Dark Arena

The Frenchman Returns

By: Jack Beaumont

Narrated by: Victor Bevine

A high-stakes thriller that could be ripped from today’s headlines—from the bestselling author of The Frenchman.

Alec de Payns, espionage operative of the Y Division of the DGSE, France’s famed foreign intelligence service, is tasked with tracking down an agent of influence sending highly classified material against the Kremlin to embassies all over Europe.

A deadly conspiracy is aligning the West against Russia. But who is behind it? And to what end?

The clues lead to a secret meeting of businessmen, terrorists, and mercenaries on a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean, which de Payns must infiltrate. What he discovers sets off a Europe-wide manhunt in a desperate scramble to prevent an international catastrophe.

Former DGSE spy Jack Beaumont’s Dark Arena is another chillingly plausible thriller delivering all the taut plotting, superb action, and authentic spycraft that made The Frenchman a critically acclaimed bestseller.

©2024 Jack Beaumont (P)2024 Blackstone Publishing

I would read another

this book had alot more info then the last. at points I had hard time following everything putin was doing and info like that. It personally was hard to read about all the conflict between him and his wife . it sometimes slowed down the book for me trying to understand it all. overall i love the characters. love how it's written. like the book. ready for another.

Wow..Just…wow

One of the best spy novels I’ve read/listened to. Combine Beaumont’s on-point tradecraft+emotional element of character experiences+character development+gripping plot has cultivated into one of the most realistic, thought provoking, and entertaining works in the genre.

My only hesitation on 5 stars all around is because I feel the performance could have been better. He wasn’t bad. It’s definitely worth the listen but, I definitely don’t think it gave the story what it could be.

Great detail with a good story line

This book is the second i have read from this author and they have both been excellent.

I hope the Series continues!

I am realizing that I do not like most of the New York Times best sellers action/thriller authors and books. For me, they are just too "unsophisticated" and click-baity.

To me, this series feels a lot more plausible and sophisticated. It feels like the author has first-hand knowledge of the content, namely espionage and counter-espionage.

It's also a nice break from the "American Action Hero" genre.

The reader is well matched to the content.

Giving it 5 stars, because it's more than 4.5 on all counts for me.

Thrilling and compelling story!

Great story, characters and overall experience! 5 stars! Strongly recomend for fans of spy stories and DGSE. Wish it was available in french as well.