Book picks similar to
The Rope-Dancer by Victor L. Marchetti
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Hellyer's Trip
Philip Prowse - 2018
Not as a diplomat – that takes years to perfect – but as someone undercover, someone who’s not what they seem.’ ‘You don’t work for us and never have worked for us. This is what we would put out if you were rumbled. A rogue, a loose cannon — choose your cliché.’ Nick Hellyer is an accidental spy. Expelled in disgrace from Cambridge, he’s hurled into the contradictory and vibrant city of Alexandria as Egypt heads towards the 1967 Arab–Israeli War. His double life as a secret agent mirrors the duplicities of his relationships. But when he stumbles on a war-changing secret, who can he trust not to betray or abandon him? For fans of Charles Cumming and Philip Kerr
The Spy Who Swapped Shoes
Geoffrey Davison - 2011
A deadly game of cat and mouse — but who has the upper hand? Eastern Europe, 1964 Three men and a woman are seated in a train carriage travelling from Istanbul to Vienna. As they cross the Bulgarian border, a fourth man enters and joins them. That man ends up dead. The other passengers get to work transforming a British agent into a Soviet spy – taking the dead man’s clothes and stealing his identity. Under hypnosis, the British agent must forget all memories of his past. That life is gone, and he is now Comrade Dimitri Nickovitch. But will the months of training be enough? Can the British agent infiltrate the Soviet camp? Or could this foray through the Iron Curtain be his last…? THE SPY WHO SWAPPED SHOES is the first classic international Cold War mystery in the Stephen Fletcher espionage thrillers series: intriguing political double-dealing spread over Europe and the Middle East. THE STEPHEN FLETCHER ESPIONAGE THRILLER SERIES: Book One: The Spy Who Swapped Shoes Book Two: Nest of Spies Book Three: The Chessboard Spies
Mary Dannie
Patricia Keil - 2010
It is the story of the struggles, simple joys and wisdom surrounding a young girl growing up in the 1940's in Appalachia.
I-SPY : A peep into the world of Spies
Amit Bagaria - 2019
I am sure you’ve seen at least one, if not more of the 26 films made on fictional British spy 007. You may’ve also seen TV shows like The Americans, Blindspot, Chuck, Covert Affairs, Homeland, Nikita, Quantico, The Blacklist, and/or The Night Manager. I wrote this book after I realised that the average person may not know even one-sixth of what I know about spies and spying. Almost each of the Top 50 nations (by GDP, population or military power) has a spy agency/service. Many countries have more than one ‘secret service’ or ‘intelligence agency’. USA has 16. Some countries’ spy agencies are more powerful than entire smaller nations, with annual budgets larger than their GDPs. This books attempts to tell the story of 20 of the world’s largest and most powerful spy agencies, details their important missions, reveals their darkest secrets, and gives you an inside perspective of the often quite gory but thrilling ‘world of spies’. It gives you a 360º view of those spy agencies you only read about or see in a movie or TV show. With one chapter per agency, you can read only chapters you may be interested in. The life of most spies is not as glamorous as it is made out to be. You may think it is all about high-tech and guns and car chases and ‘hot’ women, but that’s not the case. In the real spy world, the techniques boil down to the interpretation of basic human psychology. Even though a spy learns several action techniques on how to get out of a dangerous situation, including how to withstand torture, if he/she is resorting to car chases, it means they’re doing something wrong. Spies don’t get paid very well. Gambling at a casino or flying on a private jet may be part of the job, but a spy doesn’t get to spend this kind of money on personal expenses. Spies cannot disclose the nature of their work to their family and friends, to maintain secrecy. Many have to live away from home for weeks, months, even years. Married life is a mess, as the spouse starts suspecting the spy of having an affair. Who can become a spy? Do you need a law enforcement (police) or military background? Not really. Spies have degrees as diverse as law, political science, finance, economics – even professional athletes have become successful spies.
Tilted Axis
David Ryker - 2019
To who, Michael 'Ward' Miller isn't exactly sure. Whoever killed his partner was a pro. She was shot at an impossible distance, by a weapon that isn't supposed to exist. But Sadler wasn't just his partner, she was the best person he knew. Now she's dead, and Ward won't rest until he finds out who was responsible. But on Mars, 2342 AD, anyone could be the killer. The Solar System is awash with spies, mercenaries and powerful, unaccountable corporations. After powerful aliens arrived a hundred years before, colonizing the red planet, our system was thrown into chaos. The Martians were stronger, more advanced, and remorseless. They could have wiped us out. Instead we struck a fragile, uneasy truce. And now someone wants to blow the whole thing up. And maybe, take humanity with it. Ward was supposed to be out of the espionage business. Now he has seven days to uncover the conspiracy that killed his partner. Or let the entire system go up in flames...
Miracle on Wolf Hollow Lane
Blake O'Connor - 2015
One snowy night, exhausted parents Evelyn and Gabe Mitchell have just put their colicky four month old baby, Abigail, to sleep in the nursery of their farmhouse. Afraid their large mixed breed dog, Girl, will wake the baby, they unsuccessfully try to coax her out from under the crib where she has slept since the baby was born. Girl refuses to budge, because Girl senses what nobody else knows: something is catastrophically wrong. Told in lean, luminous prose, and inspired by a real life rescue, Miracle on Wolf Hollow Lane is a riveting story about one dog’s power of fortitude and gritty determination to live, to beat the odds, to return home, and maybe, just maybe, save the family from impending tragedy.OTHER BEST SELLING AND AWARD-WINNING BOOKS BY BLAKE O'CONNOR:Trust MeUnspoken Bond
Kill Day
Andrew Raymond - 2021
When a routine operation ends in murder, Grant is tasked with capturing the assassin: rogue MI6 officer Henry Marlow.But as Grant leads the hunt, Marlow’s renegade mission escalates, targeting anyone who could expose his secrets. If Grant wants to stop him, he must uncover a shadowy plot that links a Saudi prince, a corrupt Interpol detective, and an infamous black ops programme.With the very future of MI6 at stake, Grant must confront Marlow in a terrifying endgame – after which nothing will be the same again.The epic journey starts here.
Ghosts of the Past
Harry McCallion - 2016
Each was armed with a 9mm Beretta automatic pistol, yet there are no signs of a struggle. As the police investigation gets into full swing, Detective Inspector Nevin Brown of the Royal Ulster Constabulary steps into the frame. Recently arrived in London on a six-month attachment to the Metropolitan police, Nevin’s natural flair for analysis and his years of experience in the field in Northern Ireland come to the attention of his superiors. He is charged with the task of heading up his own enquiry into the double murder. Nevin’s investigation soon leads him to Countess Natasha Romanov, a cruel and glamorous cultural Russian cultural attaché, and Ivan Dragenoff, her physically imposing bodyguard and manservant. Nevin is convinced of the countess’ guilt, but her meticulous nature has ensured that, other than one eyewitness, he has no hard evidence to back up his claims. Yet when his only witness to the crime is found at the bottom of a flight of stairs with her neck broken, Nevin also realises that something is rotten in the Metropolitan Police. Only a select few police officers knew the whereabouts and identity of the witness, and now she has been murdered. To make matters worse, MI5 have received intelligence that Nevin’s nemesis, a vicious IRA assassin by the name of Anthony Kane, has arrived in London and is preparing to carry out one last assassination that could have drastic consequences for the Northern Ireland peace process. Before long, Nevin is drawn into an intricate web of loyalty and treachery. A plot involving the Russian mafia, Colombian drug cartels and the Provisional IRA begins to unravel, leading to an exhilarating climax that will jeopardise his own life, the lives of the ones he loves and his unerring commitment to justice. Praise for Harry McCallion: “A stun grenade of a book” -
Sunday Express
“A story of daring and adventure” -
Daily Mail
“A remarkable tale of life on the edge” -
Glasgow Herald
“McCallion is the hardest man you could encounter” -
The Independent
Born in Glasgow, Harry McCallion joined the army after leaving school. In a varied and exciting military career he served with the Parachute Regiment, South Africa’s elite Recce Commandos and 22 SAS. After leaving the army in 1985 he joined the RUC, but left in 1990 after a near-fatal car crash. Subsequent to this he studied law and was called to the Bar. Now a working barrister and writer he has recently received his Master’s Degree in International Relations. His autobiography Killing Zone was an immediate bestseller. Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent digital publisher. For more information on our titles please sign up to our newsletter at www.endeavourpress.com. Each week you will receive updates on free and discounted ebooks. Follow us on Twitter: @EndeavourPress and on Facebook via http://on.fb.me/1HweQV7. We are always interested in hearing from our readers. Endeavour Press believes that the future is now.
Study Guide for Book Clubs: A Gentleman in Moscow
Kathryn Cope - 2017
A comprehensive guide to Amor Towles' acclaimed new novel 'A Gentleman in Moscow', this discussion aid includes a wealth of information and resources: useful literary and historical context; an author biography; a plot synopsis; analyses of themes & imagery; character analysis; twenty thought-provoking discussion questions; recommended further reading and even a quick quiz. For those in book clubs, this useful companion guide takes the hard work out of preparing for meetings and guarantees productive discussion. For solo readers, it encourages a deeper examination of a multi-layered text.
The Carolina Caper: An Adventure Guild Story (The Adventure Guild Book 4)
Ernest Dempsey - 2019
Stuck at home just weeks before the new school year and with zero chance of even one last mini vacation, Desmond Elleryby is dying for some excitement. So are his two best friends, siblings Corin and Diego Townsend. They try entertaining themselves by learning to fly some of Desmond’s new drones, but nothing compares to their recent escapades in Italy and finding the lost treasure of Julius Caesar. So, when Diego learns that tantalizing artifacts from a homegrown American mystery lie close by in a local museum, the kids are bursting for one final adventure before school. Their task? Examine a group of ancient stones to find clues to the disappearance of an old English colony that vanished five hundred years ago from the North Carolina coast, the famous Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. Legend says one of those disappeared still speaks from beyond the grave in clues she left engraved on those rocks. Unfortunately for the kids, some very bad dudes stumble upon their mission: ruthless criminals who want to steal those same artifacts—and the hidden, powerful truth those relics might conceal. To outwit the enemy for a shot at solving this centuries-old riddle, Corin, Desmond, and Diego band together yet again as the Adventure Guild to ride out on another heart-stopping adventure. USA Today best-selling author Ernest Dempsey again joins up-and-coming writer Chandler Dempsey to expand their rich, vibrant world of ancient mysteries, hidden truths, and three of the youngest, bravest treasure hunters you’ve ever met: the Adventure Guild.
Predators and Prey
Abhinav Agarwal - 2020
An Indian scientist on the run. The spy apparatus of three nations after him and the coveted secrets he intends to take to the highest authorities. A girl who has become an unwitting pawn in this deadly game. A mastermind who will stop at nothing. They are up against a man with a troubled past who stands between life and death, victory and defeat. A conspiracy so devious it could forever change the nation. A race against impossible odds and time. Who will get their hands on the secret first? About the Author Abhinav is a columnist, photographer, software professional, Hindi music addict, reader and reviewer, and curator of the Indic Book Club. Abhinav’s writings have been published in DNA, Pioneer, Swarajya, LinkedIn, OpIndia, Medium, and elsewhere. He has worked at technology companies in India, the United States, and Canada. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Mumbai University and is a post-graduate from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. He lives in Bangalore with his wife and two daughters.
