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The Citadel Directive
A razor-sharp British thriller about secrecy, power, and the price of knowing too much.
Jason Harper, a brilliant but introverted cryptographer, thinks he’s found the perfect role when he’s recruited into a classified Ministry of Defence programme in Corsham. But the project is far more extraordinary—and dangerous—than he imagined. Hidden deep beneath recovered non-terrestrial craft, sleek, silent, and still humming with alien code. His task? Decipher their language.
The oath of secrecy nearly breaks him. It also shatters his relationship with Madison Thorne, an ambitious reporter desperate to escape local news. In a moment of weakness, Jason confides in her.
Months later, a mysterious object crash-lands in a Lincolnshire field. The Ministry scrambles—covert ops, press misdirection, military lockdowns. Torn between her instinct to investigate and her promise, Madison is dragged into the cover-up.
As the State tightens its grip, the pair confront a terrifying some secrets aren’t protected for the public good, but for the power they give those who control them. Exposing the biggest lie of all could cost them everything.
The Citadel Directive blends conspiracy, moral conflict, and a charged love story into a gripping, slow-burn thriller.
Perfect for fans of Slow Horses, The Capture, and Bodyguard.
Jason Harper, a brilliant but introverted cryptographer, thinks he’s found the perfect role when he’s recruited into a classified Ministry of Defence programme in Corsham. But the project is far more extraordinary—and dangerous—than he imagined. Hidden deep beneath recovered non-terrestrial craft, sleek, silent, and still humming with alien code. His task? Decipher their language.
The oath of secrecy nearly breaks him. It also shatters his relationship with Madison Thorne, an ambitious reporter desperate to escape local news. In a moment of weakness, Jason confides in her.
Months later, a mysterious object crash-lands in a Lincolnshire field. The Ministry scrambles—covert ops, press misdirection, military lockdowns. Torn between her instinct to investigate and her promise, Madison is dragged into the cover-up.
As the State tightens its grip, the pair confront a terrifying some secrets aren’t protected for the public good, but for the power they give those who control them. Exposing the biggest lie of all could cost them everything.
The Citadel Directive blends conspiracy, moral conflict, and a charged love story into a gripping, slow-burn thriller.
Perfect for fans of Slow Horses, The Capture, and Bodyguard.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2026
3 people are currently reading
1 person want to read
About the author
Chris Stokes
1 book1 followerChris Stokes brings a unique blend of technical expertise and defence knowledge to the thriller genre. With an early background in Computer Science, his career began at ICL’s Advanced Technology Centre before moving into Fujitsu’s Defence and Security business unit.
During this time, much of his work was classified, granting him firsthand experience with the operational culture and physical reality of the UK’s secure infrastructure. This intimate knowledge of defence protocol and secure locations directly inspired the meticulously researched world of The Corsham Files.
For two decades, Chris honed his writing skills not in creative workshops, but in the highly pressurised world of government contract tenders. This experience instilled a necessity for precision, factual accuracy, and disciplined storytelling—traits that now translate into fiction that feels terrifyingly real. After years of telling government agencies only what they needed to know, he has now shifted to telling readers everything they want to know.
The Citadel Directive marks Chris' first venture into fiction, launching a series that promises to blend high-stakes espionage with existential conspiracy.
During this time, much of his work was classified, granting him firsthand experience with the operational culture and physical reality of the UK’s secure infrastructure. This intimate knowledge of defence protocol and secure locations directly inspired the meticulously researched world of The Corsham Files.
For two decades, Chris honed his writing skills not in creative workshops, but in the highly pressurised world of government contract tenders. This experience instilled a necessity for precision, factual accuracy, and disciplined storytelling—traits that now translate into fiction that feels terrifyingly real. After years of telling government agencies only what they needed to know, he has now shifted to telling readers everything they want to know.
The Citadel Directive marks Chris' first venture into fiction, launching a series that promises to blend high-stakes espionage with existential conspiracy.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 21, 2026
The Citadel Directive is a techno political thriller by Chris Stokes and it’s not a genre I usually read. I can honestly count the number of political thrillers I’ve picked up on one hand, so I went into this one a little unsure.
The plot is intriguing and it definitely keeps you engaged, with a tense and suspenseful atmosphere running throughout. There’s a good balance of intensity and emotion which helped pull me into the story.
The characters were interesting and well written, although some of the decisions made had me shaking my head at times. A little frustrating, but it also made everything feel more realistic.
Overall, this was an engaging read that pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I’m glad I gave it a chance.
The plot is intriguing and it definitely keeps you engaged, with a tense and suspenseful atmosphere running throughout. There’s a good balance of intensity and emotion which helped pull me into the story.
The characters were interesting and well written, although some of the decisions made had me shaking my head at times. A little frustrating, but it also made everything feel more realistic.
Overall, this was an engaging read that pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I’m glad I gave it a chance.
January 14, 2026
The Citadel Directive Is a slick, well polished British thriller in which we follow our main character, Jason, a cryptographer, who's found his ideal job after being recruited by the Ministry of Defence. Jason soon discovers something more astonishing than he ever dreamed, his job was to decider alien language from a U.F.O. Throw into the mix a love affair with Madison, an ambitious reporter who's desperate to break free of local reporting, who will stop at nothing to discover the secrets Jsson is harbouring, and what you have is a high-stakes, slow burn tale of secrets, deceit and power struggles, a wrapped up in a love story.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.
So all in all, this was an interesting, intriguing read with some great twists and turns and a storyline that will hold your attention until the very end.
Characters are believable and feel real and I read this in three sittings.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.
So all in all, this was an interesting, intriguing read with some great twists and turns and a storyline that will hold your attention until the very end.
Characters are believable and feel real and I read this in three sittings.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
January 16, 2026
An highly enjoyable thriller with a bit of a twisty difference, a clever plot and a gripping storyline.
It was fascinating the balance Jason had with his covert job and his involvement with Madison a journalist trying to find her way of getting to the big stories.
The writing was clean and sharp and got me hooked into the story straight from the start, easy to follow even with the technological information and the descriptions really made the storyline come alive.
The book flowed so well I finished within 24 hours it was a hard book to put down.
A new author to me and I’m really interested to see what comes next.
It was fascinating the balance Jason had with his covert job and his involvement with Madison a journalist trying to find her way of getting to the big stories.
The writing was clean and sharp and got me hooked into the story straight from the start, easy to follow even with the technological information and the descriptions really made the storyline come alive.
The book flowed so well I finished within 24 hours it was a hard book to put down.
A new author to me and I’m really interested to see what comes next.
January 17, 2026
This was a really interesting book about a secret MOD operation and the clash between public knowledge and national security.
I did find some of the story a bit tenuous (I'm not sure information would have been given to a relatively new girlfriend so easily and without caution) but it served a purpose to keep the story moving and overall it was an interesting read... Definitely gets the brain thinking about what might be happening out there!
I will for sure be looking at for future books from Chris
I did find some of the story a bit tenuous (I'm not sure information would have been given to a relatively new girlfriend so easily and without caution) but it served a purpose to keep the story moving and overall it was an interesting read... Definitely gets the brain thinking about what might be happening out there!
I will for sure be looking at for future books from Chris
January 18, 2026
Thriller is fast becoming a goto genre for me and this book aided in that. The Citadel Directive is an amazingly well written British thriller that had me gripped!!
The book provokes so many questions that we will probably never get answers to if the government has its way.
Jason Harper is our MMC and is a phenomenal character who has been brilliantly created (I could only picture a suave young James Bond type while reading this) The other characters are believable and real.
I think the pacing was good I was never bored while reading. I was fully immersed in the plot
This gets 4.5 stars from me and I'm looking forward to
more in this series in the future
The book provokes so many questions that we will probably never get answers to if the government has its way.
Jason Harper is our MMC and is a phenomenal character who has been brilliantly created (I could only picture a suave young James Bond type while reading this) The other characters are believable and real.
I think the pacing was good I was never bored while reading. I was fully immersed in the plot
This gets 4.5 stars from me and I'm looking forward to
more in this series in the future
January 16, 2026
The Citadel Directive is a fun read because it combines conspiracies, cryptography, thrills, mystery, romance, and a little bit of could that really happen? I think cryptography is such a cool science, and with the thriller, British Intelligence, and conspiracy theory pieces, this book is right up my alley. Chris Stokes perfectly mixes all the ingredients into a pageturner that is sure to entertain fans of the thriller genre. 5 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommend!
January 16, 2026
This book was emotional and engaging from the start. The characters felt real, and the story pulled me in more than I expected. It’s one of those reads that stays with you after you finish, and I’m glad I finally picked it up.
January 19, 2026
I really enjoyed this read, I must admit that when I started reading I wasn’t sure it was for me but boy was I wrong! I found myself soon engrossed in what Jason was doing for his work and what it meant.
I thought the storyline was very intriguing and I couldn’t quite believe it when Jason told his reporter girlfriend everything about what he was doing. I don’t think that when he did it either of them imagined where it would lead.
I really felt sorry for Jason as he just seemed a really nice, good guy who was just caught up over his head with everything. I loved the pacing of it and I really wasn’t sure how it was going to end so it kept me on the edge until the very end.
I thought the storyline was very intriguing and I couldn’t quite believe it when Jason told his reporter girlfriend everything about what he was doing. I don’t think that when he did it either of them imagined where it would lead.
I really felt sorry for Jason as he just seemed a really nice, good guy who was just caught up over his head with everything. I loved the pacing of it and I really wasn’t sure how it was going to end so it kept me on the edge until the very end.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews