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Dead Spy Running
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
A relatively new publishing imprint can always use a few winners to achieve lift-off; new publishing kid on the block Blue Door must be rubbing their hands, as the auguries are very promising for Jon Stock’s highly impressive Dead Spy Running. The book arrives emblazoned with raves from the likes of Lee Child and Robert Goddard – hinting to the reader that both action and storytelling will push all the requisite buttons.
Daniel Marchant is an inactive MI9 operative. Rather than languishing in torpor, he has decided to run the London Marathon. But the dangers of his ex-day job are not far away – one of the other competitors is lethally strapped with explosives, and if he reduces his pace, all around him will die bloodily. Marchant does his best to avert the slaughter, but there are those who think that he is compromised in his professional life. The CIA ensured that Marchant’s father was removed from his position as head of MI6, and they are convinced that the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree. Marchant finds himself treated like a suspected terrorist (extraordinary rendition, waterboarding), and things look very black for him. But there are people who are not against him: Marchant’s colleague (and inamorata) Leila. And, more importantly, new Intelligence chief Sir Marcus Fielding, who is suspicious of America’s apparently unshakeable grip over UK foreign policy.
The opening premise (don’t drop below a certain pace or risk detonation) may be borrowed from the movie Speed, but that’s the only element here that doesn’t come up as fresh as paint; Jon Stock has taken the accoutrements of the espionage thriller and given them a bracing wash and rinse. The real achieve, however, is to marry the kinetic energy of the Jason Bourne franchise (that’s the films, rather than Ludlum’s books) with the political sophistication and dyspeptic view of international relations of John le Carré and Gerald Seymour. The publisher Blue Door has a potential bestseller in Dead Spy Running. --Barry Forshaw
Daily Telegraph
'The sophistication of John Le Carre or David Ignatius...this is a Jason Bourne sweat-fest with George Smiley's brain'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
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No wonder this has been sold for a film before it's even published, you can almost see this on the screen as you read. From the outset, we're into a series of action set-pieces, no doubt to make the tale as close to a film script as possible. Nothing and no-one is who they seem to be, everyone has a hidden agenda and the plot twists and turns to the point where you just might have to re-read a few pages to see if you've kept up.
If you're familiar with spy thrillers, the usual cast of characters is here; the hero is a misunderstood maverick, being chased by just about everyone, and he is surrounded by spy stereotypes, the femme fatale, the ruthless, ambitious bosses and the competing agencies. As for the plot, it's just about believable, although there are a couple of creaky moments, which require suspension of disbelief.
As literature, it's nothing great, as a page turning thriller, it's up there with the best. Take this for the Beach this summer and you'll probably get through it in a couple of sessions, recommended for lovers of spy novels, thrillers and marathons
If you're familiar with spy thrillers, the usual cast of characters is here; the hero is a misunderstood maverick, being chased by just about everyone, and he is surrounded by spy stereotypes, the femme fatale, the ruthless, ambitious bosses and the competing agencies. As for the plot, it's just about believable, although there are a couple of creaky moments, which require suspension of disbelief.
As literature, it's nothing great, as a page turning thriller, it's up there with the best. Take this for the Beach this summer and you'll probably get through it in a couple of sessions, recommended for lovers of spy novels, thrillers and marathons
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first book I've bought from this author and I'm pleased to say I was very impressed. It has a good pace and the plot manages to keep you turning the pages. Personally I reckon the characters are a bit weak but I didn't buy for top notch literature, just for an enjoyable read. Probably a good one to take on holiday.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
My first experience of this author but I want more.a cracking story which is unputdownable
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An interesting memoir of a spy
Jon Stock was, of course, part of the infamous Greenwich University spy trio, Stock, Aitken and Waterman. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Charlie Daz
Definitely 4 stars, if not 5
If you like authors including Robert Crais, Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn and Michael Connelly, then you will enjoy Jon Stock's 'Dead Spy Running' and 'Games Traitors... Read more
Published 28 days ago by Byron
Ending a letdown
Marchant finds himself caught up in a terrorist attack on the London Marathon and his very presence there is considered guilt by the CIA. Read more
Published 1 month ago by EL EMMO
None
This book is an action packed book which I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end. A good read for anytime.
Published 2 months ago by tilly1234
acceptable but unremarkable
Although widely hyped, Jon Stock (not to be confused with John Stock, who co-authored Dean Gaffney's Times bestselling autobiography "Squaring up") has made a foray into the world... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Wayne Redhart
A gripping 21st century spy novel
I hadn't heard of this author before but shall be following him now. "Dead Spy Running" is a gripping spy story with the usual ingredients (maverick agent, paranoia, dark forces at... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Iain S. Palin
A good read
This title was drawn to my attention by a fellow Baha'i and as I am an avid reader of spy thrillers I downloaded a copy to my Kindle. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Rob Hain
Very disappointed ridiculous plot does not match superior writing
After first book I was looking forward to this . The writing is great , some if the characters are interesting, but every far fetched plot device in the first is tripled in the... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Michael F. Mc Grath
Couldn't quite grip me.
Seemed very Jason Bourne and I'd already read that.
Didn't excite me ended up back on the shelf which is a bad sign for my books, because I rarely give them a second chance,... Read more
Didn't excite me ended up back on the shelf which is a bad sign for my books, because I rarely give them a second chance,... Read more
Published 10 months ago by David A. Nash
Disappointing
The positive reviews for this novel are a little confusing. The plot never reaches a fast pace; the spy, Daniel Marchant, plays a surprisingly passive role; and the events and... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Riley Mesh
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