The Spy Whisperer
Matthew Dunn - 2018
One by one, they are committing suicide. But the suicides are not what they seem. They have been forced to take their lives by a supremely clever individual. Former high-ranking MI6 officer Ben Sign is instructed to identify who is behind the murders. Could it be a hostile foreign intelligence agency? Sign thinks not. He believes the murderer is one of the six MI6 officers who wants to kill off the competition. With the help of a male former undercover police officer and a female serving Special Branch officer, he scours London and the rest of Britain to identify the serial killer he nicknames 'the whisperer'. But the whisperer has help: a former special forces assassin, code name 'the limpet'. Can Sign find the whisperer and the limpet in time? Who's working against him? Can he protect national security from a psychopath?"Fans of action-heavy thrillers set in the intelligence world are likely already reading Dunn, but if they're not, they should start. They won't be disappointed." - Booklist"For those who like an updated version of James Bond, Matthew Dunn's Will Cochrane books are spy stories at their finest." - Iron Mountain Daily NewsPraise for Spycatcher: "Great talent, great imagination, and real been-there done-that authenticity make this one of the year's best thriller debuts. Highly recommended." - Lee Child"I know of no other spy thriller that so successfully blends the fascinating nuances of the business of espionage and intelligence work with full-throttle suspense storytelling." - Jeffery Deaver"Dunn, who was a field officer in the British Secret Intelligence Service, often known as M16, has created a plot with plenty of action and lots of twists and turns . . . nonstop action and relentless danger." - Associated PressPraise for Dark Spies: "Another deep and intense thriller that feels authentic in terms of how it conveys the spy world... Dunn has crafted another winner in this fine series. The world of spy fiction has a writer who deserves comparison to Ludlum and Fleming." - Booklist"Fans will enjoy the trademark momentum and the inclusion of several long-running subplots and characters." - Publishers Weekly on A Soldier's Revenge"One of the things that makes A Soldier's Revenge so good, aside from the complexity of the plot, the harrowing escapes and spy craft that Dunn artfully employs, is the visceral feelings that he can convey. . . . Cochrane is no emotionless Bond...he's much more real." - blackdogspeaks.com on A Soldier's Revenge
Gray Mountain: by John Grisham | Summary & Analysis
Book*Sense - 2014
Grisham's twenty-second legal thriller takes readers from the sky-scrapers of high-powered New York law firms to the dusty offices of a free legal clinic in small-town Virginia. Gray Mountain is both an exciting story of murder and intrigue and a thoughtful examination of the effects of the coal industry on life in Appalachia. Grisham's tight plotting, wry humor and three-dimensional characters bring the legal profession to life. Gray Mountain begins in the tempestuous, nerve-wracking and paranoid atmosphere of Manhattan set in the confusing months after the economic blow-out in 2008. We see the offices with their ignored vistas, the busy, dirty sidewalks, the cramped apartments shared by young professionals. After a brief sojourn in her hometown of Washington, D.C., protagonist Samantha, along with the story, heads for rural Virginia. Most of the novel takes place in the small town of Brady, Virginia, which is poor and somewhat down-at-heel. You also get the following in this Summary & Analysis of Gray Mountain: • Detailed Book Review from Experts • Story Setting Analysis of Gray Mountain • Gray Mountain Plot Analysis that will make you see the book from another angle. • Pick up bits you might have missed as we decipher the novel. • Details of Characters & Key Character Analysis • Summary of the text, with some analytical comments interspersed • Discussion & Analysis of Themes, Symbols… • And Much More! This Analysis of Gray Mountain fills the gap, making you understand more while enhancing your reading experience.
Deep Blue
Alan Judd - 2017
During a time of political disruption and rising anti-nuclear sentiment, MI5 discovers that an extremist fringe group, Action Against Austerity, appears to have links to an established political party while planning sabotage using something or someone called Deep Blue. Banned from investigating British political parties, the head of MI5 seeks advice from Charles Thoroughgood, his opposite number in MI6. Agreeing to help unofficially with the case, Charles must delve deep into his own past, to an unresolved Cold War case linked to his private life. Using the past as key to the present, he soon finds himself in a race against time to prevent a plot which is politically nuclear … Authoritative and packed with in-depth knowledge, Deep Blue is a gripping new spy thriller from a master of the genre.‘Judd infuses his writing with insider knowledge’ New Statesman
Cordelia's Journey
Hazel Hart - 2015
Afraid her mother will die in childbirth, Cordelia runs away, heading for Westport, Missouri, and her aunt, the only person who might be able to save her mother. Disguising herself as a boy, she sets out on foot to make the 150-mile trip down the Kansas River. She hitches rides with a variety of travelers going east, facing setbacks along the way while learning lessons about the world and her place in it.Cordelia's Journey is the first book in the Pierce Family Saga, a series of historical novels that follow Cordelia and her family through the latter half of the nineteenth century.