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London Station: A Novel
LARGE PRINT EDITION
Artemis Procter returns in David McCloskey’s electrifying new spy thriller, where London has devolved into a covert battleground between British and American intelligence services.
"Not just McCloskey’s best book by far, it is the best spy novel I have ever brilliantly written and plotted." ―Antony Beevor
A new US administration has taken office, installing a brash and unconventional CIA director skeptical of old alliances and determined to disrupt the Agency. When the axe falls on the chief of London Station, the agency veteran decides to spy for the Brits―a betrayal uncovered by his replacement, Artemis Aphrodite Procter. Caught between a turncoat spymaster and a ruthless new boss back at Langley, Procter must now navigate a tense environment as old friends become adversaries and no one knows whom to trust.
Adding to the chaos is a new breed of private intelligence a secretive and powerful company run by a reclusive billionaire with a very different agenda than the two old allies who are suddenly at each other’s throats.
When assets begin dying, Procter and her team in London Station must find out who is leaking the sources’ identities―and why―before both agencies go blind. Soon they will have to decide whether loyalty to the Mission means disobeying the Agency they serve. Immersing readers in the technological revolution upending intelligence tradecraft, London Station explores the changing nature of the spy business and what happens when politics threaten to destroy the special relationship between America and Britain.
Artemis Procter returns in David McCloskey’s electrifying new spy thriller, where London has devolved into a covert battleground between British and American intelligence services.
"Not just McCloskey’s best book by far, it is the best spy novel I have ever brilliantly written and plotted." ―Antony Beevor
A new US administration has taken office, installing a brash and unconventional CIA director skeptical of old alliances and determined to disrupt the Agency. When the axe falls on the chief of London Station, the agency veteran decides to spy for the Brits―a betrayal uncovered by his replacement, Artemis Aphrodite Procter. Caught between a turncoat spymaster and a ruthless new boss back at Langley, Procter must now navigate a tense environment as old friends become adversaries and no one knows whom to trust.
Adding to the chaos is a new breed of private intelligence a secretive and powerful company run by a reclusive billionaire with a very different agenda than the two old allies who are suddenly at each other’s throats.
When assets begin dying, Procter and her team in London Station must find out who is leaking the sources’ identities―and why―before both agencies go blind. Soon they will have to decide whether loyalty to the Mission means disobeying the Agency they serve. Immersing readers in the technological revolution upending intelligence tradecraft, London Station explores the changing nature of the spy business and what happens when politics threaten to destroy the special relationship between America and Britain.
1 pages, Audio CD
Published September 29, 2026
About the author
David McCloskey
11 books1,789 followersDavid McCloskey is the author of five books, including London Station, The Seventh Floor, and The Persian. He is also cohost of the podcast The Rest Is Classified. A former CIA analyst, he worked at Langley and in field stations across the Middle East. He lives in Dallas, Texas.
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September 15, 2026
After a short break in Iran for his last book The Persian, Ex-CIA analyst David McCloskey returns readers to the world of CIA agent Artemis Proctor with London Station. Proctor first appeared in McCloskey’s debut Damascus Station and through her exploits in both Moscow X and The Seventh Floor is carrying a fair amount of baggage. But she is irrepressible and unstoppable and even the Trumpification of the CIA has a hard time slowing her down.
London Station opens with a disastrous operation. Because the British refuse to do the job, Proctor heads to London to try and recruit a Chinese official by pretending to be a British spy. It does not go well. But circumstances are bizarrely in Proctor’s favour - the CIA has been put under the control of businessman Bobby Jerome. Jerome, like his boss the President (not Trump but a new President very much in Trump’s image), has been brought in to run the CIA like a business. And that means getting value for money from Five Eyes partners like the British. In doing so Jerome very quickly starts to undermine the decades old ‘special relationship’ between the two secret services. As a middle finger to the British, Jerome then appoints Proctor to be head of London Station.
There is a lot going on in London Station. There is a British operation in Iran that is compromised by the poor relationship with the CIA. There is a staff member of London Station seeing a fairly dodgy psychiatrist who is not on the agency’s approved list. There is the former head of London Station, still kicking around London. There is a private organisation that employs ex-spies and uses sophisticated software to do its own intelligence gathering. And then there start to be significant security leaks and informants in China start to die. And that is before another covert operation on British soil.
One thing McColskey is keen to focus on in London Station is the delicate and fragile nature of the trust relationships that allow international espionage to function and that they are not purely financial or based on return on investment. And because they are based on trust and history, how easy these relationships are to rupture. He delves into the idea there are some things only certain spy agencies can manage and while it may cost the American’s more, in the end the intelligence gathered and shared is worth it. None of this is understood by Texan home construction mogul Bobby Jerome or his sycophantic staff (one of whom is his son-in-law) who he brings across with him to run service and keep tabs on Proctor.
While it delivers a slightly heightened version of the world, London Station does not feel very far from what might actually be happening. McCloskey uses his technical knowledge to provide a specific instance of how the strictly mercantile approach that America is taking is reshaping and destroying long standing and productive international relationships that were the cornerstone of the post-WWII world order (cf. Europe and Canada).
But London Station is far from a staid or stolid exploration of American administrative failure. For a start, McCloskey puts Artemis Proctor in the middle of it. Proctor is a force of nature. She is foul mouthed, prone to a bit of violence and insubordination, but she is a great spy and loves nothing more than doing active spy work. And she is always governed by two iron clad rules: get the intelligence and protect your agents. In London Station, Proctor is also struggling with sobriety and considering the human cost of her work. But none of this stops her putting in her all to get to the truth. There is plenty of action and twists and turns as Proctor tries to navigate getting the job done while being actively frustrated by her agency’s leadership.
As with his other novels, McCloskey provides plenty of insight into the craft of espionage – both when it works and when it doesn’t (and why). Multiple point-of-view shifts and some great set-piece action scenes which dig deep into spycraft keep the pages turning quickly. London Station is another great espionage novel from McCloskey and one of the best entries so far in a stellar ongoing series.
London Station opens with a disastrous operation. Because the British refuse to do the job, Proctor heads to London to try and recruit a Chinese official by pretending to be a British spy. It does not go well. But circumstances are bizarrely in Proctor’s favour - the CIA has been put under the control of businessman Bobby Jerome. Jerome, like his boss the President (not Trump but a new President very much in Trump’s image), has been brought in to run the CIA like a business. And that means getting value for money from Five Eyes partners like the British. In doing so Jerome very quickly starts to undermine the decades old ‘special relationship’ between the two secret services. As a middle finger to the British, Jerome then appoints Proctor to be head of London Station.
There is a lot going on in London Station. There is a British operation in Iran that is compromised by the poor relationship with the CIA. There is a staff member of London Station seeing a fairly dodgy psychiatrist who is not on the agency’s approved list. There is the former head of London Station, still kicking around London. There is a private organisation that employs ex-spies and uses sophisticated software to do its own intelligence gathering. And then there start to be significant security leaks and informants in China start to die. And that is before another covert operation on British soil.
