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Solitary Agents: a gripping spy thriller from the multi-award-winning writer
Not yet published
Expected 4 Jun 26EVERY TRAITOR WAS ONCE TRUSTED....
'Goodman combines traditional elements - the nods to Buchan, Fleming and le Carré - with the topicality of 2020s technology' SUNDAY TIMES
Jamie Tulloch and Sam Li never intended to be spies. Jamie, a former exec at a tech company, found himself caught up in a mission and discovered a taste for the secret world while Sam, a burnt-out corporate lawyer, was unexpectedly talent spotted by MI5. When both are plunged into covert training, they find themselves pitted against each other for their final evaluation - Exercise Red Poacher.
Every year, MI6 trainees must evade capture, infiltrate sensitive sites and report back with the right intel, while their peers at MI5 try to stop them. But things take a sinister turn when they witness the apparent murder of one of their fellow recruits. Is it all part of the exercise? Or is someone trying to weaponise this game of spies into something far more deadly?
Praise for David
'If you think you've read every twist in every area of the genre, think again. Our winner has found a new take and delivers it with pace and propulsive storytelling. A Reluctant Spy is a sparkling new entry in the canon, with a vivid and unfamiliar setting as well as a gripping cast of characters. Don't start it last thing at night, or you might miss breakfast." VAL MCDERMID
'A propulsive, intelligent, ripped-from-the-headlines spy novel that's guaranteed to cost you hours of sleep. Highly recommended' DAVID McCLOSKEY
'A gripping debut, perfect for fans of Mick Herron and David McCloskey' THE SUN
'A twisty storyline and convincing action scenes make this a very promising debut' FINANCIAL TIMES
'A twisting, edge-of-your-seat tale of mercenaries, greed, corruption, and espionage' I.S. BERRY
'In the very top tier of espionage fiction' M. W. CRAVEN
'An excellent debut with terrific pace...will grip you to the end' JAMES SWALLOW
'Goodman combines traditional elements - the nods to Buchan, Fleming and le Carré - with the topicality of 2020s technology' SUNDAY TIMES
Jamie Tulloch and Sam Li never intended to be spies. Jamie, a former exec at a tech company, found himself caught up in a mission and discovered a taste for the secret world while Sam, a burnt-out corporate lawyer, was unexpectedly talent spotted by MI5. When both are plunged into covert training, they find themselves pitted against each other for their final evaluation - Exercise Red Poacher.
Every year, MI6 trainees must evade capture, infiltrate sensitive sites and report back with the right intel, while their peers at MI5 try to stop them. But things take a sinister turn when they witness the apparent murder of one of their fellow recruits. Is it all part of the exercise? Or is someone trying to weaponise this game of spies into something far more deadly?
Praise for David
'If you think you've read every twist in every area of the genre, think again. Our winner has found a new take and delivers it with pace and propulsive storytelling. A Reluctant Spy is a sparkling new entry in the canon, with a vivid and unfamiliar setting as well as a gripping cast of characters. Don't start it last thing at night, or you might miss breakfast." VAL MCDERMID
'A propulsive, intelligent, ripped-from-the-headlines spy novel that's guaranteed to cost you hours of sleep. Highly recommended' DAVID McCLOSKEY
'A gripping debut, perfect for fans of Mick Herron and David McCloskey' THE SUN
'A twisty storyline and convincing action scenes make this a very promising debut' FINANCIAL TIMES
'A twisting, edge-of-your-seat tale of mercenaries, greed, corruption, and espionage' I.S. BERRY
'In the very top tier of espionage fiction' M. W. CRAVEN
'An excellent debut with terrific pace...will grip you to the end' JAMES SWALLOW
421 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 4, 2026
2 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
David Goodman
2 books66 followersDavid Goodman is an award-winning author of thriller and speculative fiction, including the Legends espionage novels. His debut novel A RELUCTANT SPY won the McDermid Debut Award and the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize in 2025 and has been optioned for television by Carnival Films. The sequel SOLITARY AGENTS will be released in June 2026. He also writes speculative fiction as David W. Goodman, with seven published pieces in magazines and anthologies.
David was born and brought up in Edinburgh and East Lothian, before living and working in Aberdeen and London. He now lives in East Lothian with his wife Valerie.
David is represented by Harry Illingworth at DHH Literary for his literary work, and Emily Hayward-Whitlock of The Artist's Partnership for film and television. Find out more and subscribe to his monthly newsletter on his website.
David was born and brought up in Edinburgh and East Lothian, before living and working in Aberdeen and London. He now lives in East Lothian with his wife Valerie.
David is represented by Harry Illingworth at DHH Literary for his literary work, and Emily Hayward-Whitlock of The Artist's Partnership for film and television. Find out more and subscribe to his monthly newsletter on his website.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 1, 2026
4+ stars
Jamie Tulloch never set out to be a spy but finds himself caught up in a dangerous mission in Zanzibar, becoming ‘A Reluctant Spy’ as part of the security services Legends programme. However, it does lead to him throwing in his lot with the covert security network and he is now in training. Sam Li is dissatisfied with her current job and wants something more meaningful and via a friend, is introduced to the covert world. Jamie and Sam meet at ‘The Orchard’ and are pitted against each other in their final evaluation known as Exercise Red Poacher. However, this does not turn out the way anyone plans or expects and things take a dangerous and potentially deadly turn.
David Goodman can sure write exciting spy thrillers and he has me yet again on the edge of my seat with the second outing for Jamie Tulloch et al. It’s an audacious plot or maybe more accurately an audacious plan that requires the security services to uncover. It becomes a very tense race across the UK and Europe, especially Gibraltar and there are some particularly brilliant and creative scenes there. It’s an exhilarating and suspenseful read as Jamie, Sam and those in charge try to work out what is the endgame of the perpetrators they find themselves against. It’s a fast paced read but it’s full throttle for the last 20% or so. I like the short sharp chapters which make the pace swift and so interest never wanes and they get shorter as the tension multiplies.
Jamie is a fascinating character, he’s full of surprises as well as initiative, as Book 1 reveals. In this latest instalment he’s involved in some movie worthy scenes and some make me chuckle as he’s so good at improvising (the bus…!!). I like the addition of Sam Li who is gutsy and brave. The other key characters of Nicola Ellis from SIS and Jeremy in charge of the Legends programme are really good characters too.
Overall, if you’re into spy thrillers, these are well worth reading and I eagerly anticipate number three.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Headline for the the much appreciated copy in return for an honest review
Jamie Tulloch never set out to be a spy but finds himself caught up in a dangerous mission in Zanzibar, becoming ‘A Reluctant Spy’ as part of the security services Legends programme. However, it does lead to him throwing in his lot with the covert security network and he is now in training. Sam Li is dissatisfied with her current job and wants something more meaningful and via a friend, is introduced to the covert world. Jamie and Sam meet at ‘The Orchard’ and are pitted against each other in their final evaluation known as Exercise Red Poacher. However, this does not turn out the way anyone plans or expects and things take a dangerous and potentially deadly turn.
David Goodman can sure write exciting spy thrillers and he has me yet again on the edge of my seat with the second outing for Jamie Tulloch et al. It’s an audacious plot or maybe more accurately an audacious plan that requires the security services to uncover. It becomes a very tense race across the UK and Europe, especially Gibraltar and there are some particularly brilliant and creative scenes there. It’s an exhilarating and suspenseful read as Jamie, Sam and those in charge try to work out what is the endgame of the perpetrators they find themselves against. It’s a fast paced read but it’s full throttle for the last 20% or so. I like the short sharp chapters which make the pace swift and so interest never wanes and they get shorter as the tension multiplies.
Jamie is a fascinating character, he’s full of surprises as well as initiative, as Book 1 reveals. In this latest instalment he’s involved in some movie worthy scenes and some make me chuckle as he’s so good at improvising (the bus…!!). I like the addition of Sam Li who is gutsy and brave. The other key characters of Nicola Ellis from SIS and Jeremy in charge of the Legends programme are really good characters too.
Overall, if you’re into spy thrillers, these are well worth reading and I eagerly anticipate number three.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Headline for the the much appreciated copy in return for an honest review
September 24, 2025
If you liked A Reluctant Spy - you are in for a treat!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Another fast-moving and thrilling adventure for the reluctant spy.
"Solitary Agents" opens about a year after the events of "A Reluctant Spy". Jamie Tulloch has returned to civilian life, having departed the Legends programme. The problem is, he's bored, and actually misses the excitement he experienced as a "make-do" spy. So, he asks to be taken back - to be trained properly as an operative. He undergoes the training, and as a final test, is placed on the Red Poacher programme - a series of covert tasks, carried out in real-life, to determine if he has what it takes. Two teams, Red and Blue, one chasing the other, using only their wits and limited resources..
