Solitary Agents: a gripping spy thriller from the multi-award-winning writer

by David Goodman

EVERY 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

Genres: Espionage, Thriller

421 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2026

About the author

David Goodman is an award-winning investigative journalist, author of seven books (including three NY Times bestsellers), and a contributing writer for Mother Jones. His most recent book, co-authored with his sister Amy Goodman (host of Democracy Now!), is Standing Up to the Madness: Ordinary Heroes in Extraordinary Times (Hyperion, paperback 2009), which profiles the movers and movements that have defended democracy in the U.S. and helped bring about the current historic electoral changes. David and Amy Goodman's first book, The Exception to the Rulers, was named by Publishers Weekly as one of the Top 50 Nonfiction Books of 2004, and Booksense chose it as the top nonfiction book of the 2004 election season.

David Goodman's articles have appeared in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Outside, The Nation, and many other publications. He has been featured on numerous radio and television news shows, including Democracy Now!, Fresh Air, CNN, and the PBS Lehrer News Hour. His reporting is included in the American Empire Project book, In the Name of Democracy (Metropolitan, 2005) and No Easy Victories: African Liberation and American Activists over a Half Century, 1950-2000 (Africa World Press, 2007).

David lives with his wife, Sue Minter, and their two children in Vermont."

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Shauna Lawless · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you liked A Reluctant Spy - you are in for a treat!

[Pgchuis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

I am quitting at 38% because I am bored and confused. I read and enjoyed the first in this series, but this one is far less engaging. There is a lot of repetition of what happened in the first instalment and then the rest is Red Team and Blue Team and hunters and a variety of targets and then the CIA popped up and of course there are the mysterious baddies too. There are lots of very short chapters switching between these perspectives and I can no longer remember who is MI5 and who is MI6 and I never really understood the details of the Red Poacher exercise. The prologue was gripping, but after that it went downhill.

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solitary Agents by David Goodman published June 4th with Headline and is described as 'a gripping spy thriller'.  Goodman's 2025 novel, A Reluctant Spy, book 1 in this series, was winner of The Old Peculier McDermid Debut Award and the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize.

In A Reluctant Spy Jamie Tulloch got more than he bargained for when he joined forces with The Legends Programme, a British secret intelligence operation. When his first mission went dramatically wrong he was thrown in at the deep end, impersonating a trained field agent, and mixing with some very hostile foe. Now, Jamie is restless so puts out feelers to his contact in the agency. He wants to be more deeply involved with the SIS (British Secret Intelligence Service), he wants to feel that energy rush, that sensation of being alive and doing something useful for his country. His timing proves to be lucky as the intelligence agencies are recruiting for both MI5 and MI6. Jamie is given the opportunity to join an elite group in a training compound where he will compete in Red Poacher an exercise that will give his superiors the chance to extract the individuals who have the ability to succeed in covert activities.

Sam Li is headhunted for the same exercise. As a corporate lawyer she is unfulfilled in her day-to-day role and her ability seems to be a good fit for MI5. She is very sharp eyed, efficient and relentless in pursuing her objectives. Red Poacher sounds like the perfect vehicle for Sam Li to display her talents but when she gets caught up in some inexplicable activity she soon realises that the world of espionage is much closer to the surface than she ever thought.

Jamie is out in the field obeying his instructions and evading capture in this game of wits and skill. He encounters some unusual activities but is convinced that the game is still afoot even as the stakes are raised and his life feels under threat.

Sam Li and Jamie Tulloch find themselves tangled up in something far bigger than they could ever have expected and, as the adrenaline surges through them, both seek out the truth...but at what cost?

This story, once the real drama begins, is very much a pulsating one, with swiftly moving scenes and heart-pounding moments that carry the reader forward on a tense and fast-paced journey. With national security at risk, there is a combination of strategic manoeuvring and tactical decisions all played out against a backdrop of bureaucracy and red tape.

I hadn't read A Reluctant Spy so I was one step behind at the beginning but I soon caught up with the plot. For the best reading experience I would however recommend that you start with book one in order to get a better insight into the mindset of Jamie Tulloch. Solitary Agents is almost dizzying at times, as both location and characters move at a chaotic speed. At times murky and foggy, the tension mounts, creating a story that most definitely requires focus and plenty of coffee! An engaging spy thriller, Solitary Agents is a book I would recommend to all who enjoy their Le Carré blended with the frenetic action of Mission Impossible. Highly entertaining.

[VickydpBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a sharp, fast-paced spy thriller

Two ordinary people pulled into MI5 training, where nothing is as it seems, secrets run deep, and every trust could be a trap.

Smart, twisty, and packed with modern tech & high-stakes tension

Perfect for fans of le Carré or Mick Herron.
Gripping, clever, and impossible to put down.

[Sara Tilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Race Across the World vs Hunted with a bit of spy stuff thrown in. Probably helps if you note who’s M15 and who’s M16 at the start (which I didn’t).
Interesting glimpse into the paranoia and double guessing of being a field agent. Sounds exhausting.
All rather fantastical but a rollicking good read.

[BookishDramas · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for the advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I started Solitary Agents expecting a straightforward espionage thriller. What I got instead was paranoia, strategic deception, shifting loyalties, psychological uncertainty, and the increasingly delightful experience of having absolutely no idea who was actually controlling the chaos.

Needless to say, I had a pretty good time.

As someone whose natural literary habitat involves thrillers, locked room murders, impossible crimes, suspicious old houses and detectives dramatically piecing together clues over tea, spy fiction is not always my first instinctive reach despite my love for anything Bond.

But here is the thing. A good espionage thriller is not all that different from a good mystery. Both rely on misdirection. Both depend on incomplete information. Both ask one essential question - who is lying?

And David in Solitary Agents understands that beautifully.

Set against the tense and deeply secretive backdrop of British intelligence training, the story follows Jamie Tulloch and Sam Li as what begins as a controlled operational exercise rapidly descends into something far more dangerous. The central premise is immediately compelling because the boundaries between simulation and reality blur so effectively that both characters and readers are left constantly recalibrating.

And honestly, that uncertainty is the book’s greatest strength. I love stories where the narrative keeps shifting beneath your feet.

Jamie remains an immensely engaging protagonist because he does not fit the polished super spy archetype. He feels human. Intelligent, certainly. Resourceful when required. But also carrying that wonderfully relatable sense of someone trying to maintain composure while events spiral into increasingly absurd territory. Sam was an excellent addition.

Sharp, capable, emotionally controlled, and entirely believable within this world, she adds an energy that keeps the story balanced. I particularly enjoyed the interplay between the two perspectives because it constantly forced me to reassess what I thought I understood. The pacing deserves real credit here. Once the story settles into its rhythm, it becomes genuinely difficult to put down. Short chapters, escalating stakes, multiple layers of deception, and just enough operational ambiguity to keep you suspicious of everyone. Exactly as it should be.

What also worked for me was the tone. This is not spy fiction obsessed with glamour or exaggerated spectacle. It feels much more grounded in strategy, improvisation, and psychological pressure. The intelligence world here feels less cinematic fantasy and more calculated uncertainty.

That said, this was not quite a five star read for me.

The opening requires patience. There are names, systems, agencies, exercises, objectives and enough operational terminology to briefly make you wonder whether you accidentally signed up for intelligence training yourself. Once the moving pieces align, it works very well. But getting there takes some commitment.

I also found myself wanting a little more emotional depth in certain places. The tension is strong, the plotting is effective, but some of the more personal stakes could have landed with slightly greater force. Still, these are relatively minor quibbles in what is otherwise a thoroughly entertaining read. For anyone who enjoys morally grey characters, strategic cat and mouse games, layered deception, and thrillers where trust becomes a rapidly depreciating asset, Solitary Agents is absolutely worth the time.

No intriguing murders, no eccentric characters dramatically accusing suspects but there is enough mystery, uncertainty, and narrative trickery to make me a mystery and thriller enthusiast very happy indeed.

[Martin Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Andrew Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jamie is in his mid-thirties and bored of his unrewarding job as a software salesman. A while ago, he’d been caught up in something much more stimulating (and dangerous). He’d effectively ‘sold’ his identity for use by UK’s secret Intelligence Service (aka MI6) and, as a result, had inadvertently become entangled in a dangerous and potentially fatal operation. Now he’s bored and missing the stimulation and sense of achievement he’d felt after that ordeal. Could he leverage that experience – and the contacts he had gained through it – to secure a permanent role in the UK’s foreign intelligence agency? He’d have to go through a battery of tests and assessments with no guarantee of success. But it might just be worth it.

I found myself quickly engaged in this fast-paced, twisty tale. Yet, a couple of elements kept blocking my path. Firstly, this is the second book in a series featuring Jamie, and it assumes a certain amount of pre-knowledge of earlier events. There are multiple returning characters and a plethora of (largely unexplained) acronyms. Then there’s the tracking of the huge cast of characters that are introduced. There is more than a dozen that I needed to keep my eye on. At times, they are referred to by their Christian name, at other times by their surname and occasionally even by a code name. I found this a laborious task, and for me, it meant taking notes.

And yet, I was still attracted by this story that bounces along at pace, helped by short chapters and an ever-changing perspective. What starts out as a training exercise for a number of potential recruits quickly turns into something else – something sinister but yet hard to fathom. The tension increases steadily as various elements begin to coincide. But still, the overall picture is sketchy. They drink coffee (everyone here does, constantly) and the overall atmosphere increasingly becomes highly charged. Gradually, we edge nearer to what promises to be a tense and challenging finale.

I liked the way in which the story is told, and I enjoyed a good number of the characters. But the protracted set piece finish is a little too grand for my tastes, and I also found it somewhat confusing to follow. However, my main frustration here is that I’m sure the whole experience would have been heightened had I previously read the first book, A Reluctant Spy. Note: it’s worth knowing that there are spoilers aplenty here in respect of the first book.

My thanks to Headline for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[jeff popple · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Goodman’s The Reluctant Spy was one of my favourite debut thrillers of 2024. Now Goodman is back with an even better spy novel that builds on the ideas and characters in the first book.

Solitary Agents continues the adventures of Jamie Tulloch from the earlier book, who now finds that he cannot settle back into his life as a technology company executive and wants to return to excitement of the secret world. Meanwhile Sam, a burnt-out corporate lawyer who was unexpectedly talent spotted by MI5, also finds herself taking the first steps into a new Intelligence role.

Sam and Tulloch are both sent on an intensive training program, along with other potential new recruits. Once there they find themselves pitted against each other for their final evaluation in the infamous Red Poacher Exercise. 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. This year, however, things take a nasty turn, and the trainees unknowingly find themselves possibly caught up in something much more sinister.

There is a Mick Herron feel to Solitary Agents, with an inter-service rivalry exercise becoming a matter of national security. The execution, however, is all Goodman, and once again he demonstrates the ability to bring fresh ideas to the genre. Without going into the details of the plot, the story certainly takes some good twists and turns as what starts out as a mundane tale about Intelligence training develops into an entertaining chase thriller.

After a slightly slow start, the book builds to an exciting finale, helped along by some well-developed characters and plot that keeps its secrets and final destination well hidden. As with the first book, the spy tradecraft is convincing, and it is enjoyable watching Tulloch employ simple, but effective, strategies to get in and out of difficult situations. There is also some interesting Intelligence manoeuvring in the background, mainly involving Jeremy, the head of the Legends program from the previous book.

In all, I really enjoyed Solitary Agents. I was a little nonplussed at the beginning, but as the story progressed, I got caught up in it and was keenly turning the pages towards the end. I also quite liked the side story involving the Legends agent GLIMMER, who is undercover on a yacht in the Mediterranean with some very dodgy characters.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solitary Agents has that irresistible blend of old‑school spycraft and modern paranoia, the kind of story where every shadow feels a little too deep and every conversation carries something unsaid. From the moment Jamie Tulloch and Sam Li are swept into the world of covert training, there’s a wonderful sense of disorientation — two ordinary professionals suddenly learning how to disappear, deceive, and survive.

What makes the book so engaging is how human both characters remain beneath the tradecraft. Jamie, with his tech‑world sharpness and unexpected taste for danger, and Sam, burnt out and quietly brilliant, each bring their own vulnerabilities into a world that thrives on exploiting them. Their dynamic — competitive, wary, and threaded with reluctant respect — gives the story a lovely emotional undercurrent.

The training exercise itself is deliciously tense. Exercise Red Poacher feels playful at first, almost like an elaborate game of cat and mouse, until the tone shifts and the stakes sharpen. When Jamie and Sam witness what appears to be a murder, the line between simulation and reality blurs in a way that leaves you just as unsettled as they are. Is it part of the test, or has someone turned the exercise into something far more lethal?

Goodman captures that classic spy‑novel atmosphere — the nods to Buchan, Fleming, le Carré — but filters it through the anxieties of the 2020s: surveillance, digital footprints, the uneasy marriage of old methods and new tech. It creates a world that feels both nostalgic and unnervingly current.

Taut, clever, and quietly gripping, Solitary Agents is a modern espionage thriller with a beating heart — a story about trust, manipulation, and the dangerous games played in the shadows. It lingers in that space where loyalty becomes a liability and every ally might be the one who brings you down.

With thanks to David Goodman, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Solitary Agents sees the return of Jamie Tulloch who we first met in Reluctant Spy. (I would urge you to read that book first because it explains so much about Jamie and his life up to the point we join this episode). Plus it is also a really great read.

Jamie has returned to civvy street, no longer a Legend, and he is bored. Very very bored. So much so that he wants back in to the security services and Nicola Ellis is more than happy to welcome him "home".

But this time Jamie will have to do the hard work involved in becoming an agent before he is let loose. The end of the gruelling training culminates in "Red Poacher", an exercise that will pit recruit against recruit and only the best will make it to official officer status.

However as Red Poacher unfolds Jamie finds himself in a situation he was not expecting. And this time noone is playing games.

Another excellent and compelling spy novel by David Goodman. I read several books at a time but this was hard to put down and I was often so immersed in the action I lost track of time. There are so many engaging characters - Sally Lime, Nicola Ellis, Jeremy Althrop, Cody (even though he's American) and of course Jamie Tulloch himself. This time we have new faces, not least of whom is Sam Li, who was also bored in her real life and gets way more than she bargained for.

I thoroughly enjoyed this - as much as Reluctant Spy except for a very few tiny bugbears, which i won't disclose because they'd ruin the excellent storytelling.

Very much looking forward to Jamie's next appearance.

Highly recommended.

Thankyou to Camilla Lowkis @ Headline Publishing and Netgalley for the digital review copy. Most appreciated.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jamie and Sam, who both previously had normal jobs, never intended to be spies. When they are plunged into covert training, they find themselves pitted against each other for their final evaluation. They need to evade capture and report back with 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 part of the exercise or is it something far worse?

This is the second book in this series and although spy thrillers are not my usual go to, hearing good things about the first one and wanting to broaden my reading, I took the chance with this one. Due to me not being the intended audience, I ended up with mixed feelings. I appreciate it was a fast paced read, with plenty of action to keep it entertaining. However, I found myself getting very confused with some of the references, acronyms and characters, likely due to the fact that I hadn’t read the first book in the series. I feel that had I read the first book, I would have enjoyed this a lot more and been more engaged. But unfortunately due to this I struggled to keep invested and had to keep putting the book down.

I also like short, snappy chapters but found them a bit too short here, which made the story feel disjointed. Even though this wasn’t for me, those who enjoy spy thrillers would probably get a lot from this one, but I would recommend reading book one first to fully appreciate it. 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 due to the issues I had not fully being the writings fault. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

[Douglas Schlesser · Rating 5 out of 5]

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?

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Solitary Agents. This is a really engaging, modern spy thriller that feels fresh while still keeping those classic espionage elements.

The story follows Jamie Tulloch and Sam Li, two new recruits thrown into an intense training exercise where MI6 and MI5 are set against each other. What starts as a test of skill and instinct quickly takes a darker turn when they come across what appears to be a real murder. From that point on, the line between training and reality becomes increasingly blurred.

Jamie and Sam work well together as leads. Jamie is more impulsive and driven by instinct, while Sam is more considered and analytical, and that contrast keeps things interesting. There is a constant sense that they are out of their depth, which adds to the tension as the story unfolds.

The pacing is strong, with short chapters that keep things moving. Once it gets going it is very easy to keep reading, especially as the sense of mistrust builds and it becomes harder to work out who is actually on which side.

It did take a little while to settle into, particularly with the number of characters and references to earlier events, which is why it did not quite reach five stars for me.

Overall though, it is a tense and entertaining read with plenty of intrigue. A solid four star thriller, especially if you enjoy fast paced spy fiction with a contemporary feel.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, this is an amazingly fast-paced book that I completely fell head over heels for. Jamie Tulloch worked in tech. MI5 had headhunted him; part of the training was to take part in an exercise. But this is not his first time in the field, and references to his time before are made throughout this novel. The previous book, The Reluctant Spy, is just the start of this series.

The synopsis gives a brilliant idea as to how Jamie and another, Sam Li, get caught up in this fast-paced novel. While it gives the detail, what it lacks is the complexity, the addictiveness, and the overall adrenaline rush I got while reading the book.

Jamie is definitely a focused character, and for him to achieve what he did during the novel requires this focus and determination. The training exercise is under scrutiny after one member is killed, but who is working for whom, what side is everyone on and how on earth can anyone get to the answers before all hell breaks loose?

The author builds up layers, giving details of his characters, their traits, thoughts, and how they deal with operational situations. Setting them more and more ingenious events, sneaking small clues and creating a story that is just a brilliantly addictive read.

If you are looking for something that is set in the world of espionage, government organisations and crime thriller stories, then you will want to have a look at this series. Brilliant book and one I would definitely recommend.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought Solitary Agents would be exactly my kind of read, and it was. However, it took me a little while to get into the story because there are a lot of characters to keep track of, and who worked with whom.

A shifting timeline meant you had to study what was happening and where, but after the first few chapters, everything clicked into place and I got drawn into the plot.

I thoroughly enjoyed the fast-paced plot, with the training mission under the watchful eye of their handlers. When unexpected events unfold, loyalties become questionable, agents disappear, and security services must scramble to regain control while far-reaching consequences emerge.
The book features a superb plot and engaging, well-developed characters, demonstrating skilful writing. The story maintains a relentless pace, packed it with suspense, intrigue, and plenty of twists.

There are references to the previous book, which I will go back and read; equally, the cliffhanger, which I won’t spoil, means I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Although it starts off slowly, laying out the characters and the plot, it’s a very readable book which I completed in 3 days as it's not one I could put down. Overall, it scores 5 stars from me, and if you enjoy espionage thrillers, then I’d definitely recommend giving Solitary Agents a try.

[Adrian Dooley · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[James McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became aware of David after he won at Bloody Scotland. I then began listening to a couple of the podcasts he was featured on and found his blog. It's been great to see him become published and now releasing a second a book.

The book picks up after the events of A Reluctant Spy so be sure to read the first one, although I think the characters are explained enough you can get to grips with the story.

Jamie Tulloch finds himself back in the mix with the agency but this time training to become a spy. Jamie et all go on a mission as part of their training but find he finds himself in the midst of a bit of a pickle! The story covers the UK, Spain and Gibraltar. I enjoyed the plot twists and turns, especially around the half way point. It then kept escalating with each chapter. I enjoy the journey with Jamie, I often find myself agreeing with his decision making - maybe I should become a spy? He's a relatable and strong character.

David uses short chapters from various points of views, having stuck to the crime genre for a long time this is still quite new to me but I love it. A really good way of keeping the pace and tension up.

Thank you to Net Gally and the Publisher Headline for an Advance Copy.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following on from the first book in the Jamie Tulloch series, A Reluctant Spy, we meet Jamie a year later, where he has attempted to go back to his ‘normal’ life in tech sales. But the pull of becoming a real spy proves to be too strong!

And so Jamie finds himself on the MI6 trainee programme. All is going well on the legendary Red Poacher exercise, until one of Jamie’s fellow recruits is shot. Is this all part of the exercise, or has someone infiltrated the programme for sinister reasons?

This was a great follow-up to A Reluctant Spy, and turning out to be a thrilling series! I would suggest reading book 1 first, because there are a LOT of characters, and EVEN MORE thrown into this story. I think I’d have struggled to keep up if I went straight into this one.

Book 1 also gives you the full backstory to Jamie and how he ends up in the spy world, and I already felt like I know him and want him to succeed.

As with the first book, this was super high octane and exciting! I loved all the different settings we move through - from Scotland to Yorkshire, Spain and Gibraltar. With short chapters whipping between characters, it’s very fast-paced and compulsive reading!

I was pleased to see that everything lined up ready for a 3rd book in the season too!

[Nerys Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 *

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️Spoiler Free Review✨️

Thanks to @netgalley @davegoodmanauthor & @headlinebooks for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Well @davegoodmanauthor has done it again & smashed it out of the park with this one!
From start to finish, I could not put it down! If you're into spy thrillers, then you will love this!
This is the 2nd book where we come across Jamie Tulloch & it does follow on from the 1st book, and although you can read as a standalone,it would probably help to read the first for background & context (and its also really good).
It takes you up & down the UK and as far as Spain and It starts off as a slow burn but then gets going. Its fast paced, short chapters- each from a different point of view, great characters, I do have a soft spot for Jamie, you can't not, bur I would've liked to have seen a bit more of Sam but hopefully it may be in the next book(fingers crossed for a 3rd book).
Definitely worth a read.

[Elizabeth]

I thoroughly enjoyed Solitary Agents (Kindle Edition) book 2 by David Goodman.

This is an amazing espionage fast paced action thriller which involves two intelligence recruits, Jaime Tullock, a former executive for a tech company and Sam Li, a burnt out corporate lawyer.

They are both recruited along with others to join MI5 and are pitted against one another to become part of Exercise Red Poacher, they even have their own version of 007, nicknamed 008, Michelle Cavendish.

All is not what it seems as both Jaime and Li witness an apparent murder of one of their own recruits. They both have to work out if this is part of the exercise in their mission or not. Also rules of engagement are put into play as events turn into a wide scale geopolitical conflict.

I felt empathy for the whole team as they showed endurance and strength to get to the bottom of this ordeal.

[jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second novel by David Goodman continues with the main character and many supporting ones returning in a fast paced spy thriller. I hadn't read the first one, but there was a lot (maybe too much) filling in with the back story. The short chapters, with differing viewpoints creates the illusion of a rapidly unfolding story..
However, at times I got lost or my mind wandered with the many strands and far too many "tunnels" being described in the final pages. An interesting, but obviously an unrealistic plot line. There is a throwaway reference to the master of spy thrillers La Carre/Cornwell which acted as reminder that the best of this genre needs to have depth and realism to the narrative. Overall an entertaining read, but I'm not sure I'd return for more.
Thank you to netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of this book

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamie has decided that the corporate life is not for him and he misses the excitement that he got through his previous encounter with the Secret Service so he enlists. Sam is bored corporate lawyer headhunted for the Service. In their final assessment Jamie is sent on a mission and Sam is part of the team charged with chasing him. However at the first target in Rosyth something goes wrong, a trainee is killed and it seems there is another team in play and this one is hostile.
I hadn't read Goodman's first book but I heard him talking about this one on a podcast and decided to give it a go. Spy novels are not the top of my list and I found this one difficult to get into, partly because of my lack of knowledge of the backstory and also because the acronyms. However, I'm glad I stuck with it as the second half of the book is really exciting.

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first part of the story is quite slow as the author introduces us to the main characters and their part in the book. Told from multiple POV's , it then begins to gain momentum building to a brilliant climax at the end. I was never a huge fan of spy stories until I read David's debut book last year, but now I am hooked especially with all the nuances which go on and never really knowing who is a good person and who is bad! After the initial few chapters, the story reads at a good pace with plenty happening throughout . Now looking forward to the next one!!


Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review

[Cass loves books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this second book by @davegoodmanauthor

The story is written from multiple points of view creating a complex and cleverly layered narrative Once the characters and their role begin to fall into place you can really appreciate how skilfully the different threads have been woven together.

I loved the way the information unfolded, the plot kept me engaged in reading and I can honestly see this book working as a film or series - I’d definitely watch it.

Spy thriller was a new genre for me and it turns out I really enjoy it! Huge thanks to @davegoodmanauthor and Carmella at @headlinebooks for sending these books my way. I’m ready for a third 👀😂.. no pressure!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept me glued to the page. Haven't read the first book but that didn't spoil my enjoyment of the characters and the pace of the story.
Trainee spook's from the two main agencies in the UK. Passing vetting and the rigors of training leads to operation red. But there's a second and third agenda.
When what you are told isn't the truth. Follow Sam as she leaves her corporate law career and reunite with Jamie as he chooses to become an agent.
So many threads but all keep you engrossed.
Looking forward to future books