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A Jim Tate Thriller #1
Codename: 61
The war ended in 1945, but for some, the killing never stopped.
1940
A bomb drops destroying everything London railwayman Jim Tate holds dear. Fuelled by a desperate desire for vengeance, Tate passes selection for the elite Special Operations Executive (SOE), transforming into a deadly, German-speaking commando tasked with wreaking havoc in Nazi-occupied France.
1961
Tate has traded the shadowy world of espionage for a quiet civilian life as a railway engineer in Kenya. But his hard-won peace is shattered when fellow SOE operative, Adrian Snow – ‘Cloak’ to his ‘Dagger’ – arrives out of the dust with news that will drag Tate back to one chilling day in 1942.
Targeted by assassins and forced to operate outside the law, Tate and Snow must resurrect their old partnership to stop a madman, in a lethal game of cat-and-mouse that takes them from the sun-scorched plains of Kenya to the frosty streets of Vienna.
Packed with explosive action and shifting loyalties, CODENAME 61 is Alex Shaw’s new pulse-pounding historical espionage thriller. Perfect for fans of Ken Follett’s Edge of Eternity and Charles Beaumont’s Oxford Spy Ring series.
1940
A bomb drops destroying everything London railwayman Jim Tate holds dear. Fuelled by a desperate desire for vengeance, Tate passes selection for the elite Special Operations Executive (SOE), transforming into a deadly, German-speaking commando tasked with wreaking havoc in Nazi-occupied France.
1961
Tate has traded the shadowy world of espionage for a quiet civilian life as a railway engineer in Kenya. But his hard-won peace is shattered when fellow SOE operative, Adrian Snow – ‘Cloak’ to his ‘Dagger’ – arrives out of the dust with news that will drag Tate back to one chilling day in 1942.
Targeted by assassins and forced to operate outside the law, Tate and Snow must resurrect their old partnership to stop a madman, in a lethal game of cat-and-mouse that takes them from the sun-scorched plains of Kenya to the frosty streets of Vienna.
Packed with explosive action and shifting loyalties, CODENAME 61 is Alex Shaw’s new pulse-pounding historical espionage thriller. Perfect for fans of Ken Follett’s Edge of Eternity and Charles Beaumont’s Oxford Spy Ring series.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 9, 2026
About the author
Alex Shaw
25 books170 followersALEX SHAW B.A.(Hons), P.G.C.E. spent the second half of the 1990s in Kyiv, Ukraine, teaching Drama and running his own business consultancy before being head-hunted for a division of Siemens. The next few years saw him doing business for the company across the former USSR, the Middle East, and Africa.
Alex is an active member of the ITW (The International Thriller Writers organisation) and the CWA (the Crime Writers Association). He is the author of the #1 International Kindle Bestselling 'Aidan Snow SAS thrillers' HETMAN & COLD BLACK and the new DELTA FORCE VAMPIRE series of books. His writing has also been published in the thriller anthologies DEATH TOLL, DEATH TOLL 2 and ACTION PULSE POUNDING TALES 2 alongside International Bestselling authors Stephen Leather and Matt Hilton. DANGEROUS, DEADLY, ELITE - The third Aidan Snow Thriller will be available in October 2014.
COLD BLACK is commercially published by ENDEAVOUR PRESS.
Alex, his wife and their two sons divide their time between homes in Kyiv, Ukraine and Worthing, England. Alex can be contacted via his website www.alexwshaw.com You can also follow Alex on twitter: @alexshawhetman
Alex is an active member of the ITW (The International Thriller Writers organisation) and the CWA (the Crime Writers Association). He is the author of the #1 International Kindle Bestselling 'Aidan Snow SAS thrillers' HETMAN & COLD BLACK and the new DELTA FORCE VAMPIRE series of books. His writing has also been published in the thriller anthologies DEATH TOLL, DEATH TOLL 2 and ACTION PULSE POUNDING TALES 2 alongside International Bestselling authors Stephen Leather and Matt Hilton. DANGEROUS, DEADLY, ELITE - The third Aidan Snow Thriller will be available in October 2014.
COLD BLACK is commercially published by ENDEAVOUR PRESS.
Alex, his wife and their two sons divide their time between homes in Kyiv, Ukraine and Worthing, England. Alex can be contacted via his website www.alexwshaw.com You can also follow Alex on twitter: @alexshawhetman
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 7, 2026
I am gonna be honest it’s not for me it’s about the wars!!
This gripping historical thriller masterfully combines wartime espionage with a tense post-war mystery, creating a story that is both action-packed and emotionally compelling. Moving between World War II and the early 1960s, the novel explores how the scars of war continue to shape lives long after the fighting has ended.
Jim Tate is a fascinating protagonist whose journey from grieving railwayman to elite Special Operations Executive operative is both believable and compelling. His courage, resilience, and determination make him easy to invest in, while his partnership with fellow agent Adrian “Snow” adds depth, camaraderie, and plenty of memorable moments.
The story balances high-stakes action with intrigue, weaving together espionage, revenge, and long-buried secrets into a fast-paced narrative. The alternating timelines gradually reveal the connections between past and present, keeping the suspense high and the pages turning. Every twist raises the stakes, making it difficult to predict how events will unfold.
The vividly described settings—from war-torn France to the sweeping landscapes of Kenya and the wintry streets of Vienna—add richness and authenticity, immersing readers in every stage of the adventure.
Filled with danger, mystery, and memorable characters, this is an outstanding historical thriller that will appeal to fans of wartime espionage, covert operations, and intelligent suspense. A thrilling read that proves some battles continue long after the war is over.
This gripping historical thriller masterfully combines wartime espionage with a tense post-war mystery, creating a story that is both action-packed and emotionally compelling. Moving between World War II and the early 1960s, the novel explores how the scars of war continue to shape lives long after the fighting has ended.
Jim Tate is a fascinating protagonist whose journey from grieving railwayman to elite Special Operations Executive operative is both believable and compelling. His courage, resilience, and determination make him easy to invest in, while his partnership with fellow agent Adrian “Snow” adds depth, camaraderie, and plenty of memorable moments.
The story balances high-stakes action with intrigue, weaving together espionage, revenge, and long-buried secrets into a fast-paced narrative. The alternating timelines gradually reveal the connections between past and present, keeping the suspense high and the pages turning. Every twist raises the stakes, making it difficult to predict how events will unfold.
The vividly described settings—from war-torn France to the sweeping landscapes of Kenya and the wintry streets of Vienna—add richness and authenticity, immersing readers in every stage of the adventure.
Filled with danger, mystery, and memorable characters, this is an outstanding historical thriller that will appeal to fans of wartime espionage, covert operations, and intelligent suspense. A thrilling read that proves some battles continue long after the war is over.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this advance ARC in return for an honest review.
Codename: 61 is the first Jim Tate Thriller which introduces Tate as he is running home to his German Jewish wife during the London Blitz only to find the love of his life buried under the pile of rubble that was once their Camden home. Sometime later, in 1942, he is recruited for an ungentlemanly warfare unit in the SOE to infiltrate northern France to extricate a German Scientist who wishes to defect to England.
While training, Tate is introduced to Adrian Snow, codenamed Cloak, who has been posing as an older Frenchman and cozying up to the Nazi commander Klops who was in charge of the operation until the sinister SS Colonel Richter arrives.
When Tate is selected for the mission, he is given codename Dagger, as his superiors find the former boxer rather dangerous compared to the other "Public School" Chums in the Unit.
After Cloak returns to France, the 6 man unit parachutes into France in the dead of night, only to be met by Richter and his SS storm troopers as they land. Tate is the only one of the unit to escape and after a rendezvous with Snow, and a French bar maid, Cloak and Dagger realize they have been compromised and there is a leak in their Unit or at SOE Headquarters. They soon hatch a plan to rescue their fallen comrades and in the process take out Richter.
Jump ahead to 1961, Snow is now stationed in Kenya, and one member of his former SOE unit, Julian Jones-Smyth, is also stationed with MI6 in Kenya and gets gunned down in the street outside the bar where he was to meet Snow. Thinking fast he grabs the briefcase before the authorities arrive. When he discovers what intelligence Jones-Smyth was trying to pass on Snow realizes that Richter is far from dead, and may be operating in Kenya to stir up more trouble for the British. Eventually Snow reunites with Tate, who is working as a railway man in Kenya, and they band together to hunt down Richter and foil his current plot, as well as make him pay for his war crimes in 1942.
Although Snow is MI6, Tate has been out of the spy game for some time, but together they track down several of Richter's co-conspirators and realize that the plan is to secure blue prints from London for a new submarine and perhaps pass them along to the Russians. While interrogating the KGB contact, they discover that their may be someone else from their past that is the true mastermind behind Richter's plot.
Shaw creates a taut thriller that jumps between WWII and the "present day" of 1961 and with the exception of some rudimentary dialogue and overuse of "old chap" and "squire" is a rather easy to read and satisfying spy page turner. I would certainly recommend, and am looking forward to the next installment.
#Codename61 #NetGalley
Codename: 61 is the first Jim Tate Thriller which introduces Tate as he is running home to his German Jewish wife during the London Blitz only to find the love of his life buried under the pile of rubble that was once their Camden home. Sometime later, in 1942, he is recruited for an ungentlemanly warfare unit in the SOE to infiltrate northern France to extricate a German Scientist who wishes to defect to England.
While training, Tate is introduced to Adrian Snow, codenamed Cloak, who has been posing as an older Frenchman and cozying up to the Nazi commander Klops who was in charge of the operation until the sinister SS Colonel Richter arrives.
When Tate is selected for the mission, he is given codename Dagger, as his superiors find the former boxer rather dangerous compared to the other "Public School" Chums in the Unit.
After Cloak returns to France, the 6 man unit parachutes into France in the dead of night, only to be met by Richter and his SS storm troopers as they land. Tate is the only one of the unit to escape and after a rendezvous with Snow, and a French bar maid, Cloak and Dagger realize they have been compromised and there is a leak in their Unit or at SOE Headquarters. They soon hatch a plan to rescue their fallen comrades and in the process take out Richter.
Jump ahead to 1961, Snow is now stationed in Kenya, and one member of his former SOE unit, Julian Jones-Smyth, is also stationed with MI6 in Kenya and gets gunned down in the street outside the bar where he was to meet Snow. Thinking fast he grabs the briefcase before the authorities arrive. When he discovers what intelligence Jones-Smyth was trying to pass on Snow realizes that Richter is far from dead, and may be operating in Kenya to stir up more trouble for the British. Eventually Snow reunites with Tate, who is working as a railway man in Kenya, and they band together to hunt down Richter and foil his current plot, as well as make him pay for his war crimes in 1942.
Although Snow is MI6, Tate has been out of the spy game for some time, but together they track down several of Richter's co-conspirators and realize that the plan is to secure blue prints from London for a new submarine and perhaps pass them along to the Russians. While interrogating the KGB contact, they discover that their may be someone else from their past that is the true mastermind behind Richter's plot.
Shaw creates a taut thriller that jumps between WWII and the "present day" of 1961 and with the exception of some rudimentary dialogue and overuse of "old chap" and "squire" is a rather easy to read and satisfying spy page turner. I would certainly recommend, and am looking forward to the next installment.
#Codename61 #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Alex Shaw has delivered another riveting read with his new, at this time, stand alone, Codename:61 with two unlikely heroes in Jack Tate and Adrian Snow. Thrown together during the War they became friends as well as operatives, moving on once Germany signed the Armistice.
It is now 1961, the War is long over but to some, it never ended. Railwayman Jack Tate is now working in Kenya and Adrian Snow, still with the secretive ‘6’ meet up again, as a third member of their once active Unit has been gunned down on a quiet, sleepy, steamy street of Nairobi.
Julian Jones-Smyth managed to pass over his leather attaché-case to Snow seconds before his death. When Snow sees the contents, he is at once returned to a tragic and horrific time when a traitor within the close Special Operations Executive destroyed a team of Agents in Sangatte, France, in 1942.
Snow seeks out Tate to help him deal with what he perceives as a threat, also to right a terrible wrong. They find themselves under attack at Chemelil, a small out of the way railway station in Kenya, Tate’s two engineers held hostage.
This volent and once again unprovoked attack, cause the pair to rethink what it is they are prepared to do and decide that this time the traitor in their ranks, so very long ago, will be held to account; one way or the other.
Up against some powerful men, they find they must return to the days of subterfuge, resurrect long forgotten skills and ruthlessness to meet the enemy on his home ground, but they both discover the past has not finished with them either, as they return to Sangatte to pick up what should have been a cold, cold trail, but find it is not!
Using a dual timeline very effectively, Shaw builds a powerful plot that see two aging operatives returning to a skill base honed as operatives and agents during the Second World War, both haunted by times past, both out to make amends long overdue.
Highly recommended for lovers of a good read and fans of political spy fiction.
It is now 1961, the War is long over but to some, it never ended. Railwayman Jack Tate is now working in Kenya and Adrian Snow, still with the secretive ‘6’ meet up again, as a third member of their once active Unit has been gunned down on a quiet, sleepy, steamy street of Nairobi.
Julian Jones-Smyth managed to pass over his leather attaché-case to Snow seconds before his death. When Snow sees the contents, he is at once returned to a tragic and horrific time when a traitor within the close Special Operations Executive destroyed a team of Agents in Sangatte, France, in 1942.
Snow seeks out Tate to help him deal with what he perceives as a threat, also to right a terrible wrong. They find themselves under attack at Chemelil, a small out of the way railway station in Kenya, Tate’s two engineers held hostage.
This volent and once again unprovoked attack, cause the pair to rethink what it is they are prepared to do and decide that this time the traitor in their ranks, so very long ago, will be held to account; one way or the other.
Up against some powerful men, they find they must return to the days of subterfuge, resurrect long forgotten skills and ruthlessness to meet the enemy on his home ground, but they both discover the past has not finished with them either, as they return to Sangatte to pick up what should have been a cold, cold trail, but find it is not!
Using a dual timeline very effectively, Shaw builds a powerful plot that see two aging operatives returning to a skill base honed as operatives and agents during the Second World War, both haunted by times past, both out to make amends long overdue.
Highly recommended for lovers of a good read and fans of political spy fiction.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After the bomb destroyed his home and killed his wife in London in 1940, railwayman Jim Tate joined the SOE (Special Operations Executive), training intensely until he and a few others were the elite, ready to be parachuted into occupied France and to give the Nazis some of their own medicine. But something went wrong at their drop and Tate was the only one who escaped. Rescuing his men was a priority; getting to safety to make a plan was first and foremost.
In 1961, Tate was a railway engineer in Kenya. He enjoyed the quiet life, until the day Adrian Snow, one of his fellow operatives from the war, appeared with dreadful news. Once again the pair must become a unit and take on the madman who was on their trail. But could they? It didn't take long for their old ways to take hold again - like riding a bike - and both Tate & Snow knew the danger was close, and not just to them; to those they held dear as well...
Codename: 61 is the 1st in A Jim Tate Thriller series by Alex Shaw. I have read the author's Wolf Six series (to date) and have loved them, as I did this one. Fast paced, action packed, Alex Shaw knows how to keep his readers guessing. Tate & Snow are excellent characters and great mates, always having one another's backs. I'm looking forward to more by this author. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Boldwood Books for my digital ARC to read and review.
In 1961, Tate was a railway engineer in Kenya. He enjoyed the quiet life, until the day Adrian Snow, one of his fellow operatives from the war, appeared with dreadful news. Once again the pair must become a unit and take on the madman who was on their trail. But could they? It didn't take long for their old ways to take hold again - like riding a bike - and both Tate & Snow knew the danger was close, and not just to them; to those they held dear as well...
Codename: 61 is the 1st in A Jim Tate Thriller series by Alex Shaw. I have read the author's Wolf Six series (to date) and have loved them, as I did this one. Fast paced, action packed, Alex Shaw knows how to keep his readers guessing. Tate & Snow are excellent characters and great mates, always having one another's backs. I'm looking forward to more by this author. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Boldwood Books for my digital ARC to read and review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Codename: 61 is a strong start to what promises to be an exciting new historical espionage series.
The story moves between 1940s World War II and 1961, following Jim Tate, whose life is forever changed after losing his wife and family during the German bombing of England. Determined to seek vengeance, he joins the elite Special Operations Executive (SOE) and undertakes dangerous missions in Nazi-occupied France. Years later, after building a quiet life as a railway engineer in Kenya, Jim is unexpectedly pulled back into the world of espionage when his former colleague Adrian Snow arrives with a mission tied to events from the war.
I really enjoyed the dual timeline, which was easy to follow and gradually revealed the history between Jim and Adrian while building suspense in the present-day investigation. The story moves at a brisk pace with plenty of action, shifting loyalties, and enough mystery to keep the pages turning as the pair try to uncover who can be trusted and who has been orchestrating the deadly attacks.
Jim and Adrian make a compelling team, and I appreciated how their wartime experiences continued to shape them decades later. Alex Shaw also does a great job blending historical detail with an engaging spy thriller, creating an old-school espionage adventure that feels both classic and fresh.
If you enjoy historical spy fiction filled with covert missions, conspiracies, and fast-paced action, Codename: 61 is well worth picking up. I'll definitely be looking forward to the next installment in the series.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The story moves between 1940s World War II and 1961, following Jim Tate, whose life is forever changed after losing his wife and family during the German bombing of England. Determined to seek vengeance, he joins the elite Special Operations Executive (SOE) and undertakes dangerous missions in Nazi-occupied France. Years later, after building a quiet life as a railway engineer in Kenya, Jim is unexpectedly pulled back into the world of espionage when his former colleague Adrian Snow arrives with a mission tied to events from the war.
I really enjoyed the dual timeline, which was easy to follow and gradually revealed the history between Jim and Adrian while building suspense in the present-day investigation. The story moves at a brisk pace with plenty of action, shifting loyalties, and enough mystery to keep the pages turning as the pair try to uncover who can be trusted and who has been orchestrating the deadly attacks.
Jim and Adrian make a compelling team, and I appreciated how their wartime experiences continued to shape them decades later. Alex Shaw also does a great job blending historical detail with an engaging spy thriller, creating an old-school espionage adventure that feels both classic and fresh.
If you enjoy historical spy fiction filled with covert missions, conspiracies, and fast-paced action, Codename: 61 is well worth picking up. I'll definitely be looking forward to the next installment in the series.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A top-class historical spy thriller.
"Codename 61" opens in Nairobi, 1961, and the murder of a former MI6 agent, on his way to meet with colleague Adrian Snow. Nearby, former SOE operative Jim Tate works for the railway company, well paid, but a long way from his family. We then jump to 1942, where an SOE operation goes badly wrong, and Tate and Snow come close to death when they are betrayed.
With the story threads nicely set up, the reader is then taken on a fast-moving and perilous chase spanning two decades, as Snow and Tate are tasked with tracking down killers and spies and uncovering conspiracies. From Nairobi, to London, to Vienna, they slowly uncover a plot which could take the Cold War to new heights. The story moves along at a cracking pace, and the dual timeline is handled well, as we slowly discover Snow and Tate's background, and the events which bring them back together after twenty years. Both men have baggage, regrets of things they did and people they lost, and are nicely rounded characters. There's plenty of SOE action too, with enough historical detail to add colour.
This book is the start of a new series, but fans of the author's previous books will recognise the names - this is the story of the parents and grandparents of key characters, and as such will satisfy long-term fans. At the same time, those new to the author can jump right in.
Recommended for fans of Alex Gerlis, Douglas Jackson and Rory Clements.
"Codename 61" opens in Nairobi, 1961, and the murder of a former MI6 agent, on his way to meet with colleague Adrian Snow. Nearby, former SOE operative Jim Tate works for the railway company, well paid, but a long way from his family. We then jump to 1942, where an SOE operation goes badly wrong, and Tate and Snow come close to death when they are betrayed.
With the story threads nicely set up, the reader is then taken on a fast-moving and perilous chase spanning two decades, as Snow and Tate are tasked with tracking down killers and spies and uncovering conspiracies. From Nairobi, to London, to Vienna, they slowly uncover a plot which could take the Cold War to new heights. The story moves along at a cracking pace, and the dual timeline is handled well, as we slowly discover Snow and Tate's background, and the events which bring them back together after twenty years. Both men have baggage, regrets of things they did and people they lost, and are nicely rounded characters. There's plenty of SOE action too, with enough historical detail to add colour.
This book is the start of a new series, but fans of the author's previous books will recognise the names - this is the story of the parents and grandparents of key characters, and as such will satisfy long-term fans. At the same time, those new to the author can jump right in.
Recommended for fans of Alex Gerlis, Douglas Jackson and Rory Clements.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Jim Tate Thriller #1
The war ended in 1945, but for some, the killing never stopped.
1940: A bomb drops destroying everything London railwayman Jim Tate holds dear. Fuelled by a desperate desire for vengeance, Tate passes selection for the elite Operations Executive (SOE), transforming a deadly, German speaking command tasked with wreaking wreaking havoc in Nazi-occupied France.
1961: Tate has traded the shadowy world of espionage for a quiet civilian life as a railway engineer in Kenya. But his hard-won peace is shattered when fellow SOE operative, Adrian Snow - "Cloak to his Dagger" - arrives out of the dust with news that will drag Tate back to one chilling day in 1942.
Jack Tate and Adrian Snow were friends as well as operatives during the war. But the war has been over for several years. Jack is working as a railway engineer in Kenya when Adrian Snow turns up, as a third member of their unit has been gunned down in Nairobi.
With it's dual timeline, this is an action-packed read. It's easy to follow, the suspense builds and the pace is fast. I never knew who could be trusted. I like Jim and Adrian, they worked well together. If this is just the start of a new series, I can't wait to find out what's in store for us in the next book.
Published 9th August 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #AlexShaw for my ARC of #CodeName61 in exchange for an honest review.
The war ended in 1945, but for some, the killing never stopped.
1940: A bomb drops destroying everything London railwayman Jim Tate holds dear. Fuelled by a desperate desire for vengeance, Tate passes selection for the elite Operations Executive (SOE), transforming a deadly, German speaking command tasked with wreaking wreaking havoc in Nazi-occupied France.
1961: Tate has traded the shadowy world of espionage for a quiet civilian life as a railway engineer in Kenya. But his hard-won peace is shattered when fellow SOE operative, Adrian Snow - "Cloak to his Dagger" - arrives out of the dust with news that will drag Tate back to one chilling day in 1942.
Jack Tate and Adrian Snow were friends as well as operatives during the war. But the war has been over for several years. Jack is working as a railway engineer in Kenya when Adrian Snow turns up, as a third member of their unit has been gunned down in Nairobi.
With it's dual timeline, this is an action-packed read. It's easy to follow, the suspense builds and the pace is fast. I never knew who could be trusted. I like Jim and Adrian, they worked well together. If this is just the start of a new series, I can't wait to find out what's in store for us in the next book.
Published 9th August 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #AlexShaw for my ARC of #CodeName61 in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Codename 61 is a very good and entertaining read set during WW2 and the early 1960's. It took time initially for me to become familiar with the characters and how they fit into the story. I really liked the dual time line, it definitely works here and allows the story line to move from past to present easily. The writing is very good and engaging and drew me in quickly. Alex Shaw has captured the times well and the descriptions of his characters and settings are really vivid. The characters became alive in my mind when I was reading. The plot has lots of threads that grabbed my attention and interest and kept me guessing what would happen next. I really like the two main characters Snow and Tate and their histories. There are some characters I loathed, all with their own agenda, and I couldn't wait for them to be found out. The story is very fast paced, with plenty of action, mystery and suspense and this soon became a read I would return to whenever I could.
Overall a very good read with good character develooment. I'm a fan of spy/espionage thrillers and this really hit the mark with me and I would recommend it. Will look forward to reading the next book in the series.
4 stars
Overall a very good read with good character develooment. I'm a fan of spy/espionage thrillers and this really hit the mark with me and I would recommend it. Will look forward to reading the next book in the series.
4 stars
August 16, 2026
Codename: 61 by Alex Shaw is the first book in the new Jim Tate Thriller Series and WoW what an excellent start to a new series this was, It was fast-paced, full of action, with excellent twists and turns, I could not turn the poages over on my kindle to find out what happened next. Codename: 61 was so addictive I ended up reading it on one sitting. Superb writing from Alex Shaw!
Codename: 61 was set during WW2 and to the early 1960's. and the author Alex Shaw captures the times well and describes all his characters especially two main characters Snow and Tate in perfect detail which made this book a 5 ⭐️ read.
I highly recommend this book and so looking forward to the second book within this new excellent series. Superb!
BIg Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.
Codename: 61 was set during WW2 and to the early 1960's. and the author Alex Shaw captures the times well and describes all his characters especially two main characters Snow and Tate in perfect detail which made this book a 5 ⭐️ read.
I highly recommend this book and so looking forward to the second book within this new excellent series. Superb!
BIg Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
One of my very favourite writers. When I pick up one of Alex Shaw's books, I know I'm in for an exciting read. This book is the first one in a new series. Unlike Shaw's previous series, this has an historical setting. Alternating between 1942 and 1961, the actions of a group of SOEs during the second world war in France, have unexpected repercussions in the early 60s.
As with all Shaw's books, the action is fast paced and gripping. The characters are engaging and the background detail well presented. This is a highly recommended read and I'm looking forward to reading more in this series in the future.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
As with all Shaw's books, the action is fast paced and gripping. The characters are engaging and the background detail well presented. This is a highly recommended read and I'm looking forward to reading more in this series in the future.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Alex Shaw seems to be the master of the fast paced thriller. I’ve read all his books and enjoyed his cast of characters and their page turning stories. A new series here, a background set in WW2 and the SOE and then we revisit some of the characters in 1961, older but still skilful and determined. “Cloak” and “Dagger” are in their 40s but are dragged back into the murky and violent world of espionage in the Cold War. Spies and old enemies are are trying to steal Britain’s secrets by any means necessary. Moves at pace and I enjoyed the era and the crossover between the time periods. Start of a new series from an author that never lets his fans down and I look forward to the next one.
Grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for a review copy
Grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for a review copy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
1940, Jim Tate's life is changed when his wife and in-laws die from the German bombing in England, so he decides to enlist to reek vengeance. He passes the Elite(SOE)Special Operation Executive and seeks payback in Nazi occupied France. Flash forward to 1961 and Tate has been working as a railroad engineer in Kenya until Adrian Snow shows up to recruit him back into the shadowy game of war, even though the war ended in 1945. Who can they trust, who is behind the killings, and who is the traitor? An old school spy thriller with a good cast of characters, a really enjoyable storyline, and this is the 1st book in the new series.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC and I do recommend buying the book when it's released on August 9th.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC and I do recommend buying the book when it's released on August 9th.
August 9, 2026
An action thriller which travels between the war years and 1961 featuring a group of British commandos. This is a story which grips you by the throat right fron the off. Plenty of humour and great characters which I hope we see more of. The action is blistering in its intensity and the times in between are reflective. I was hooked from the very first chapter. Its one of those story's that hits at a place deep inside and you become totally involved with the storyline. A great read if you like intelligent thriller action.
With thanks to the author and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book.
With thanks to the author and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book.
August 12, 2026
Nairobi 1961. Adrian Snow, an SIS operative, was waiting for an old friend and colleague who had important information for him, only to see him gunned down in the street. Fortunately, Adrian managed to retrieve Julian’s case and what he found in there was frightening. Now, he needed to find Jim Tate, the ‘Dagger’ to his ‘Cloak’, and quickly, as they had a mission to avenge what happened in France in 1942.
A thoroughly absorbing read with Jim Tate’s army life, selection for SOE and operations in France in 1942 woven into the equally absorbing action in 1961 as Adrian and Jim take revenge for old comrades.
Thanks to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for an ARC for my honest review.
A thoroughly absorbing read with Jim Tate’s army life, selection for SOE and operations in France in 1942 woven into the equally absorbing action in 1961 as Adrian and Jim take revenge for old comrades.
Thanks to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for an ARC for my honest review.
August 13, 2026
I really enjoyed Codename: 61. Fast-paced, action-packed and full of twists, it kept me turning the pages and guessing what was coming next.
Jim Tate and Adrian Snow are great characters, and I particularly enjoyed their friendship and the way they always had each other’s backs. The story moves between wartime France and 1961, creating plenty of tension and suspense.
This was my first Jim Tate thriller, but it certainly won’t be my last. I’m looking forward to reading more from Alex Shaw. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a gripping, action-packed thriller. Thanks to Boldwood, Alex Shaw and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Jim Tate and Adrian Snow are great characters, and I particularly enjoyed their friendship and the way they always had each other’s backs. The story moves between wartime France and 1961, creating plenty of tension and suspense.
This was my first Jim Tate thriller, but it certainly won’t be my last. I’m looking forward to reading more from Alex Shaw. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a gripping, action-packed thriller. Thanks to Boldwood, Alex Shaw and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the first book I’ve read by Alex Shaw and it is a more than serviceable spy thriller featuring the activities of Jim Tate as a member of an SOE team Audi g the resistance in wartime France and the reappearance of an adversary from those wartime days in 1961.
The plot is convoluted but the action is frenetic and non stop but the characters are a bit wooden and some of the dialogue stilted as the author attempts to recreate the tone of the 1940s and 60s.
A decent read nonetheless
The plot is convoluted but the action is frenetic and non stop but the characters are a bit wooden and some of the dialogue stilted as the author attempts to recreate the tone of the 1940s and 60s.
A decent read nonetheless
August 9, 2026
✨️Spoiler Free Review ✨️
Thank you to @netgalley @alexshawthrillerwriter & @boldwoodbooks for the ARC in return for my honest review.
This is the 1st #JimTate historical spy thriller set in WW2 and later on in 1961.
It is a typical Alex Shaw book- fast paced, thrilling, unputdownable, very cloak and dagger-esque. The writing was great, really pulled me into the story, especially the dual timelines and I really liked the characters, Tate & Snow.
A very good read for fans of espionage/spy thrillers.
Thank you to @netgalley @alexshawthrillerwriter & @boldwoodbooks for the ARC in return for my honest review.
This is the 1st #JimTate historical spy thriller set in WW2 and later on in 1961.
It is a typical Alex Shaw book- fast paced, thrilling, unputdownable, very cloak and dagger-esque. The writing was great, really pulled me into the story, especially the dual timelines and I really liked the characters, Tate & Snow.
A very good read for fans of espionage/spy thrillers.
August 10, 2026
The first book in a new spy series set in a dual timeline of WW2 and the early 1960's. The story was a bit of a slow burner for me to begin with, but having picked up pace, it was off and running. As with any good spy thriller, you are constantly changing who you believe to be on what side fight until the end. Good solid start from this author. Overall 4.5*
Thanks to Netgalley/Boldwood books for the ARC to review
Thanks to Netgalley/Boldwood books for the ARC to review
August 12, 2026
This is really cool. It is mostly Tate, with a heavy dose of Adrian. It starts with is training in 1942 and switches back and forth to 1961 so you get a good understanding of it. His 1st op had a traitor and most of the team was killed. All of them could have been, including the traitor. Forward to 1961 where it is discovered there were survivors and now they nee to be eliminated. 1042 and 1961 both have plenty of action.
August 20, 2026
Enjoyable .
Set in World war 2 and the early 1960's with Soviet skulduggery and a former SOE team reunited, very John Buchan style.
Its a easy read , not requiring effort, but enjoyable nonetheless .
Set in World war 2 and the early 1960's with Soviet skulduggery and a former SOE team reunited, very John Buchan style.
Its a easy read , not requiring effort, but enjoyable nonetheless .
August 21, 2026
This story goes between 2 time periods, WWII and 1961. The tempo is fast paced and suspenseful. This book is part of a series and I look forward to the next book. This is also the 1st book I have read by this author, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tate is a great "superhero". Deep, dark with a sense of duty and what is right.
Snow, his old partner in crime, shows up after years apart with a story about a plot to kill the team that was instrumental in the WWII Spy Game.
Circling back to their old team, the story takes us from Nairobi, Vienna, Paris, and all parts in between.
I could see this as a good start for a series and look forward to the next episode.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with early access to this great book in exchange for my honest review.
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