Icarus 17

BOX 88 #4

by Charles Cumming

The fourth book in Charles Cumming’s gripping new thriller series surrounding BOX 88 – a covert intelligence organization that operates below the radar.A threat to the lives of his wife and daughter forces Lachlan Kite to move his family to safety. Meanwhile Kite’s former girlfriend, Martha Raine, comes to him with a plea for help. Her 20-year-old son, Max, has vanished without trace in Greece. Can Kite help to find him?

Analysts at Anglo-American intelligence agency BOX 88 discover that Max was in a relationship with an Israeli woman, Jessica Morrow, who has links to the Mossad. Morrow is being hunted by a ruthless criminal gang. Fearing the worst, Kite and Martha set out for Athens in a desperate attempt to locate Max and Jessica.

Genres: Espionage, Fiction, International

480 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 7, 2026

About the author

Charles Cumming is British writer of spy fiction. His international bestselling thrillers including A Spy By Nature, The Spanish Game, Typhoon and The Trinity Six. A former British Secret Service recruit, he is a contributing editor of The Week magazine and lives in London.

http://www.charlescumming.co.uk/

Reviews

[Darius Ostrowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geez, Charles Cumming sure can write. This guy writes smart, character and plot-driven espionage stories that don’t skimp on action and suspense but still remain a step above your average thrillers. “Icarus 17” is my thirteenth(!) book by Mr. Cumming, the fourth book in the Box 88 series featuring Lachlan “Lockie” Kite, the British head of Box 88, a joint Anglo-American espionage organization for which Lockie has been working since he was recruited while at school in the 1980’s.

This time it’s personal – very personal. We start out with an attack on Lockie’s wife and child, out in the countryside of Sweden, thwarted at the last minute by a passerby, but still an unknown threat that Lockie wasn’t home to address, putting further strain on our hero. To make matters worse, he was about to sit down to dinner with Martha Raine, his former girlfriend and first real love of his life. Martha’s son, twenty-year-old Max, had run away to Greece and was now missing, and Martha was asking Lockie to help find him.

We then learn a little bit more about what happened to Max. It turns out that his girlfriend, Yasmine, was being followed by some pretty serious gangsters that were out to either kidnap her or kill her, she wasn’t sure which. But either way, Max and Yasmine go on the run, pursued by people with seemingly unlimited resources. Max soon learns the story of Yasmine’s parents, her dad being important in the Saudi family, and the fact that she witnessed something she shouldn’t have when she was in Paris, which people would go to great lengths to keep quiet.

And off we go, with Martha and Lockie trying to track the kids down before the gangsters get to them. It soon becomes clear that there are two different groups after Yasmine, one to protect her and one to kill her. Forged passports, illegal border crossings, dodgy hotels…. the chase is on through Southern Europe. Can Martha and Lockie get to Max and Yasmine before the killers do?

Another fast-paced action thriller with memorable characters and a smart plot. Although it can be read as a stand-alone novel, it shouldn’t be – knowing the history of the previous three books makes a huge difference in the emotional journey we take with the characters. And there are several surprises along the way, surprises that will really change Lockie’s life going forward into the next novel.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Box 88 (Lachlan Kite) #4

As usual Lachlan’s life is a busy one, but when his friend and ex partner Martha Raine asks for help, he is prepared to drop everything. Her son Max Radinsky and his girlfriend Yasmine Bizri have gone missing in Athens, where the couple have been living. Martha has failed to get the proper help to track them down and Lachlan can use all of Box 88’s resources in order to help. Who exactly is Yasmine? It seems she is the reason that the pair have disappeared and the more Lachlan uncovers the more the evidence demonstrates what huge danger they are in. Yasmine and now Max, have devastating information that could rip apart the Middle East, if Lachlan is to save them from the agencies tracking them down, he has to box clever..

This one starts with a real bang and it becomes personal for Lachlan, so he’s super invested in the outcome and all roads seem to lead to Saudi Arabia. This is another great addition to an excellent espionage series with a towering, well-connected plot that takes the reader on a journey from Istanbul via Sweden, the United Kingdom, Greece and its islands, Albania and Bosnia and let’s not forget there’s an Israeli connection. It’s an exciting, fast moving plot with plenty going on at all points on this chase with Lachlan using all resources available to try to help Max and Yasmine. There are numerous set backs, the young couple have to be resourceful as the danger they are in mounts.

It’s very intelligently written with an air of authority and I’m absolutely there for the various swipes the author takes too, he pulls no punches – I’ll say no more! It builds to a really good ending and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Charles Cumming has been referred to as the successor to John le Carré and I would totally agree with that. I can’t think of any other current author that writes a spy thriller as well as he does.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, HarperFiction, Hemlock Press for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Martin Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lachlan Kite is back - and this time it's personal.

"Icarus 17" opens some months after the events of "Kennedy 35". Lockie and his family are still in Stockholm, trying to live a normal life. But two events conspire to frustrate their attempts. First, a lone shooter attempts to kill his wife and child, and ex-girlfriend Martha turns up begging him to help find her missing son, Max. He and his girlfriend, Yasmine were in Athens, but suddenly vanished without trace. The police have given up, so Lockie, with his skills and connections, is her last resort.

The story immediately moves in to high gear, as Lockie and Martha travel across Europe and the Mediterranean in search of Max and his girlfriend. Against the odds, they have succeeded in disappearing, in a world where biometric passports, data trails, and CCTV stalk our every move. Using the resources of BOX 88, Lockie is able to slowly piece together the events which led to Max's disappearance, and soon discovers that there are other, less friendly people, also trying hard to find him and his girlfriend. The chase is on, as Max and Jasmine stay one step ahead of their pursuers, not knowing help is closing in.

As fans of Charles Cummings' books will expect, the story moves along at a fair old pace. This book is different from the earlier BOX novels, since this time, it's personal. But that doesn't mean it's any less gripping. Along the way, we get to see Lockie and Martha feeling out their relationship after a twenty-year absence. We also witness the strain his life continues to place on his relationship with his wife and daughter. The reader might wonder how Lockie can call on the resources of BOX to track Max, uncover details of third parties, and generally help in a European-wide manhunt, all without being his motives being questioned, but that doesn't get in the way of a great story.

Fans of the series so far won't be disappointed, and the ending is suitably open, that further adventures of Lachlan Kite are possible. Highly recommended.

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOX 88 #4
Icarus 17 by Charles Cumming

Lachlan Kite is the head of the covert intelligence service BOX 88 and as much as he loves those important to him, he will always be putting them off when the job demands his attention. Kite loved Martha Raine for years but his misdeeds and devotion to BOX 88 came between the two and Martha married someone else. Now Kite is doing a pretty good job of being a husband and father to Isobel and their young daughter but when Martha needs Kite's help, he neglects to tell his wife that his latest emergency mission has him spending night and day with Martha.

The emergency is that Martha's estranged son. Max, and his girlfriend, Yasmine, are in deadly trouble and the people after the young couple have been given "shoot to kill" orders. At the same time that Kite is gone, a killer is targeting Kite's wife and young daughter. When it rains, it pours and a lot of people will die since these assassins don't seem to care who dies before they finally get their target.

Kite leads a messy life even though it had been less cluttered lately. But once again, he's going to miss something important at home while he's out fixing something for his ex girlfriend and Kite hopes his wife doesn't find out what his is doing. The impossible task of finding Max and Yasmine becomes even more personal for Kite while more and more people get involved in hunting the hunted. I've read/heard all four books in this series so far and I look forward to what comes next for Kite and all those in his inner and outer circle. Much of each story can be very complicated with so much political maneuvering and interference. Just another day's work for Kite and he really does love his job despite the fact that he steps on just about everyone getting it done.

Thank you to Penzler Publishers | Mysterious Press and NetGalley for this ARC

[Pam Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Cumming has been a favorite espionage author of mine for many years (Alec Milius series, Thomas Kell series, numerous standalones). His latest and fourth novel in the Box 88 series could be one of his best – Icarus 17. This thriller is a bit different spy novel in that it is personal for our hero, Lachlan Kite, head of the covert intelligence service, Box 88.
His former lover, Martha Raine, who he hasn’t seen for 20 years, is asking for a favor -- help finding her missing 20-year-old son, Max, who has disappeared from Athens. At first it seems like a simple enough trace to make; until it become apparent that two other intelligence agencies are also hunting Max and his girlfriend, Yasmine. Apparently, Yasmine is hiding a secret which could destabilize the Middle East…
The story is basically an international manhunt as the novel goes back and forth between the Max and Yasmine story and the Lachlan and Martha story. Unfortunately, the young couple is untrained and only living off their wits, and one of the intelligence agencies want them dead ASAP.
The novel is not just a detailed, intelligent espionage saga, but it also dwells wonderfully into the character’s historys and motivations. The reader travels through Greece, into Albania and Bosnia. It is the total package thriller novel. I am looking forward to #5 in the Box 88 series.
My rating: 5 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review.
Icarus 17 will be published on July 7, 2026.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fourth story in Charles Cumming’s fine Box 88 series. I gave the book the following SCORE:
Setting: Present day, Sweden, Turkey, Greece, Albania, Sarajevo
Characters: Lachlan Kite, experienced intelligence agent, his wife, Isobel, former colleague and ex-lover, Martha Raines, Raines’ son, Max Radinsky and his girlfriend, Yasmine Bizri, plus an extensive international cast of allies and enemies
Overview of plot: Max and Yasmine have disappeared and Martha seeks help from her old flame, Lochlan, who has infinite resources within the Box 88 organization. They begin the search in Athens and continue through northern Greece to the Greek Isles and up the Adriatic coast, understanding along the way that there are others also looking for the couple with an historic, sinister reason. The chase becomes complex with the standard nip-and-tuck closed calls, escapes, and coincidences, all leading to a rather quick conclusion.
Recommendation: 3 stars
Extras:. It is not necessary to have read the first three books in the series but it is highly recommended since they are all good, actually even better, stories and the characters’ histories are clearly explained. At times, this book seemed like more of a travelogue than a suspenseful hide-and-seek chase. It is complex, with organizations having shifting motivations, requiring attention and, possibly, a scorecard. The abrupt finish leaves no doubt that there is more to come in the Box 88 series.
Thanx to NetGalley and The Mysterious Press for the opportunity to provide this candid review

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve followed Charles Cummings’s Lalchlan Kite espionage series since the beginning and all books have been well plotted and compelling reads.
Icarus 17 is all of this and more!
Lockie’s wife and young child are now living in Sweden whilst he is still travelling a lot working for the secret spy agency, Box 88, the subject of book one in the series.
He is now running it and has numerous people working for him.
When his ex, Martha whom he has not seen for many years, contacts him, he is curious.
However she has a problem; her son, Max has disappeared on a gap year and is living completely off grid with his girlfriend somewhere in Greece.
Unable to refuse Martha for whom he still seems to have feelings, Lockie sets off to find Max with the help of his colleagues.
Meanwhile, Max and Yasmine are being pursued by some rather nasty people as they race across Greece and the Balkans- a kind of dangerous “Race Across The World”!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this latest instalment in the series, particularly as it introduced a more personal element to the pursuit.
It was the sort of book that was hard to put down - I liked both the descriptions of Max and Yasmine’s flight and Lockie’s desperate efforts to find and help the young couple.
The ending was interesting and definitely set the scene for another book in the series. Hopefully I won’t have to wait too long before it appears!!
I’m a great fan of spy thrillers and Charles Cummings has created a wonderful character in the form of Lachlan “Lockie” Kite!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth novel in the Lachlan Kite series: Charles Cummings delivers another very readable tale. In ICARUS 17 Lachlan is contacted by Martha Raine, his one-time lover whom he hasn’t seen in over twenty years. Her son is missing, last seen with Yasmine, his girlfriend, in Athens and she is desperate to find him. At the same time, Lachlan learns that his wife and daughter may well be under threat in Sweden. Convincing himself that his business with Martha will be over swiftly, he instructs a BOX 88 colleague to set the tracking down of Max in motion. And when she does so, it becomes clear to Lachlan that he needs to be fully involved.

Early in the novel we learn why Max and Yasmine are on the run; the latter is privy to highly inflammatory information. Whilst some of the travelling, planning and hiding becomes a little repetitive in the narrative sections focusing on Max and Yasmine, Cummings skilfully creates vivid pictures of Athens, Corfu and the Balkans whilst alerting readers to the geopolitical situations at play as the young couple desperately try to escape their ruthless pursuers. As ever, after a satisfying conclusion, the author leaves us wondering what will happen next.

My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollinsUK Hemlock Press for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

[Andrew Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lachlan Kite heads up a secret spying agency named Box 88. These days, he lives in Sweden with his wife and daughter. But he regularly commutes to London and New York to visit the bases that house his team. However, during a short stay in London he’s made aware of random shooting outside his (supposedly secret) house. This provides an unsettling shock, and it is soon followed by news that the son of an old flame has gone missing in Athens, along with his girlfriend. Very quickly, he finds himself setting off to Greece in search of the missing pair: Max and Yasmine.

This is the third book featuring Kite and his cohorts. Here, it quickly becomes clear that the missing pair are, in fact, in mortal danger. Kite, therefore, engages the help of his team to assist him in what is to become a frantic search. There are genuine surprises sprinkled throughout the pages – elements that truly caused me to pause and take a breath. I found myself working my way through this tale at a pace commensurate with the frenetic action. I found it to be totally absorbing.

I loved this book and I’d urge any reader who enjoys a tale of espionage and adventure to seek out this series.

My thanks to HarperCollins UK for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The following review reflects my own thoughts after receiving an e‑book ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

I enjoyed the first book in the series and also rated it four stars. Although Icarus 17 is the fourth instalment, it can be read without working through the previous three—though having that background certainly adds depth.

The story unfolds within the world of BOX 88, an independent espionage agency operating with considerable freedom and extensive resources on behalf of the US government. This isn’t a “gung‑ho” action thriller; instead, it’s grounded, character‑driven, and filled with realistic relationship dynamics. The plot feels plausible throughout: two young adults on the run, trying to avoid assassination by Israeli agents because Yasmine—also known as Jessica Morrow—holds evidence that could destabilise the Middle East.

Tension builds steadily as the couple flee through Greece and Albania, pursued by three separate groups: BOX 88, the Israelis, and operatives working for her father in Saudi Arabia.

A compelling mix of spycraft, political pressure, and strong character work.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual in my reviews, I won't divulge the plot or rehash the publisher's blurb.

Having read the previous books, I was delighted to receive an ARC of this latest instalment in the Box88 series - it jumped straight to the top of my "to read" list.

This book can be read as a standalone, but I think it works best if you've read the earlier books in the series, as some of the characters re-appear in this novel.

In a nutshell, when Lachlan's "ex" - Martha - contacts him, and he learns that her son and his girlfriend have apparently disappeared without trace, he cannot resist the chance to help her to locate them. What follows is a tense chase across several countries as he narrows the search. There are several surprises along the way...

An excellent read for those of us who enjoy a mix of spycraft and action against an international backdrop.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. All opinions my own.

[Nick Masters · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m probably being a bit harsh on this one, but after really enjoying the first couple of books in the series, it feels like the more recent instalments have lost a bit of their spark.

This one read a little like a logbook at times: we ran, got chased, ran again, got chased again. We looked, just missed, looked again, just missed again. There is some backstory woven in, but it wasn’t quite enough to break up what became a fairly repetitive chase. Personally, I enjoyed the side stories far more — the opening was gripping, and the messy tangle of wife, lover, and family dynamics had real depth. I’d happily have spent more time there. The chase, on the other hand, made up about 95% of the book and didn’t quite land for me.

Still, thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the review copy

[Scott Portnoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all the previous 3 Lachlan Kite novels by Charles Cumming.
Icarus 17 , the fourth in the series , once again captivates the reader in a hunt for a young American and a French/Saudi couple. Two competitive private intelligence services are after the couple for quite different reasons. One to kill them to suppress embarrassing information on behalf of their Saudi clients and the other working for her father to kidnap her back to Saudi Arabia to bring her back to the fold.
Cumming writes savvy character driven plots full of current events. I very much enjoyed the book and received a free copy of the book from the publisher and Net Galley.

[Chrissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Box 88 series and returns to the world of intelligence chief Lochlan Kite but this time the stakes are unusually personal .When his former lover Martha Raine asks him for help to find her son Max who has gone missing in Greece what begins as a straight forward search .develops into a multinational pursuit involving rival intelligence services ,political secrets and a young couple running for their lives across Europe. The story moves quickly with Lockie and Martha chasing Max and his girlfriend Yasmin across borders ,gripping and exciting,a brilliant story that had me gripped to the end .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another thrilling addition to the highly enjoyable Box 88 series.

Cumming is a wonderful writer whose work is fast-paced, exciting and well-written.

The sections of the story involving Max and Yasmine were at times a bit repetitive and I would have liked their characters to be fleshed out a bit more. However, Kite and Martha are well-written characters with plenty of depth and likability. I particularly enjoyed their part in the story as well as the vivid depictions of the places visited.

A real edge of your seat thriller. Recommended.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | Hemlock Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Bre3924 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this from Goodreads and am so thrilled I did. This is the first book I have read from this author and he did not disappoint. This book had me hooked at page one. Thrilling and suspenseful! This is part of a series, but can be read out of sequence or as the only book. Great character development and the author had a way of drawing you in to like the good guys and despising the bad guys. Love the ending. Thank you Goodreads and Charles Cummings. This was a favorite so far this year!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best of the series so far. Our protagonist, Lachlan Kite, is older and somewhat wiser, when Martha Raine returns to seek his help finding her missing son. The two parallel stories are well done, with plenty of twists and turns. The ending wraps up the story in an almost satisfying way, although it is clear that we're being set up for book #5. Looking forward to it.