One thing McColskey is keen to focus on in London Station is the delicate and fragile nature of the trust relationships that allow international espionage to function and that they are not purely financial or based on return on investment. And because they are based on trust and history, how easy these relationships are to rupture. He delves into the idea there are some things only certain spy agencies can manage and while it may cost the American’s more, in the end the intelligence gathered and shared is worth it. None of this is understood by Texan home construction mogul Bobby Jerome or his sycophantic staff (one of whom is his son-in-law) who he brings across with him to run service and keep tabs on Proctor.
While it delivers a slightly heightened version of the world, London Station does not feel very far from what might actually be happening. McCloskey uses his technical knowledge to provide a specific instance of how the strictly mercantile approach that America is taking is reshaping and destroying long standing and productive international relationships that were the cornerstone of the post-WWII world order (cf. Europe and Canada).
But London Station is far from a staid or stolid exploration of American administrative failure. For a start, McCloskey puts Artemis Proctor in the middle of it. Proctor is a force of nature. She is foul mouthed, prone to a bit of violence and insubordination, but she is a great spy and loves nothing more than doing active spy work. And she is always governed by two iron clad rules: get the intelligence and protect your agents. In London Station, Proctor is also struggling with sobriety and considering the human cost of her work. But none of this stops her putting in her all to get to the truth. There is plenty of action and twists and turns as Proctor tries to navigate getting the job done while being actively frustrated by her agency’s leadership.
As with his other novels, McCloskey provides plenty of insight into the craft of espionage – both when it works and when it doesn’t (and why). Multiple point-of-view shifts and some great set-piece action scenes which dig deep into spycraft keep the pages turning quickly. London Station is another great espionage novel from McCloskey and one of the best entries so far in a stellar ongoing series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Everywhere I look for books always seems to have someone mentioning David McCloskey. I’m pretty sure, and my wife would agree, that I don’t need another author to follow. Apparently, McCloskey is the author I didn’t know I needed. I apologize, Mr. McCloskey, for stiff-arming you for so long. My mistake.
From what I understand, “London Station” is a stand-alone novel, but it is in the Damascus Station universe. Mainly because “London Station” includes a previous character, Artemis Procter. And what a character she is.
This novel/audiobook is high energy from the get go. Likke, you need to strap on your seatbelt. One second you are laughing out loud (a much-needed break) and in the very next second you are holding your breath to see what’s about to happen next. This is one of the most engaging spy novels I have read in a long time.
The audiobook is so much fun. Vanessa Daniels and George Naylor switch up duties throughout the book. Great job by both of them.
Consider me a fan and now I have several books to catch up on.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
From what I understand, “London Station” is a stand-alone novel, but it is in the Damascus Station universe. Mainly because “London Station” includes a previous character, Artemis Procter. And what a character she is.
This novel/audiobook is high energy from the get go. Likke, you need to strap on your seatbelt. One second you are laughing out loud (a much-needed break) and in the very next second you are holding your breath to see what’s about to happen next. This is one of the most engaging spy novels I have read in a long time.
The audiobook is so much fun. Vanessa Daniels and George Naylor switch up duties throughout the book. Great job by both of them.
Consider me a fan and now I have several books to catch up on.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
October 20, 2026
David McCloskey is my favorite spy novelist, and one of my favorite novelists, full stop. He gets better with every book. My favorite is still The Persian, a standalone so literary it reminded me of le Carré, but I also love the Artemis Procter novels, which have some of the wit and bite of Mick Herron’s Slow Horses. The books are clever, fiercely intelligent, and the writing is top-notch.
As everyone knows by now, McCloskey is a former CIA analyst who worked on Syria, so the tradecraft and geopolitics are grounded in real experience. He also has an uncanny sense of timing: his novels seem to arrive just before the world catches up with them. The Persian came out just ahead of the latest disaster in Iran. I was delighted to see the New York Times run a profile of him this morning, just as I was finishing London Station.
This one is his fifth novel, and it’s my second favorite so far. The premise is irresistible: what if the CIA and British intelligence started spying on each other? A new administration installs a brash CIA director who is openly skeptical of the “special relationship,” the outgoing chief of London Station goes over to the Brits, and his replacement, Procter, is left to sort out the wreckage while a shadowy private intelligence firm run by a reclusive billionaire works its own angle. When assets on both sides start dying, she has to figure out who is leaking their identities before both services go blind. It’s a sharp, timely book about what technology and politics are doing to the old alliances, and about what loyalty means when the people above you can’t be trusted. Procter is such a fantastic character. And McClosky is such a talented writer. I just love his books and I’m already looking forward to the next one!
My one standing complaint about McCloskey is that he writes awful sex scenes. Happily, this book doesn’t have one. Five stars.
As everyone knows by now, McCloskey is a former CIA analyst who worked on Syria, so the tradecraft and geopolitics are grounded in real experience. He also has an uncanny sense of timing: his novels seem to arrive just before the world catches up with them. The Persian came out just ahead of the latest disaster in Iran. I was delighted to see the New York Times run a profile of him this morning, just as I was finishing London Station.
This one is his fifth novel, and it’s my second favorite so far. The premise is irresistible: what if the CIA and British intelligence started spying on each other? A new administration installs a brash CIA director who is openly skeptical of the “special relationship,” the outgoing chief of London Station goes over to the Brits, and his replacement, Procter, is left to sort out the wreckage while a shadowy private intelligence firm run by a reclusive billionaire works its own angle. When assets on both sides start dying, she has to figure out who is leaking their identities before both services go blind. It’s a sharp, timely book about what technology and politics are doing to the old alliances, and about what loyalty means when the people above you can’t be trusted. Procter is such a fantastic character. And McClosky is such a talented writer. I just love his books and I’m already looking forward to the next one!
My one standing complaint about McCloskey is that he writes awful sex scenes. Happily, this book doesn’t have one. Five stars.
October 4, 2026
LONDON STATION asks readers what happens when the “special relationship” between the US and the UK is no longer so special.
This fast-paced thriller from David McCloskey is set in a near-future where a Trump-like president decides to shake up government agencies. The CIA has been put under the control of Bobby Jerome, a businessman brought in with a strict remit to overhaul the agency. He plans to run it the way he managed his home-building business in Texas, and he brings in employees (some of of whom are family members) to help him.
One of McCloskey’s most memorable characters, Artemis Aphrodite Procter, is tasked with heading up the CIA station in London, though she would rather be anywhere else than that genteel British city. Outspoken, irritable and prone to insubordination, she is far more at home in danger zones like Damascus and Moscow.
The book opens with Procter, not yet tapped to run the station, heading to London to try and recruit a Chinese official by pretending to be a British spy. It does not go well. However, it does make her a more attractive candidate to the new leadership because she flouts the rules and riles the Brits. It isn’t long before she’s trying to keep both sides from sabotaging each other.
But there is already a lot going on at London Station even before the new gang at the CIA gets moving. A staff member has been seeing a psychiatrist who is not on the agency’s approved list and may be a double agent. The former head of the station is still kicking around London, possibly helping the Brits. And a private organization is employing ex-spies to do its own intelligence gathering. What the end goal is remains unclear, perhaps even to the man running the company. Meanwhile, significant security leaks are discovered, and informants in China start dying.
All of this comes to a head when an attempted kidnapping takes place outside London with disastrous results. The Yanks are obviously involved. But is it the old guard, the new gang, or just a bunch of bad actors?
While LONDON STATION is a fast read with unforgettable characters and a surprising amount of gallows humor, it ultimately delivers a chilling look at modern espionage and the dangers that arise when the focus is not on the enemy.
Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley
This fast-paced thriller from David McCloskey is set in a near-future where a Trump-like president decides to shake up government agencies. The CIA has been put under the control of Bobby Jerome, a businessman brought in with a strict remit to overhaul the agency. He plans to run it the way he managed his home-building business in Texas, and he brings in employees (some of of whom are family members) to help him.
One of McCloskey’s most memorable characters, Artemis Aphrodite Procter, is tasked with heading up the CIA station in London, though she would rather be anywhere else than that genteel British city. Outspoken, irritable and prone to insubordination, she is far more at home in danger zones like Damascus and Moscow.
The book opens with Procter, not yet tapped to run the station, heading to London to try and recruit a Chinese official by pretending to be a British spy. It does not go well. However, it does make her a more attractive candidate to the new leadership because she flouts the rules and riles the Brits. It isn’t long before she’s trying to keep both sides from sabotaging each other.
But there is already a lot going on at London Station even before the new gang at the CIA gets moving. A staff member has been seeing a psychiatrist who is not on the agency’s approved list and may be a double agent. The former head of the station is still kicking around London, possibly helping the Brits. And a private organization is employing ex-spies to do its own intelligence gathering. What the end goal is remains unclear, perhaps even to the man running the company. Meanwhile, significant security leaks are discovered, and informants in China start dying.
All of this comes to a head when an attempted kidnapping takes place outside London with disastrous results. The Yanks are obviously involved. But is it the old guard, the new gang, or just a bunch of bad actors?
While LONDON STATION is a fast read with unforgettable characters and a surprising amount of gallows humor, it ultimately delivers a chilling look at modern espionage and the dangers that arise when the focus is not on the enemy.
Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley
October 5, 2026
Tensions between the US and UK. Mercenary data brokers with unclear allegiances. A CIA Director with spurious qualifications who is in over his head. Veteran agent Artemis Procter is caught in the middle of it all, racing to find the source of a leak before another asset goes dark.
London Station reads less like fiction and more like an insider's account of today's global intelligence machinery. McCloskey keeps things moving with memorable characters and deft plotting. This was my first book by him and I am now a huge fan. His backlist is officially going on my TBR. It's so well written, and it's earned a spot on my shelf of favorite reads.
Thank you to David McCloskey and W. W. Norton for my gifted book.
London Station reads less like fiction and more like an insider's account of today's global intelligence machinery. McCloskey keeps things moving with memorable characters and deft plotting. This was my first book by him and I am now a huge fan. His backlist is officially going on my TBR. It's so well written, and it's earned a spot on my shelf of favorite reads.
Thank you to David McCloskey and W. W. Norton for my gifted book.
Did Not Finish
September 25, 2026DNF. Took the Lord’s name in vain.
October 8, 2026
Great spy novel by one of the best out there. Exciting and suspenseful and also funny in places.
October 3, 2026
A spy's world has no shortage of rats or scoundrels
Artemis Procter is at her best running ops in high risk areas like Syria and Russia. Her fuse is short, her language foul, and she's only recently started her journey of sobriety. All in all she's an unlikely choice to become Chief of Station for the CIA in London, yet that is where she finds herself when the new CIA director Bobby Jerome (a man with absolutely no intelligence experience but buckets full of confidence in his abilities and instincts) butts heads with his British counterpart at MI6/SIS and fires the existing COS who (he feels) is siding with the Brits over the Americans. Artemis is no diplomat yet here she is in the midst of a deteriorating Special Relationship, one in which her boss feels the US is being grossly overcharged for its contributions by the UK with little return. The two supposed allies now don't trust one another a bit, a British operator finds himself hung out to dry in Iran when one of his people is unmasked and the US turns down his desperate plea for safe passage, and the now out-of-work former COS is ripe to be turned against his former agency. If that isn't cocked up enough, there is also a private intelligence firm meddling in the game and selling privileged intel to different, often undesirable, parties. Someone is leaking confidential information, and because of it agents on both the American and British sides are dying and disappearing. With diminishing trust everywhere Procter must somehow find the source of the leaks and plug it up while dealing with intrusive and often wrongheaded oversight even as the tradecraft she knows is being remade by technology and shifting political realities.
London Station is the latest espionage thriller by author David McCloskey featuring CIA case officer Artemis Aphrodite Procter in which the long-standing "special relationship" between the US and Great Britain is fraying at the seams. The politics of the two nations which have for so long been in agreement are moving apart, and when a new administration ushers in an environment that questions the status quo the rupture worsens. Procter is a bit of an antihero; she's abrasive by nature and has been put in a position for which her considerable skills are not being put to use and who is hard-pressed to fulfill a role for which she is temperamentally ill-suited. There are all manner of plots and sub-plots, and at times the reader can be hard-pressed to keep on top of them all, but they do weave together in the end. Do not expect the glamorous world of James Bond; this is full of the institutional back-biting that goes on which can often derail the operational exploits. The author does an excellent job exploring the strain between the US and Great Britain and the evolving world of intelligence into which private enterprise has entered. I found it overall an engaging read, although I found certain parts of the book were dragged down by the multiple storylines. Fans of the series will certainly enjoy this latest entry, as should readers of Charles Cumming, Paul Vidich and Olen Steinhaurer. It may not be my favorite of the series, but is still a solid character-driven tale of modern espionage that is well worth the read (it can be read as a standalone, but those who have read at least some of the preceding titles in the series will have a deeper understanding of the characters), My thanks to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for allowing me access to the novel in exchange for my honest review.
Artemis Procter is at her best running ops in high risk areas like Syria and Russia. Her fuse is short, her language foul, and she's only recently started her journey of sobriety. All in all she's an unlikely choice to become Chief of Station for the CIA in London, yet that is where she finds herself when the new CIA director Bobby Jerome (a man with absolutely no intelligence experience but buckets full of confidence in his abilities and instincts) butts heads with his British counterpart at MI6/SIS and fires the existing COS who (he feels) is siding with the Brits over the Americans. Artemis is no diplomat yet here she is in the midst of a deteriorating Special Relationship, one in which her boss feels the US is being grossly overcharged for its contributions by the UK with little return. The two supposed allies now don't trust one another a bit, a British operator finds himself hung out to dry in Iran when one of his people is unmasked and the US turns down his desperate plea for safe passage, and the now out-of-work former COS is ripe to be turned against his former agency. If that isn't cocked up enough, there is also a private intelligence firm meddling in the game and selling privileged intel to different, often undesirable, parties. Someone is leaking confidential information, and because of it agents on both the American and British sides are dying and disappearing. With diminishing trust everywhere Procter must somehow find the source of the leaks and plug it up while dealing with intrusive and often wrongheaded oversight even as the tradecraft she knows is being remade by technology and shifting political realities.
London Station is the latest espionage thriller by author David McCloskey featuring CIA case officer Artemis Aphrodite Procter in which the long-standing "special relationship" between the US and Great Britain is fraying at the seams. The politics of the two nations which have for so long been in agreement are moving apart, and when a new administration ushers in an environment that questions the status quo the rupture worsens. Procter is a bit of an antihero; she's abrasive by nature and has been put in a position for which her considerable skills are not being put to use and who is hard-pressed to fulfill a role for which she is temperamentally ill-suited. There are all manner of plots and sub-plots, and at times the reader can be hard-pressed to keep on top of them all, but they do weave together in the end. Do not expect the glamorous world of James Bond; this is full of the institutional back-biting that goes on which can often derail the operational exploits. The author does an excellent job exploring the strain between the US and Great Britain and the evolving world of intelligence into which private enterprise has entered. I found it overall an engaging read, although I found certain parts of the book were dragged down by the multiple storylines. Fans of the series will certainly enjoy this latest entry, as should readers of Charles Cumming, Paul Vidich and Olen Steinhaurer. It may not be my favorite of the series, but is still a solid character-driven tale of modern espionage that is well worth the read (it can be read as a standalone, but those who have read at least some of the preceding titles in the series will have a deeper understanding of the characters), My thanks to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for allowing me access to the novel in exchange for my honest review.
October 18, 2026
4.5* London Station - David McCloskey. Another barnstormer from the former CIA analyst turned author, with an outing for Artemis Procter - the bad girl of the The Company.
An attempt to turn a Chinese agent goes awry and the repercussions reverberate on both sides of the Atlantic, straining the ‘special relationship’. Simultaneously a new US President has installed a wholly unqualified stooge as the head of the CIA and he seeks to teach the Brits a lesson.
As relations unravel and agents are put in danger, it is unclear whether the bad actors are in Washington, London or beyond.
A knotty and satisfyingly complex spy thriller from David McCloskey. The dialogue and action are second to none, hooking the reader from the first chapter. The characters are everything I have come to expect from these books and it’s lovely to be back with the Artemis.
While Artemis has had several outings in McCloskey’s books, each would be thoroughly satisfying as a stand alone.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
An attempt to turn a Chinese agent goes awry and the repercussions reverberate on both sides of the Atlantic, straining the ‘special relationship’. Simultaneously a new US President has installed a wholly unqualified stooge as the head of the CIA and he seeks to teach the Brits a lesson.
As relations unravel and agents are put in danger, it is unclear whether the bad actors are in Washington, London or beyond.
A knotty and satisfyingly complex spy thriller from David McCloskey. The dialogue and action are second to none, hooking the reader from the first chapter. The characters are everything I have come to expect from these books and it’s lovely to be back with the Artemis.
While Artemis has had several outings in McCloskey’s books, each would be thoroughly satisfying as a stand alone.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
October 6, 2026
The CIA has been taken over by business minded newbies. They don’t care about the traditions, procedures, or the special relationship with the British Intelligence services. This leads to Artemis Procter as the new head of Station in London, and a cascading collapse of British-American relations in the process.
The espionage of London Station is realistic, never surrendering to the nostalgia of a human only process, or delving too far into techno-babble and algorithms to bore the reader. Instead, McCloskey balances both the cutting edge technology of the day with the flesh and blood intelligence work and case officer mystique we read espionage thrillers for.
At its best, London Station has an Elmore Leonard flavor of over-confident people making bad decisions which lead to catastrophe. At its worst, the squabble between British and American agencies feels like an over-blown frat house argument. The real world consequences of the deterioration of the special relationship is reiterated again and again, but the greater extent of how this affects agents in the field gets little real time on the page.
Minor quibbles aside, I enjoyed London Station. This is a perfect read for a twist on conventional espionage, and political intrigue brought into CIA through unique circumstances.
The espionage of London Station is realistic, never surrendering to the nostalgia of a human only process, or delving too far into techno-babble and algorithms to bore the reader. Instead, McCloskey balances both the cutting edge technology of the day with the flesh and blood intelligence work and case officer mystique we read espionage thrillers for.
At its best, London Station has an Elmore Leonard flavor of over-confident people making bad decisions which lead to catastrophe. At its worst, the squabble between British and American agencies feels like an over-blown frat house argument. The real world consequences of the deterioration of the special relationship is reiterated again and again, but the greater extent of how this affects agents in the field gets little real time on the page.
Minor quibbles aside, I enjoyed London Station. This is a perfect read for a twist on conventional espionage, and political intrigue brought into CIA through unique circumstances.
October 17, 2026
In order to enjoy this novel, one need commit entirely to a resounding suspension of disbelief on the multiple given's that anchor the story.
The main character, the popular myth of the "special relationship", the twist in the story.
A novel that, in accordance with recent internet parlance, glows in the dark. It's very Hollywood. Not very deep or imaginative but i can certainly see why some would enjoy it.
In short, it is exactly the kind of material that you would expect an ex cia analyst to write, safe, unimaginative and somewhat constrained in where it goes, nicely written and paced though.
Not a story that will occupy space in anyone's memory.
The main character, the popular myth of the "special relationship", the twist in the story.
A novel that, in accordance with recent internet parlance, glows in the dark. It's very Hollywood. Not very deep or imaginative but i can certainly see why some would enjoy it.
In short, it is exactly the kind of material that you would expect an ex cia analyst to write, safe, unimaginative and somewhat constrained in where it goes, nicely written and paced though.
Not a story that will occupy space in anyone's memory.
September 28, 2026
I was completely drawn into London Station and found it very difficult to put down. David McCloskey has crafted a sophisticated spy thriller that combines an intricate plot with genuine character depth and a constant sense of unease.
The premise is brilliantly handled, with tensions between the CIA and MI6 creating an atmosphere where nobody seems entirely trustworthy. The twists feel earned rather than forced, and I loved the way seemingly separate threads gradually came together as the story unfolded. Artemis Procter continues to be an excellent lead, and her intelligence, determination and vulnerability make her far more interesting than the typical thriller protagonist.
What sets this apart is the realism. The intelligence work feels authentic and detailed without ever slowing the pace, while the exploration of changing technology and shifting alliances gives the story a very contemporary edge.
Tense, intelligent and thoroughly absorbing from beginning to end, this is one of the strongest espionage novels I've read in a long time. A superb read and an easy five stars from me.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC.
The premise is brilliantly handled, with tensions between the CIA and MI6 creating an atmosphere where nobody seems entirely trustworthy. The twists feel earned rather than forced, and I loved the way seemingly separate threads gradually came together as the story unfolded. Artemis Procter continues to be an excellent lead, and her intelligence, determination and vulnerability make her far more interesting than the typical thriller protagonist.
What sets this apart is the realism. The intelligence work feels authentic and detailed without ever slowing the pace, while the exploration of changing technology and shifting alliances gives the story a very contemporary edge.
Tense, intelligent and thoroughly absorbing from beginning to end, this is one of the strongest espionage novels I've read in a long time. A superb read and an easy five stars from me.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don't read many spy novels, apart from the occasional Robert Harris or Ben MacIntyre, but my wife is a big fan and recommended me David McCloskey. I have to admit I had fun! There is good pace and an intriguing plot. There is a Trump-like president in the White House and he installs incompetent friends at the head of the CIA, who get it in to their head that the special relationship with the UK should be reassessed.
The characters are a bit cartoonish, which is fine. It is not pretending to be great literatur, but precisely for that reason it made me appreciate how much time and skill literary authors invest in developing complex characters. A fun distraction, but eager to go back to the good novels on my shelves.
The characters are a bit cartoonish, which is fine. It is not pretending to be great literatur, but precisely for that reason it made me appreciate how much time and skill literary authors invest in developing complex characters. A fun distraction, but eager to go back to the good novels on my shelves.
September 29, 2026
I had about this book through Buzz Books and was immediately intrigued by the blurb despite not reading the previous Artemis books. The series starts with Damascus Station in 2021 and if London Station had come out then, I would have said that it was an improbable story. It opens with a new US President putting his business buddies in charge of everything including the CIA and a breakdown in relationships between the US and UK. I would have thought then that things would not deteriorate so quickly but as a Canadian, I know better now.
Enter Artemis Aphrodite Proctor (which seems like a very standout name for a spy) who gets put in charge of the London Station when the new Director promptly fires the Chief of Station. Artemis doesn't play well with others and especially not people who don't know the spy game like her new bosses who decide to cut ties with the British Intelligence Service as they believe they add more to the relationship than they get back (sounds familiar). But she isn't placed there for her skills, but to annoy the Brits more after she was caught breaking the rules there.
This one took a little time to get into as there are multiple storylines going on as you skip between London, Washington and Tehran all in the opening chapters. But once the storylines start to merge, it is a really enjoyable spy thriller. Artemis has to navigate the new order in the CIA and greater intelligence community as agents on both sides become collateral damage when leaks happen and no one shares.
Artemis is such a good character. A little unhinged, dealing with sobriety, she doesn't want to be in London but also cares about the spycraft too much to let Bobby and his indept managers to ruin the intelligence world forever.
I also couldn't help but see the head of MI6 as Slow Horses' First desk Diana Taverner. Not sure if McCloskey meant it to be like that or if it is just a stereotype of the office but if it was ever made into a movie, Kristin Scott Thomas should play Theresa.
I also had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook. The formatting on the PDF file for the advance copy doesn't play well with Kobo so it was nice to do an immersive read with the audio too. The narrators are good but I did prefer Vanessa Daniels over George Naylor.
Thanks to W. W. Norton & Company & Tantor Media for the advance copy for review
Enter Artemis Aphrodite Proctor (which seems like a very standout name for a spy) who gets put in charge of the London Station when the new Director promptly fires the Chief of Station. Artemis doesn't play well with others and especially not people who don't know the spy game like her new bosses who decide to cut ties with the British Intelligence Service as they believe they add more to the relationship than they get back (sounds familiar). But she isn't placed there for her skills, but to annoy the Brits more after she was caught breaking the rules there.
This one took a little time to get into as there are multiple storylines going on as you skip between London, Washington and Tehran all in the opening chapters. But once the storylines start to merge, it is a really enjoyable spy thriller. Artemis has to navigate the new order in the CIA and greater intelligence community as agents on both sides become collateral damage when leaks happen and no one shares.
Artemis is such a good character. A little unhinged, dealing with sobriety, she doesn't want to be in London but also cares about the spycraft too much to let Bobby and his indept managers to ruin the intelligence world forever.
I also couldn't help but see the head of MI6 as Slow Horses' First desk Diana Taverner. Not sure if McCloskey meant it to be like that or if it is just a stereotype of the office but if it was ever made into a movie, Kristin Scott Thomas should play Theresa.
I also had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook. The formatting on the PDF file for the advance copy doesn't play well with Kobo so it was nice to do an immersive read with the audio too. The narrators are good but I did prefer Vanessa Daniels over George Naylor.
Thanks to W. W. Norton & Company & Tantor Media for the advance copy for review
October 6, 2026
Ironically the spy business is a lot about trust and information exchange. “London Station” examines what happens when an established relationship built on decades of trust, shared interests and cooperation starts to fracture. As tensions within the Western intelligence world grow CIA officers, British intelligence personnel and an increasingly influential private espionage outfits all find themselves pursuing overlapping goals while wondering who is really on whose side. Against a backdrop of shifting global politics involving Russia, China and the future of the transatlantic alliance, things become steadily more complicated and nobody is quite sure who the good guys are supposed to be.
This was my first David McCloskey novel and it was absolutely my kind of thing.
I have a weakness for procedurals and McCloskey clearly knows this world inside out. This makes the mechanics of intelligence work every bit as interesting as the action. The geopolitical backdrop felt current and I found the evolving relationship and different approaches between the various players in the intelligence sector particularly fascinating.
There is a lot of tradecraft, bureaucracy, inter-agency mistrust and professional paranoia, yet it rattles along at a tremendous pace. I kept finding excuses to listen to just one more chapter especially as the audiobook is great, too. Vanessa Daniels was a perfect match for the sharp, slightly snarky Artemis Procter, while George Naylor handled the shifting perspectives brilliantly. Together they give the story a lot of energy and make the complex plot easy to follow.
Smart and very entertaining - full of interesting ideas and exactly the sort of book that reminds me why I enjoy procedural fiction so much. I'll definitely be reading more McCloskey.
Thank you to Tantor Media, NetGalley and David McCloskey for an advance listening copy of this book.
This was my first David McCloskey novel and it was absolutely my kind of thing.
I have a weakness for procedurals and McCloskey clearly knows this world inside out. This makes the mechanics of intelligence work every bit as interesting as the action. The geopolitical backdrop felt current and I found the evolving relationship and different approaches between the various players in the intelligence sector particularly fascinating.
There is a lot of tradecraft, bureaucracy, inter-agency mistrust and professional paranoia, yet it rattles along at a tremendous pace. I kept finding excuses to listen to just one more chapter especially as the audiobook is great, too. Vanessa Daniels was a perfect match for the sharp, slightly snarky Artemis Procter, while George Naylor handled the shifting perspectives brilliantly. Together they give the story a lot of energy and make the complex plot easy to follow.
Smart and very entertaining - full of interesting ideas and exactly the sort of book that reminds me why I enjoy procedural fiction so much. I'll definitely be reading more McCloskey.
Thank you to Tantor Media, NetGalley and David McCloskey for an advance listening copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was my first novel by David McCloskey, and it did not disappoint! The story was eerily accurate and timely, and it can (dare I say, “should”?) be read as much as a warning as entertainment.
Set largely in London, specifically London Station, the CIA offices in the U.S. Embassy, the story offers a close-up look at the “special relationship” between America and Britain. We also get a glimpse into how quickly politics can turn allies into dangerous enemies. This fictional story is packed with situations that feel pulled straight from our daily headlines, a cast of flawed but fiery characters, and frighteningly accurate details.
This book has humor and action from page one, so buckle up. As is common for the genre, expect grit, language, little explicit on-page intimacy but plenty of typical references, and one wild ride! If this is your type of read, here is your next book. A solid 4.5 stars from me. ⭐️
Narrated by Vanessa Daniels and George Naylor, the audiobook was enjoyable. There were, however, pronunciation errors with a few acronyms. This certainly didn’t change the story, and obviously doesn’t affect the physical copy or ebook, but it grated on me to hear it in the audio. The narration was also inconsistent at times, making it difficult to tell which character was speaking.
Publication date: September 29, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Media (audiobook) and W.W. Norton & Company (ebook), and author David McCloskey for the complimentary audiobook. It was my pleasure to share this candid review.
Synopsis: A new US administration has installed a brash CIA director determined to disrupt the Agency and skeptical of its close relationship with our cousins across the Atlantic. Case officers, including newly installed London Chief of Station Artemis Procter, must now navigate a tense environment as old friends become adversaries and no one knows who to trust. When agents run by both services begin dying, Procter and her team at London Station must decide whether loyalty to the Mission and their friends means disobeying the Agency they serve.
Set largely in London, specifically London Station, the CIA offices in the U.S. Embassy, the story offers a close-up look at the “special relationship” between America and Britain. We also get a glimpse into how quickly politics can turn allies into dangerous enemies. This fictional story is packed with situations that feel pulled straight from our daily headlines, a cast of flawed but fiery characters, and frighteningly accurate details.
This book has humor and action from page one, so buckle up. As is common for the genre, expect grit, language, little explicit on-page intimacy but plenty of typical references, and one wild ride! If this is your type of read, here is your next book. A solid 4.5 stars from me. ⭐️
Narrated by Vanessa Daniels and George Naylor, the audiobook was enjoyable. There were, however, pronunciation errors with a few acronyms. This certainly didn’t change the story, and obviously doesn’t affect the physical copy or ebook, but it grated on me to hear it in the audio. The narration was also inconsistent at times, making it difficult to tell which character was speaking.
Publication date: September 29, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Media (audiobook) and W.W. Norton & Company (ebook), and author David McCloskey for the complimentary audiobook. It was my pleasure to share this candid review.
Synopsis: A new US administration has installed a brash CIA director determined to disrupt the Agency and skeptical of its close relationship with our cousins across the Atlantic. Case officers, including newly installed London Chief of Station Artemis Procter, must now navigate a tense environment as old friends become adversaries and no one knows who to trust. When agents run by both services begin dying, Procter and her team at London Station must decide whether loyalty to the Mission and their friends means disobeying the Agency they serve.
September 30, 2026
London Station was my first read (listen) in the Artemis Procter series and my introduction to author David McCloskey. I'm definitely interested in more of both.
I grew up on Cold War and Cold War-adjacent novels in the 80s and 90s, and London Station feels like a natural successor to the authors I loved back then: Ludlum's Jason Bourne, Cussler's Dirk Pitt, Clancy's Jack Ryan, and L'Amour's Last of the Breed.
The central premise, what happens when the "special relationship" between the American and British governments stops feeling so special, is more plausible than most tales in this genre. McCloskey's CIA experience helps ground the story.
There were plenty of characters to dislike. The only one I rooted for consistently was the protagonist herself, Artemis Procter, a recovering alcoholic and the newly appointed head of London Station.
Dual narration can be tricky, and Vanessa Daniels and George Naylor were fine for me. I didn't love them, but I didn't hate them either. This is the kind of novel I would have loved to hear performed by someone like Ray Porter, Scott Brick, Jay Snyder, or even George Guidall. They might have elevated London Station to a 5-star listen.
Story: 🕵️♀️🕵️♀️🕵️♀️🕵️♀️
Audio: 🕵️♀️🕵️♀️🕵️♀️
Overall: 🕵️♀️🕵️♀️🕵️♀️.5
If spy thrillers or political intrigue are your thing, pick this one up. I'm looking forward to more from this series and author.
I grew up on Cold War and Cold War-adjacent novels in the 80s and 90s, and London Station feels like a natural successor to the authors I loved back then: Ludlum's Jason Bourne, Cussler's Dirk Pitt, Clancy's Jack Ryan, and L'Amour's Last of the Breed.
The central premise, what happens when the "special relationship" between the American and British governments stops feeling so special, is more plausible than most tales in this genre. McCloskey's CIA experience helps ground the story.
There were plenty of characters to dislike. The only one I rooted for consistently was the protagonist herself, Artemis Procter, a recovering alcoholic and the newly appointed head of London Station.
Dual narration can be tricky, and Vanessa Daniels and George Naylor were fine for me. I didn't love them, but I didn't hate them either. This is the kind of novel I would have loved to hear performed by someone like Ray Porter, Scott Brick, Jay Snyder, or even George Guidall. They might have elevated London Station to a 5-star listen.
Story: 🕵️♀️🕵️♀️🕵️♀️🕵️♀️
Audio: 🕵️♀️🕵️♀️🕵️♀️
Overall: 🕵️♀️🕵️♀️🕵️♀️.5
If spy thrillers or political intrigue are your thing, pick this one up. I'm looking forward to more from this series and author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐
London Station by David McCloskey, narrated by Vanessa Daniels and George Naylor
I think what I appreciate most about this spy-thriller genre is how much authors try to take real-world experiences—or, in this case, excerpts and behaviors from various White House administrations and weave them into the story. It makes everything feel a little more realistic, and unfortunately, realistic enough that you can absolutely see some of this craziness happening.
This is a standalone novel, but it does exist within David McCloskey's larger world, with the inclusion of Procter. We get an interesting setup at the CIA thanks to a president putting people in positions of power who really aren't qualified to be there. The new regime decides it's time to take a closer look at the U.S. relationship with London and Britain, including how the two countries share information and conduct business within the country.
What follows is a lot of intrigue, some genuinely hilarious moments, and plenty of twists and turns that will keep your head spinning. There is definitely a lot happening here, and I enjoyed seeing how everything unfolded.
That said, this was a 3-star read for me. There were some pretty large sections where I felt like I could have skipped ahead and still understood and appreciated the overall story. I think that was probably more noticeable for me because I listened to the audiobook rather than read it.
The narrators, Vanessa Daniels and George Naylor, did a good job bringing the characters to life and keeping me engaged throughout the story. However, I do think I would have enjoyed this one more if I had actually read it rather than listened to it.
Overall, an interesting spy thriller with plenty of intrigue, political craziness, humor, and twists but one that was a little too long for my listening experience.
Thank you to David McCloskey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
London Station by David McCloskey, narrated by Vanessa Daniels and George Naylor
I think what I appreciate most about this spy-thriller genre is how much authors try to take real-world experiences—or, in this case, excerpts and behaviors from various White House administrations and weave them into the story. It makes everything feel a little more realistic, and unfortunately, realistic enough that you can absolutely see some of this craziness happening.
This is a standalone novel, but it does exist within David McCloskey's larger world, with the inclusion of Procter. We get an interesting setup at the CIA thanks to a president putting people in positions of power who really aren't qualified to be there. The new regime decides it's time to take a closer look at the U.S. relationship with London and Britain, including how the two countries share information and conduct business within the country.
What follows is a lot of intrigue, some genuinely hilarious moments, and plenty of twists and turns that will keep your head spinning. There is definitely a lot happening here, and I enjoyed seeing how everything unfolded.
That said, this was a 3-star read for me. There were some pretty large sections where I felt like I could have skipped ahead and still understood and appreciated the overall story. I think that was probably more noticeable for me because I listened to the audiobook rather than read it.
The narrators, Vanessa Daniels and George Naylor, did a good job bringing the characters to life and keeping me engaged throughout the story. However, I do think I would have enjoyed this one more if I had actually read it rather than listened to it.
Overall, an interesting spy thriller with plenty of intrigue, political craziness, humor, and twists but one that was a little too long for my listening experience.
Thank you to David McCloskey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first introduction to Artemis Procter, and by the end of the book, I was definitely interested in reading more about her. One of my favorite aspects of her character was how she compared herself to a pirate stealing secrets. It was such a unique way to think about intelligence work and helped distinguish her from other espionage protagonists.
I'll admit that the story started a little slowly for me. When I pick up an espionage novel, I often expect an immediate hook similar to a James Bond or Jason Bourne movie, where the action and intrigue pull you in right away. It took me some time to become fully invested in the story and the characters.
Once I settled into the pacing, however, I began to appreciate the more deliberate approach. Artemis proved to be a capable and compelling protagonist, and I enjoyed watching her navigate the challenges of intelligence work. Her intelligence, determination, and unique perspective kept me engaged as the story progressed.
While the slower start prevented this from being a complete favorite, Artemis herself was the highlight of the novel for me. I finished the book wanting to spend more time with her, which is always a good sign for the start of a series.
Overall, this was an enjoyable espionage thriller with a memorable lead character, and I'm interested in seeing where Artemis Procter's story goes next.
This was my first introduction to Artemis Procter, and by the end of the book, I was definitely interested in reading more about her. One of my favorite aspects of her character was how she compared herself to a pirate stealing secrets. It was such a unique way to think about intelligence work and helped distinguish her from other espionage protagonists.
I'll admit that the story started a little slowly for me. When I pick up an espionage novel, I often expect an immediate hook similar to a James Bond or Jason Bourne movie, where the action and intrigue pull you in right away. It took me some time to become fully invested in the story and the characters.
Once I settled into the pacing, however, I began to appreciate the more deliberate approach. Artemis proved to be a capable and compelling protagonist, and I enjoyed watching her navigate the challenges of intelligence work. Her intelligence, determination, and unique perspective kept me engaged as the story progressed.
While the slower start prevented this from being a complete favorite, Artemis herself was the highlight of the novel for me. I finished the book wanting to spend more time with her, which is always a good sign for the start of a series.
Overall, this was an enjoyable espionage thriller with a memorable lead character, and I'm interested in seeing where Artemis Procter's story goes next.
October 1, 2026
This was my first action novel AND my first David McCloskey novel it did not disappoint! The story was so fast-paced and I honestly had trouble keeping up with all the characters at times, but that is a me-problem. Knowing the author's connection to the CIA and global politics, I was excited to read a thriller/spy novel with that lens!
Honestly, I think even if you are new to the action/spy genre, I still think you should give this one a try.
Thank you very much to NetGalley, Tantor Media, and David McCloskey for the ALC!
Honestly, I think even if you are new to the action/spy genre, I still think you should give this one a try.
Thank you very much to NetGalley, Tantor Media, and David McCloskey for the ALC!
October 18, 2026
Now this is how you write an engaging spy thriller! Fast-paced, action-packed, twisty read that kept me turning the pages! Narration was excellent, and I even chuckled a few times! 🤭 I definitely need to read more of McCloskey’s work, and especially more of FMC Artemis Procter! Highly recommend! 👏
Thank you partner W.W. Norton for the gifted finished copy in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
Thank you partner W.W. Norton for the gifted finished copy in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
October 8, 2026
Recommended.
Review posted at Tzer Island book blog:
https://www.tzerisland.com/bookblog/2...
Review posted at Tzer Island book blog:
https://www.tzerisland.com/bookblog/2...
October 24, 2026
Outstanding and classic spy novel by a true professional who knows the spy “game” as well as any author I’ve read.
October 10, 2026
Brilliant
David McCloskey’s Home Run!! Best so far and really, really good. Artemis Proctor is not your typical spymaster. Highly recommended.
David McCloskey’s Home Run!! Best so far and really, really good. Artemis Proctor is not your typical spymaster. Highly recommended.
October 27, 2026
This was a great read. It combined intrigue, humor, and plus I would guess a fairly good overview of current events in the world of geopolitics. It was certainly good to have Proctor back in the series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really hope that this book is fiction but I well suspect that it’s faction and if so that’s a terribly worrying state of affairs that it describes.
What if the US government led by a megalomaniac president aided and abetted by his acolytes running the CIA as if it was a house building company decided to examine the long standing special relationship between the US and Great Britain parties it pertains to information sharing?
What if the CIA decided that the dice were loaded totally in their favour and they were giving far more than they received?
What if the CIA decided to turn off the tap in terms of information flow?
Well the SIS would retaliate, misunderstandings would occur and agents would die.
Who could possibly knock heads together and force both sides to see sense and bury the hatchet somewhere other than in their respective heads ?
Artemis Proctor that’s who - the only grow.n up in the rain who somehow makes things come right but it’s a scarlet ride and a close run thing as the Chinese seek to take advantage of wounded foes.
An incredible read but please God it’s fiction.
What if the US government led by a megalomaniac president aided and abetted by his acolytes running the CIA as if it was a house building company decided to examine the long standing special relationship between the US and Great Britain parties it pertains to information sharing?
What if the CIA decided that the dice were loaded totally in their favour and they were giving far more than they received?
What if the CIA decided to turn off the tap in terms of information flow?
Well the SIS would retaliate, misunderstandings would occur and agents would die.
Who could possibly knock heads together and force both sides to see sense and bury the hatchet somewhere other than in their respective heads ?
Artemis Proctor that’s who - the only grow.n up in the rain who somehow makes things come right but it’s a scarlet ride and a close run thing as the Chinese seek to take advantage of wounded foes.
An incredible read but please God it’s fiction.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There was so much going on in this book and even so I found myself getting bored off and on regularly. I think if you love political espionage, suspense novels you might like it, but I didn't find the suspense all that thrilling. I have to say that some of the causes of the international problems struck very close to home in today's world. Problems being created by people who think they know better than anyone and are unwilling to listen to experienced diplomats. I am not saying there isn't room for all sides to be heard, but anyone who is close-minded drives me crazy!
Thank you to Netgalley and W. W. Norton & Company for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review of this book
Thank you to Netgalley and W. W. Norton & Company for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review of this book
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Almost certainly the finest book yet from David McCloskey.
"London Station" opens some years after the events of "The Seventh Floor". Against all the odds, Artemis Aphrodite Procter still has a job at the CIA. Currently she is undertaking a clandestine, un-authorised and unethical operation in London. She plans to recruit a Chinese minister as a CIA asset - something that the Special Relationship definitely prohibits. However, the op fails spectacularly, and ends with Procter being unceremoniously sent back the the US. However, a new President has taken office and installed a brash and unconventional businessman as CIA Director. with the remit to shake up the Agency. His first decision is to appoint Procter as the new Chief of Station in London, following the previous incumbents' hasty dismissal.
With the pieces on the board, David McCroskey's fastest-moving and most provocative book yet launches into a non-stop journey of political manoeuvring, power struggles and downright shenanigans, as Procter tries to navigate a new world of MAGA-like management within the CIA, the Special Relationship in tatters, and various rogue elements intent on taking advantage of the chaos. And when bodies start mounting up- Procter realises she has a mole in her Station. There's a huge cast of characters, most of them new to fans of Procter's adventures - as well as the new CIA Director (modelled on who, I wonder?), there's his sycophantic son-in-law, a disgruntled MI6 officer, an angry former Station Chief, a psychotic analyst, and the most gorgeously-written Diana Taverner clone as head of MI5 (who we don't see half as much of as we deserve). Ironically, here we see Procter as the most level-headed and professional body in the book.
We know the author has insight into the goings-on within the CIA - and while I'm sure he has taken much artistic licence in writing "London Station" you can't help but wonder how much is true - from the Machiavellian relationship between the US and UK, to the internal power struggles and machinations, it all seems just a bit too plausible. Which makes this a superb read. Procter has always been the star of the show, but some readers might have thought the previous book to have been her swan song - thankfully not. She shines here - not just for her gung-ho approach to her work, but also the fact that she proves she is a top-tier agent- she knows the business and she knows the score.
Bobby Jerome, the new CIA director, is also a gem of a character - his assumption that he has successfully built up a huge company, and can run the CIA in the same way makes him a man you love to hate. He's McCloskey's best villain yet. Luckily in Procter he meets his match.
This is most likely the authors finest book to date - timely in its plot, pitch-perfect in its delivery, and just crying out to be made into a film (Parker Posey for Artemis, please). Fans of the series will lap it up.
Heartily recommended.
"London Station" opens some years after the events of "The Seventh Floor". Against all the odds, Artemis Aphrodite Procter still has a job at the CIA. Currently she is undertaking a clandestine, un-authorised and unethical operation in London. She plans to recruit a Chinese minister as a CIA asset - something that the Special Relationship definitely prohibits. However, the op fails spectacularly, and ends with Procter being unceremoniously sent back the the US. However, a new President has taken office and installed a brash and unconventional businessman as CIA Director. with the remit to shake up the Agency. His first decision is to appoint Procter as the new Chief of Station in London, following the previous incumbents' hasty dismissal.
With the pieces on the board, David McCroskey's fastest-moving and most provocative book yet launches into a non-stop journey of political manoeuvring, power struggles and downright shenanigans, as Procter tries to navigate a new world of MAGA-like management within the CIA, the Special Relationship in tatters, and various rogue elements intent on taking advantage of the chaos. And when bodies start mounting up- Procter realises she has a mole in her Station. There's a huge cast of characters, most of them new to fans of Procter's adventures - as well as the new CIA Director (modelled on who, I wonder?), there's his sycophantic son-in-law, a disgruntled MI6 officer, an angry former Station Chief, a psychotic analyst, and the most gorgeously-written Diana Taverner clone as head of MI5 (who we don't see half as much of as we deserve). Ironically, here we see Procter as the most level-headed and professional body in the book.
We know the author has insight into the goings-on within the CIA - and while I'm sure he has taken much artistic licence in writing "London Station" you can't help but wonder how much is true - from the Machiavellian relationship between the US and UK, to the internal power struggles and machinations, it all seems just a bit too plausible. Which makes this a superb read. Procter has always been the star of the show, but some readers might have thought the previous book to have been her swan song - thankfully not. She shines here - not just for her gung-ho approach to her work, but also the fact that she proves she is a top-tier agent- she knows the business and she knows the score.
Bobby Jerome, the new CIA director, is also a gem of a character - his assumption that he has successfully built up a huge company, and can run the CIA in the same way makes him a man you love to hate. He's McCloskey's best villain yet. Luckily in Procter he meets his match.
This is most likely the authors finest book to date - timely in its plot, pitch-perfect in its delivery, and just crying out to be made into a film (Parker Posey for Artemis, please). Fans of the series will lap it up.
Heartily recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5 stars
I’m not usually a big spy-thriller reader, but London Station by David McCloskey may have convinced me that I should be!
The best comparison I can make is this: David McCloskey feels a little like the John Grisham of spy novels. Grisham took his experience as a lawyer and turned it into incredibly readable legal thrillers, while McCloskey draws on his background as a former CIA analyst to create a world of espionage that feels detailed and believable without sacrificing the fun.
In London Station, a new administration has taken power in Washington, and real estate developer Bobby Jerome has been appointed director of the CIA despite having no intelligence background. What follows is a globe-trotting story filled with competing agendas, huge personalities, political maneuvering, and plenty of spycraft.
At the center of it all is Artemis Proctor—an absolutely fantastic name for a spy-thriller heroine—who is newly sober, beautiful, complicated, and deeply flawed. There’s even a little romance woven into her story, although it never overwhelms the espionage plot. I found myself rooting for Artemis throughout the book.
One of the things I found most interesting was the novel’s exploration of what can happen when someone without experience in intelligence or public policy suddenly has enormous power over the people who have spent their careers doing this work. There are enough parallels to current American politics to make parts of the story feel uncomfortably plausible.
There is a LOT of spy jargon here, and I definitely learned some new terminology along the way, but McCloskey makes the inner workings of the CIA and international intelligence genuinely entertaining. If CIA, MI6, international espionage, and political thrillers are already your thing, I think this is absolutely one to pick up. And if, like me, spy novels aren’t normally your genre, this might be a great place to branch out.
I had a lot of fun with this one—and I think I may be reading more spy novels in the future!
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Thank you so much to W. W. Norton & Company for sending me a finished copy of London Station in such a fun PR package!
I’m not usually a big spy-thriller reader, but London Station by David McCloskey may have convinced me that I should be!
The best comparison I can make is this: David McCloskey feels a little like the John Grisham of spy novels. Grisham took his experience as a lawyer and turned it into incredibly readable legal thrillers, while McCloskey draws on his background as a former CIA analyst to create a world of espionage that feels detailed and believable without sacrificing the fun.
In London Station, a new administration has taken power in Washington, and real estate developer Bobby Jerome has been appointed director of the CIA despite having no intelligence background. What follows is a globe-trotting story filled with competing agendas, huge personalities, political maneuvering, and plenty of spycraft.
At the center of it all is Artemis Proctor—an absolutely fantastic name for a spy-thriller heroine—who is newly sober, beautiful, complicated, and deeply flawed. There’s even a little romance woven into her story, although it never overwhelms the espionage plot. I found myself rooting for Artemis throughout the book.
One of the things I found most interesting was the novel’s exploration of what can happen when someone without experience in intelligence or public policy suddenly has enormous power over the people who have spent their careers doing this work. There are enough parallels to current American politics to make parts of the story feel uncomfortably plausible.
There is a LOT of spy jargon here, and I definitely learned some new terminology along the way, but McCloskey makes the inner workings of the CIA and international intelligence genuinely entertaining. If CIA, MI6, international espionage, and political thrillers are already your thing, I think this is absolutely one to pick up. And if, like me, spy novels aren’t normally your genre, this might be a great place to branch out.
I had a lot of fun with this one—and I think I may be reading more spy novels in the future!
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Thank you so much to W. W. Norton & Company for sending me a finished copy of London Station in such a fun PR package!
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