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Red Labyrinth
October 1957
The war-torn Socialist Republic of Great Britain seethes with unrest.
Thomas Fairburn, British-born KGB officer is summoned to London by Britain’s security leader, Kim Philby. Philby tasks Fairburn with a dangerous mission: uncover the high-level officials aiding a dissident author's defection to the USA.
Who would risk their lives to help a mere novelist, and why?
With just two weeks before Russia’s First Secretary of the Communist Party, Khrushchev arrives in London. Fairburn must discover if the Americans have infiltrated the heart of Communist Britain.
But as Fairburn delves deeper, he uncovers a terrifying secret — a revelation that could unleash Soviet tanks and firing squads on the streets of London . . .
And change the course of British history.
The war-torn Socialist Republic of Great Britain seethes with unrest.
Thomas Fairburn, British-born KGB officer is summoned to London by Britain’s security leader, Kim Philby. Philby tasks Fairburn with a dangerous mission: uncover the high-level officials aiding a dissident author's defection to the USA.
Who would risk their lives to help a mere novelist, and why?
With just two weeks before Russia’s First Secretary of the Communist Party, Khrushchev arrives in London. Fairburn must discover if the Americans have infiltrated the heart of Communist Britain.
But as Fairburn delves deeper, he uncovers a terrifying secret — a revelation that could unleash Soviet tanks and firing squads on the streets of London . . .
And change the course of British history.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 14, 2023
About the author
Dominic Adler
13 books20 followersHi.
I'm inspired by writers like Jack Higgins and Len Deighton, Mark Timlin and Philip Kerr. The stuff of hard-boiled thrillers and Sunday afternoon war movies, full of action, suspense and dark humour. Later, I decided to write fantasy too. My reading habits had always been an even split between thrillers and speculative fiction, from Michael Moorcock to Robert E. Howard. Then I became a fan of writers like Joe Abercrombie and Mark Lawrence.
My latest book, 'Timberwolf', mashes up my love of thrillers and war movies with fantasy and science-fiction. It even made the semi-finals of a competition (SPFBO)!
Please check out my blog and Instagram for other stuff I'm interested in: I collect watches, I'm intrigued by para-politics, gaming, movies, pop culture and I suffer from an unhealthy obsession with tanks. You can usually find me on Facebook if you like dad jokes and otters.
I'm inspired by writers like Jack Higgins and Len Deighton, Mark Timlin and Philip Kerr. The stuff of hard-boiled thrillers and Sunday afternoon war movies, full of action, suspense and dark humour. Later, I decided to write fantasy too. My reading habits had always been an even split between thrillers and speculative fiction, from Michael Moorcock to Robert E. Howard. Then I became a fan of writers like Joe Abercrombie and Mark Lawrence.
My latest book, 'Timberwolf', mashes up my love of thrillers and war movies with fantasy and science-fiction. It even made the semi-finals of a competition (SPFBO)!
Please check out my blog and Instagram for other stuff I'm interested in: I collect watches, I'm intrigued by para-politics, gaming, movies, pop culture and I suffer from an unhealthy obsession with tanks. You can usually find me on Facebook if you like dad jokes and otters.
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 23, 2024
a wild ride of a Cold War alternate history
Excellent plot & character development. Twists and turns abound. Points out the fault lines of Soviet Russia in the UK with mutual suspicion by each faction & the resulting executions
Excellent plot & character development. Twists and turns abound. Points out the fault lines of Soviet Russia in the UK with mutual suspicion by each faction & the resulting executions
May 27, 2024
An excellent book, great story, great characters, recommended. More books about Tommy please
January 15, 2024
For those that like alternate history stories, this one may be of interest.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Late 1950’s in Great Britain, now occupied by the USSR after the allies, without USA’s involvement, have defeated the Germans
Characters: The lead is Thomas Fairburn who was born in Great Britain and has, for his own reasons, willingly become a KGB officer, tasked by Britain’s security leader, Kim Philby (yes, that Kim Philby) to discover who has been assisting a dissident author's defection to the USA. A large supporting cast of British, Russian, and US authorities are involved, including references to historic characters in their new, revised roles.
Overview: Fairburn has his work cut out for him, not only because he has switched allegiances, but also due the shifting and undetermined roles of those he trusts and reports to. He continues throughout the story to question his real assignment, the reliability of his contacts, and whether or not he believes he is doing the right thing.
Recommendation: I rate this book 4 stars
Extras: The tale constantly changes perspectives and, with the complexity of the new political environment, demands attention to who is motivated to do what and why. The eventual role of the US is particularly intriguing.
Thanx to NetGalley and Lume Books for the opportunity to provide this candid review.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Late 1950’s in Great Britain, now occupied by the USSR after the allies, without USA’s involvement, have defeated the Germans
Characters: The lead is Thomas Fairburn who was born in Great Britain and has, for his own reasons, willingly become a KGB officer, tasked by Britain’s security leader, Kim Philby (yes, that Kim Philby) to discover who has been assisting a dissident author's defection to the USA. A large supporting cast of British, Russian, and US authorities are involved, including references to historic characters in their new, revised roles.
Overview: Fairburn has his work cut out for him, not only because he has switched allegiances, but also due the shifting and undetermined roles of those he trusts and reports to. He continues throughout the story to question his real assignment, the reliability of his contacts, and whether or not he believes he is doing the right thing.
Recommendation: I rate this book 4 stars
Extras: The tale constantly changes perspectives and, with the complexity of the new political environment, demands attention to who is motivated to do what and why. The eventual role of the US is particularly intriguing.
Thanx to NetGalley and Lume Books for the opportunity to provide this candid review.
January 15, 2024
For those that like alternate history stories, this one may be of interest.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Late 1950’s in Great Britain, now occupied by the USSR after the allies, without USA’s involvement, have defeated the Germans
Characters: The lead is Thomas Fairburn who was born in Great Britain and has, for his own reasons, willingly become a KGB officer, tasked by Britain’s security leader, Kim Philby (yes, that Kim Philby) to discover who has been assisting a dissident author's defection to the USA. A large supporting cast of British, Russian, and US authorities are involved, including references to historic characters in their new, revised roles.
Overview: Fairburn has his work cut out for him, not only because he has switched allegiances, but also due the shifting and undetermined roles of those he trusts and reports to. He continues throughout the story to question his real assignment, the reliability of his contacts, and whether or not he believes he is doing the right thing.
Recommendation: I rate this book 4 stars
Extras: The tale constantly changes perspectives and, with the complexity of the new political environment, demands attention to who is motivated to do what and why. The eventual role of the US is particularly intriguing.
Thanx to NetGalley and Lume Books for the opportunity to provide this candid review.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Late 1950’s in Great Britain, now occupied by the USSR after the allies, without USA’s involvement, have defeated the Germans
Characters: The lead is Thomas Fairburn who was born in Great Britain and has, for his own reasons, willingly become a KGB officer, tasked by Britain’s security leader, Kim Philby (yes, that Kim Philby) to discover who has been assisting a dissident author's defection to the USA. A large supporting cast of British, Russian, and US authorities are involved, including references to historic characters in their new, revised roles.
Overview: Fairburn has his work cut out for him, not only because he has switched allegiances, but also due the shifting and undetermined roles of those he trusts and reports to. He continues throughout the story to question his real assignment, the reliability of his contacts, and whether or not he believes he is doing the right thing.
Recommendation: I rate this book 4 stars
Extras: The tale constantly changes perspectives and, with the complexity of the new political environment, demands attention to who is motivated to do what and why. The eventual role of the US is particularly intriguing.
Thanx to NetGalley and Lume Books for the opportunity to provide this candid review.
March 4, 2024
Spy Games in a postwar Britain ruled by the USSR
This is a multiverse version of Britain in the 1950s: here portrayed as a Communist island liberated from Fascist/Nazi rule by Soviet forces. Captain Tommy Fairburn is a pro-Communist English orphan groomed to be a nerveless KGB killer, with a new assignment -to root out suspected traitors in the British politburo.
His previous mission, to Budapest, saw him play a part in putting down the 1956 Hungarian uprising, where he witnessed the massacre of thousands of civilians. Tommy arrives in London, happily reunited with the Soviet General who was his foster father and mentor, to discover a complex situation that begins to shake his faith in Communist certainties. Far from a Socialist paradise, he finds widespread hunger and disgruntlement, along with evidence that his own father was one of the thousands of able-bodied workers exported to the Soviet Union as slave labour.
Tommy quickly identifies the rogue Politburo members, but in so doing also uncovers internecine rivalries between the heads of the military, police and secret service that he fears could result in a similar bloodbath in Britain. No-one and nothing is what they seem and, under duress, Tommy must shed his previous convictions and determine where his loyalties truly lie.
This is a multiverse version of Britain in the 1950s: here portrayed as a Communist island liberated from Fascist/Nazi rule by Soviet forces. Captain Tommy Fairburn is a pro-Communist English orphan groomed to be a nerveless KGB killer, with a new assignment -to root out suspected traitors in the British politburo.
His previous mission, to Budapest, saw him play a part in putting down the 1956 Hungarian uprising, where he witnessed the massacre of thousands of civilians. Tommy arrives in London, happily reunited with the Soviet General who was his foster father and mentor, to discover a complex situation that begins to shake his faith in Communist certainties. Far from a Socialist paradise, he finds widespread hunger and disgruntlement, along with evidence that his own father was one of the thousands of able-bodied workers exported to the Soviet Union as slave labour.
Tommy quickly identifies the rogue Politburo members, but in so doing also uncovers internecine rivalries between the heads of the military, police and secret service that he fears could result in a similar bloodbath in Britain. No-one and nothing is what they seem and, under duress, Tommy must shed his previous convictions and determine where his loyalties truly lie.
November 8, 2024
This was quite the cold war thriller....a far out alternative historical thriller, with the Socialist Republic of Great Britain, at the forefront.
Does that have your attention...pique your interest? The story is fiction, of course, but some of the important characters in the story are real,
or loosely based on real people. Good character development throughout the book, a twisty plot line to keep you on your toes, and a decent amount of action.
I didn't know what to expect, but it was a really good spy story. Russian, British, and American spies/agencies...fun times!!
Thanks to NetGalley, Joffe & Lume Books for the ARC of this entertaining old school spy story.
I totally recommend it.
Does that have your attention...pique your interest? The story is fiction, of course, but some of the important characters in the story are real,
or loosely based on real people. Good character development throughout the book, a twisty plot line to keep you on your toes, and a decent amount of action.
I didn't know what to expect, but it was a really good spy story. Russian, British, and American spies/agencies...fun times!!
Thanks to NetGalley, Joffe & Lume Books for the ARC of this entertaining old school spy story.
I totally recommend it.
April 10, 2024
A complex tale.
The basic premise of this book is a change in the result of World War Two. The Germans had invaded the UK but we're then defeated by the USSR who then controlled Britain through a puppet government.
The British people are living in poverty apart from those who are involved with the many layers of beaurocracy that the Russians have imposed.
The main character is a Brit who has been trained in Russia and is a member of an elite KGB team. He is initially devoted to the Russians and their system but as the story evolves becomes less so. He has some involvement with Resistance units but remains his own man with his own agenda.
The basic premise of this book is a change in the result of World War Two. The Germans had invaded the UK but we're then defeated by the USSR who then controlled Britain through a puppet government.
The British people are living in poverty apart from those who are involved with the many layers of beaurocracy that the Russians have imposed.
The main character is a Brit who has been trained in Russia and is a member of an elite KGB team. He is initially devoted to the Russians and their system but as the story evolves becomes less so. He has some involvement with Resistance units but remains his own man with his own agenda.
December 19, 2023
Great storyline, well written and gripping from the first page untill the last. Highly recommended
I loved this book. I've enjoyed all of DA,s stories and this one was no disappointment. The historical facts and references added to the plot line and intrigue. Couldn't put it down!!!
I loved this book. I've enjoyed all of DA,s stories and this one was no disappointment. The historical facts and references added to the plot line and intrigue. Couldn't put it down!!!
March 18, 2024
More Spy novel than alt. History
I liked the premise of a Soviet Great Britain but was more interested in how it came to be. Outside of a few hints that was never explained and instead the spy novel portion of infighting between various communist agencies takes center stage until the CIA enters in the last third of the book.
I liked the premise of a Soviet Great Britain but was more interested in how it came to be. Outside of a few hints that was never explained and instead the spy novel portion of infighting between various communist agencies takes center stage until the CIA enters in the last third of the book.
January 18, 2024
smashing read
A fast paced, page turner. Makes it easy to picture an England where we lost the Second World War. Good character development- very pleased I gave it a chance.
A fast paced, page turner. Makes it easy to picture an England where we lost the Second World War. Good character development- very pleased I gave it a chance.
March 28, 2024
Beguiling and intriguing tale of espionage and counter-espionage in the post-war Socialist Republic of Great Britain (sic). You've been warned!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews