Bestselling spy author David Goodman has selected his top eight espionage authors for summer reading, with Ian Fleming notably absent from the list. The recommendations come ahead of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate this weekend.
Ava Glass
Ava Glass, dubbed the 'new queen of spy fiction', is praised for her breakneck pace and strong plot hooks. Her Emma Makepeace novels, including The Chase, The Traitor and The Trap, draw on her experience as a former crime reporter and UK civil servant working in counter-terror communications.
Charles Cumming
Charles Cumming's slower-paced novels, such as A Spy By Nature and A Foreign Country, are described as compelling modern spy fiction. Goodman notes Cumming's ability to make mundane activities like searching a hotel room bin incredibly tense.
John Le Carré
John Le Carré, considered by many as the best in the business, is recommended for his slow-moving, character-driven works. Goodman favours Le Carré's novels from the 1970s and 1980s, including The Spy Who Came In From The Cold and the George Smiley series.
Nick Harkaway
Nick Harkaway, son of John Le Carré, is praised for his own speculative writing, such as GNOMON and Titanium Noir, as well as his recent novels set in his father's world, like Karla's Choice and the upcoming The Taper Man.
Graham Greene
Graham Greene's Our Man In Havana is highlighted as a favourite, a paranoid but funny Caribbean espionage story about a vacuum cleaner salesman who creates a fictitious network of informants for MI6.
I.S. Berry
I.S. Berry, a former CIA officer, is noted for her debut novel The Peacock and the Sparrow, set in Bahrain during the Arab Spring. The novel focuses on character and the manipulations of intelligence gathering.
David McCloskey
David McCloskey, another former CIA analyst, is praised for his recent works including Damascus Station and The Persian. Goodman highlights memorable characters and detailed espionage tradecraft.
Mick Herron
Mick Herron takes the top spot for his Slough House series, starting with Slow Horses. Goodman credits Herron with bringing a wry smile to the genre, alongside excellent plotting and dialogue. Herron also writes standalone spy novels and the Zoë Boehm thrillers.
