A Spy Alone

By: Charles Beaumont

Narrated by: David Thorpe

Everyone knows about the Cambridge Spies from the 1950s, but no spy ring was ever unearthed at Oxford. Because one never existed? Or because it was never found...?

2022: Former spy Simon Sharman is eking out a living in the private sector. When a commission to delve into the financial dealings of a mysterious Russian oligarch comes across his desk, he jumps at the chance. But as Simon investigates, worrying patterns begin to emerge. His subject made regular trips to Oxford, but for no apparent reason. There are payments from offshore accounts that suddenly just...stop. Has he found what none of his former colleagues believed possible, a Russian spy ring now nestled at the heart of the British Establishment? Or is he just another paranoid ex-spook left out in the cold, obsessed with redemption?

©2023 Charles Beaumont (P)2023 Isis Audio

Excellent

Several times I wondered that this could be true
Scarily possible
Narration excellent More please

One of the best spy books around

A very enjoyable read, crisp and to the point. The most important aspect – the story, the whole spy procedural felt very real. It is to be expected as the author behind the pseudonyme of Charles Beaumont seems to be/have been a real-life british spy. So, he knows what he is talking about. Much recommended!

Brilliant!

Different, but equal to Slow Horses. Simply could not put it down. A great listen from start to finish.

A proper Spy story

A real, intense, cerebral spy story. It felt extremely realistic. Superbly written with fabulous narration. It’s detailed, intriguing & fascinating. This could really have happened.

Someone's just...not good at their job

Normally, having an espionage thriller written by a former member of the intelligence community raises my expectations and my interest. I recently read Jack Beaumont's GCSE books and can't wait for more to be written. Sadly, in the case of this book, I was sorely disappointed.

It mostly comes down to one glaring fact: the main character is deeply and horribly incompetent. Besides just bumbling from one disaster to another, he seems to tell everyone he meets every detail of his mission and makes so many glaring mistakes it's a wonder he survives at all. It makes sense why MI6 fired him and why his business is unsuccessful. He's sloppy in his tradecraft and PerSec, obvious to the bigger picture, and his insecurities dominate his behavior. I see there's a followup book but I think I'll politely take a step back and forget I ever read this deeply pedestrian addition to the genre. There are quite literally a hundred books or more that are better than this.