The story really takes off when Jamie, having completed his first task, witnesses something outside the remit of the operation, and is pulled headlong into a race across the country, and beyond, living on his wits, instinct and training, not knowing who he can trust. For spy fans, there's lots of tradecraft, and for thriller fans, lots of chases, gunfights and nights on the run. For Scottish readers, there's also some nice name-checks and place names which will be familiar, as well as a reminder of Jamie's heritage. There are also some very neat scenes where he uses simple but effective techniques to complete his tasks.
More story threads follow others from Jamie's training group, with different backgrounds and different skills, who together nicely present the wider aspects of the operation. The reader is never quite sure if everyone is what they seem - the sign of a great story.
Fans of Jamie's previous adventure will find this book somewhat different - it's mainly on home soil, from the Highlands of Scotland, to the south coast of England, with Jamie on his own, living off his wits. He's still a bit cocky, a bit over-confident at times, but clearly has what it takes, as he evades his followers, infiltrates his targets and just keeps on going. The story gathers momentum quickly, and as we meet the rest of the cast (many from the previous book) we learn the true cost of life as a spy. The sacrifices, the stresses, and the heavy price paid. The Jamie of this book is now fully-formed, as are other characters we first met in book one.
Die-hard fans of Deighton and Le Carre might find too much action in this book, but if, like me, you enjoyed Desmond Bagley and Jack Higgins, you're in for a treat.
And the ending? Well, there's plenty of scope for further escapades with Jamie and his colleagues.
"Solitary Agents" opens about a year after the events of "A Reluctant Spy". Jamie Tulloch has returned to civilian life, having departed the Legends programme. The problem is, he's bored, and actually misses the excitement he experienced as a "make-do" spy. So, he asks to be taken back - to be trained properly as an operative. He undergoes the training, and as a final test, is placed on the Red Poacher programme - a series of covert tasks, carried out in real-life, to determine if he has what it takes. Two teams, Red and Blue, one chasing the other, using only their wits and limited resources..
The story really takes off when Jamie, having completed his first task, witnesses something outside the remit of the operation, and is pulled headlong into a race across the country, and beyond, living on his wits, instinct and training, not knowing who he can trust. For spy fans, there's lots of tradecraft, and for thriller fans, lots of chases, gunfights and nights on the run. For Scottish readers, there's also some nice name-checks and place names which will be familiar, as well as a reminder of Jamie's heritage. There are also some very neat scenes where he uses simple but effective techniques to complete his tasks.
More story threads follow others from Jamie's training group, with different backgrounds and different skills, who together nicely present the wider aspects of the operation. The reader is never quite sure if everyone is what they seem - the sign of a great story.
Fans of Jamie's previous adventure will find this book somewhat different - it's mainly on home soil, from the Highlands of Scotland, to the south coast of England, with Jamie on his own, living off his wits. He's still a bit cocky, a bit over-confident at times, but clearly has what it takes, as he evades his followers, infiltrates his targets and just keeps on going. The story gathers momentum quickly, and as we meet the rest of the cast (many from the previous book) we learn the true cost of life as a spy. The sacrifices, the stresses, and the heavy price paid. The Jamie of this book is now fully-formed, as are other characters we first met in book one.
Die-hard fans of Deighton and Le Carre might find too much action in this book, but if, like me, you enjoyed Desmond Bagley and Jack Higgins, you're in for a treat.
And the ending? Well, there's plenty of scope for further escapades with Jamie and his colleagues.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dave Goodman’s Solitary Agents is a rip-roaring spy thriller that is cinematic in scope and near-perfect in execution.
This second installment in the Legends series follows Jamie Tulloch, thirsty for a more exciting life after his experience in Zanzibar, and Sam Li, a new character who gets the tap when a friend suspects she wants more out of life than her current City job has to offer. As Tulloch and Li work their way through training, and eventually into a yearly training exercise that pits SIS against the Security Service, Goodman sets the stage for all hell to break loose, and it certainly does.
Readers will welcome back old friends and relish the development of new baddies as they work out the puzzle for themselves. Goodman is a dab hand at keeping us as in the dark as his characters, using jumps in point-of-view timed with a scalpel’s precision.
I don’t want to give too much away here, but for a story I expected to be set firmly in the UK, I was excited when the story took a turn and some globe-trotting ensued. As a person who likes to travel through literature, the new-to-me setting where the climax of the story takes place was fun to get to know through the perspective of a team of spies with their backs against the wall.
Goodman continues on the trajectory he set out in A Reluctant Spy, penning a spy novel with heart. Here in Solitary agents, the story asks us just how far we’d go to get the life we want. Upon turning the final page, you may be left thinking - is it far enough?
This second installment in the Legends series follows Jamie Tulloch, thirsty for a more exciting life after his experience in Zanzibar, and Sam Li, a new character who gets the tap when a friend suspects she wants more out of life than her current City job has to offer. As Tulloch and Li work their way through training, and eventually into a yearly training exercise that pits SIS against the Security Service, Goodman sets the stage for all hell to break loose, and it certainly does.
Readers will welcome back old friends and relish the development of new baddies as they work out the puzzle for themselves. Goodman is a dab hand at keeping us as in the dark as his characters, using jumps in point-of-view timed with a scalpel’s precision.
I don’t want to give too much away here, but for a story I expected to be set firmly in the UK, I was excited when the story took a turn and some globe-trotting ensued. As a person who likes to travel through literature, the new-to-me setting where the climax of the story takes place was fun to get to know through the perspective of a team of spies with their backs against the wall.
Goodman continues on the trajectory he set out in A Reluctant Spy, penning a spy novel with heart. Here in Solitary agents, the story asks us just how far we’d go to get the life we want. Upon turning the final page, you may be left thinking - is it far enough?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Free courtesy of Netgalley
This is the first book I have read from David Goodman, and this fact led me to the problems I had with this book. This is not a standalone book and you need to read the first one to have even the slightest idea of what is going on in the first half of this book. If I had picked this book up, without having to review it, I would have given up after the first few chapters. It was too much jargon, without any explanation of what it was,like Gimmer and legend program etc which I assume was covered in the first book.
The introduction to the book was really good, and I was excited to read it as I love a good spy book, with all it's intrigue, but unfortunately for me after that first chapter it all went downhill. I persevered through the book, not really understand where the different elements of FREYA and the CIA's involvement was coming from. Then about part 3 or 4 it sort of fell into place and it all started to make sense.
The book is well written and definitely worth reading if you love a good spy book, but I would strongly recommend you read his first book The reluctant spy first. I am glad I finished the book and I would definitely read subsequent books, but I do feel I need to read the first one. I have given it a 3 star as I would have definitely given up on this book if I was not a reviewer.
This is the first book I have read from David Goodman, and this fact led me to the problems I had with this book. This is not a standalone book and you need to read the first one to have even the slightest idea of what is going on in the first half of this book. If I had picked this book up, without having to review it, I would have given up after the first few chapters. It was too much jargon, without any explanation of what it was,like Gimmer and legend program etc which I assume was covered in the first book.
The introduction to the book was really good, and I was excited to read it as I love a good spy book, with all it's intrigue, but unfortunately for me after that first chapter it all went downhill. I persevered through the book, not really understand where the different elements of FREYA and the CIA's involvement was coming from. Then about part 3 or 4 it sort of fell into place and it all started to make sense.
The book is well written and definitely worth reading if you love a good spy book, but I would strongly recommend you read his first book The reluctant spy first. I am glad I finished the book and I would definitely read subsequent books, but I do feel I need to read the first one. I have given it a 3 star as I would have definitely given up on this book if I was not a reviewer.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This one wasn’t for me unfortunately. I hadn’t read the previous book in the series and I think that was part of the problem. It’s referred to frequently throughout and I had no idea what had happened. That’s on me for not having read it but the vague references to it with the presumption the reader had read it didn’t help with the reading experience.
A fast paced spy thriller (too fast imo) I was dizzy trying to take in all the information and characters. I couldn’t keep up. Very short chapters, chopping and changing can drive a story forward but I found it utterly bewildering and disjointed for the first half of the book. There wasn’t enough time for me to spend with the huge cast of characters to get to know them so I kept confusing them with each other or had no idea who they were.
The second half of the book becomes more focused as the plot unfolds properly and was enjoyable to a point but, being honest it felt like a book written for teenage boys. All testosterone and adrenaline and cliched dialogue. The whole thing was just too busy, chapters too short and generally too unfocused to make a cohesive and enjoyable read for me at least.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
A fast paced spy thriller (too fast imo) I was dizzy trying to take in all the information and characters. I couldn’t keep up. Very short chapters, chopping and changing can drive a story forward but I found it utterly bewildering and disjointed for the first half of the book. There wasn’t enough time for me to spend with the huge cast of characters to get to know them so I kept confusing them with each other or had no idea who they were.
The second half of the book becomes more focused as the plot unfolds properly and was enjoyable to a point but, being honest it felt like a book written for teenage boys. All testosterone and adrenaline and cliched dialogue. The whole thing was just too busy, chapters too short and generally too unfocused to make a cohesive and enjoyable read for me at least.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am a fan of spy/espionage books and thought Solitary Agents would be my kind of read. And it was. But it did take time to get used to all the characters and initially I found this a hard read until they slotted into place in my head. I think the time line that moved from past to present didn't help either at first because it confused me. I stuck with Solitary Agents though and am glad I did. Once I'd got used to the writing and the fast paced plot line I really started to enjoy this read. Solitary Agents is what I'd call a real spy novel. It follows newly trained agents sent on a mission overseen by their employers. But is all as it seems and can everyone be trusted? When unexpected events occur the security services are left playing catch up as their Agents disappear and appear to follow different orders with far reaching consequences. I really liked both Jamie and Sam. The story is very fast paced and full of thrills and suspense. I liked the different country settings and was constantly trying to guess who the traitors were. There are references to the previous book which I will read when I can. Hope there is more to come from this author and he has future plans for Jamie and Sam. If you're a fan of spy books, I think this read would be for you.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Jamie Tulloch had returned to civilian life after getting caught up in an MI6 mission but life in IT isn't fulfilling him so he's signed up for real. Sam Li was a corporate lawyer but was disenchanted with her role and felt she could be doing more. A conversation with a friend results in her signing up and undergoing training. Now Jamie and Sam will be on opposing teams during their final evaluation - the annual Exercise Red Poacher. Jamie and his fellow trainees will be given intelligence tasks to undertake and will need to evade capture by Sam and her fellow trainees. Things are going well until Jamie and Sam are witnesses to a murder. Neither are sure whether this is part of the exercise or if the exercise has been compromised.
The story is fast moving and takes the reader from London to Edinburgh, the north of England, Spain and ultimately the Rock of Gibraltar.
This is a sequel to "A Reluctant Spy" and the fact that I have not read the first book didn't detract from my enjoyment of this second one.
Thanks to Netgalley UK, Headline and David Goodman for the eARC of this book in return for an honest review.
The story is fast moving and takes the reader from London to Edinburgh, the north of England, Spain and ultimately the Rock of Gibraltar.
This is a sequel to "A Reluctant Spy" and the fact that I have not read the first book didn't detract from my enjoyment of this second one.
Thanks to Netgalley UK, Headline and David Goodman for the eARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Former tech exec, Jamie Tulloch, came face to face with death, after finding himself caught up in a mission in Zanzibar, and discovered he had a taste for the secret world of spies.
Sam Li never intended on becoming a spy either, but here they both are, being plunged into covert training, and finding themselves pitted against each other for their final evaluation - Exercise Red Poacher.
Every year, MI6 trainees must evade capture, infiltrate sensitive sites, and report back with the right intel, while their peers at MI5 try to stop them. But things take a sinister turn when the pair witness the apparent murder of one of their fellow recruits. Is it all part of the exercise? Or is someone trying to weaponise this game of spies into something far more deadly?
If you like your spy thrillers to come with a cracking plot, edge of the seat action, and the inevitable twists, then look no further!
*I was invited to read “Solitary Agents “ by the publisher and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
Sam Li never intended on becoming a spy either, but here they both are, being plunged into covert training, and finding themselves pitted against each other for their final evaluation - Exercise Red Poacher.
Every year, MI6 trainees must evade capture, infiltrate sensitive sites, and report back with the right intel, while their peers at MI5 try to stop them. But things take a sinister turn when the pair witness the apparent murder of one of their fellow recruits. Is it all part of the exercise? Or is someone trying to weaponise this game of spies into something far more deadly?
If you like your spy thrillers to come with a cracking plot, edge of the seat action, and the inevitable twists, then look no further!
*I was invited to read “Solitary Agents “ by the publisher and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Solitary Agents is the sequel to A Reluctant Spy. It follows two unlikely intelligence recruits Jamie Tullock and Sam Li who find themselves thrown into M15/16 Training and pitted against each other. Things escalate when a fellow trainee appears to be murdered raising the question is this still an exercise or something far more dangerous ? Fast paced and compelling .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It took me a few chapters to get into the book, as each chapter introduced a new character. Then I was totally gripped. This was a totally thrilling read, following the activities of trainees in the intelligence service and beyond. Highly recommended. I was lucky enough to read an advance copy and leave this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A must read thriller for any fan of edge of your seat espionage fiction, although the plot could be a tad to real life for comfort! Electrifying pace as the book nears the end, aided by the short chapters told from the key characters viewpoints. Superb read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews