What do you think?
Rate this book
Paul Dark #1
Free Agent
In July 1945 MI6 agent Paul Dark took part in a top secret mission to hunt down and execute Nazi war criminals. Now it's 1969 and a KGB colonel called Slavin has walked into the High Commission in Lagos, Nigeria, and announced that he wants to defect. He has information which indicates that there is a double agent within the Service.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
28 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Duns
21 books79 followersJeremy Duns was born in 1973 and is the author of the acclaimed Paul Dark spy novels. He lives in the Åland islands.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
July 31, 2016
Delighted to have been recommended this book as I thoroughly enjoyed it. I read a lot of thrillers and it is hard not to see many similar themes and ideas, but this was a bit different.
Firstly it is set in 1969, a time of turmoil in the British Secret Service as the exposure of the spies within the “Cambridge Five” have set everyone against each-other amongst the suspicion of further spies. Secondly, our “hero”, Paul Dark, is precisely that. A senior intelligence official but he works for the Russians. It is also a bad time for Britain as they are involved in the war in Nigeria, providing arms to a conflict that is getting public attention because of the starvation forced onto the people (and children) of Biafra.
A potential Soviet defector has walked into Lagos and he may have information that may expose Dark, so Dark heads out to close down any trail that may lead to him, but his behaviour itself is drawing attention. As Dark rushes from near disaster to near disaster he discovers his own past may not be what he believed and can he even trust his own paymasters?
A nice feel to this one, an engaging anti-hero and an engaging historical backdrop, a conflict that Britain got involved in and were rightly condemned for.
Firstly it is set in 1969, a time of turmoil in the British Secret Service as the exposure of the spies within the “Cambridge Five” have set everyone against each-other amongst the suspicion of further spies. Secondly, our “hero”, Paul Dark, is precisely that. A senior intelligence official but he works for the Russians. It is also a bad time for Britain as they are involved in the war in Nigeria, providing arms to a conflict that is getting public attention because of the starvation forced onto the people (and children) of Biafra.
A potential Soviet defector has walked into Lagos and he may have information that may expose Dark, so Dark heads out to close down any trail that may lead to him, but his behaviour itself is drawing attention. As Dark rushes from near disaster to near disaster he discovers his own past may not be what he believed and can he even trust his own paymasters?
A nice feel to this one, an engaging anti-hero and an engaging historical backdrop, a conflict that Britain got involved in and were rightly condemned for.
September 1, 2010
It's mindblowing to me that this is Jeremy Duns' first book. Within 5 pages I felt like I was decades into a spy family dynasty. The emotional investment was instantaneous and the pace of the book kept me turing page after page.
September 13, 2009
Excellent Cold War thriller, complete with double agent. This is the first of a trilogy and I eagerly await book 2.
August 25, 2009
Free Agent is the first in Jeremy Duns' planned trilogy of novels featuring Paul Dark. Free Agent is to be followed be Free Country and then Free World. And I must say this novel gets the series off to a flying start. The first jolt comes within the opening pages after you've been lulled into a false sense of security. It's the obligatory briefing scene, where the secret agent receives his mission instructions from his superior. Often in this type of scene in other spy books, you get the crusty old handler tossing off a few barbs at his petulant underling - but you know deep down there is almost a father and son relationship going on. Well, Free Agent continues that time honoured tradition but then turns it on its head when Dark pulls a Luger pistol and shoots his chief right between the eyes.Whoa! Where do you go from here!
The story then flashes back to the aftermath of the Second World War, and Dark is involved in an operation to track down Nazi war criminals. It is here, where the seeds of Dark's traitorous actions are sown, and slowly a picture of the man starts to emerge. Is Dark a villain? Well that's hard to answer. He has just shot his chief, so the short answer is yes. But as you read the book, Dark never really seems like a villain. You ride along with the character, through his numerous scrapes - from out of the frying pan and into the fire, as it were, but you still keep hoping he'll muddle his way through. Duns has walked a fine literary tightrope, creating a character who it would have been easy to despise - and as such create little sympathy or interest from the reader. The fact that Duns has been able to create a universe where the reader actually follows with interest - and dare I say it - cheers for the villain is quite an impressive feat.
As the story progresses to Nigeria, Duns also proves adept at painting an atmospheric picture. The heat, mosquitoes and the sweat are almost palpable - from the time Dark hits the tarmac in Lagos, through being captured by drug addled Biafran soldiers, till he finally reaches his finally destination this is one hot sweaty book.
Without giving away too much of the plot, and spoiling the story, some of my favourite passages are a gun battle and car chase through the streets of Lagos – yeah, I am a sucker for a good action sequence – and the passage where, well actually it's the last one hundred pages of the book. Up until this point the book has been good, but here it lifts up a notch. From the point where Dark catches a plane flight to Udi, until the last pages of the book where the last few final twists are revealed, I dare anyone to put down this book while reading.
Jeremy Duns is no stranger to the world of spy fiction. You can read his articles about past masters of the spy genre in The Sunday Times or listen to his opinion on Len Deighton on BBC4 radio. The problem with this - and I can be guilty of this too - is that it is easy to suggest that Duns' writing (or certain passages) mimics those of the masters of the spy genre. I have already read comparisons of Duns to LeCarre and Deighton - and while I am sure Duns would be very pleased to see his name grouped in such exclusive company, I think it undermines his achievement as a writer. This is not a 'cut and paste' book. Sure, people who have read a great many spy books will be able to spot certain references - maybe even homages - to the past, but Free Agent is a cohesive piece of story telling that stands on its own.
Another side effect of Duns' knowledge and reputation in the field of spy-lit, is that many people seem to expect that Free Agent is a 'hard-core' novel of espionage. It is not - it is a rattling good thriller that just happens to be set in the world of espionage. Is there a difference? Yes there is. Hard core spy novels attempt to demystify the world of espionage. They strip away the gloss and show spying as a dirty business. Whereas in a thriller, a series of events happen that build upon each other - they build and build until they reach (hopefully) a shattering climax. The reader gets breathlessly propelled through the story. Free Agent belongs to that latter tradition. In Free Agent you will not find any long-winded passages detailing 'tradecraft', and due to the book being set in the sixties, you will not find any tiresome techno-babble about weapons and machinery. This is a story that drags you along at breakneck pace.
It's that last point that I believe is the most salient. As a reviewer, I am a guy who writes about spy films and books, and so, of course I am going to love Duns' book. But because I believe that Free Agent is a good thriller, rather than an espionage book, I would suggest that this book has broad appeal and can be picked up and enjoyed by everyone - you don't have to be a spy geek like me to enjoy this book. When I interviewed Duns last months, he remarked:
'I write for as broad an audience as I can. I want people who don’t usually read thrillers to read my work, and hope that pretty much anyone over the age of fourteen or so could enjoy Free Agent.'
When I interviewed Jeremy, I hadn't read his book, and his comment was sort of lost on me. As an author, of course you want everyone to read your book, and would say something to that effect. But in fact, he has delivered what he said - a thriller for people who don't usually read thrillers. I would say that he has succeeded admirably.
The story then flashes back to the aftermath of the Second World War, and Dark is involved in an operation to track down Nazi war criminals. It is here, where the seeds of Dark's traitorous actions are sown, and slowly a picture of the man starts to emerge. Is Dark a villain? Well that's hard to answer. He has just shot his chief, so the short answer is yes. But as you read the book, Dark never really seems like a villain. You ride along with the character, through his numerous scrapes - from out of the frying pan and into the fire, as it were, but you still keep hoping he'll muddle his way through. Duns has walked a fine literary tightrope, creating a character who it would have been easy to despise - and as such create little sympathy or interest from the reader. The fact that Duns has been able to create a universe where the reader actually follows with interest - and dare I say it - cheers for the villain is quite an impressive feat.
As the story progresses to Nigeria, Duns also proves adept at painting an atmospheric picture. The heat, mosquitoes and the sweat are almost palpable - from the time Dark hits the tarmac in Lagos, through being captured by drug addled Biafran soldiers, till he finally reaches his finally destination this is one hot sweaty book.
Without giving away too much of the plot, and spoiling the story, some of my favourite passages are a gun battle and car chase through the streets of Lagos – yeah, I am a sucker for a good action sequence – and the passage where, well actually it's the last one hundred pages of the book. Up until this point the book has been good, but here it lifts up a notch. From the point where Dark catches a plane flight to Udi, until the last pages of the book where the last few final twists are revealed, I dare anyone to put down this book while reading.
Jeremy Duns is no stranger to the world of spy fiction. You can read his articles about past masters of the spy genre in The Sunday Times or listen to his opinion on Len Deighton on BBC4 radio. The problem with this - and I can be guilty of this too - is that it is easy to suggest that Duns' writing (or certain passages) mimics those of the masters of the spy genre. I have already read comparisons of Duns to LeCarre and Deighton - and while I am sure Duns would be very pleased to see his name grouped in such exclusive company, I think it undermines his achievement as a writer. This is not a 'cut and paste' book. Sure, people who have read a great many spy books will be able to spot certain references - maybe even homages - to the past, but Free Agent is a cohesive piece of story telling that stands on its own.
Another side effect of Duns' knowledge and reputation in the field of spy-lit, is that many people seem to expect that Free Agent is a 'hard-core' novel of espionage. It is not - it is a rattling good thriller that just happens to be set in the world of espionage. Is there a difference? Yes there is. Hard core spy novels attempt to demystify the world of espionage. They strip away the gloss and show spying as a dirty business. Whereas in a thriller, a series of events happen that build upon each other - they build and build until they reach (hopefully) a shattering climax. The reader gets breathlessly propelled through the story. Free Agent belongs to that latter tradition. In Free Agent you will not find any long-winded passages detailing 'tradecraft', and due to the book being set in the sixties, you will not find any tiresome techno-babble about weapons and machinery. This is a story that drags you along at breakneck pace.
It's that last point that I believe is the most salient. As a reviewer, I am a guy who writes about spy films and books, and so, of course I am going to love Duns' book. But because I believe that Free Agent is a good thriller, rather than an espionage book, I would suggest that this book has broad appeal and can be picked up and enjoyed by everyone - you don't have to be a spy geek like me to enjoy this book. When I interviewed Duns last months, he remarked:
'I write for as broad an audience as I can. I want people who don’t usually read thrillers to read my work, and hope that pretty much anyone over the age of fourteen or so could enjoy Free Agent.'
When I interviewed Jeremy, I hadn't read his book, and his comment was sort of lost on me. As an author, of course you want everyone to read your book, and would say something to that effect. But in fact, he has delivered what he said - a thriller for people who don't usually read thrillers. I would say that he has succeeded admirably.
August 13, 2017
The first book in the Paul Dark series, a thrilling spy novel set mostly in Nigeria in 1969. Great blend of espionage and intrigue, with a fast paced action filled plot. Paul Dark is a unique protagonist, I look forward to getting my hands on the next novel in the series.
April 7, 2014
Empty "thriller" with an uninteresting protagonist...,
Looking back, I can't say where the book took a turn, but it didn't take long for the story presented to start getting bogged down in it's own details or, occassionally, lack thereof. The story had potential, but our narrator, Paul Dark, is a character that it is hard to like or dislike; he just tells us his story. Never knowing whether or not Dark (the name is a bit too cliche for my tastes, as well) is a good guy or a bad guy, a victim or a villian, doesn't help the story; I suppose this is meant to be a means of building suspense, but the author never really explains enough for the reader to know where our narrator stands, who he is.
All characters are styrofoam cut-outs of the genre, with no real depth and nothing to make them stand out in the reader's mind. I found it difficult to recall characters that had disappeared from the story for a while. There were many characters that were so much alike that I couldn't remember which was which was which...
I can't even classify this as a decent diversion. There just isn't anything about this story that causes me to want to read the sequel; and they made no mistake, at the end, in letting us know that this dreadful story would continue.
The book is not thrilling, not mysterious, not suspenseful and when the finale finally arrives its not shocking, not interesting.
I rarely rate a book 1 star as writing a book is a difficult task, but this certainly does not deserve a 3 star (average) rating. Its just a poor outing...
Looking back, I can't say where the book took a turn, but it didn't take long for the story presented to start getting bogged down in it's own details or, occassionally, lack thereof. The story had potential, but our narrator, Paul Dark, is a character that it is hard to like or dislike; he just tells us his story. Never knowing whether or not Dark (the name is a bit too cliche for my tastes, as well) is a good guy or a bad guy, a victim or a villian, doesn't help the story; I suppose this is meant to be a means of building suspense, but the author never really explains enough for the reader to know where our narrator stands, who he is.
All characters are styrofoam cut-outs of the genre, with no real depth and nothing to make them stand out in the reader's mind. I found it difficult to recall characters that had disappeared from the story for a while. There were many characters that were so much alike that I couldn't remember which was which was which...
I can't even classify this as a decent diversion. There just isn't anything about this story that causes me to want to read the sequel; and they made no mistake, at the end, in letting us know that this dreadful story would continue.
The book is not thrilling, not mysterious, not suspenseful and when the finale finally arrives its not shocking, not interesting.
I rarely rate a book 1 star as writing a book is a difficult task, but this certainly does not deserve a 3 star (average) rating. Its just a poor outing...
June 22, 2009
I didn't think this book was great but it was ok. I didn't realize until the end of the book that it was a start of a series with the next book being Free Country featuring Paul Dark. I think with it being the first book in the series that the author made a mistake. Most first books in a series set everything up and give a lot of depth to a character. I didn't feel the author did this. I felt he had a story he wanted to tell and he was going to tell it. The plot I felt was somewhat confusing and could have been a little more realistic. It takes you from England back to wartime Germany to England to Nigeria where there is a war going on in 1969. None of the book takes place in present time. It's all in 1945 or 1969 while the Cold War is starting up. It's a definite Cold War book. I just couldn't get real invested in the characters. Most of the events were unrealistic and how Paul Dark doesn't get caught is just too unbelievable. I felt the twists in the book were a little contrived and not set up well. However it is a different book about double agents and what they start doing when their cover is blown. I wouldn't recommend this book because it's just not good enough to pay hardback prices for. However I would say to pick it up on the bargain book table or as a paperback.
