The November Man

November Man #1

by Bill Granger

Devereaux. Both target and triggerman, pawn and master player, the spy who can never come in from the cold....

Devereaux. Code name November. Brilliant, lethally cool operative. Years ago regarded as one of America's most valuable security assets. Now courted by the KGB, attacked by the CIA. Your mission: foil the planned assassination of England's richest man and its prime minister in a treacherous war of shadows on the Irish Sea, where the first loyalty is to yourself. And the wrong move can be your last....

Genres: Thriller, Espionage, Fiction, Mystery, Spy Thriller, Action, Mystery Thriller

346 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

aka Joe Gash, Bill Griffith

Bill Granger, was a newspaperman turned novelist whose fiction alternated between international spy thrillers and police procedurals set on the gritty streets of Chicago.

Usually under his own name but sometimes under the pseudonym Joe Gash or Bill Griffiths, Mr. Granger wrote 25 novels, many of which evoked the rougher environs of Chicago and included colorful characters with names like Slim Dingo, Tony Rolls and Jesus X Mohammed.

Mr. Granger’s favorite, and perhaps best-known, book was “Public Murders” (1980), in which the city is in an uproar as a rapist-murderer strikes again and again. Public and political pressure exacts an emotional toll on the tough, foulmouthed detectives investigating the crimes. Public Murders won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America in 1981.

Two years before that, Mr. Granger’s first spy novel, The November Man,caused something of an international stir. It involved a plot to assassinate a relative of Queen Elizabeth by blowing up a boat. Later that year, Lord Louis Mountbatten, the queen’s cousin, was killed on his fishing boat when a bomb set by the Irish Republican Army exploded.

Mr. Granger always thought of himself as more of a reporter than an author. “I can’t think of a day without newspapering in it,” he said in a 2003 interview. In his nearly 40 years in journalism, he had reported for United Press International, The Chicago Sun-Times, The Chicago Tribune and The Chicago Daily Herald. He covered the sectarian violence in Northern Ireland and wrote a series based on interviews with a veteran who had witnessed the My Lai massacre during the Vietnam War.

Granger had a stroke in January 2000, and ended his writing career. From 2002 to his death he lived in the Manteno Veterans Home; the immediate cause of death was a heart attack, although he had suffered a series of strokes since the 1990s. He is survived by wife Lori and son Alec.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/0...

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Reviews

[Joe Noir]

I wish I had discovered this novel back when it was first published in 1979, less than three weeks before Lord Mountbatten was killed on his yacht by IRA terrorists in an eerily similar plot. I also wish I had followed the series as it progressed from this book. This is one of the finest spy thrillers ever written by an american author. Bill Granger was a newspaperman for the Chicago Sun-Times (he died in 2012), and wrote several novels in addition to the thrteen books in this series. This book is firmly grounded in reality, in the real world of the late 1970's, and realistic in it's portrayal of spycraft and human emotions. Devereaux (no first name) uncovers a plot against a member of the royal family while vetting a spy with info to sell and trying to establish a relationship with British Intelligence. He attempts to foil the plot while avoiding murder, enemy spies, double crosses, people who are never exactly who they seem, and his own organization (R section) who wants him dead. Then it all builds to a violent, thrilling climax aboard a passenger hovercraft at the Liverpool docks. You never know who will survive this novel, and anyone could go at any time. The amazing, hair-raising climax puts the stamp on this very interesting character, and sets up what I think will be a terrific series. It has been reported Pierce Brosnan is bringing a film to the screen in 2014 based on these novels. I hope we see the film completed, and I hope it's the film these books, and their author, deserve.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much like the movie, this is an awkward book, written between the Le Carre cycle and the Tom Clancy cycles of spy novel.

Devereaux is minding his own business in Switzerland, when the guy he framed as a traitor is killed. The repercussions suck him back into the game.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw the movie some years ago and liked it. It's well worth seeing, good plot, well done characters, lots of action while not being totally action driven, I enjoyed it a lot. Thus I bought the book.

Unfortunately as often happens when I buy a book library books and other more pressing things kept this one on the shelf waiting until recently. We (my adult daughter and I) just moved and once here I pulled this out as my "print read".

So, what do we have here...?

Well this is one of those situations where any resemblance between the book and the movie of the same name is (more or less) purely coincidental. We start out with our retired agent trying to "stay asleep" but from there on the events that transpire, the characters and how they interact, the plot itself diverges like...well the "Two roads(that) diverged in a yellow wood from one another.

The book is by far the more intricately plotted and resembles le Carré more that Fleming. The story while it has it's share of blood, murder and violence is far less action oriented than the film. Depending more on misdirection and human weakness than it does action/reaction it may be a bit more cerebral (and a bit more slow moving) than the film.

So, while one will probably appeal more than the other to each person, in this case I can recommend both the book and the movie...though here it's sort of a case of getting 2 stories that simply happen to share the same title.

So as I said, a pretty good read I can recommend you at least try it and see what you think.

[Magdalena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Devereaux is no longer a spy. But when he suddenly gets calls from his former handler Hanley his life is about to change. Suddenly he is reactivated and must fight to stay alive.

This spy novel is the first in a series about Devereaux alias November. I thought it would be fun to read the book since book number 7 soon will be in released. The book wasn’t that bad in the beginning, but I never really got into the story. In the end I just felt like “ok” that was it, he/she was the bad guy/girl and I just didn’t care.

I will read one more book since I have requested and been granted book nr 3 in the series. Hopefully the book is better than this one.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!

Review also posted on And Now for Something Completely Different and It's a Mad Mad World

[Checkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first entry in the Deveraoux series and one of the best. Full of twists and surprises. This entry keeps you going right up until the end. The only weak spot is when the author attempts to inject some romance mixed with character insight. Best if he had just left that alone and focused on the plot. It would have made the book some twenty pages shorter, but it wouldn't have been missed.I believe that he was trying to be more like John le Carré and it doesn't feel right. However the book still manages to moves along and the story will keep you involved since you just know you won't get the whole story until it's all over.Recommended.

[Paul Boger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to believe that Granger's November series is largely undiscussed and mostly out-of-print. This is a grey, dirty novel of espionage, terrorism, and betrayal, written in lean but expressive prose, filled with beaten, frightened, dangerous people. The plot moves swiftly, nothing wasteful, with surprises in every chapter. I started in the morning, and didn't go to bed until I finished. Will now need to track down every November adventure.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can’t remember who recommended this to me, but it was a miss.

I did enjoy the time period, I was growing up at the time. I got most references, but I’ve never been a Spy enthusiast. Then I hit the How-to sex scenes!

Done.

[Lisa B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Thoughts

Devereaux is a retired field officer. He gets called back into duty and gets caught up in a twisted, sordid world of espionage.

I wanted to read this because I saw the commercials for the movie with the same name. I’m a sucker for spy novels and movies. I love not knowing who the good or bad guys are, the plot twists and the action. This book had it all! Quick paced and well written.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Michael Martz · Rating 4 out of 5]

November Man was a dynamite start for the now-deceased ex-Chicago newspaperman Bill Granger. Its protagonist, Devereaux, became the star of a long-running series for the author. November Man was written prior to the great technical advances we’re now so familiar with, but old-school tradecraft, exciting action, and violence abounds to compensate for the missing whir of computers and cctv. It’s a good trade off.

Devereaux is a man in the middle, working for a group (R Section) established to not only provide intelligence the CIA can’t get to but to also provide a check on the power of the Agency. While attempting to stop a plot by terrorists to kill a British member of the Royal Family, he finds himself targeted by both his own group as well as the CIA. Can he kill the plot and avoid being killed himself? Since the series continues you have to assume so, but getting there is a great ride.

Good, terse writing, lots of excitement, and excellent dialogue- a fine effort by Granger.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned about Bill Granger’s books via the movie The November Man, which is based on the book _There Are No Spies_. I had the first book on my list for a long time, but couldn’t find a paper copy in the used book stores around me. The wonders of ebooks has allowed me to try out the series that starts near the end of the Carter administration.

James Bond, this is not. The story is filled with broken people trying to survive in the ways they know best. Each character brought into the story only knows a very thin slice of the whole, as they were tossed into the swirl of intrigue to figure it out on the fly. It all comes down to secrets that may or may not be known.

Being from that era, there is a heavy amount of drinking and smoking. It is a wonder how one of the characters can function after three double whiskies on an empty stomach, after using vodka to chase a handful of uppers. The characters are continually exhausted, both physically and mentally. Definitely a sign of the times & how each is portrayed to draw the reader into the fuzzy world of spies.

Being here in 2021, it is clear that the book is set 40 years ago when people use pay phones. Or that instant communication isn’t a given. Computers are in the background as repository of information, but not central to any plot points. It provides a focus on the people and not on any technological crutch.

The characters are as expected for 1980. The plot, though, is one with multiple layers & a lot of misdirection. The book isn’t long, so the author has to duck and weave through the plot in a somewhat sparse prose. I like the exploration of current events and real spy revelations, using them as jump off points for the characters of R Section. I will keep reading through the series of 13 books, as I find novels about spies and flawed characters intriguing.

[Donald Mosier · Rating 4 out of 5]

First things first. This book has a title. It is actually "There Are No Spies." The book originally titled "The November Man" is now sold as "Code Name November" This roundabout was performed to make this book have the same title as the recently release movie bearing the same name. From what I have read of the movie, it really sucks, and really has only superficial resemblance to this book. But that matters not. I read this book because of the movie. So I guess the movie has at least one redeeming feature.

OK, review the book.

This a tight, terse, well written, gritty, spy thriller, written during the Cold War. There is violence--of course. There are lies--of course. It has a lot of ambiguity, much like the subject matter. If you enjoyed John le Carre's series of Smiley books, you will probably like this as well. It is shorter, faster moving, with less introspection, perhaps, but lots of parallels.

[Alexander Scruggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic stand-alone novel, and is probably the worst in the series. That is to say, that the November Man series starts with phenomenal, minimalistic writing and a gripping plot, and only gets better. A good amount of character development of Deveraux and Hanley in this one, but don't stop here; the entire series is a must-read

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feels like the Ludlum of my teen years. Really enjoyable if you are a fan of the spy genre and don't mind returning to a world before the Internet and cell phones. Well written and researched for its time.

[Nooilforpacifists · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average spy story. I had trouble remembering the plot when I put down the book--not a good sign. And the key incident still makes no sense. Lots of odds and ends trailed off.

[Greg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat entertaining spy story

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good start to a series. Can't wait to read the next one. Vastly different from the movie as most books are, and in a good way. It got wordy at times, but not so much as to impact the read.

[Matthew Stechel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reads like watered down LeCarre in a lotta ways. I liked how fast the narrative moved, i was able to read thru it all in a couple of long subway trips, but it also struck me as being a not very good variation of The Spy Who Came In From the Cold (with more than a little bit of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy thrown in there) The fact that this kicked off a long running series of spy novels I guess shouldn't surprise me as the main character (The November Man) is a good one (He was a sleeper spy who thought he was done with his section, but the forced hospitalization of his old handler==who's kinda the novel's equivalent of George Smiley-- ends up having the effect of dragging him back into the bureau politics and having to go on the run and figure out if there's a mole in his old section who might've given up his whereabouts to Soviet agents) (this was written in the late 70s/early 80s--so it's a little bit outdated in parts, but it mostly holds up ok)

As a purely plot driven novel without any character depth or anything, it's ok enough, like I said it's fast moving enough that it'll hold your attention, but even while I was reading thru it, I kept thinking, this is not very good because I felt like I had a) been in this world before having read both LeCarre novels I cited and b) that LeCarre did this kinda thing soooo much better that this almost inadvertently reads like someone's fan fiction of LeCarre. That said, I haven't seen the movie yet, if the movie kept the fast paced nature of the novel, it could be ok as a movie on a superficial level the way the novel is only adequate as a superficial spy novel. It's fine enough as a generic example of its genre, but if you've read any LeCarre or Len Deighton, you've almost certainly read better spy stuff. That said I didn't hate it or begrudge it for taking up time or anything like that. I'm always happy to have something move nice and quickly the way this did, I just wish the story had been more engaging beyond a very basic "this is what's happening" kinda level. Maybe some of the subsequent novels in the series give some more depth to our main character here???

[Shaunda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me say this, I saw the November Man on one of my streaming channels( Netflix).

The movie was Awesome, so I figured I'd read the book 📖 & see how the 2 compared.

Ummmm, no comparison.

The characters are the same somewhat, but the plot not even close.

But that's ok 👌, because I enjoyed the read, & learned a factual piece of information.

Lord Louis Mountbatten was actually assassinated in August 27,1979. In the novel, it was a failed assassination attempt on Lord Slough who was related to the Royal Family.

Why is this relevant, distant relation to the Royal Family.

What's also interesting is that this author, Bill Granger was just writing a story based on his experience as a reporter.

Coincidence, perhaps....

But regardless, and eye 👁 opening read. Especially the IRA and England's relationship.

The author said something that made me think.

He said, "Terrorism has no rules except to effect terror. Terrorism is politics, no matter how extreme ".

WOW....

The November Man was published in 1979. Im reading 📚 it for the first time in 2021.

So it still seems to be relevant today, which is amazing to me. Considering 9/11 happened in 2001.

I don't think the author could have said it any better. Fiction does reflex life at times.

You have espionage, murder, intrigue all qualities that makes for exciting reading.

But if I had to choose between the movie or the book 📖.

The movie 🎥 hands down. Pierce Bronson is one of my favorite actors.

So with that being said, I'm on to the next novel in the November Man Series.

Schism.....

Can't wait to dig into this one.

Until my next review, you already know.

Happy Reading 📚!!!

Ciao💋

[Andrew Shapter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do so enjoy such Cold War late 70s espionage novels. Right down to the feel of the 40 odd years old pages. Each time I sat down to read this by the fire, I was sure to have a bourbon or red to hand. Sets the mood al little or perhaps I’m just alcoholic.

Of course this book is quite different to its years later movie with Pierce Brosnan, quite different meaning that they shared some common and proper nouns but little else.

Will hunt the next one in series now. Four decades later. Who says I’m not up with current literature?

[Christine Sinclair · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw the movie, starring Pierce Brosnan, so I wanted to read the source material. This is a fast-paced, twisty spy novel with loads of action and intrigue. The description of November, however, leaves a lot to be desired: "He was tall, rugged, with deceptively large shoulders and flat, large fingers." That line nearly spoiled the whole book for me. Deceptively large shoulders; what does that even mean?

[Allen Batchelar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as interesting as I anticipated. Ended up watching the movie to finish what I found to be a slow moving story.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1987. Classic spy thriller.

[Ranette · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an assassin comes to the end of his life, many "friends" get the contract to kill him.

[Robert2481 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an exciting old time spy novel/ thriller. I will return to Bill Granger.

[Linda Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill Granger has written some of the best spy novels I have read.

[Tom Fuldner · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been 30 years since I first read this book. It’s aged very well.

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Al this is the first book in the November Man series and is quite good. Cynical, dark, and fantastic in the sense of u reality, but a great read with many plot twists.

[William Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bill Granger, a Chicago newspaperman, wrote a series of gritty, November Man spy books, and this was the first. Devereaux, the November Man is an agent of a small US agency whose job it is to keep an eye on the CIA. He is a plodding, professional killer, and the story is a bit noir. The story is about an IRA plot to assassinate a British Lord, and the book became an instant sensation when the real IRA blew up Mountbatten's boat in the shortly after it was published. It is a good story and one of the original classics, although not up to the standard of today's Daniel Silva or Brad Thor spy novels.

Bill Brown, author of Burke's War and and others.

[Wilma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never even heard of the author Bill Granger until this book came to my attention because of the movie. I now plan to read more of the series.
Devereaux(the November Man)was the best operative in Section R. He has retired to try to live a normal life when he is sucked back into the intelligence community. There are twists and turns in the plot that make you wonder who the good guys really are. He is a complex character who is cold and efficient yet loves his woman deeply.
He is conflicted between his desire to be with her and his inner desire to be where the action is.

[brian dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I read a story and even though it is exciting, I struggle keep reading. Not with Granger's books. I have two books on the go but just didn't feel like continuing with them right now. I loaded Codename November and finished it in two days.

The stories of the November Man are not satirical but are written in the voice of one who dislikes either the genre or the fact of espionage. Written in the '70's, there were a lot of reasons to dislike the Cold War, the CIA, the KGB and other players.