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David McCloskey on His Favourite Spy Novels
Grounded in present day Russia, David McCloskey's Moscow X – our unputdownable Thriller of the Month for September – mines the realities of modern espionage amid the new Cold War. In this exclusive piece, McCloskey shares his favourite spy novels, from authors old and new.
I was an avid reader of spy fiction well before I joined the CIA, but only began writing after I left Langley. Doubtless influenced by the giants of the genre, as well as my own time working at ‘the Agency’, I have discovered that the espionage stories I enjoy reading – and writing! – blend intriguing characters, richly rendered settings, and a (mostly) authentic rendering of the espionage business. For example, my new paperback, Moscow X, is fiction very much grounded in present day Russia and the realities of modern espionage, set amid the new Cold War. In that vein, here are what I consider to be five of the best spy stories out there.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy by John le Carré
In my humble opinion the best spy novel ever written, the le Carré classic centers on a hunt for a Soviet mole at the heart of ‘the Circus,’ his fictional MI6. This intricately plotted novel is perhaps the most authentic representation of the cerebral, slow-burn nature of counterespionage and, frankly, the spy game in general. No car chases, very little action, and yet George Smiley’s patient, earnest mole hunt is utterly brilliant and captivating. The payoff is more than worth it, but don’t forget to pay close attention to how Smiley uncovers the traitor in the end.
Slow Horses by Mick Herron
Intelligence officers are not the dashing, tuxedo-wearing, martini-sipping creatures of Fleming. In fact, most are closer to the misfit toys of Mick Herron’s terrific Slough House series. Pacy, fun, and written with humor and panache, Slow Horses is that exquisite breed of spy story that nails the characterization dead to rights. The ensemble cast, with Jackson Lamb at its rotten center, is pitch perfect and the interpersonal dynamics – typically rendered as gaggles of washed-up intelligence officers talking in rooms – are the high points of the book (and indeed the series as a whole).
Fatherland by Robert Harris
Alright, I admit it – this Robert Harris historical thriller is spy-adjacent, not pure espionage like the others on this list, but it is near enough and, more importantly, it is a masterpiece. Set in 1964 in an alternative history in which Nazi Germany has prevailed in World War 2, the story centers on a detective investigating the murder of a government official who had participated in the Wannsee Conference, which oversaw planning for the Final Solution. This is a thriller and a murder mystery, but like the best spy novels it is also a story about love, betrayal, and how humans try to survive in inhuman political systems. Absolutely brilliant.
Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews
Jason Matthews, a 33-year veteran of CIA, delivers what I consider to be the most authentic depiction of CIA tradecraft out there. Red Sparrow is a take-no-prisoners thrill ride that plunges readers deep into the espionage wars between CIA and its Russian adversary, the SVR. It is a masterclass in CIA tradecraft. Surveillance detection runs, disguises, gadgets, insider lingo, recruitment operations: Red Sparrow has it all. On an even deeper level the book explores the culture and ethos of CIA, particularly its case officer cadre. At its center is also a compelling love story that forms the satisfying emotional spine to the entire trilogy.
The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S. Berry
This espionage tale is set in Bahrain during the heart of the Arab Awakening and is for my money one of the best characterizations of a CIA case officer in print, in no small part because the author, I.S. Berry was one herself. The Bahrain of this novel is deeply atmospheric; the Gulf humidity practically seeps off the pages. The ins and outs of asset handling, Agency lingo, and the often-tense relations between the State Department and a CIA Station are perfectly captured. For all its authenticity, though, in the end I love this book for its depiction of case officer Shane Collins and his intimate, conflicted, and deeply flawed relationship with Almaisa, a Bahraini woman who is not at all what she seems.
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