December 16, 2009
This was a strange book. While reading it, I went back and forth between liking and disliking. One problem is the main character is not very likable. And he seems to act too quickly, not really thinking things through, although he is quick to figure things out when they happen, He just seems to continually make bad choices. But the plot is swift enough and intriguing enough to keep me reading, just to find out where it was headed. But at the end, I really didn't care.
One big plus though is the setting: the civil war in Nigeria and Biafra. I remember all those photos of the starving children with the big belies, but never really knew the politics of what was happening in that country. This book does help clarify that time, emphasizing the shady moral ground constantly shifting during the Cold War.
One big plus though is the setting: the civil war in Nigeria and Biafra. I remember all those photos of the starving children with the big belies, but never really knew the politics of what was happening in that country. This book does help clarify that time, emphasizing the shady moral ground constantly shifting during the Cold War.
August 7, 2010
A great, thrilling read!
Read my review and an interview with the author here: http://www.adventureswithwords.com/20...
Read my review and an interview with the author here: http://www.adventureswithwords.com/20...
September 10, 2010
A great read for a long weekend, especially if you're into the whole James Bond thing.
April 11, 2011
A very good book describing why an agent killed his own chief.
March 4, 2010
Russian double agent in Britain during Nigerian war vs. Biafra. Couldn't put it down.
July 8, 2019
Paul Dark is senior intelligence officer in UK's secret service. When called by his Chief in order to check reports on possible Russian spy willing to cross over to the West, Dark panics and starts the events that will take him from London and England to war-torn Ethiopia and Biafra where he will have to find his way out of troubles without any support.
I wont go into details because of spoilers but would like to say a few things in regard to the Paul Dark.
I have to admit I was a little bit put-off by some of the reviews but after reading the book I think most people did not enjoy the book because Paul Dark is not likeable in any way.
But how can he be even remotely likeable? While he did find himself in WW2 cloak-and-dagger game he was obviously not true material for it. He has conscience and he did not like what he had to do - but he did it for one obvious reason. Because it saved his hide. And later he became a professional bureaucrat in secret service, in world where fish-eat-fish and nobody has any remorse or guilt for walking over bodies to the higher position. And it is here he makes a decision to play a dangerous game of double agent - and starts working as one for more than two decades. I have to admit this choice of story protagonist was a very brave decision by the author and it worked for me.
So while one can dismiss Dark as man without morals, take a look at his superiors at the very end - fishing for confession from Dark (because nothing is ever said clearly and doubt and power-plays are ever present) but guilty of more dark and loathsome actions than Paul ever undertook. And these are people who are supposed to be a pillars of justice in the story.
And his handlers are also of the same "special stock" - all double agents are just pawns in the game and have about the same value. Only they do not know it.
In game of second-guessing everyone, not being able to trust anyone and living on the edge of knife every day there are no good people, just unscrupulous and opportunistic people ready to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals.
In terms of pace book starts with the blast, then first third of the book gets slow only to speed up to the very interesting finale.
Highly recommended to all fans of thrillers and spy fiction.
I wont go into details because of spoilers but would like to say a few things in regard to the Paul Dark.
I have to admit I was a little bit put-off by some of the reviews but after reading the book I think most people did not enjoy the book because Paul Dark is not likeable in any way.
But how can he be even remotely likeable? While he did find himself in WW2 cloak-and-dagger game he was obviously not true material for it. He has conscience and he did not like what he had to do - but he did it for one obvious reason. Because it saved his hide. And later he became a professional bureaucrat in secret service, in world where fish-eat-fish and nobody has any remorse or guilt for walking over bodies to the higher position. And it is here he makes a decision to play a dangerous game of double agent - and starts working as one for more than two decades. I have to admit this choice of story protagonist was a very brave decision by the author and it worked for me.
So while one can dismiss Dark as man without morals, take a look at his superiors at the very end - fishing for confession from Dark (because nothing is ever said clearly and doubt and power-plays are ever present) but guilty of more dark and loathsome actions than Paul ever undertook. And these are people who are supposed to be a pillars of justice in the story.
And his handlers are also of the same "special stock" - all double agents are just pawns in the game and have about the same value. Only they do not know it.
In game of second-guessing everyone, not being able to trust anyone and living on the edge of knife every day there are no good people, just unscrupulous and opportunistic people ready to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals.
In terms of pace book starts with the blast, then first third of the book gets slow only to speed up to the very interesting finale.
Highly recommended to all fans of thrillers and spy fiction.
December 25, 2022
I bought this book in a rush. I actually got the omnibus which has all three books of this series. The cover art was impressive, and on the cover, a Christopher Reich says - "An exceptional talent... I was transported back to teh heyday of spy fiction and reminded of the best of Le Carre, Deighton and Forsyth."
If ever a man deserved a slap, its this man, not Chris Rock!
What an absolute buffoon who compared Le Carre and Deighton, but if that was to be forgiven, compares Jeremy Duns to either. This book was wretched and pathetic in every possible way you can imagine.
To being with, it has neither the technicality nor the tone of a Le Carre. It lacks the humor and subtlty of Deighton. It lacks the depth and pace of plot of Forsyth. This is essentially a story of a Paul Dark, who throughout the book has failed to convince me of having any real motivation for anything that he did. Duns in his attempt to be probably elite intellectual has failed to deliver something even as simple and riveting as James Bond. Although in the latter half of the book, it does become as absurd as some of the Roger Moore Bond movies. The writing was stale and at no point of time it ever felt like Duns had a handle on what he was trying to communicate.
I don't want to write more and waste my time on such a toilet-paper-worthy book.
If ever a man deserved a slap, its this man, not Chris Rock!
What an absolute buffoon who compared Le Carre and Deighton, but if that was to be forgiven, compares Jeremy Duns to either. This book was wretched and pathetic in every possible way you can imagine.
To being with, it has neither the technicality nor the tone of a Le Carre. It lacks the humor and subtlty of Deighton. It lacks the depth and pace of plot of Forsyth. This is essentially a story of a Paul Dark, who throughout the book has failed to convince me of having any real motivation for anything that he did. Duns in his attempt to be probably elite intellectual has failed to deliver something even as simple and riveting as James Bond. Although in the latter half of the book, it does become as absurd as some of the Roger Moore Bond movies. The writing was stale and at no point of time it ever felt like Duns had a handle on what he was trying to communicate.
I don't want to write more and waste my time on such a toilet-paper-worthy book.
June 21, 2019
I picked this up after reading an article in The Times by Jeremy Duns on spy stories and authors. It went at quite a pace and had some good twists. Elements of the story were far fetched (nearly all spy stories are unless a Le Carre or similar calibre author). I enjoyed the setting, time period and general link to realism and facts of the time.
I'm going to read his second novel in the series as I read the first at a pace wanting to see how the plot unfolded.
I'd recommend this as a good spy novel but not 5* in reality only just a 4* but worth reading for fun.
I'm going to read his second novel in the series as I read the first at a pace wanting to see how the plot unfolded.
I'd recommend this as a good spy novel but not 5* in reality only just a 4* but worth reading for fun.
September 29, 2017
A 4+ stars book, a really excellent example of the espionage fiction genre, a plausible plot that is full of twists and turns with several last minute ones that I defy most people to see coming. Mr Duns also achieves the remarkable feat of making his protagonist a sympathetic traitor. Very highly recommended, looking forward to reading the other 3 in the series.
March 19, 2024
This book was interesting, but it bogged down for me in the middle of the book. As a first book, in a series, I'd hope that an author gives a bit more background/does character development to get a connection between a reader and the main characters. I'd read another book by this author given the chance.
August 13, 2018
Started really well, good premise, sound history and the Biafran War plot and colnial Nigeria was very good but the characters were wooden, the plot got silly and became too much about action became very tiring about two thirds way through.
October 17, 2025
Outstanding. just seeing the Select Bibliography at the end shows the attention to detail and effort that went into this book. Check out the Praise on the back cover and the amazing authors providing the kudos to Jeremy. Looking forward to more.
July 19, 2017
Audiobook version. A good story, pacy, action and describes 1969 well. First book by the author for me, I will read more.
May 4, 2018
A great book set around some real life events of the 1960 with lots of twists and turns.
August 17, 2018
Good story. Had you guessing what was going to happen to the end.
November 24, 2021
This book is awesome!
June 27, 2015
This was a crazy book. The beginning is almost insane. It started off like various Alistair MacClean [sp ?] novels I have read, but at the end of the first chapter took the most unexpected turn. Completely shocked me so much that I went back and reread it because I could not believe what I had read. I would like to say it was a 'fast read' and held me on the edge of my seat, but after the revelation in the first chapter it really seemed to slow down for me. The course of the entire book takes place over four, maybe five days. Most of the book [like, 90% of it] involves the first two days. The main character loses two - three days due to being passed out from some disease. The second to last chapter takes place over a few hours. The last chapter wraps things up.
Despite all of the 'stuff' that the main character goes through, I never truly came to care for him as a 'person' because I knew he was a Russian spy and double-agent [no spoiler; this info is given on the dust jacket]. Apparently the author was trying to write a novel studying WHY a person betrays their own country and turns traitor by spying for another country. I did not feel like the backstory explaining why the lead character turned traitor gave enough of a reason. Perhaps that is because I did not feel emotionally invested in what the character was feeling at the end of WWII. I did not quite understand how .
The dust jacket also describes this novel as exploring the limits of loyalty and love. Really? How? I didn't quite get that sense when reading. Maybe loyalty - as in loyalty to one's country of birth vs. loyalty to one's handlers? But love? I almost thought he loved 'the Chief's' daughter, but his final actions toward her further reduced my opinion of this guy. He is not heroic. Despite his actions could be seen as heroic, he is only trying to save his own skin. I could not figure out where 'love' came into the question/story. The guy turns out to be a selfish, self-centered jerk who apparently, after twenty-five years of working for the Russians, has maybe developed some kind of conscience AFTER killing his boss to protect his own hide. Too little, to late. The only love he truly expresses is love for himself. The author tries to inject memories of 'first love lost' throughout the book, but it falls flat in m opinion.
The end of the book [not the last chapter, but the second-to-last chapter] had some additional surprises in store for me. I did not see them coming. So that was well-done.
Despite the guy being a jerk, I still liked the book. Not sure why. Perhaps because it was still entertaining. Perhaps I should read Kim Philby's book sometime to gain a better understanding of the machinations of a traitor and double-agent; maybe it would help me better appreciate this book. This one definitely had suspense to it, but it was more over was the lead character going to finally be outed as a Russian mole or not. I guess there are two more books in the series? I am not sure if I liked this one enough to read the other two. This is a despicable character [in my opinion] who, even though he wants 'out' will not be set free because his position is too important to his Russian handlers.
It is written in the first-person tense, so obviously the only internal thoughts we might get are the main characters. It works. The author does a nice job with the first-person narration. It is filled with enough twists and turns to keep one's interest [as long as one can get past the chapter devoted to the lead character's WWII 'origin story'/backstory]. The events that occur may come across as far-fetched, but not moreso than other characters in other books.
I just know for myself, the attempted 'study' of love and loyalty fell flat. The attempt at 'explaining' why a person would willingly choose to become a traitor fell flat. It was suspenseful, yes. But not necessarily a book I would ever want to read again.
Despite all of the 'stuff' that the main character goes through, I never truly came to care for him as a 'person' because I knew he was a Russian spy and double-agent [no spoiler; this info is given on the dust jacket]. Apparently the author was trying to write a novel studying WHY a person betrays their own country and turns traitor by spying for another country. I did not feel like the backstory explaining why the lead character turned traitor gave enough of a reason. Perhaps that is because I did not feel emotionally invested in what the character was feeling at the end of WWII. I did not quite understand how .
The dust jacket also describes this novel as exploring the limits of loyalty and love. Really? How? I didn't quite get that sense when reading. Maybe loyalty - as in loyalty to one's country of birth vs. loyalty to one's handlers? But love? I almost thought he loved 'the Chief's' daughter, but his final actions toward her further reduced my opinion of this guy. He is not heroic. Despite his actions could be seen as heroic, he is only trying to save his own skin. I could not figure out where 'love' came into the question/story. The guy turns out to be a selfish, self-centered jerk who apparently, after twenty-five years of working for the Russians, has maybe developed some kind of conscience AFTER killing his boss to protect his own hide. Too little, to late. The only love he truly expresses is love for himself. The author tries to inject memories of 'first love lost' throughout the book, but it falls flat in m opinion.
The end of the book [not the last chapter, but the second-to-last chapter] had some additional surprises in store for me. I did not see them coming. So that was well-done.
Despite the guy being a jerk, I still liked the book. Not sure why. Perhaps because it was still entertaining. Perhaps I should read Kim Philby's book sometime to gain a better understanding of the machinations of a traitor and double-agent; maybe it would help me better appreciate this book. This one definitely had suspense to it, but it was more over was the lead character going to finally be outed as a Russian mole or not. I guess there are two more books in the series? I am not sure if I liked this one enough to read the other two. This is a despicable character [in my opinion] who, even though he wants 'out' will not be set free because his position is too important to his Russian handlers.
It is written in the first-person tense, so obviously the only internal thoughts we might get are the main characters. It works. The author does a nice job with the first-person narration. It is filled with enough twists and turns to keep one's interest [as long as one can get past the chapter devoted to the lead character's WWII 'origin story'/backstory]. The events that occur may come across as far-fetched, but not moreso than other characters in other books.
I just know for myself, the attempted 'study' of love and loyalty fell flat. The attempt at 'explaining' why a person would willingly choose to become a traitor fell flat. It was suspenseful, yes. But not necessarily a book I would ever want to read again.
March 17, 2013
Well, well. How much did I enjoy this?
Plenty.
Let's see: Spies. The Second World War. Spies. The Cold War. Spies. The 1960's. Spies. Yup! Everything set fair for me to enjoy this one.
And I did.
If I might give you some advice based on my reading of this one; have a good grip on this book right from the start.
For, after just a few pages, there I am, staring blankly at the page I just read, blinking, with my jaw bouncing back up off floor. And I'm wondering; 'The hell happened there?! Did he just...? But I thought...? Did that really...' 'Cat, meet pigeons' indeed. And you're only 13 pages in. Ha! Excellent stuff.
Yes, you know you're in unchartered enjoyment territory when a book throws a huge great spanner in your works, even before you've got the works in gear.
It wouldn't be easy describing the plot without giving away the start. Which is essential for what follows. However, the plot summary on the back of the book does do an excellent job of sidestepping the shock at the start. It gives nothing away, while giving a reasonably full synopsis of the story. I can't do better, so here's what my copy of the paper book says;
"British agent Paul Dark has had a stellar career - until now. A Soviet defector has credible information that there is a double agent within MI6, and Dark finds himself in the frame. Arrest could be only moments away. Worse, he has discovered that everything he has believed in for the last twenty-four years - the very purpose that drives him - has been built on a lie. Now he wants answers, no matter what he has to do to get them."
Free Agent is a satisfyingly well-plotted story that has its roots in the confusion and panic in Germany - and Europe in general - after the end of the Second World War. And of course the start of the Cold War. New ideologies are forming, becoming entrenched and making both sides vulnerable. To both sides. The main story takes place in 1969. Beginning in England, but then taking us out to Nigeria, during its civil war with those trying to break away and form a new country; Biafra. Here, the conflict is on the surface a civil war involving the potential breakaway of the Biafran province from Nigeria. But it is (naturally) being used as a playing field for the Eastern and Western colonial powers - old and new - to do more than just rattle their sabres. I loved the description the book quotes as being from a Swahili saying, that 'when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.'
The book for me brought back many interesting youthful memories - and some shocking images. And, I'm ashamed to admit, some rather tasteless 'jokes'. We didn't know better. I remember the trauma of the Biafran conflict, the harrowing images and the British attempts at salvaging (for the British) a rapidly deteriorating situation (I also realised I remember Wilson's 'warship diplomacy', in trying to solve/end the Rhodesian 'problem' as well). In fact, there were many times during reading the reading of 'Free Agent' where I had to pause and let up some of my own memories bubble up, memories that Free Agent had reminded me I'd forgotten were there.
The story moves at a good pace, though never too fast to be trivial. There are twists and turns, but thanks to a well-constructed and believable plot, feel natural and never forced. There are also interesting ideas and themes that are given time to develop and come to fruition - while always retaining the book's urgency and the hero's need for solving his own personal issues, in what becomes a rather hectic race against time. In Paul Dark, I think Jeremy Duns has created a very interesting, complex character. With Dark, what you see isn't always what you get and I don't think I'm giving too much away if I say that he is a character I thought I shouldn't really sympathize with, but did. And a character I was and am, interested in finding out more about. More about his motivations, his past, his present and hopefully his future - however long that future might be.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more about Paul Dark. And Jeremy Duns is a really interesting Tweeter too - as of course befits a fellow Englishman now sensible enough to be living in Scandinavia!
*I would like to point out that the Goodreads language description for this paperback version, says 'Croation'. This is decidedly not the case!
Plenty.
Let's see: Spies. The Second World War. Spies. The Cold War. Spies. The 1960's. Spies. Yup! Everything set fair for me to enjoy this one.
And I did.
If I might give you some advice based on my reading of this one; have a good grip on this book right from the start.
For, after just a few pages, there I am, staring blankly at the page I just read, blinking, with my jaw bouncing back up off floor. And I'm wondering; 'The hell happened there?! Did he just...? But I thought...? Did that really...' 'Cat, meet pigeons' indeed. And you're only 13 pages in. Ha! Excellent stuff.
Yes, you know you're in unchartered enjoyment territory when a book throws a huge great spanner in your works, even before you've got the works in gear.
It wouldn't be easy describing the plot without giving away the start. Which is essential for what follows. However, the plot summary on the back of the book does do an excellent job of sidestepping the shock at the start. It gives nothing away, while giving a reasonably full synopsis of the story. I can't do better, so here's what my copy of the paper book says;
"British agent Paul Dark has had a stellar career - until now. A Soviet defector has credible information that there is a double agent within MI6, and Dark finds himself in the frame. Arrest could be only moments away. Worse, he has discovered that everything he has believed in for the last twenty-four years - the very purpose that drives him - has been built on a lie. Now he wants answers, no matter what he has to do to get them."
Free Agent is a satisfyingly well-plotted story that has its roots in the confusion and panic in Germany - and Europe in general - after the end of the Second World War. And of course the start of the Cold War. New ideologies are forming, becoming entrenched and making both sides vulnerable. To both sides. The main story takes place in 1969. Beginning in England, but then taking us out to Nigeria, during its civil war with those trying to break away and form a new country; Biafra. Here, the conflict is on the surface a civil war involving the potential breakaway of the Biafran province from Nigeria. But it is (naturally) being used as a playing field for the Eastern and Western colonial powers - old and new - to do more than just rattle their sabres. I loved the description the book quotes as being from a Swahili saying, that 'when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.'
The book for me brought back many interesting youthful memories - and some shocking images. And, I'm ashamed to admit, some rather tasteless 'jokes'. We didn't know better. I remember the trauma of the Biafran conflict, the harrowing images and the British attempts at salvaging (for the British) a rapidly deteriorating situation (I also realised I remember Wilson's 'warship diplomacy', in trying to solve/end the Rhodesian 'problem' as well). In fact, there were many times during reading the reading of 'Free Agent' where I had to pause and let up some of my own memories bubble up, memories that Free Agent had reminded me I'd forgotten were there.
