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Harry Tate #2
Tracers
Second in the brand-new Harry Tate thriller series - In western Baghdad, a suicide bomber blows up a fortified house, killing everyone inside. In Norfolk, England, a runaway Libyan banker is assassinated. Different events, half a world apart - but closely linked. Former M15 agent Harry Tate has been hired by a government fixer to find two runaways, but then both are assassinated. Despite his misgivings, he is persuaded into a third assignment, but when he tracks down the supposed Israeli professor, things start to go very wrong . . .
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2011
About the author
Adrian Magson
44 books106 followersAdrian Magson is a British crime-writer, his books often involve conspiracies, and have two repeating main characters - Riley Gavin, a young female investigative reporter, and Frank Palmer, a former RMP (British Royal Military Policeman) now a private investigator.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 17, 2026
Tracers ( in kindle as Silent Kill ) is the second novel in the Harry Tate spy-thriller series. It follows former MI5 officer Harry Tate after the events of Red Station, where he was betrayed by his own service and forced to rebuild his life as a specialist tracker of missing persons.
Plot Summary
The story opens with two apparently unrelated events: a suicide bombing in Baghdad and the murder of a Libyan banker hiding in rural England. Harry Tate and his partner, Rik Ferris, are hired by a government fixer to locate several missing individuals. However, each time they find one of their targets, the person is murdered before revealing what they know.
As Harry investigates, he becomes suspicious that he is being manipulated. The search for a third missing person—a supposed Israeli professor—draws him into a complex web of intelligence operations, political intrigue, and international conspiracies. What initially seems like a routine tracing job turns into a deadly hunt involving secret agencies, hidden identities, and professional killers.
Harry gradually discovers that the missing people are connected to a much larger operation stretching across several countries. Unsure whom he can trust, he must rely on his instincts and investigative skills to uncover the truth while staying alive.
Main Characters :
* Harry Tate – former MI5 officer turned tracer.
* Rik Ferris – Harry’s friend and investigative partner.
* Various intelligence operatives, government fixers, and assassins whose loyalties are often unclear.
Themes
* Espionage and covert operations
* Betrayal and deception
* The lingering effects of intelligence work
* Trust in a world of shifting loyalties
* International terrorism and political intrigue
I would give this book 3 stars
Dr. Javed Rasheed
Plot Summary
The story opens with two apparently unrelated events: a suicide bombing in Baghdad and the murder of a Libyan banker hiding in rural England. Harry Tate and his partner, Rik Ferris, are hired by a government fixer to locate several missing individuals. However, each time they find one of their targets, the person is murdered before revealing what they know.
As Harry investigates, he becomes suspicious that he is being manipulated. The search for a third missing person—a supposed Israeli professor—draws him into a complex web of intelligence operations, political intrigue, and international conspiracies. What initially seems like a routine tracing job turns into a deadly hunt involving secret agencies, hidden identities, and professional killers.
Harry gradually discovers that the missing people are connected to a much larger operation stretching across several countries. Unsure whom he can trust, he must rely on his instincts and investigative skills to uncover the truth while staying alive.
Main Characters :
* Harry Tate – former MI5 officer turned tracer.
* Rik Ferris – Harry’s friend and investigative partner.
* Various intelligence operatives, government fixers, and assassins whose loyalties are often unclear.
Themes
* Espionage and covert operations
* Betrayal and deception
* The lingering effects of intelligence work
* Trust in a world of shifting loyalties
* International terrorism and political intrigue
I would give this book 3 stars
Dr. Javed Rasheed
May 25, 2013
This is a good thriller, but it probably could have been edited a bit more. The story moves along at a rapid and engaging pace, but as it nears the end it tended to get a bit more convoluted and confusing - which is fine with a thriller, but at times it became so convoluted my mind tended to wander. The climax of the piece, in particular, is one of those situations where a person is on the phone watching a situation unfold as the person on the other end of the phone is explaining everything that you thought up to that point is wrong. It struck me as a bit contrived.
I also found myself in several point wondering if I had read the same book before as there are plot points that must have appeared in other novels - mistaken identity of murder victims, lonely English country roads where killers ride motorbikes, etc. Maybe I'm just reading too many of the same stories.
At the risk of being overly critical of the book I did enjoy reading it and do look forward to the next one in the series, which, given the way it ends, must be in the offing.
I also found myself in several point wondering if I had read the same book before as there are plot points that must have appeared in other novels - mistaken identity of murder victims, lonely English country roads where killers ride motorbikes, etc. Maybe I'm just reading too many of the same stories.
At the risk of being overly critical of the book I did enjoy reading it and do look forward to the next one in the series, which, given the way it ends, must be in the offing.
May 21, 2019
Another Harry Tate thriller. I found it easier to put down, and it didn’t grip me as much as the first. All in all, a good read.
December 8, 2022
Spoilers ahead.
The writing is easy to read and get into. But it was very slow going. Sometimes a book grips me and brings me along, like I'm on a raft barreling down a river. This one feels more like hard paddling. It was just that the action took a long time to develop, or rather they developed at a snail's pace. Yes, the protagonists found clues that led them to the next step and people shot at them, but the prose was neither enthralling nor exciting. This book took me a relatively long time to finish, and during the reading I found numerous reasons to check the news, do the dishes, fold my clothes or do one or another of many things I avoid when I'm in the middle of a good book. So the least I can say about this book is that I did a lot of chores around the house. If you find yourself lacking in motivation to do chores, try this book.
Short summary: Harry and Rik are ex MI6 who now use their skills to find people of all kinds, people who don't want to be found. Their boss Jennings, who seem to be involved with the government or is ex-government, send them to find a trio of people, one after another.
Starting off with a Libyan expat who ran away with some of his country's money; an accountant who absconding with money and a Jewish professor. Things start to look weird when both the Libyan and accountant were mysteriously shot to death after they were found.
As they dig deeper on their 3rd subject, they discover he might not be who Jennings said he was. It starts to become a good spy (or mystery) protocol book where they follow clues that lead to more clues. But as I said before, it was just slow going and written in a way that was as unexciting as possible.
And for some reason, I never got vested into the main protagonist Harry. He lacked personality or the author lacked the ability to make him interesting. I finished the book without any conscious desire to continue the series. All of this together is why I gave the book 3 stars.
The writing is easy to read and get into. But it was very slow going. Sometimes a book grips me and brings me along, like I'm on a raft barreling down a river. This one feels more like hard paddling. It was just that the action took a long time to develop, or rather they developed at a snail's pace. Yes, the protagonists found clues that led them to the next step and people shot at them, but the prose was neither enthralling nor exciting. This book took me a relatively long time to finish, and during the reading I found numerous reasons to check the news, do the dishes, fold my clothes or do one or another of many things I avoid when I'm in the middle of a good book. So the least I can say about this book is that I did a lot of chores around the house. If you find yourself lacking in motivation to do chores, try this book.
Short summary: Harry and Rik are ex MI6 who now use their skills to find people of all kinds, people who don't want to be found. Their boss Jennings, who seem to be involved with the government or is ex-government, send them to find a trio of people, one after another.
Starting off with a Libyan expat who ran away with some of his country's money; an accountant who absconding with money and a Jewish professor. Things start to look weird when both the Libyan and accountant were mysteriously shot to death after they were found.
As they dig deeper on their 3rd subject, they discover he might not be who Jennings said he was. It starts to become a good spy (or mystery) protocol book where they follow clues that lead to more clues. But as I said before, it was just slow going and written in a way that was as unexciting as possible.
And for some reason, I never got vested into the main protagonist Harry. He lacked personality or the author lacked the ability to make him interesting. I finished the book without any conscious desire to continue the series. All of this together is why I gave the book 3 stars.
August 6, 2018
Another great Harry Tate thriller! This is the second in the series I've read and I found this one just as good as the first. I thought the first book could have been a Le Carre story - this one even more so. Harry is ex-MI5, but reduced to mundane private eye tasks to make a living. He has the knack of reading between the lines and digging deeper than the assignment requires. Much involvement of various unidentified agencies and devious, deceitful orders. The reader knows Harry is being played and wants him to survive victorious, but we don't know how he will succeed. The storytelling is excellent - I can't wait to keep reading more in the series.
September 30, 2019
I think I'm hooked.
There were times when I almost put this book aside but I read on and found myself gripped. I like Harry Tate and Rik. I'm a bit disconcerted to see the capable woman turn out to be the deadly enemy again though. Come to think about it, I can't remember any other females apart from the odd waitress. Whatever happened to the florist? Anyway I can't wait to read the next one.
There were times when I almost put this book aside but I read on and found myself gripped. I like Harry Tate and Rik. I'm a bit disconcerted to see the capable woman turn out to be the deadly enemy again though. Come to think about it, I can't remember any other females apart from the odd waitress. Whatever happened to the florist? Anyway I can't wait to read the next one.
May 14, 2025
I had enjoyed one of the author's books featuring a police officer in France in the 1960s so thought I would give this a try.
This is a very different sort of book though. Set mainly in present day London this is a thriller featuring an ex-secret agent type character. I suppose it's quite exciting with tracking down people who don't want to be tracked down and where nothing is quite what it seems. Sadly this is not the sort of book which I want to read.
This is a very different sort of book though. Set mainly in present day London this is a thriller featuring an ex-secret agent type character. I suppose it's quite exciting with tracking down people who don't want to be tracked down and where nothing is quite what it seems. Sadly this is not the sort of book which I want to read.
July 29, 2026
Excellent! Adrian Magson takes you on a true~ ‘white knuckle ride!’… The first Harry Tate, is great - this is amped RIGHT UP!
The characters are EPIC! Great pace throughout… I found it hard to put down lol 😆😂👊🏽 Epic plot, thoroughly enjoyable read, I am really looking forward to the rest of the series here! Great work, awesome stuff!
David H. 🪽🤓
The characters are EPIC! Great pace throughout… I found it hard to put down lol 😆😂👊🏽 Epic plot, thoroughly enjoyable read, I am really looking forward to the rest of the series here! Great work, awesome stuff!
David H. 🪽🤓
June 7, 2020
I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as I did book 1, but I did enjoy it. Things happened that I could figure out, so why didn't Harry? He's a darn intelligence operative, and I'm nowhere close to being one. That, to me, was a huge flaw, and the main reason I was disappointed.
January 16, 2026
Another great Harry Tate thriller
Like the first in the series, totally captivating. I was hardly able to put it down.
Excellent scene setting, character development and story line.
If you love this genre you'll love this book!
Like the first in the series, totally captivating. I was hardly able to put it down.
Excellent scene setting, character development and story line.
If you love this genre you'll love this book!
June 3, 2026
Action and intrigue
What fantastic story , action from the start right the way through and really believable ,no super human feats just believable actions .
Can't wait to read another of Adrian Magson,s books
What fantastic story , action from the start right the way through and really believable ,no super human feats just believable actions .
Can't wait to read another of Adrian Magson,s books
August 4, 2026
Twisty plot,great storyline
Glad I started following Harry Tates adventures. Buying the whole series ,a roller coaster ride so far. Great plots, descriptive and well written, highly recommended
Glad I started following Harry Tates adventures. Buying the whole series ,a roller coaster ride so far. Great plots, descriptive and well written, highly recommended
August 14, 2026
Fabulous mystery!!
Hooked from page one. Full of suspense, danger and intrigue! Could not stop reading. Harry Tate is the perfect hero with skills, experience, courage and a moral compass that keeps him from just following orders. Fun read!
Hooked from page one. Full of suspense, danger and intrigue! Could not stop reading. Harry Tate is the perfect hero with skills, experience, courage and a moral compass that keeps him from just following orders. Fun read!
December 16, 2018
Wonderful story of a former British agent as he searches for people who don't want to be found.
May 1, 2020
A good spy series. Harry Tate is tough but likeable, on a mission to right the wrong done to him by his own MI5 bosses. Obviously it is going to take several more books to get it fixed. Fun reading.
June 24, 2020
I like the twists and turns in his stories. Makes for good reading.
July 2, 2022
3.5 stars. The second book in the Harry Tate series. Not as good as the first - too many characters and too complicated
May 13, 2023
This is a sort of slow burn, intriguing spy/mystery story. I found myself liking Harry and Rik.
February 4, 2024
Fast-paced suspense with little character development. Straight-forward plot with some surprising twists.
June 27, 2024
This is the second in a series. I didn't find it as good as the first one. Harry misses some obvious clues, and the ending is too similar to the previous book.
It's still worth reading.
It's still worth reading.
January 7, 2026
Good reading.
May 23, 2026
really absorbing read.
Good storyline with some interesting plot twists. Second book in the series and better than the first which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Good storyline with some interesting plot twists. Second book in the series and better than the first which I thoroughly enjoyed.
June 3, 2026
AKA Double Cross.
July 3, 2015
Well paced with some neat twists at the end.
March 1, 2016
Entertaining
Pretty good read, lots of action plus some twists and turns. The usual suspects for any thriller but pretty well written.
Pretty good read, lots of action plus some twists and turns. The usual suspects for any thriller but pretty well written.
April 29, 2016
The second Harry Tate book was very good. The author has a good feel for location. Like in the first book in the series I was quickly sucked into time and place.
July 19, 2016
Fun read
Quick and easy read. However he made his main character and sidekick kinda stupid. Many things they assumed and it got ridiculous. I hope the next book is better.
Quick and easy read. However he made his main character and sidekick kinda stupid. Many things they assumed and it got ridiculous. I hope the next book is better.
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January 24, 2019Good Story
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews