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Cover Story
"A brilliant idea, expertly executed...recommended for fans of espionage and suspense." Thomas Waugh
"It moves very fast, and has a similar sense of humour to Herron. It's so well-written it feels effortless... has 'Premier Cru' written all over it. Get it if you can." Jeremy Duns of Spybrary
Things aren’t going well for writer Col Newton. It’s ten years since he published his only novel, a critically acclaimed commercial flop.
Then out of the blue, he hears from his old university friend, Chris Lazenby. There had always been rumours Lazenby was a spy. Turns out the rumours were true.
Lazenby has a tempting proposal for Col. He’ll pay him fifty grand to write a novel. There’s just one catch. The book will never be published and Col can’t tell anyone he’s written it.
It’s all part of a cover story Lazenby is constructing for an agent in the field posing as a novelist.
With his literary career in the doldrums, Col agrees. But things quickly spiral out of control when Col witnesses Lazenby use his unarmed combat skills in a shockingly violent outburst.
But when the money starts to flow into his bank account, Col puts his qualms behind him.
He soon finds that without the prospect of publication to distract him he is producing the best thing he has ever written.
He now wants the book for himself, but will Lazenby agree? And when Col finds out what happened to the last writer who helped Lazenby, he realises that, like Scheherazade in A Thousand and One Nights, his life depends on the tale he tells.R.N. Morris is the author of the Porfiry Petrovich series of historical crime novels, featuring the investigating magistrate from Dostoevsky’s masterpiece Crime and Punishment. He has also written six novels set in London in 1914: Summon Up The Blood, The Mannequin House, A Dark Palace, The White Feather Killer, The Music Box Enigma and Fortune’s Hand.
Praise for Roger
"An extraordinary excursion into the past by a master storyteller. I have never read a book quite like it, nor admired a book so much." Michael Gregorio
"Morris’ recreation of the seamy side of 19th-century St Petersburg is vivid and convincing … As to who did it, Morris keeps the reader guessing until the end.” The Independent
“Morris has created an atmospheric St Petersburg, and a stylish set of intellectual problems, but what makes A Gentle Axe such an effective debut is its fascination with good and evil.” Times Literary Supplement
“As fans of Morris’s previous A Gentle Axe will know, this author not only has the nerve to lift his lead character from Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment but also the skill to bring that distant Russia and its inhabitants to life, while drawing parallels with our own world.” The Guardian
“The streets of St Petersburg are vividly portrayed as the author shows the imperial Russian capital on the brink of upheaval… If you like historical crime novels, you will enjoy this.” Historical Novels Review
“Morris’s descriptions of the horrors of insanitary slum dwellings in St Petersburg are extraordinarily vivid, but the most striking feature of the novel is the way in which Porfiry’s sophisticated understanding of human nature compensates for the limited investigatory tools at his disposal.
"It moves very fast, and has a similar sense of humour to Herron. It's so well-written it feels effortless... has 'Premier Cru' written all over it. Get it if you can." Jeremy Duns of Spybrary
Things aren’t going well for writer Col Newton. It’s ten years since he published his only novel, a critically acclaimed commercial flop.
Then out of the blue, he hears from his old university friend, Chris Lazenby. There had always been rumours Lazenby was a spy. Turns out the rumours were true.
Lazenby has a tempting proposal for Col. He’ll pay him fifty grand to write a novel. There’s just one catch. The book will never be published and Col can’t tell anyone he’s written it.
It’s all part of a cover story Lazenby is constructing for an agent in the field posing as a novelist.
With his literary career in the doldrums, Col agrees. But things quickly spiral out of control when Col witnesses Lazenby use his unarmed combat skills in a shockingly violent outburst.
But when the money starts to flow into his bank account, Col puts his qualms behind him.
He soon finds that without the prospect of publication to distract him he is producing the best thing he has ever written.
He now wants the book for himself, but will Lazenby agree? And when Col finds out what happened to the last writer who helped Lazenby, he realises that, like Scheherazade in A Thousand and One Nights, his life depends on the tale he tells.R.N. Morris is the author of the Porfiry Petrovich series of historical crime novels, featuring the investigating magistrate from Dostoevsky’s masterpiece Crime and Punishment. He has also written six novels set in London in 1914: Summon Up The Blood, The Mannequin House, A Dark Palace, The White Feather Killer, The Music Box Enigma and Fortune’s Hand.
Praise for Roger
"An extraordinary excursion into the past by a master storyteller. I have never read a book quite like it, nor admired a book so much." Michael Gregorio
"Morris’ recreation of the seamy side of 19th-century St Petersburg is vivid and convincing … As to who did it, Morris keeps the reader guessing until the end.” The Independent
“Morris has created an atmospheric St Petersburg, and a stylish set of intellectual problems, but what makes A Gentle Axe such an effective debut is its fascination with good and evil.” Times Literary Supplement
“As fans of Morris’s previous A Gentle Axe will know, this author not only has the nerve to lift his lead character from Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment but also the skill to bring that distant Russia and its inhabitants to life, while drawing parallels with our own world.” The Guardian
“The streets of St Petersburg are vividly portrayed as the author shows the imperial Russian capital on the brink of upheaval… If you like historical crime novels, you will enjoy this.” Historical Novels Review
“Morris’s descriptions of the horrors of insanitary slum dwellings in St Petersburg are extraordinarily vivid, but the most striking feature of the novel is the way in which Porfiry’s sophisticated understanding of human nature compensates for the limited investigatory tools at his disposal.
- GenresEspionage
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 20, 2025
About the author
R.N. Morris
32 books46 followersR. N. Morris's most recent book is the historical novel, Fortune's Hand.
He is the author of the St Petersburg Mysteries Series featuring Porfiry Petrovich, the detective from Dostoevsky's masterpiece Crime and Punishment: A Gentle Axe, A Vengeful Longing, A Razor Wrapped in Silk and The Cleansing Flames.
He also wrote the Silas Quinn series, set in London in 1914: Summon Up The Blood, The Mannequin House, The Dark Palace, The Red Hand of Fury, The White Feather Killer and The Music Box Enigma.
He has written a standalone dystopian thriller, Psychotopia and, writing as Roger Morris, the contemporary thriller Taking Comfort.
He is the author of the St Petersburg Mysteries Series featuring Porfiry Petrovich, the detective from Dostoevsky's masterpiece Crime and Punishment: A Gentle Axe, A Vengeful Longing, A Razor Wrapped in Silk and The Cleansing Flames.
He also wrote the Silas Quinn series, set in London in 1914: Summon Up The Blood, The Mannequin House, The Dark Palace, The Red Hand of Fury, The White Feather Killer and The Music Box Enigma.
He has written a standalone dystopian thriller, Psychotopia and, writing as Roger Morris, the contemporary thriller Taking Comfort.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 9, 2025
When frustrated author Col is suddenly offered a large sum of money to write a book, it sounds like a gift. Of course, the offer comes from an old friend who now works for MI6, and the book can never see the light of day, but needs must. And so Col suddenly finds himself immersed in the Game - unsure of who to trust, and what to do.
My favourite kind of spy story is one where an unassuming civilian is suddenly and unwillingly thrust into the world of spies, so I knew COVER STORY would be right up my street. Col is a middle-aged, angst-ridden, socially awkward frustrated author. Ten years ago he wrote a good book but failed to live up to his promise. He lives in a bedsit with a group of "lads" and his life is going nowhere. So the opportunity presented to him seems like a way out. Except he immediately senses something is wrong - he's being followed; people are dying; his anxiety is off the scale, but oddly, his writing mojo has returned.
This book is less espionage tale, and more a story about writing - it's full of Col's inner voices, doubting his ability, giving voice to his self-doubt, his insatiable need to write, and all related in a slightly comic and relatable tone. You can't help but in turn feel sorry for him and frustrated with him.
Col interacts with some excellently painted figures - Lazenby, his MI6 "friend", Jeanette, the mother of one of his flatmates, and Fiona, a would-be writer he meets in the coffee shop. His lack of social skills makes his encounters cringeworthy in a good way, and you just want to give him a push sometimes.
This is a highly entertaining, sometimes comic, sometimes bittersweet story, definitely worth your time.
My favourite kind of spy story is one where an unassuming civilian is suddenly and unwillingly thrust into the world of spies, so I knew COVER STORY would be right up my street. Col is a middle-aged, angst-ridden, socially awkward frustrated author. Ten years ago he wrote a good book but failed to live up to his promise. He lives in a bedsit with a group of "lads" and his life is going nowhere. So the opportunity presented to him seems like a way out. Except he immediately senses something is wrong - he's being followed; people are dying; his anxiety is off the scale, but oddly, his writing mojo has returned.
This book is less espionage tale, and more a story about writing - it's full of Col's inner voices, doubting his ability, giving voice to his self-doubt, his insatiable need to write, and all related in a slightly comic and relatable tone. You can't help but in turn feel sorry for him and frustrated with him.
Col interacts with some excellently painted figures - Lazenby, his MI6 "friend", Jeanette, the mother of one of his flatmates, and Fiona, a would-be writer he meets in the coffee shop. His lack of social skills makes his encounters cringeworthy in a good way, and you just want to give him a push sometimes.
This is a highly entertaining, sometimes comic, sometimes bittersweet story, definitely worth your time.
December 8, 2025
R.N. Morris’s Cover Story is a clever and engaging spy thriller that playfully satirises the world of writers. The narrative follows Col Newton, a struggling writer whose fortunes take a dramatic turn when his enigmatic university friend, Chris Lazenby, re-enters his life with a mysterious and lucrative offer — to write a novel that will never see the light of day as part of a covert operation. The intrigue deepens as Col is drawn into a shadowy world where fiction and reality blur into paranoia. Morris expertly explores themes of creativity and ambition, weaving dark humour and suspense together. The pace quickens as Col’s moral dilemmas and the consequences of his involvement escalate, making for a thoroughly entertaining and addictive read. Perfect for fans of spy thrillers with a literary twist, Cover Story is a sharp and satisfying tale of stories within stories.
January 9, 2026
The Surprises and the Twists will delight you!
Spy books are not my normal reading fare, but when in the hands of Roger Morris, they need to create a new name for the genre. This tongue-in-cheek, beautifully written (i delete books after two chapters if they're not) little gem is much more than a spy book. That's just the couch that this funny, clever, surprising novel rests on, when it's not developing unforgettable characters, twists and making-you-guess situations that are not only fun, but polished, masterful and like good wine, delicious.
Spy books are not my normal reading fare, but when in the hands of Roger Morris, they need to create a new name for the genre. This tongue-in-cheek, beautifully written (i delete books after two chapters if they're not) little gem is much more than a spy book. That's just the couch that this funny, clever, surprising novel rests on, when it's not developing unforgettable characters, twists and making-you-guess situations that are not only fun, but polished, masterful and like good wine, delicious.
December 25, 2025
Highly recommend this book to anyone who, like myself, loves a well-written spy-thriller. Cover Story has the memorable characters, the clever story line, the unexpected twists and turns, and the dramatic moments of suspense that all great books in this genre have. But it also has something that many such books lack - a healthy dose of humor. Cover Story is endearing, enjoyable and entertaining - from cover to cover.
March 19, 2026
An enjoyable enough meta fictional account of a middle-aged writer who has struggled since having published just one book, which critics liked but the public didn’t buy enough of.
If it was true, and yes, you did need that cold-bloodedness to turn pain into art, what did it say about writers? Wasn't it better to be a decent human being than a great writer?
Or any kind of writer, for that matter.
March 7, 2026
more writers angst than spy thriller
The cover didn’t deliver what I expected. This was more writerly hand wringing than spy intrigue. Regardless, it was funny and intriguing enough to keep me reading.
The cover didn’t deliver what I expected. This was more writerly hand wringing than spy intrigue. Regardless, it was funny and intriguing enough to keep me reading.
July 30, 2026
I enjoyed this book. But I should’ve loved it more. The problem is the main character is a paranoid, snivelling wuss. The only connection you want to make with the man is your right palm to his left cheek.
Ending felt rushed too.
Ending felt rushed too.
January 1, 2026
Highly recommend this entertaining modern story of a writer who becomes entangled in the world of spying. Very well written, fast paced and fun!
June 21, 2026
A "spy" book for people who don't read "spy" books. Plodding.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews