Jack of Spies

Jack McColl #1

by David Downing

Set on the eve of the First World War, across oceans and continents, steamliners and cross-country trains, David Downing’s complex and thrilling new espionage novel takes us all the way back to the dawn of that most fascinating of 20th century characters—the spy.

It is 1913, and those who follow the news closely can see the world is teetering on the brink of war. Jack McColl, a Scottish car salesman with an uncanny ear for languages, has always hoped to make a job for himself as a spy. As his sales calls take him from city to great city—Hong Kong to Shanghai to San Francisco to New York—he moonlights collecting intelligence for His Majesty's Secret Service, but British espionage is in its infancy and Jack has nothing but a shoestring budget and the very tenuous protection of a boss in far-away London. He knows, though, that a geopolitical catastrophe is brewing, and now is both the moment to prove himself and the moment his country needs him most.

Unfortunately, this is also the moment he begins to realize what his aspiration might cost him. He understands his life is at stake when activities in China suddenly escalate from innocent data-gathering and casual strolls along German military concessions to arrest warrants and knife attacks. Meanwhile, a sharp, vivacious American suffragette journalist has wiled her way deep into his affections, and it is not long before he realizes that her Irish-American family might be embroiled in the Irish Republican movement Jack's bosses are fighting against. How can he choose between his country and the woman he loves? And would he even be able to make such a choice without losing both?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Espionage, Thriller, Historical, Adventure

352 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2013

About the author

David Downing is the author of a political thriller, two alternative histories and a number of books on military and political history and other subjects as diverse as Neil Young and Russian Football.

Reviews

[G.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I prefer his Station series to this one.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author David Downing, best known for his historical mystery series set around the time of WWII (Zoo Station being the first) has created a compelling new character with Jack McColl. McColl is a wannabee spy, who was recruited for the British intelligence service on a part time basis; partly because of his job as a salesman for luxury cars, which allows him opportunities to travel, and partly because of his incredible talent for languages. Set just before the start of the first world war, we first meet Jack in China, where he has abandoned his younger brother Jed and friend Mac to carry on with the car business (he seems to do this regularly throughout the novel) while he is trying to obtain intelligence on the German navy ships in Tsingtau. Almost discovered, he flees to Shanghai, to meet up again with Jed and Mac and also to begin a relationship with New York journalist Caitlin Hanley. Caitlin is a very earnest young women, who believes passionately in a whole host of causes and, despite her desire to be independent and modern, seems quite happy to leap into bed with Jack (her confidence in early contraception seems a little misplaced considering the huge social impact of becoming an unmarried mother at that time).

This is obviously the first book in a new series and much of it involves establishing character. Jack is a pleasant young man, desperate to do the right thing and obviously enamoured with Caitlin. Although the best parts of the novel involve Jack actually spying - the strongest part of the whole book is at the beginning, where he is actually involved in trying to discover information for his spymaster Cummings - there is also a distance from the action which makes you less involved with the action. Even when fleeing the Germans, Jack seems keen to downplay the danger and, although he is seriously attacked and knows he may be killed, he still fails to carry out even a cursory search when checking into a hotel room. Even when another agent is killed literally moments after he has visited him, you feel he is detached from events. Also, the plot involves him spying on the Germans, Indian nationalists and the Irish, who are clamouring for Home Rule. This creates a nice conflict of interest with Caitlin, whose family are Irish and who have links to people Jack is investigating. However, there is also a lot of the "sit down and I will explain it" versions of events; leaving you with a bewildering number of storylines, involving not only the build up to war or Irish nationalism, but strikes, Indian independence, oil in Mexico and women's suffrage.

Despite shortcomings, I did feel that Jack was a character to build on. With the end of book coinciding with the outbreak of WWI, there is the possibility of Jack becoming a full time spy (avoiding the "I left Jed and Mac to get on with....." storylines) and having the opportunity to become a great success. Espionage in that period was interesting, as it wasn't considered 'gentlemanly' to spy on your enemies - rather underhand and not playing the game. I am sure that Jack McColl will not let such issues worry him at all and I look forward to following his adventures. With a more direct storyline, a little more reality and some atmosphere, such as that in the first few chapters, this promises to be a great series.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed David Downing’s Station series set around WWII & so I’m going to try his WWI series which I’ve comes across even though it’s breaking my rule of one series/author/time period. Ive heard this is very different so hopefully we won’t get a samey character diffo era vibe about it….

China 1913 in the German occupied province of Tsingtao in China is where we first meet Jack McColl, we learn he is a car salesman who can speak no German… wink wink… so not sure selling car’s in a German held enclave in China is the best cover. That aside it’s all fairly plausible & the mannerisms of the era are present in the opening dialogue & character building as Jack sets about his “midnight” trade building up his local network of informants & contacts within the German business fraternity as well as a spot of reconnaissance on the local German military establishment…… he’s a fairly active lad!

Its not long before his cover is blown & he’s on the move, the opening chapters merely giving us a flavour of the man rather than the main setting of the story so it’s not really a tell.

The main plot appears when McColl arrives in America, San Francisco to be precise where we have interaction between the Germans & Irish republicans as well as Indian revolutionists’ intent on stirring up trouble for the British Empire should the war in Europe start, which is appearing all the more inevitable. The shenanigans within the Irish community is explored the most covering republicans, rebel rousing priests, unions et al…..

The story has a very even pace to it, a slow burner if you will. As to the setting I didn’t feel as immersed in the politics as I did with his station series although the landscape did grow come journeys end as we visited various locations....New York, Mexico, Dublin & finally London. Have to say there’s not much action either so if that’s yer thing then this is prolly not for you.

A 3 rating for me, a series I’ll intend to finish, one day that is…..

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book by a goodreads firstreads drawing.

A fairly decent spy novel set just before World War One, features neophyte spy Jack McColl. He's Scottish, like James Bond, but that's where the resemblance ends.

McColl starts out in China, spying on the Germans, then travels through America, back to Scotland, and ends up in revolutionary Mexico.

The settings, and some of the action is pretty good. The weakness is in the characters. McColl is basically a modern day leftist living in 1913, complete with daddy issues. His love interest is a cookie cutter Nellie Bly wannabe.

Still and all, an engrossing novel.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Languid and atmospheric, this spy novel set on the eve of World War I could do with a little less languor and atmosphere and a little more action and plot. The story and writing aren't bad, they're just slow - there's only so many rail compartments one can describe before the reader needs something pertinent to happen in the beautifully described rail compartment.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I miss Berlin, that wonderfully evoked image of a city at war that was as much a protagonist of Downing's WWII spy novels as John Russell. I don't know if Downing got it all right, but it didn't really matter; I believed in it.

Belief is coming up short with the first book in his news series. Downing's new spy, Jack McColl, romps about on three continents and Downing likes to show off his research, which is at best perfunctory. So we get a lot of info dumps regarding the headlines of the day, tourist trips around the various cities (and he did get a lot wrong in New York), walk-ons by various famous and semi-famous people such as Agnes Smedley and Caresse Crosby (under her maiden name), and including McColl's medic in the Boer War, who was, wait for it, Gandhi, and the love-interest's college roommate, the future Mme. Sun Yat-Sen. Oh, sure. Moreover these are essentially 21st century characters who are supposed to have lived a century ago. Caitlin is unrealistically sexually active and gets a job as an editor at the famously misogynistic New York Times, while the Oxford-educated Jack uses such words as "Yep" and "Nope." In 1914? I think not.

The lazy writing continued with that fallback of hack spy writers, a series of unrelated short adventures and no over-arching plot. I'm giving this two stars only because I suppose the series will get better now that the war has started, if Downing can focus on one arena of action at a time. I'm not sure I'll be along for the ride, however.

[Jeanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extremely disappointing. This era and this set of protagonists: Jack, his brother, and their friend- they just don't make it for me. I was embedded in the story only when he (Jack) was doing the first train station to train station escape. After that it was a just a drag.

There's something about this era plus the age differences (brothers especially) and the stilted crush /love aspect added too! All together it just doesn't measure a feel of pre-WWI years or nuance to me. Even within desperation it didn't arrive alive and moving.

David Downing is a treasure for his Station books and some stand alone novels. Not with this Jack McColl for my enjoyment levels or period in time. China locations didn't bloom and move like his Berlin- not even within all that description and length.

[Joebacca · Rating 2 out of 5]

high hopes for this one because i want to read the second in the series but now i might just shelve it.
this bad boy was boooooorrrriiiinnnnng.
never have i read a more boring stabbing, shooting, planned bombing and subsequent thwarting of said bombing in all my life.
this is supposed to be a spy novel....bah.
this guy gets around too...german occupied china, san fran, new york, chicago, mexico, london, glasgow, dublin and finally the south of england....but it was soooo meh.

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank goodness that's over. The cover says it is a "taut, highly intelligent spy thriller" but I have rarely read a book that was so lacking in suspense or even interest. I'm not sure how he managed it, since the subject matter--the time period leading up to WWI--is interesting.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read the first two books in David Downing's John Russell spy series set just before the beginning of WWII and enjoyed them very much. Jack of Spies is the first book of his Jack McColl WWI spy series and while it didn't grab me as much as Zoo Station, it was still a good introduction to this series.

Jack McColl is a part-time spy for the English, using his cover as a car salesman in his efforts as a spy. We find Jack, along with his younger brother Jeb and his friend Mac, in China spying on German naval detachments in Tsingtau, while the other two work in Shanghai, unaware of his spy work. Jack works for Cummings in Naval Intelligence, passing along information he gathers. Also in the picture is an American, Caitlin Hanley, outspoken, free-spirited and beautiful, a reporter working in China. Jack has a hankering for this young lady. Jack finishes his spy work in Tsingtau and escapes to Shanghai where he is attacked, possibly by the Germans and severely injured. He recovers on a journey to San Francisco where he will continue to gather information, this time on Indian separatists, who seem to be working with the Germans and Irish - American revolutionaries.

Jeb and Mac accompany him as they continue to try to sell cars for their British company. Also on the way is Caitlin and a shipboard romance ensues. I won't ruin the story by getting into too much more detail. Suffice it to say, there are strains on the relationship with Caitlin; as Jack must keep his spy work secret and he also investigates her family who might have links to the Irish revolutionaries. His work takes him to New York, Mexico and Ireland and there are more threats on Jack's life throughout.

It's an interesting introduction with sufficient action and spy work to hold your attention. The development of Jack's relationships, his work as a spy and the history of the period leading up to WWI all adds to the story. It's not a great story but it is a solid entry to Downing's historical perspective and an interesting spy adventure. I will continue to follow Jack's adventures and relationships with the follow-on story, One Man's Flag. (3 stars)

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Already a big fan of Downing's earlier "Station" series set in WWII era Berlin, I was eager to plunge into this new series starter on a British spy before the outbreak of WWI. The opener continues the mastery I've come to expect: Great plotting, good physical descriptions, an intriguing love story and a light shined on the parts of history we know little about.

We start with Jack McColl, a Scotsman, in Tsingtau in China, where his cover business is selling a luxury car known as the Maia, along with his brother and an associate. His real work is undercover spying against the Germans in what he hopes will be an effort to help prevent a European war.

On that trip, he meets Caitlin Hanley, a forward thinking American journalist, with whom he quickly falls in love. Before he can leave for a trip to the U.S. and then back home, though, he is attacked by a knife wielding Chinese man and has to recover on the boat trip home.

From then on, the book is a galloping spy plot with plenty of twists and turns. Who tried to kill Jack? Was his German friend Rainer von Schon all that he seemed? What will happen to Jack while he scopes out the Germans and an Indian independence movement in San Francisco, or later, when he is assigned to travel to war-torn Mexico to see if he can protect Britain's interests in the oil trade there? What will become of him and Caitlin if she ever discovers his real work, especially since her younger brother is involved in the fight for Irish independence, which is being quietly supported by the Germans?

It all comes together in a satisfying romp, and there is no sweet wrapup either, which lets you know there is more to come.

I hope David Downing's star keeps rising, because he is a true talent who can blend historical research with rousing storytelling, and his touch for balance between character, plot and historical description just keeps getting better.

[Tuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

this author has a series of fiction/noir of a spy/newspaper man living in germany leading up to and through wwii . it is a good and informative series. Silesian Station
this book here begins a new series featuring a rookie spy in 1913. lots going on here as jack mccoll, a scotish dude travels the world (tsingtau, shanghia, san francisco, tampico and vera cruz, ireland) on assignment for his nebulous boss. he looks into german navy and colonial capabilities, irish independence actions (w/german help), indian independence activities (w/german help), and ditto mexican independence activities. plus he falls in love with a young woman reporter whose family is way into nascent ira with priests smuggling weapons and money etc etc.

so lots going on, very interesting geopolitical facts and fancy, and leading up to world war, should be another popular series by dave downing.

[Peter Kavanagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start to a new series. Downing is seriously good. The Stations series was great and this looks like it could turn into an equally impressive effort. If you like the espionage genre then you will love this.

[Eric_W · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, I realize Downing is just setting this book up as the first in a new series. I read his "station" series, Zoo Station, etc. and enjoyed them. They were all set in events related to WW II. This one places Jack McColl, a British spy, before WWI, with lots of historical background related to the Germans, the Irish seeking to kick the British from their Island, and the British trying to protect their Empire. Things get really complicated for McColl when he falls in love with a journalist whose brother is working with the Irish. McColl survives several assassination attempts, and it's all murky. Moves from Asia to the U.S. to Mexico, to the U.K.

I had this audiobook set up to listen through Alexa and it was fine for that as I need not pay too much attention while making the bed, cleaning up, doing chores, etc. Well read, but not as good as the aforementioned series. Don't know if I'll continue with this series or not. Too many other better books to read/listen to.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting spy /thriller which covered some areas of history that I previously knew nothing about, so bonus interest!
The Irish desire for 'home rule' / independence from England, the Indian desire for independence from England, and a scuffle in Mexico were all covered and the involvement of the Germans to disrupt both England and America were part of the story. Some detail of each and as our spy moved from country to country, each was covered during his spy-driven travels.

[Nooilforpacifists · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just barely four stars. The main character, McColl, isn't as convincing, isn't as fleshed out, as the lead in Downing's "Station" series. The book meanders a bit, like old fashioned luggage covered with city stamps, before any plot is presented. Eventually, plot -- and central conflict -- arrive. It's just that neither is hugely believable. McColl works for Cumming, and mentions Sidney Reilly several times--alas, McColl (and, I guess, Downing) are no Sidney Reilly.

Yet, it's an enjoyable read and clearly the first of a War 1 spy series. I certainly would read the next.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Call this around the world in X days. Jack McColl is a Scot who sells luxury cars while doubling as an agent for England. He travels from China to the U.S, Mexico then to Ireland. This is in 1914, and he is tracking Germany's involvement with Irish plotting freedom from English rule. Along the way Jack meets and falls in love with an independent American woman with Irish connections. There are tense moments, and Jack escapes several attempts on his life. It's an exciting read. . . Better make that four full stars!

[Lyndsay Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

SUCH a tightly written spy novel, with clean, spare prose.

[Alger Smythe-Hopkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Better than your average spy thriller, largely because of the richness of the world this occupies, but it still falls remarkably short.
As I reflect on it I am increasingly certain that the high blah factor I and other reviewers experienced reading this book, is that this is a claustrophobic novel despite traveling halfway around the world and visiting the major tinderboxes of the pre-WWI year. Everywhere McColl goes he meets the same four or five people. Caitlin is the first and biggest character problem. I have no problem with a love-at-first-sight premise, but somehow the interests of British intelligence just happens to coincide with her travel schedule, and then suddenly the plot requires that she is a crucial link to a major threat to British security? So follow me along her character arc where she jumps into bed with Jack very quickly, he repeatedly catches her looking at him oddly, and the final act requires she just happen to be Jack's link to a major threat to British security. Stated that way she has all the trappings of a far more accomplished spy than Jack, and a classic honey pot. She compromises his work and objectivity repeatedly, and to be honest I am really hoping that is where this story line goes, because otherwise she is just a dreary Cool Girlfriend plot device. You can tell that we are supposed to admire her for being so accomplished, comfortable with herself, and forward thinking, and she would be admirable were she not so incredibly diminished by the needs of the plot.
Anyway, this is a book that started with a broad canvas and a global ambition, and dwindled from there down to a boring relationship drama and a world with only four bad guys total.

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical spy novel focused on a British agent traveling through China and the United States just before World War I. The historical descriptions were interesting, although the novel did focus more on the main character's romantic relationship than I expected. Overall, I would recommend this as a pleasant quick read for someone interested in the subject matter.

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think spy books are really my thing. It just felt like nothing was happening the whole time. His whole betrayal of Caitlin was bleh. They had no real feeling anyways so who cares?

[Mark Rabideau · Rating 1 out of 5]

This tale just crashed and burned (80% in)... I am incredibly saddened that this accident resulted from the efforts of one of my favorite authors. I will not continue with this series.

[Gail Barrington · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not move along fast enough for me. Too many locations and political issues in each one. Fewer sites and more depth would have helped. At critical junctures, we lacked the visceral description needed to make it real. Good concept but don’t think I will follow up on this series.

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

The deeper I got into this book, the sooner I wanted it to end. A solid start devolves into a tedious litany of place names, as though the author was intent on proving his geographical research, and unconvincing romance. Worst of all, prose that is utterly barren of life or wit. Just really damned dull.

[Thelma Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sometimes I worry that all my reviews are positive and that will seem phony. The truth of the matter is that I'm very picky about what I read, and tend not to write about those things that I do not like. But two things drew me to Downing's latest novel: that Soho Press published it, and that the Washington Post said of his work: "In the elite company of literary spy masters Alan Furst and Philip Kerr."

The problem with that review is overpraise. Furst is absolutely one of my favorite authors, not only because he teaches me, through his own extensive research, about the activities in the shadows during WWII, but also because his characters are so psychologically rich. He truly carries on the tradition of Eric Ambler and "A Coffin for Dimitrios." If anything, Furst can sometimes be a little too romantic. And his female characters are complex and complicated.

But it's not fair to spend this space over-talking about Furst (and I could go on about Kerr, too). Downing's book -- set before WW1 and hooked to a Scottish-born British spy -- is well-researched but unmoving. There are times when the dialog is just an information infusion -- these are not people talking but exposition donkeys.

The central romantic relationship between the ambiguous hero, Jack McColl, and an insufferably modern Irish-American journalist suffragette, left me cold. They had sex, and sex again, in hotels and on board trains and ships, but never seem to use protection -- and talk the most nonsense politics.

Furst and Kerr drew me to try this author, with a nod from the Washington Post, but the comparison only reinforces how much more brilliant those authors are, weaving historical details into rich, psychologically complex and ultimately satisfying fiction. (Furst even more than Kerr.) I am always looking for authors of their caliber -- and often, I must go back in time to Ambler and those still undiscovered writers, rather than contemporary authors like the tepid Downing.

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a new author for me and I found his plot here to be very unique. It is a spy story as the title suggests but our hero is a very unlikely British spy. He is a car salesman, for crying out loud, and a part time spy in pre WWl 1914. It starts out in China where he is keeping tabs on a German naval fleet and meets a man he suspects is a German spy. The story moves to Shanghai, San Francisco, New York City and London with a side trip to Mexico as our hero tries to protect the British Navy's oil supply. The story is somewhat fragmented and I had a little trouble considering our part time spy believable.

[Liviu · Rating 4 out of 5]

a compulsive read true but not on par (yet) with the author's superb John Russell/Effi Konen series that has just ended last year

the world of 1914 doesn't quite come to life the way the Germany of the 1930's and then 1940's came into that series and the characters are much less developed than there

still I plan to read more and hope the series will make the jump to top level

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but I wasn't crazy about it. What I liked: very interesting historical details about WWI and the U.S. involvement and invasion of Mexico just prior to that as well as the unrest in Ireland and Irish American involvement in that. What I wasn't that crazy about: the frequent non-explicit (fortunately) bedroom scenes of Jack and his suffragette girlfriend.

[Gram · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was OK but I gave up half way through. Will try it again later.

[Bill Stiefel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book by the author of the John Russell espionage series starting with Zoo Station. I hope this book is a start of a new series.