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Charlie Muffin #9
Comrade Charlie
In this new addition to the highly acclaimed Charlie Muffin spy series, Brian Freemantle's scruffy hero becomes entangled in the high-stakes complexities of a KGB intelligence-gathering mission. As the Soviet Union is about to come apart, Moscow focuses its attention on one goal: not only to match but beat the American development of the Star Wars Defense Program and prove yet again that the Soviet Union is the leader in space exploration. Meanwhile, abrasive and unwelcome on his own side, Charlie is off the active British roster and relegated to the chores of a low-grade clerk. It's just such a chore that gets him back in action after he unwittingly stumbles onto a British traitor involved in the Kremlin's scheme. Moscow uses this coincidence to plan Charlie's permanent removal, using Natalia Fedova, Charlie's former lover and KGB debriefer, as the bait to bring about Charlie's destruction. Never has Freemantle plotted more skillfully than in this clever, historical spy thriller. Every character is real, every twist and turn of the plot a surprise, every detail of the sophisticated world of espionage credible and convincing.
443 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 1989
33 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Brian Freemantle
109 books68 followersAka John Maxwell, Jonathan Evans, Jack Winchester, Harry Asher and Richard Gant.
Brian Freemantle [b. 1936] is one of Britain's most acclaimed authors of spy fiction. His novels have sold over ten million copies worldwide. Born in Southampton, Freemantle entered his career as a journalist, and began writing espionage thrillers in the late 1960s. Charlie M (1977) introduced the world to Charlie Muffin and won Freemantle international recognition—he would go on to publish fourteen titles in the series.
Freemantle has written dozens of other novels, including two featuring Sebastian Holmes, an illegitimate son of Sherlock Holmes, and the Cowley and Danilov series, about an American FBI agent and a Russian militia detective who work together to comabt organized crime in the post-Cold War world. Freemantle lives and works in London, Englad.
Brian Freemantle [b. 1936] is one of Britain's most acclaimed authors of spy fiction. His novels have sold over ten million copies worldwide. Born in Southampton, Freemantle entered his career as a journalist, and began writing espionage thrillers in the late 1960s. Charlie M (1977) introduced the world to Charlie Muffin and won Freemantle international recognition—he would go on to publish fourteen titles in the series.
Freemantle has written dozens of other novels, including two featuring Sebastian Holmes, an illegitimate son of Sherlock Holmes, and the Cowley and Danilov series, about an American FBI agent and a Russian militia detective who work together to comabt organized crime in the post-Cold War world. Freemantle lives and works in London, Englad.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 16, 2017
One of the most complex in its labyrinthine variations, this 8th Muffin adventure is a delight to those who have read the earlier books, but sufficiently stand-alone for first time readers to fully enjoy. This is spy fiction of the highest order.
February 29, 2016
Wow!!! What a great book!! And I'm sorry it took me so long to read it.
I'm definitely going to be reading more of these books and more in the series.
I meant to post a 5 star review but somehow I can't see it.
I'm definitely going to be reading more of these books and more in the series.
I meant to post a 5 star review but somehow I can't see it.
August 5, 2019
Well written with an excellent plot.
July 28, 2021
Another week, another Charlie Muffin book done. I'm so glad I stuck with this series after the first couple of books left me a little flat. I'm really enjoying them.
March 19, 2024
That's a masterpiece. It just grows Charlie Muffin into something big. It's a shame it's not so popular.
May 14, 2025
Each book in the Charlie Muffin series is not necessarily better than the previous one but there is a certain quality that the author has maintained throughout the series which I really admire.
This reminded me in some ways of the first book in how there are significant reveals near the end that we don't see coming.
It is always fun to see how Charlie manages to outwit people in his own department who are out for his blood and this book provides a lot of satisfaction on that front.
I didn't like how Charlie and
It will be interesting to read new entries in the series considering that the series has gone beyond the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union which was the driving force behind many of the entries so far.
This reminded me in some ways of the first book in how there are significant reveals near the end that we don't see coming.
It is always fun to see how Charlie manages to outwit people in his own department who are out for his blood and this book provides a lot of satisfaction on that front.
I didn't like how Charlie and
It will be interesting to read new entries in the series considering that the series has gone beyond the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union which was the driving force behind many of the entries so far.
August 9, 2011
I liked the first in this set of Charlie Muffin novels by Brian Freemantle that I immediately decided to read another. This was just as enjoyable as the first.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews