The First Law of Chaos

by Kevin Wignall

Sam Holland doesn’t see himself as spy material, and when he gets recruited right out of university, a part of him believes it has to be a practical joke. He's no James Bond. A year later, he’s still not convinced—running a bogus news agency in Slovenia; engaging in juvenile banter with Adam, his sole colleague; flirting with a young woman from the embassy—it’s not what he imagined life as a spy would be. And then it all goes horribly wrong when Sam and Adam see something they’re not meant to see, and finally understand the true danger of the game they’re playing. On the run and with people from their own government trying to kill them, Sam realizes too late that his recruitment was something much worse than a practical joke. The first casualty of war might be the truth, but it looks increasingly likely that the second might be Sam Holland himself.

414 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 25, 2025

About the author

Army Child till age nine.

Settled back in a small town in the west of England.

Lancaster University - degree in Politics &
International Relations.

Writer.

Also writes as K.J. Wignall

Email: kevin@kevinwignall.com

Reviews

[Mark Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book from Kevin Wignall

Kevin is one of the most reliable of authors and - once again - he doesn’t disappoint.

Written in 2012 - but not published until 2025 - this is more of a spy story than some of his more recent novels. Truly enjoyable - much as I’d planned to eke the book out over several days I knocked it off in one session.

For those that are interested and want to look up places on a map, the university in the story is Lancaster - which sits on a ridge close to the sea.

Kevin is uncomplimentary about its architecture (somewhat unfairly - it’s not that bad) but he doesn’t quite capture how windy, bitterly cold and damp - yet stunningly beautiful - Lancaster can be!

Glasson Dock - a nearby village - is renamed in the story.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept guessing

As a faithful reader of the author’s novels, I dug in, expecting spies running rampant, but this plot was a one-off, with a pair of students recruited by a professor who is never seen again. They seem to be the targets of some cabal and narrowly escape being caught or killed…or, are they? I’m glad Wignall dug this out of his trunk. It was worth my time.

[Will Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book captured my interest from start to finish and despite a lot of repetition often fast moving events occurring between the 2 young university graduates and spy agency employees Sam and Adam whom together walk a tight rope. They considered between low chances of possible freedom if they handed themselves in even though had done nothing illegal . The true facts of their conduct were twisted by media , spy agencies , and /or enemies, making them both look as though they were the perpetrators of some seriously bad overseas violent events such that they did not know who to turn to for help and explanations. On the run continuously including internationally because they guessed it more more likely an order for their assassination has been made by their employer and their assassins were close on their tail until the final climax .

[Robert Koterbay · Rating 2 out of 5]

redundant

I have read most of Kevin Wignall books. I have to say that this is probably the worst I read. It consisted of repetitive conversations between the two main characters. They kept saying the same conversation over and over again. The only saving aspect was the occasional quote from known writers; “truth is beauty and ….”,

[Dan Blanchette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good not Great

I’ve read many of Kevin Wignall’s books, and though I liked the story here at first, the characters and the intrigue, but at around the three-quarter mark it started feeling a little unglued. The plot is good, just not fully fleshed out.

[John L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ve Re Tas

Wignall is an endearing writer skilled at persons and pacing. This book makes clear that truth is a far pinnacle infinitely configured by the lenses we choose to view it. So very apt in our tumultuous era.

[Peter Reeves · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing

It doesn’t surprise me that this was written 13 years ago and just released. Apart from being far fetched, I found it boring and the characters poorly developed.