The story moves at a good pace, though never too fast to be trivial. There are twists and turns, but thanks to a well-constructed and believable plot, feel natural and never forced. There are also interesting ideas and themes that are given time to develop and come to fruition - while always retaining the book's urgency and the hero's need for solving his own personal issues, in what becomes a rather hectic race against time. In Paul Dark, I think Jeremy Duns has created a very interesting, complex character. With Dark, what you see isn't always what you get and I don't think I'm giving too much away if I say that he is a character I thought I shouldn't really sympathize with, but did. And a character I was and am, interested in finding out more about. More about his motivations, his past, his present and hopefully his future - however long that future might be.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more about Paul Dark. And Jeremy Duns is a really interesting Tweeter too - as of course befits a fellow Englishman now sensible enough to be living in Scandinavia!
*I would like to point out that the Goodreads language description for this paperback version, says 'Croation'. This is decidedly not the case!
October 11, 2019
A good spy thriller set in 1969. Paul Dark is a career spy, but is suspected of being a Russian double agent. A defector in Nigeria has plenty to say - can Dark get to him first? And what is the secret of his wartime romance as a young man - was the pretty nurse an undercover agent?
There is plenty of detail to make this feel real. And Dark is an interesting protagonist - you find yourself conflicted between pulling for him and wondering just who he really is.
There is plenty of detail to make this feel real. And Dark is an interesting protagonist - you find yourself conflicted between pulling for him and wondering just who he really is.
October 19, 2018
now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
January 4, 2013
This is a very interesting take on the traditional Cold War spy novel. Paul Dark, the slick spy at the center of the novel is a spy for Great Britain in 1969 and, while in the upper ranks of "Five" he is informed that there is a Russian, Communist traitor within the organization. The catch is, that Dark knows the traitor is himself.
As it turns out, the Russians manipulated Dark at the end of WWII into thinking that his own countrymen had killed a Soviet spy-posing-as-nurse that he'd come to love. It isn't until this revelation a quarter of a century later that he figures out that the supposedly dead Russian woman who'd captured his heart and mind had faked her death.
The novels twists and turns as Dark escapes to Nigeria in the middle of the Nigerian Civil War, a conflict that both the Capitalist Brits and Communist Russians are trying to exert their influence over. Once there, he attempts to track down the defecting Russian who has blown his cover and keep his entire secrets from getting out.
A really enjoyable novel from beginning to end, and with two more novels that tell the rest of Dark's unresolved story, I'm excited to see where it turns next.
As it turns out, the Russians manipulated Dark at the end of WWII into thinking that his own countrymen had killed a Soviet spy-posing-as-nurse that he'd come to love. It isn't until this revelation a quarter of a century later that he figures out that the supposedly dead Russian woman who'd captured his heart and mind had faked her death.
The novels twists and turns as Dark escapes to Nigeria in the middle of the Nigerian Civil War, a conflict that both the Capitalist Brits and Communist Russians are trying to exert their influence over. Once there, he attempts to track down the defecting Russian who has blown his cover and keep his entire secrets from getting out.
A really enjoyable novel from beginning to end, and with two more novels that tell the rest of Dark's unresolved story, I'm excited to see where it turns next.
July 15, 2010
It's been 25 years since Paul was asked to join the MI6 with his father. Their job was to take down certain Nazi's and keep it on the down low. Paul doesn't just work for MI6, he's actually a double agent worked alongside the KGB. Now, Paul is on the run. Will he be able to outsmart both or will his decisions stomp on him leaving only a pile of dirt?
I found this spy novel to be entertaining. I wouldn't say it's one of my favorites but it's far from horrible. I guess I would say that it's so-so. If you like the whole double agent angle then this might be a good book to pick up the next time you want to read.
I found this spy novel to be entertaining. I wouldn't say it's one of my favorites but it's far from horrible. I guess I would say that it's so-so. If you like the whole double agent angle then this might be a good book to pick up the next time you want to read.
Read
July 31, 2011The story started off well with a good premise and sounded like it would be a good cold war spy novel, but went downhill quickly. I only finished it because it was only 340 pages long and I was hoping it would pick up.
The protagonist, Paul Dark, is a character you never really get to like. He is always doing stupid things but somehow pulls it off by discovering something at the very last moment.. Quite annoying.
Anyway, I don't recommend this to anyone and would probably avoid Jeremy Duns in the future.
The protagonist, Paul Dark, is a character you never really get to like. He is always doing stupid things but somehow pulls it off by discovering something at the very last moment.. Quite annoying.
Anyway, I don't recommend this to anyone and would probably avoid Jeremy Duns in the future.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews