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Ben Sign Mystery #1
The Spy Whisperer
Six senior MI6 officers have been shortlisted to be the next head of British Intelligence. One by one, they are committing suicide. But the suicides are not what they seem. They have been forced to take their lives by a supremely clever individual. Former high-ranking MI6 officer Ben Sign is instructed to identify who is behind the murders. Could it be a hostile foreign intelligence agency? Sign thinks not. He believes the murderer is one of the six MI6 officers who wants to kill off the competition. With the help of a male former undercover police officer and a female serving Special Branch officer, he scours London and the rest of Britain to identify the serial killer he nicknames ‘the whisperer’. But the whisperer has a former special forces assassin, code name ‘the limpet’. Can Sign find the whisperer and the limpet in time? Who's working against him? Can he protect national security from a psychopath?
"For those who like an updated version of James Bond, Matthew Dunn’s Will Cochrane books are spy stories at their finest.” — Iron Mountain Daily News.
Praise for
“Great talent, great imagination, and real been-there done-that authenticity make this one of the year’s best thriller debuts. Highly recommended.” — Lee Child
“I know of no other spy thriller that so successfully blends the fascinating nuances of the business of espionage and intelligence work with full-throttle suspense storytelling.” — Jeffery Deaver
“Dunn, who was a field officer in the British Secret Intelligence Service, often known as M16, has created a plot with plenty of action and lots of twists and turns . . . nonstop action and relentless danger.” — Associated Press
Praise for Dark
“Another deep and intense thriller that feels authentic in terms of how it conveys the spy world… Dunn has crafted another winner in this fine series. The world of spy fiction has a writer who deserves comparison to Ludlum and Fleming.” — Booklist
“Fans will enjoy the trademark momentum and the inclusion of several long-running subplots and characters.” — Publishers Weekly on A Soldier's Revenge
“One of the things that makes A Soldier’s Revenge so good, aside from the complexity of the plot, the harrowing escapes and spy craft that Dunn artfully employs, is the visceral feelings that he can convey. . . . Cochrane is no emotionless Bond…he’s much more real.” — blackdogspeaks.com on A Soldier's Revenge
"For those who like an updated version of James Bond, Matthew Dunn’s Will Cochrane books are spy stories at their finest.” — Iron Mountain Daily News.
Praise for
“Great talent, great imagination, and real been-there done-that authenticity make this one of the year’s best thriller debuts. Highly recommended.” — Lee Child
“I know of no other spy thriller that so successfully blends the fascinating nuances of the business of espionage and intelligence work with full-throttle suspense storytelling.” — Jeffery Deaver
“Dunn, who was a field officer in the British Secret Intelligence Service, often known as M16, has created a plot with plenty of action and lots of twists and turns . . . nonstop action and relentless danger.” — Associated Press
Praise for Dark
“Another deep and intense thriller that feels authentic in terms of how it conveys the spy world… Dunn has crafted another winner in this fine series. The world of spy fiction has a writer who deserves comparison to Ludlum and Fleming.” — Booklist
“Fans will enjoy the trademark momentum and the inclusion of several long-running subplots and characters.” — Publishers Weekly on A Soldier's Revenge
“One of the things that makes A Soldier’s Revenge so good, aside from the complexity of the plot, the harrowing escapes and spy craft that Dunn artfully employs, is the visceral feelings that he can convey. . . . Cochrane is no emotionless Bond…he’s much more real.” — blackdogspeaks.com on A Soldier's Revenge
215 pages, Paperback
First published April 17, 2018
143 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Dunn
16 books275 followersMatthew Dunn was an MI6 intelligence officer who spent years operating around the world on matters pertaining to the national security of Great Britain and its allies. For the last decade he has been an author and has written 14 published books. He is the author of the "Spycatcher" series and "Ben Sign" series of espionage-mystery noir novels.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
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April 30, 2019As a former officer in both Army and SB with knowledge of both 5&6 I was very disappointed with the story line/plot, far fetched, lacking in realistic terms and showing little insight into the Police and Security services. A D/Insp in the Special Branch enters the Met Commissioners office and sits on his desk and lays down the law..... come on😂😂😂
May 2, 2024
Excellent story and characters.
January 18, 2020
Okay. Didn’t make we want to continue the series
The nod to Sherlock Holmes is clever, as are other parts of the book but in the end it felt more clever then substantial.
The the initially intriguing main character of Ben Sign got preachy and in the end his sidekick felt more like, a sidekick then a person. The mystery too started clever but ended flat.
Overall the book that felt not good rather then bad but further reflection leads me to conclude that is a flat read by an author who has done better work.
Note: Unlike Dunn’s Spy Catcher series there was very little action here.
The nod to Sherlock Holmes is clever, as are other parts of the book but in the end it felt more clever then substantial.
The the initially intriguing main character of Ben Sign got preachy and in the end his sidekick felt more like, a sidekick then a person. The mystery too started clever but ended flat.
Overall the book that felt not good rather then bad but further reflection leads me to conclude that is a flat read by an author who has done better work.
Note: Unlike Dunn’s Spy Catcher series there was very little action here.
June 14, 2018
A wonderful surprise! After reading Matthew Dunn novels--Will Cochrane: Slingshot,Spy House,
Soldier'Revenge,and others.We have the beginning of a NEW SERIES.
BEN SIGN!!!!!
He was with M16 for 27 years. And if you let him talk he will tell you he has has done everything. Killed-Tortured done it and faced it. Traveled everywhere and solved most intelligence problems
He left M16 on verge of becoming Chief of M16 Replacing retiring Henry Gable.
Ben Sign has been given the authority to find the why seasoned M16 executives. have committed
suicides. Armed with Tom Knutsen a former M16 expert.military-spy chaser-and combat trained.
Not to be without further aide-Ben has Kathy Roberts special Branch Detective.He found the why,
what and how.
A thrilling new adventure for me.Action-superb plot----and typical Dunn page turner.
Soldier'Revenge,and others.We have the beginning of a NEW SERIES.
BEN SIGN!!!!!
He was with M16 for 27 years. And if you let him talk he will tell you he has has done everything. Killed-Tortured done it and faced it. Traveled everywhere and solved most intelligence problems
He left M16 on verge of becoming Chief of M16 Replacing retiring Henry Gable.
Ben Sign has been given the authority to find the why seasoned M16 executives. have committed
suicides. Armed with Tom Knutsen a former M16 expert.military-spy chaser-and combat trained.
Not to be without further aide-Ben has Kathy Roberts special Branch Detective.He found the why,
what and how.
A thrilling new adventure for me.Action-superb plot----and typical Dunn page turner.
June 26, 2018
Normally I’m more enthusiastic about Dunn’s books, but this one doesn’t make the grade. It’s a reasonably good plot line—candidates for the top position at MI6 being killed off. But why can’t law enforcement solve this—why does it take one super-smart former MI6 guy and his 2 person team to do the deed. Plus, it was annoying that in the e-book version there were multiple typos that should have been caught in the editing process.
February 18, 2019
A very enjoyable read from start to finish!
A very clever story with engaging characters and plenty of twists. Sign and Knutson remind me of a modern day Holmes and Watson and I will definitely read the next instalment.
A very clever story with engaging characters and plenty of twists. Sign and Knutson remind me of a modern day Holmes and Watson and I will definitely read the next instalment.
March 22, 2019
Wonderful
I found this book to be a wonderful story of outsiders who also know the inside track so well. They deal with a complicated plot catering on how a desire for power can corrupt. The story also raises indirectly the issue of the type ignored in who achieved high office
I found this book to be a wonderful story of outsiders who also know the inside track so well. They deal with a complicated plot catering on how a desire for power can corrupt. The story also raises indirectly the issue of the type ignored in who achieved high office
July 9, 2019
Intriguing
I found this book to be very fascinating and riveting. Matthew Dunn is a very talented writer, obviously his experience in MI6 has given him a great platform to work on. I will definitely read more of his work.
I found this book to be very fascinating and riveting. Matthew Dunn is a very talented writer, obviously his experience in MI6 has given him a great platform to work on. I will definitely read more of his work.
February 28, 2020
The Spycatcher series was so good, Will Cochrane is a great hero and little wonder Lee Child recommended him.
Matthew Dunn is one great writer. This series, for me, is even better and I cannot wait to see more Ben Sign books (3 is not enough, 30 is not enough!!)
Matthew Dunn is one great writer. This series, for me, is even better and I cannot wait to see more Ben Sign books (3 is not enough, 30 is not enough!!)
September 6, 2018
Quiet good page turner but there is a lot of of supposition in it that seems to be always right.
January 13, 2019
The first novel in a new series by Matthew Dunn. Ben Sign and his business partner Tom Knutsen have an intriguing mystery to solve. Someone is killing off the candidates for the post of Chief of MI6, in such a way that the investigating authorities are convinced that the candidates have committed suicide. Ben Sign is not convinced and he and Knutsen are asked to investigate the matter.
I particularly liked the almost Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson relationship, that Sign and Knutsen have and the plot itself kept me enthralled to the very last page. I shall certainly be reading the rest of this excellent series.
I particularly liked the almost Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson relationship, that Sign and Knutsen have and the plot itself kept me enthralled to the very last page. I shall certainly be reading the rest of this excellent series.
February 18, 2019
Good read
Enough to keep you engaged with interesting characters. Good plot with interesting twists, good base for character development in future books
Enough to keep you engaged with interesting characters. Good plot with interesting twists, good base for character development in future books
August 23, 2019
Good read
Nice flowing style, but a Kendal master would whip a sbs in a fight. Couldn't work out who the baddie was. Well researched book
Nice flowing style, but a Kendal master would whip a sbs in a fight. Couldn't work out who the baddie was. Well researched book
February 22, 2020
Thanks for a good thriller, good charters, twists and turns kept me guessing until the end. I look forward to the next book.
December 16, 2021
Intriguing and suspenseful all the way to the very end. So many twists, but a splendid ride.
June 4, 2022
not to put down book
Riveting from start to finish a truly amazing read and I look forwards to more a good insight to MI6
Riveting from start to finish a truly amazing read and I look forwards to more a good insight to MI6
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews