom Rob Smith? Oh my God, it's amazing!"

No I haven't, but after reading the reviews and seeing your comment, his books are next on my list. :-) I can't wait!

Helen, I have all three on my list now and hope to get to them soon.

They're incredible, he's a terrific writer. Really intelligent, rollercoaster plot, terse, precise prose. I was terribly sorry when the last one came to an end, and I hope he writes another one soon. Enjoy!