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A Divided Spy

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A Divided Spy

By: Charles Cumming
Narrated by: Jot Davies
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Summary

A Sunday Times top ten bestseller perfect for fans of John le Carré, from the winner of the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for Best Thriller of the Year and ‘the master of the modern spy thriller’ (Mail on Sunday).

Thomas Kell thought he was done with spying. A former MI6 officer, he devoted his life to the Service, but all it has left him with is grief and a simmering anger against the Kremlin.

Then Kell is offered an unexpected chance at revenge. Taking the law into his own hands, he embarks on a mission to recruit the Russian spy he blames for the murder of his girlfriend.

Kell tracks his nemesis from Kiev to London, but soon finds himself in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse in which it becomes increasingly difficult to know who is playing whom.

Action & Adventure Espionage Fiction Genre Fiction International Mystery & Crime Mystery Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Political Spies & Politics Thriller Thriller & Suspense Russia Crime Exciting Suspense
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Critic reviews

Praise for A Divided Spy:

‘A gripping psychological clash of wills, tactics and morals … Kell’s third appearance confirms him as one of the most interesting and sympathetic characters in the spy thriller field’ The Times

‘Breathtaking . . . suspenseful . . . Kell brings a note of grace to the treacherous world of the spy novel’ Washington Post

‘A magnetic tale of the New Cold War: not since George Smiley trapped Karla have we seen such a delicious recruitment between East and West’ Jason Matthews, New York Times bestselling author of Palace of Treason

‘A clever spy thriller combining believable spycraft, deft characterisation and acute psychological observation’ Ben Macintyre

‘Agent Kell is hell-bent on revenge ― but his quest ends up endangering Britain’s national security. Classic spy fiction at its best’ New York Post, “Must Reads”

‘The spies’ shifting psychological duel is riveting … deftly coupled with a topical subplot’ Sunday Times

‘Thomas Kell has become one of the most interesting and well-drawn spies in contemporary literature – a man who deserves to be spoken in the same breath as George Smiley … Delicately written, with Cumming’s customary subtle humour, it confirms him as le Carré’s heir’ Daily Mail

‘Wonderful stuff – Charles Cumming is the one true heir to John Le Carré and Ian Fleming. Nobody documents life in the shadows quite as brilliantly as Charles Cumming – the new spymaster on the block’ Tony Parsons, author of The Murder Bag

‘A clever, believable spy thriller by a man dubbed the heir to John le Carré’ Sun

All stars
Most relevant

This is the best of the three books for me, because it bring together the personal, the politics and the trade craft in good proportions. it lets you speculate but never lets you see all the motivations as in real life; we mostly see the world through Thomas Kell, with moments of external scenes that inform us of some development.

We have three plots running consecutively one of an infiltrated terrorist, other of the hunt for russian agent for Kell’s personal reasons, and his boss Amelia Levene own interests controlling, a dark but some time helpful force.

Well executed with a real unsensored description of a religious terrorist and not apologetic of his motivations just the facts as they are for that individual and the people that sent him. Same with motivations for the men from the Russian side and Thomas’s confused loyalties and motivations on ours.

I particularly like the fact that all this well trained believers falter when confronted with their own humanity and are vulnerable and doubtful of their demagogue reasons long enough to find their humanity for an instant that permits change.

A good read that is more than just a thriller but also and exploration of our humanity in extreme times.

Very well read by Jot Davies making it a real pleasure.

To choose a truth, it is a choice of illusions

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This is the third Thomas Kell spy thriller and it is gripping stuff from start to finish. It has a great contemporary plot and continues themes from the earlier novels as well as developing Kell's character. I thoroughly recommend the book.

Another brilliant story

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A wonderful evocation of trade craft. slow to start but really gets into the subtleties and into the heads of the players. some of the best two men in a room verbal fencing I have ever read.

another great Cummings novel

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Fast moving and engaging story excellently narrated. Encouraged me to extend my daily walks as I wanted to keep listening!

Compelling

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Probably the best spy book I have read. Full of twist and turns and intrigue. The description of the characters and their actions was clear and concise. A great book!.

Brilliant!

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