Half Made Up

by James Dunlop

How far would you go for a friend?

Andrew MacKay would usually go as far as his local pub and no further. A man more inclined to wager his last penny on a three-legged nag than take on anything resembling responsibility, Andy is about to discover what loyalty really costs. When his closest mate is murdered over a classified secret, he finds himself obliged to retrieve it. Not because he’s a hero. Simply because friendship, in his book, has always been worth more than self-preservation.

Andy learns the stolen secret is a new nerve agent deadly enough to make any terrorist giddy with joy. Wanting nothing more than to ignore the whole thing, he finds himself drawn into a web of corporate espionage, government corruption, and a terrorist cell with excellent taste in chemical warfare. He’ll have to rely on his wits to stay one step ahead of MI5 and somehow stop the terrorists from killing thousands.

With time running out, Andy’s got only one chance to make things right.

"A blistering, witty, and emotionally resonant debut." Likely Story

"This white-knuckle page-turner will seize you from the first page." Readers' Favorite

"Gripping and entertaining ... sharp and witty." Verbatik Media

"Part spy novel, part comedy, and part violent thriller ... quirky and unexpected." The BookLife Prize


Fans of Mick Herron, Killing Eve, and Ben Aaronovitch will devour this darkly satirical series, which is perfect for readers who spy thrillers with twists

Dark comedy mixed with suspense

Accidental heroes and fast-paced action

Espionage stories with humour and bite



Like your thrillers dangerous and your heroes barely qualified? Follow the series to get updates on Book Two — and Andy’s next dark adventure.

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 21, 2025

About the author

James Dunlop is the author of The Andrew MacKay Thrillers, a series that blends high-stakes espionage with dark British humour and reluctant heroism. His work has been praised for its sharp wit, breathless pacing, and ability to find comedy in the chaos of international intrigue.

When he isn’t throwing Andy MacKay into increasingly questionable situations, James can be found consuming too much coffee, researching morally suspect plot twists, and overthinking things that don’t need thinking.

Half Made Up is his debut novel. Plausible in Parts arrives February 2026.

Reviews

[WaIter · Rating 5 out of 5]

James I commend you for this.

[Jessica Nicole]

The book proves you not just a writer, but an artist T

[Wilson Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t only read , I could feel the moment as well.you really proved it worth reading ,I promise to share this to my fellow readers to read.

[Alex Author · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliantly woven plot of loyalty, betrayal, and survival where an ordinary man is thrust into an extraordinary fight against time and terror.

[Simon Author · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dynamic cast that perfectly balances tension, wit, and heart every ally and adversary adds depth to Andy’s perilous journey.

[Stephen Adams]

James Dunlop delivers a masterful debut sharp, suspenseful, and rich with wit. A storyteller with the precision of a spy and the heart of a poet.

[Blessing]

I’m in awe of how this book captures emotion and imagination so perfectly.

[Lily Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is rare to find a book this powerful and well crafted.

[Connor Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional, inspiring, and beautifully written.

[Robert MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

" (On a Saturday evening) I opened the volume, by accident, while I was undressing to go to bed. I closed it not, till a late hour on the rising Sunday morn, after I had read every syllable it contained. "

So ran one of the first book reviews of our modern era (Robert Burns "Poems, written Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect)

This quote immediately came to mind when I sat down with this book, but in the interest of accuracy I must confess that I do not 'undress to go to bed'; in common with many other Old Soldiers* I get a few pints down my neck and then ̶p̶a̶s̶s̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶ fall asleep while fully dressed.

Nor did I binge-read it all in one go -I would read until I found a witty or particularly-evocative phrase - and there are a lot of them, because Mr. Dunlop is genuinely gifted in his descriptive imagery and he and I share the same sense of humour.

He also avoids run-on sentences, which i am guilty of here...

Anyroads, I'd read then stop and savour, and then read some more, then put the book aside because I wanted to prolong the pleasure as much as I could.

I hope that I haven't mislaid or loaned it, because I want to read it again - and this time I WILL binge it from cover to cover.

Is this review a bit 'over the top'? Yes, But as action/thrillers go it's a damned good read, and I greatly look forward to reading the next book in the series.

*Full disclosure, some 40 years ago the Author and I served in the same Highland regiment (NOT the Black Watch) where for a brief time I was a rather useless Recce Platoon Commander...and now I have the growing concern that my alarming lack of Situational Awareness has been preserved for Posterity here.

[Michael Lofquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Gritty. Cool plot. Interesting characters. I can also picture watching this on the big screen. Maybe someone should start working on a screenplay.

[Zerina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Half Made Up is a sharp, fast moving story with a main character who feels real and flawed. I liked how the book mixes tension, humor, and emotion without dragging. A very engaging read.

[Henry Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Half Made Up through the Toronto Art and Culture feature book club was a treat. James Dunlop writes a smart, suspenseful, and emotionally resonant story, and Andrew MacKay is the kind of protagonist you root for. A highly recommended debut.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm impressed with this book... "Half made up"

[Mary Afolake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your writing carries a clarity that makes every chapter feel alive.

[Emily Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely captured my attention from the first chapter to the last. I couldn’t put it down.

[Olivia Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a fresh perspective and made me see things differently in a very meaningful way.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm impressed with the book.

[Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

MUST READ

[Elizabeth Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting

[Shalom James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced thriller with clever twists and an engaging main character

[Jessica Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that touches the heart and challenges the mind

[Leah Braut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking forward to reading this amazing book.

[Logan Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book pulled me in from the first page and never let go.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The storytelling is clear

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is kind of book you want to recommend to others right away

[Caleb Liam]

Half Made Up is a thoughtful and emotionally engaging book that explores identity, self-discovery, and the struggle to understand where we truly belong. The story follows the journey of a character who lives between two realities — one shaped by the truth, and the other shaped by imagination, expectations, and the pressure to appear “perfect” to the world.

[Heena Rathore Rathore-Pardeshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Half Made Up by James Dunlopcis a gripping and entertaining read that cleverly blends elements of military thriller, dark humor, and crime fiction. Andrew MacKay, our flawed yet captivating protagonist, brings readers along on a turbulent journey through the gritty streets of London and dangerous memories of battlefield chaos.

Author Dunlop's writing is sharp and witty, his dialogue crackling with authenticity, and his vivid action scenes skillfully written, pulling you right into the heart-pounding chaos. But what truly stood out for me in Half Made Up is its character work—MacKay is wonderfully human, his imperfections is painted with both humor and vulnerability. Author Dunlop captures the strain and absurdity of modern life's pressures through a lens that is both comedic and strikingly real, never losing sight of the emotional core that drives the narrative.

However, the plot occasionally feels slightly uneven, with certain transitions coming off as abrupt, which can momentarily disrupt the story’s otherwise excellent flow. Still, these moments are minor compared to the overall enjoyment and depth of the book.

Half Made Up is highly recommended for readers who appreciate character-driven stories combined with high-stakes action and a touch of dark comedy.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure. This post is a review of a book I was sent for free. All opinions are my own.

This is book one in The Misjudgements of Andy MacKay series but it worked fine as a stand-alone read.

The story jumps straight in by introducing us to the main character, Andy MacKay, who you immediately realise is down on his luck, having been booted out of the army on trumped-up charges, in debt to loan sharks and suffering PTSD.

With a quick pace to the tale, by early-afternoon Andy has been beaten up by one of the loan shark thugs and found out that one of his best friends Edward is in deep trouble. He and Edward are jumped upon by gun-toting Islam fundamentalists, who seize Edward’s briefcase and shoot him. Edward’s dying request to Andy is to retrieve the package and keep his wife out of it. The only clues he has from Edward are two names and a location.

Andy feels honour-bound to follow up on this, even though at every turn, this is obviously a crazy decision. And a gripping page-turner ensues.

Lots of twists and turns in this pacey political thriller.

[John Hinchliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've listened to the audio version of this book.
Half Made Up: An Andrew Mackay Thriller, By James Dunlop.
This is the first James Dunlop book I’ve listened to, and I hope it won’t be the last. The story delivers plenty of action and features an engaging mix of characters that kept me interested throughout. The writing is strong overall, although the frequent use of similes occasionally became a bit tedious. That said, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. The narration by Alan Ptaszek was excellent, especially impressive for a first-time narrator. His delivery was confident and well paced, and he handled the characters effectively. I would be more than happy to listen to another book narrated by him. Overall a very good listen.