The Insider

BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE SCARLET PAPERS: THE TIMES THRILLER OF THE YEAR 2023

By: Matthew Richardson

Narrated by: Sean Barrett

Brought to you by Penguin.

A thrilling novel of espionage and murder in the dark heart of Westminster, from the UK's most exciting new spy writer

A Russian defector is found brutally murdered in a London hotel.

Only four people knew he had turned - the four most important and powerful figures in Whitehall.

There's only one conclusion - a mole has infiltrated the highest levels of the nation's security.

Operating in secret from within Westminster's darkest corners, former spy, Solomon Vine, must uncover the traitor.

Because Britain's future hangs in the balance.

And with it the fate of the whole world . . .


Praise for Matthew Richardson

Proof that the spy genre is flourishing in the 21st century . . . [Richardson's] plotting has an old-school, Swiss-clock precision - The Guardian

Compelling, intense and sharply authentic - James Swallow, bestselling author of Nomad

A splendid tale of espionage starring an old-fashioned MI6 hero . . . exciting spy literature - The Times

A bang-up-to-date thriller told with old-school panache. A great read. - Mick Herron, CWA Gold Dagger-winning author of the Slough House Series

© Matthew Richardson 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Critic reviews

Praise for Matthew Richardson

Proof that the spy genre is flourishing in the 21st century . . . [Richardson's] plotting has an old-school, Swiss-clock precision

Compelling, intense and sharply authentic (James Swallow, bestselling author of Nomad)

A bang-up-to-date thriller told with old-school panache. A great read. (Mick Herron, CWA Gold Dagger-winning author of Dead Lions)

A splendid tale of espionage starring an old-fashioned MI6 hero . . . exciting spy literature

Combines immaculate Cold War tradecraft with modern tech savvy as our maverick hero comes up against a le Carré-esque establishment while trying to find a mole

Supremely confident . . . told with panache and a taste for spy craft that mark it as outstanding

Authentic, mysterious, fraught with deception, betrayal, and uncertain allegiances, it captures perfectly the foggy world of spies (Jason Matthews, author of Red Sparrow)

Calls to mind early le Carré (Gregg Hurwitz, bestselling author of Orphan X)

Truly authentic and frighteningly so . . . a remarkable thriller

Em…what is going on… never mind.

I actually have a lit degree, but I gave up on this one! Pretty writing.

Thoroughly enjoyed this espionage tale!

The protagonist is a grizzled veteran of the spy game called back into service to investigate the possibility of a Russian mole at the highest levels of British government. There are quite a few twists and turns the harrowing conclusion. I look forward to more of Richardson's books. The narration was a bit slow, so I just sped it up, but the story was engrossing!

I wanted to love it

I really wanted to love it, to be sucked in. But the narrator just never sparked. It feels like a good effort on the author’s part, and there’s an atmosphere and subtlety that comes across, an appealing dryness. There are some nice passages and clever turns of phrase. But I just didn’t believe it. The dialogue isn’t convincing. I purchased another book and tried to come back with fresh ears… still no joy. The narrator seems well cast for the genre. Maybe you’ll enjoy it but it’s no JLC.

great classic espionage

as good as the best of today and of older days of the cold war, le carre(still), silva, greaney, a very few others. hard to find this level of espionage novels these days, unfortunately almost all other authors nowadays can't write. reminiscent of Forsyth's Fourth Protocol.

A TRUELY EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG AUTHOR

With 900 books downloaded I'm becoming increasingly frustrated. Those of you who have loved audible books over the years I'm sure feel the same way. Our standards have risen actually, haven't they, having been exposed to excellent writing and superb narration on occasion, it becomes very difficult to go back. The authors I have listened to over the years, even if talented, become lazy, don't put the work in, and turn out really lousy books year after year now. Combine poor quality prose, with mediocre narration and it really becomes an unsatisfying experience. Then by chance, I stumbled onto this young author, this being his second novel, joined by Mr. Barrett as voice actor who is just superb. I hope this pairing goes on forever!