A Reluctant Spy by David Goodman - ISBN: 9781035416028
Paperback
Wrong place, wrong identity, wrong mission. Can he survive?

A Reluctant Spy

the award-winning spy thriller 'perfect for fans of Mick Herron' (THE SUN)

$28.77

  • Paperback

    384 pages

  • Release Date

    28 October 2025

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Summary

RIGHT PLACE. RIGHT TIME. WRONG MAN.

‘Engrossing…ingenious…nods to Buchan, Fleming and le Carre’ SUNDAY TIMES, THRILLERS OF THE MONTH

‘If you think you’ve read every twist in every area of the genre, think again. Don’t start it last thing at night or you might miss breakfast!’ VAL MCDERMID

‘A propulsive, intelligent, ripped-from-the-headlines spy novel that’s guaranteed to cost you hours of sleep. Highly recommended’ DAVID MCCLOSKEY

‘A twisty storylin…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9781035416028
ISBN-10:1035416026
Author:David Goodman
Publisher:Headline Publishing Group
Imprint:Headline Book Publishing
Format:Paperback
Number of Pages:384
Release Date:28 October 2025
Weight:265g
Dimensions:196mm x 126mm x 28mm
What They're Saying

Critics Review

Innocents have been caught up in espionage ever since The Thirty-Nine Steps. David Goodman’s engrossing thriller offers an ingenious variation on the trope. Goodman combines traditional elements - the nods to Buchan, Fleming and le Carré - with the topicality of 2020s technology and the threat from Russia * SUNDAY TIMES *
A rip-roaring page-turning keep-you-up-all-night thriller – Nick Binge, author of ASCENSION
Delving into the messy alliances of our post-Cold War world, A Reluctant Spy delivers a twisting, edge-of-your-seat tale of mercenaries, greed, corruption, and espionage set in sultry Zanzibar. Taut and suspenseful, it’s as sharp as the salt and lime on a Tanzanian margarita. – I.S. Berry
Ultra-modern espionage, globe-trotting action and high-octane fun - this is Spooks on steroids – Tim Glister
Gleaming with freshness and verve, A Reluctant Spy is a pulse-pounding, twisting thrill-a-minute read that Slow Horses fans are going to absolutely love. There’s a new spy king in town… – Adam Simcox
Smart, riveting, and eerily prescient – Sunyi Dean, Sunday Times Bestselling author of The Book Eaters
A brilliant high concept, fast-moving and impeccably told. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. – Antony Johnston
A Reluctant Spy hits the ground running and never lets up. Clever, witty and all too believable; it’s in the very top tier of espionage fiction – M. W. Craven
All-too-relatable spy thriller that raised my heart rate and kept it hammering. – Amber A. Logan
A Reluctant Spy is electrifying - a razor-sharp, warp-speed, tech-savvy spy thriller with a bang up-to-date geopolitical backdrop. Goodman will have you on the edge of your seat until the last page. – CHRIS MERRITT
An excellent debut with terrific pace, David Goodman’s ‘A Reluctant Spy’ will grip you to the end – JAMES SWALLOW
A twisty storyline and convincing action scenes make this a very promising debut. * FINANCIAL TIMES *
One of the most polished assured debuts I’ve read in recent years. A killer concept, artfully executed. A Reluctant Spy is a galloping globe-trotting runaway read that I guarantee will have you in its clutches till the very last page. * ROBERT RUTHERFORD *
Wow. This book is worth the hype! A deliciously gripping thriller from a debut author. Punchy and tense, high stakes and characters to root for, I can see it on the big screen. Fantastic for spy/espionage/military fans or those that enjoy an unputdownable thriller. – CLAIRE WILSON
A Reluctant Spy is a revelation: smart, gripping and laced with dark humour - a cutting-edge classic. – DAVID WRAGG

About The Author

David Goodman

David Goodman is an author of espionage and speculative fiction. He lives in East Lothian, Scotland with his family.

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