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Red Corona
It’s 1961 and the white heat of the Space Race is making the Cold War even colder.
Richard Knox is a secret agent in big trouble. He’s been hung out to dry by a traitor in MI5, and the only way to clear his name could destroy him.
Meanwhile in a secret Russian city, brilliant scientist Irina Valera makes a discovery that will change the world, and hand the KGB unimaginable power.
Desperate for a way back into MI5, Knox finds an unlikely ally in Abey Bennett, a CIA recruit who’s determined to prove herself whatever the cost…
As the age of global surveillance dawns, three powers will battle for dominance, and three people will fight to survive…
Richard Knox is a secret agent in big trouble. He’s been hung out to dry by a traitor in MI5, and the only way to clear his name could destroy him.
Meanwhile in a secret Russian city, brilliant scientist Irina Valera makes a discovery that will change the world, and hand the KGB unimaginable power.
Desperate for a way back into MI5, Knox finds an unlikely ally in Abey Bennett, a CIA recruit who’s determined to prove herself whatever the cost…
As the age of global surveillance dawns, three powers will battle for dominance, and three people will fight to survive…
288 pages, Hardcover
Published February 4, 2021
17 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 1, 2021
You’ll be happy to know that the title (Red Corona) doesn’t refer to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is in fact, a compelling Cold War Thriller, and Tim Glister’s debut novel.
We’re taken back to 1961, to the race between Britain, the US, and Russia, to become the first to create satellite technology, that will enable the winner of the race, to listen in to secret intelligence throughout the world, and what a prize that would be.
The storyline revolves around London based MI5 agent Richard Knox, and his quest to reveal the identity of a KGB mole, whilst at the same time, that very same traitor is trying to destroy Knox’s reputation, and although there is a way for him to clear his name, it would mean the end of not only his career, but the career of his boss, Director General, James Holland also.
Meanwhile, the KGB, MI5, MI6 and the CIA are all working to lure Russian scientist Irina Valera, who has fled her country. Her knowledge is second to none in her field, making her an extremely attractive asset in the race to dominate the world of communication techniques, having made a discovery that will change the world - especially for those who have control of it!
A gripping tale of duplicity and espionage, which captures the Cold War era perfectly. The narrative is engaging and entertaining, the characters memorable, and combining fact with fiction, it’s perfect for lovers of a good spy novel, and historical fiction. Really enjoyable.
* Thank you to Netgalley and Oneworld Publications for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
We’re taken back to 1961, to the race between Britain, the US, and Russia, to become the first to create satellite technology, that will enable the winner of the race, to listen in to secret intelligence throughout the world, and what a prize that would be.
The storyline revolves around London based MI5 agent Richard Knox, and his quest to reveal the identity of a KGB mole, whilst at the same time, that very same traitor is trying to destroy Knox’s reputation, and although there is a way for him to clear his name, it would mean the end of not only his career, but the career of his boss, Director General, James Holland also.
Meanwhile, the KGB, MI5, MI6 and the CIA are all working to lure Russian scientist Irina Valera, who has fled her country. Her knowledge is second to none in her field, making her an extremely attractive asset in the race to dominate the world of communication techniques, having made a discovery that will change the world - especially for those who have control of it!
A gripping tale of duplicity and espionage, which captures the Cold War era perfectly. The narrative is engaging and entertaining, the characters memorable, and combining fact with fiction, it’s perfect for lovers of a good spy novel, and historical fiction. Really enjoyable.
* Thank you to Netgalley and Oneworld Publications for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
December 4, 2020
Tim Glister's fascinating debut novel is well researched historical fiction, a blend of fact and fiction, set during the Cold War era in the early 1960s, revolving around the intelligence services of the USSR, USA and Britain, capturing the technological communications race amongst allies and foes, and the birth of global surveillance that has culminated in the present day era of mass surveillance. It is 1961 and MI5 agent Richard Knox is suspended and in trouble, his boss and close friend, the Director-General James Holland, lies in a coma. Despite being lauded for breaking up the Calder Hall spy ring passing on information to the KGB about Sellafield, Richard is now suspected of being a traitor because he refuses to disclose pertinent information that would involve revealing his family secrets. The new acting DG is Gordon Manning, with his right hand man, Nicholas Peterson. Knox suspects Manning of being a KGB spy.
After two Italians of interest to the intelligence services, Bianchi and Moretti, are found murdered in Deptford, Manning offers Knox the opportunity to look into their activities, an act that makes him suspicious, but which he takes up. In the US, the joint Corona project to create satellite networks for global surveillance, run by the CIA and NASA, is currently running up against serious obstacles. In Karelia, close to the Finnish border in Russia, is a secret science city, Povenets B, administered by the GRU, the foreign military intelligence directorate. This is where research scientist, Irina Valera, is based with her young son, Ledjo, badly treated and like the other scientists, is forced to subsist on a starvation diet. Valera makes significant technological progress which she keeps to herself, until tragedy strikes, propelling her to leave the country. Half Native American CIA agent, Abey Bennett, is based in London and is being sidelined, she joins forces with Knox to try and uncover a traitor and make the decision to travel to Sweden to meet Valera.
Glister writes an atmospheric and exciting story of a tense period of history with the fierce battle amongst the major powers to dominate the highly valued cutting edge area of communications technology and its applications in the field of global surveillance. He beautifully evokes the levels of paranoia prevalent at the time, where even allies keep secrets from each other, and a Russia where the influence of Stalin has not yet disappeared, particularly with the terrible conditions many academics and researchers were subject to. This is wonderfully engaging and entertaining historical fiction that examines the complexities of espionage activities and their connections with the research developments in communications technology, so crucial to all the major world powers at this point in history with philosophical discussions of their impact on individuals and privacy. Many thanks to Oneworld Publications for an ARC.
After two Italians of interest to the intelligence services, Bianchi and Moretti, are found murdered in Deptford, Manning offers Knox the opportunity to look into their activities, an act that makes him suspicious, but which he takes up. In the US, the joint Corona project to create satellite networks for global surveillance, run by the CIA and NASA, is currently running up against serious obstacles. In Karelia, close to the Finnish border in Russia, is a secret science city, Povenets B, administered by the GRU, the foreign military intelligence directorate. This is where research scientist, Irina Valera, is based with her young son, Ledjo, badly treated and like the other scientists, is forced to subsist on a starvation diet. Valera makes significant technological progress which she keeps to herself, until tragedy strikes, propelling her to leave the country. Half Native American CIA agent, Abey Bennett, is based in London and is being sidelined, she joins forces with Knox to try and uncover a traitor and make the decision to travel to Sweden to meet Valera.
Glister writes an atmospheric and exciting story of a tense period of history with the fierce battle amongst the major powers to dominate the highly valued cutting edge area of communications technology and its applications in the field of global surveillance. He beautifully evokes the levels of paranoia prevalent at the time, where even allies keep secrets from each other, and a Russia where the influence of Stalin has not yet disappeared, particularly with the terrible conditions many academics and researchers were subject to. This is wonderfully engaging and entertaining historical fiction that examines the complexities of espionage activities and their connections with the research developments in communications technology, so crucial to all the major world powers at this point in history with philosophical discussions of their impact on individuals and privacy. Many thanks to Oneworld Publications for an ARC.
March 8, 2021
Somehow I missed out posting this review last month, so here it is now.
A solid spy thriller set in 1961 and centred on a discovery that could change world of espionage in favour of the Soviet Union. As the Cold War heats up, the USA and the Soviets are locked in battle over the race into space. MI5 agent Richard Knox believes his new boss is a traitor, but how can he prove it?
Meanwhile, 2000 miles away is Valera, a female Russian scientist living with her young son in a Soviet "science city", hidden from prying eyes. As she works on a project which will give the Soviets the upper hand in satellite communication, tragedy strikes.
In London, Knox joins forces with a young CIA agent named Abey Bennett, while the KGB try to discover why one of their top scientists seems to have gone missing.
First time author Tim Glister effortlessly captures the atmosphere of suspicion and mistrust which permeates those secret agencies involved in the Cold War. His description of London's Soho district as Richard Knox dodges someone tracking him through the streets is brilliant, so much so that you feel you're with him every step of the way.
Despite part of the story concerning itself with the technical side of electronic surveillance, this is a gripping read with action that never slows. The main characters are a fascinating trio, each with their own well sketched background and each of whom draws the reader's sympathy. A remarkable debut novel. Highly recommended.
My thanks to Oneworld Publications and NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
A solid spy thriller set in 1961 and centred on a discovery that could change world of espionage in favour of the Soviet Union. As the Cold War heats up, the USA and the Soviets are locked in battle over the race into space. MI5 agent Richard Knox believes his new boss is a traitor, but how can he prove it?
Meanwhile, 2000 miles away is Valera, a female Russian scientist living with her young son in a Soviet "science city", hidden from prying eyes. As she works on a project which will give the Soviets the upper hand in satellite communication, tragedy strikes.
In London, Knox joins forces with a young CIA agent named Abey Bennett, while the KGB try to discover why one of their top scientists seems to have gone missing.
First time author Tim Glister effortlessly captures the atmosphere of suspicion and mistrust which permeates those secret agencies involved in the Cold War. His description of London's Soho district as Richard Knox dodges someone tracking him through the streets is brilliant, so much so that you feel you're with him every step of the way.
Despite part of the story concerning itself with the technical side of electronic surveillance, this is a gripping read with action that never slows. The main characters are a fascinating trio, each with their own well sketched background and each of whom draws the reader's sympathy. A remarkable debut novel. Highly recommended.
My thanks to Oneworld Publications and NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
December 13, 2020
This debut novel is starts in 1961 and involves Russia, Britain and the USA. The three countries are all trying to be the first to gain the advantage in satellite technology to spy on each other. However, this world of suspicion does not just involve countries, and governments, spying on each other – they are also very capable on spying on themselves. Richard Knox has been suspended from MI5. His immediate boss, James Holland, the Director General of MI5 is in a coma. Knox won’t reveal what he knows and his colleagues are aware that both he, and Holland, suspected a Soviet mole in MI5. Nothing makes you quite as unpopular as spying on your colleagues and so, when the new Director General, Gordon Manning, gives Knox a chance to prove himself, Knox is wise to suspect his motives.
Two Italians have been found dead and the men were known to break into electronic systems. With London about to host the inaugural conference of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and development, Manning tells Knox to discover who killed the men, and why. Meanwhile, hidden in a ‘Science city,’ on the Finnish border, closed off from the outside world, Irina Valera is about to make a breakthrough. When personal tragedy strikes, she finds herself with nothing to lose. Meanwhile, Knox teams up with Abey Bennett, a CIA agent, stationed in London and it is these three characters, whose stories gradually collide.
This spy thriller has a really good background and characters. Glister interweaves the characters stories well and gives them depth. In particular, I found Irina’s story compelling and learnt a lot about the way scientists were treated during those years – denied not only funding, but often having even food withheld to keep them in line. Overall, an interesting debut about technology which, although in its infancy then, is now extremely relevant. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
Two Italians have been found dead and the men were known to break into electronic systems. With London about to host the inaugural conference of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and development, Manning tells Knox to discover who killed the men, and why. Meanwhile, hidden in a ‘Science city,’ on the Finnish border, closed off from the outside world, Irina Valera is about to make a breakthrough. When personal tragedy strikes, she finds herself with nothing to lose. Meanwhile, Knox teams up with Abey Bennett, a CIA agent, stationed in London and it is these three characters, whose stories gradually collide.
This spy thriller has a really good background and characters. Glister interweaves the characters stories well and gives them depth. In particular, I found Irina’s story compelling and learnt a lot about the way scientists were treated during those years – denied not only funding, but often having even food withheld to keep them in line. Overall, an interesting debut about technology which, although in its infancy then, is now extremely relevant. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
January 30, 2021
Richard Knox is a secret agent in big trouble. He’s been hung out to dry by a traitor in MI5, and the only way to clear his name could destroy him. Meanwhile in a secret Russian city, brilliant scientist Irina Valera makes a discovery that will change the world, and hand the KGB unimaginable power
Desperate for a way back into MI5, Knox finds an unlikely ally in Abey Bennett, a CIA recruit who’s determined to prove herself whatever the cost…
Quite an interesting read! Not something that I am familiar with and I enjoyed it more than I expected!
It is such a well written plot and narrated through the detailed versions of the three main characters Richard Knox, Abey Bennett and Irina Valera. The background stories of all the three of them are so engaging. It covers all the elements relating to the Cold War era such as the secrecy, spies network, espionage and the competition among the major world powers.
Apart from all the interesting historical facts, the plot also contains sufficient twists to keep you engaged right till the end. Overall, an excellent spy thriller!
Thank You NetGalley and Oneworld Publications for this ARC!
Desperate for a way back into MI5, Knox finds an unlikely ally in Abey Bennett, a CIA recruit who’s determined to prove herself whatever the cost…
Quite an interesting read! Not something that I am familiar with and I enjoyed it more than I expected!
It is such a well written plot and narrated through the detailed versions of the three main characters Richard Knox, Abey Bennett and Irina Valera. The background stories of all the three of them are so engaging. It covers all the elements relating to the Cold War era such as the secrecy, spies network, espionage and the competition among the major world powers.
Apart from all the interesting historical facts, the plot also contains sufficient twists to keep you engaged right till the end. Overall, an excellent spy thriller!
Thank You NetGalley and Oneworld Publications for this ARC!
October 7, 2021
Discover the locations in the novel
I picked this up as I was compelled by it despite not really likening spy novels. Well, this could be the one that turns that on its head! Completely engaging and compelling. This guy has a way of making a complex subject (to me) interesting and page turning!
You can tell the level of research Tim has done to get this story into an easy to understand and navigate thriller. Impressive for a debut!
The setting of the Cold War and the 'war' on so many front between the various spy agencies of various countries was something I had never read before. We are taken to the heart of Mi5 and how an agent is now suspected of being a traitor. There's an atmosphere of suspicion and doubt everywhere and as a reader, I found myself in London, Russia and a few places in between in some of the most claustrophobic settings ever! The secret town in the Russian woods for example was VERY interesting.
Tim really has brought this secretive period of history to life and the tension throughout is passable. There's so much to get your teeth into and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If political history at university had been this interesting.....
Recommended!
November 1, 2025
Tim Glister’s Red Corona is an espionage novel set in the early 1960s Cold War period. The writing carries a distinctly English air about it. The book has a clear storyline that entertains, but with little suspense.
The novel captures the essential elements of Cold War intrigue without the subtleties often found in more sophisticated present-day offerings. Perhaps its straightforward approach to spycraft reflects the period it portrays.
While the clarity and directness are refreshing, they also limit the book's depth. Character development is light, offering little room for exploration of internal conflict or moral ambiguity. The book reads like a traditional Western of good guys and bad guys. There is little intellectual stimulation.
Red Corona is a decent, engaging work for readers who prefer an uncomplicated, period-specific spy narrative, colored with a strong English ambience. The book will not revolutionize espionage fiction but does provides an enjoyable Cold War thriller suitable for leisurely, indulgent reading.
The novel captures the essential elements of Cold War intrigue without the subtleties often found in more sophisticated present-day offerings. Perhaps its straightforward approach to spycraft reflects the period it portrays.
While the clarity and directness are refreshing, they also limit the book's depth. Character development is light, offering little room for exploration of internal conflict or moral ambiguity. The book reads like a traditional Western of good guys and bad guys. There is little intellectual stimulation.
Red Corona is a decent, engaging work for readers who prefer an uncomplicated, period-specific spy narrative, colored with a strong English ambience. The book will not revolutionize espionage fiction but does provides an enjoyable Cold War thriller suitable for leisurely, indulgent reading.
January 21, 2021
Set primarily in London in 1961, this is an old-school spy novel reminiscent of classic John le Carré.
Richard Knox is a senior MI5 officer under a cloud of suspicion. He doesn't have the traditional public school background of most of the service at the time (MI5 recruit more broadly now and things have reputedly changed), and is the protégé of James Holland, the Director General. He's long suspected a mole within the service, and has his suspicions who it might be. But when Holland ends up in a coma, his wife having discovered him unconscious and unresponsive at home, he's hung out to dry.
When two Italians of interest to MI5 are murdered in their London home, the new acting DG, Gordon Manning, and his right-hand man, Nicholas Peterson, set Knox investigating their deaths. Manning is well aware Knox suspects him of being the traitor, and so from the outset Knox is wary the DG is setting him up to fail.
The plot of Red Corona revolves around two pieces of technology, an innovative MI5 bugging technology which they fear the Russians have got hold of, and American spy satellites. MI5 wants to keep their surveillance technology out of the hands of both the Russians and the Americans (the latter, because if the Americans have it, the British will have no information to trade with in return for US information) while the American satellite technology they are unaware of until late in the story. The Italians had details of the British technology in their possession when they died, which causes Knox to fear the worst, and his investigations lead him to discover a conspiracy far more perilous than the one he imagined.
Both technologies that are at the heart of the plot are harbingers of the global surveillance technology in use today, and reading this book it's quaint to see what technology was in use and how far things have come. It's also frightening to realise how intrusive the abilities of the modern agencies are. Indeed, Knox can see the portents of the future, and worries in particular about the US satellite system once he learns of it.
Red Corona is a claustrophobic cold war spy thriller which captures the age period well. It's tightly plotted and engaging. This is a novel originally set for publication in 2020, but like many titles, its publishers delayed its release because of the pandemic. Indeed, I've had an advance copy for almost a year now, (as I'm sure have other reviewers). This is a great novel which deserves to sell well, and now it's finally hitting the bookshelves, I can highly recommend it.
Richard Knox is a senior MI5 officer under a cloud of suspicion. He doesn't have the traditional public school background of most of the service at the time (MI5 recruit more broadly now and things have reputedly changed), and is the protégé of James Holland, the Director General. He's long suspected a mole within the service, and has his suspicions who it might be. But when Holland ends up in a coma, his wife having discovered him unconscious and unresponsive at home, he's hung out to dry.
When two Italians of interest to MI5 are murdered in their London home, the new acting DG, Gordon Manning, and his right-hand man, Nicholas Peterson, set Knox investigating their deaths. Manning is well aware Knox suspects him of being the traitor, and so from the outset Knox is wary the DG is setting him up to fail.
The plot of Red Corona revolves around two pieces of technology, an innovative MI5 bugging technology which they fear the Russians have got hold of, and American spy satellites. MI5 wants to keep their surveillance technology out of the hands of both the Russians and the Americans (the latter, because if the Americans have it, the British will have no information to trade with in return for US information) while the American satellite technology they are unaware of until late in the story. The Italians had details of the British technology in their possession when they died, which causes Knox to fear the worst, and his investigations lead him to discover a conspiracy far more perilous than the one he imagined.
Both technologies that are at the heart of the plot are harbingers of the global surveillance technology in use today, and reading this book it's quaint to see what technology was in use and how far things have come. It's also frightening to realise how intrusive the abilities of the modern agencies are. Indeed, Knox can see the portents of the future, and worries in particular about the US satellite system once he learns of it.
Red Corona is a claustrophobic cold war spy thriller which captures the age period well. It's tightly plotted and engaging. This is a novel originally set for publication in 2020, but like many titles, its publishers delayed its release because of the pandemic. Indeed, I've had an advance copy for almost a year now, (as I'm sure have other reviewers). This is a great novel which deserves to sell well, and now it's finally hitting the bookshelves, I can highly recommend it.
April 19, 2021
Red Corona heralds the arrival of a bright new voice in spy fiction. I absolutely loved this book. It has everything a book should have. It starts off with a bang and one must give credit to Tim Glister for his brilliant writing as connects all the different plot strands into one. Characterization was top notch and I've thought of the characters long after turning the final page. A treat for lovers of spy thrillers, this is an unputdownable read that will easily go down as one of the best ever in its genre. Don't miss it for the world. Tim Glister has truly arrived!
January 9, 2022
Did not finish. Very disappointed. Felt like a first draft of a book, not adequately polished for publication.
May 4, 2020
I feel I need to start this review by making it clear that despite the title, Red Corona is not linked to the current crisis and is just one of those strange coincidences that life throws up sometimes. The Corona in question here refers to the Cold War American reconnaissance satellite project, named after the outer layer of the sun's atmosphere that only becomes visible during an eclipse. It's a fitting name for this gripping espionage thriller which gives readers a glimpse into that which isn't usually seen by most of society.
The three narrative strands of the novel follow a British MI5 agent, Richard Knox, Russian scientist, Irina Valera and ambitious CIA recruit, Abey Bennett with their separate storylines gradually drawn together as their countries all vie to gain an advantage over global friends and enemies in a world slowly adjusting to a new order after the Second World War. Until recently Knox has been the right hand man of James Holland, the director general of MI5 and was feted as the officer who had broken the Calder Hall spy ring. However, this major triumph now seems like a hollow victory as Holland lies unconscious and unresponsive in hospital and after refusing to admit his whereabouts on the night his boss was found, Knox has been suspended. Convinced there may be a mole in MI5, he is given a lifeline by the acting DG but he suspects Manning himself may be the traitor and with Watchers monitoring his every move, it soon becomes obvious that he is involved in a risky game of cat and mouse. His chapters form the main part of the novel and as the cynical outsider he is a compelling character with the sort of backstory which means I would very much welcome reading more about his exploits - past and present - in the future. His troubled history is touched upon here but his current predicament is far more pressing,with potential enemies at almost every turn in a Sixties London richly brought to life.
Meanwhile, Irina lives with her young son in the Povenets B, the former prison turned science city in Karelia. As the daughter of a celebrated linguist who was accused of being a Chinese spy and killed in the Great Purge, her life hasn't been easy and she was tempted to move from Leningrad to Povenets B by the promise of a higher standard of living and unlimited research budgets. It has proven to be a decision she regrets, thanks to GRU administrator Zukolev's harsh treatment of the scientists and their families, and their regimented lifestyle includes a limited supply of food and constant demands for more scientific results. It's clear that her position is a precarious one and Tim Glister vividly describes the severity of life under the regime amidst the knowledge that to be considered a traitor or a failure could result in a harsh prison sentence or even death. When she is presented with a choice, it's patently clear that she has few other options available to her and her actions are understandable even when not lawful.
If Red Corona is an uncompromising look at spy work during the Cold War, Abey Bennett does at least provide a little light relief at times - particularly when we learn more about her unorthodox training methods. She is a hugely likeable character; intelligent and determined but with a lack of experience which risks leading her into situations she isn't prepared for. She joins forces with Knox but it's an uneasy alliance at times as the increasingly dangerous stakes mean they have to decide to trust one another without ever truly knowing what secrets each are protecting - or why. This cleverly structured thriller has several tense scenes and there is always a lingering sense of danger but perhaps the most unsettling passage comes when Knox considers the difference between fiction's depiction of spycraft which features malignant forces eternally watching the population and the strict rules of engagement he follows and accepts most spies adhere to most of the time. He wonders how much the world might change with mass surveillance programmes in place, where every act, thought or statement may be scrutinised. Red Corona is a fascinating exploration of the innovation and ambition of the sixties Cold War period and and captures with superb authenticity the paranoia of the time but it's also sobering to recognise how far we have come - for good or ill - since then as our right to privacy becomes ever more challenged by technological advancements. It's a credit to the author too, that the riveting action sequences are matched by the sharp, insightful examination of individual loyalties, whether to country or on a more personal level and the various dilemmas that ensue as a result.
Taut, ambitious and engaging with a superb sense of time and place, Red Corona is an excellent debut thriller and Tim Glister an author to watch. Highly recommended.
The three narrative strands of the novel follow a British MI5 agent, Richard Knox, Russian scientist, Irina Valera and ambitious CIA recruit, Abey Bennett with their separate storylines gradually drawn together as their countries all vie to gain an advantage over global friends and enemies in a world slowly adjusting to a new order after the Second World War. Until recently Knox has been the right hand man of James Holland, the director general of MI5 and was feted as the officer who had broken the Calder Hall spy ring. However, this major triumph now seems like a hollow victory as Holland lies unconscious and unresponsive in hospital and after refusing to admit his whereabouts on the night his boss was found, Knox has been suspended. Convinced there may be a mole in MI5, he is given a lifeline by the acting DG but he suspects Manning himself may be the traitor and with Watchers monitoring his every move, it soon becomes obvious that he is involved in a risky game of cat and mouse. His chapters form the main part of the novel and as the cynical outsider he is a compelling character with the sort of backstory which means I would very much welcome reading more about his exploits - past and present - in the future. His troubled history is touched upon here but his current predicament is far more pressing,with potential enemies at almost every turn in a Sixties London richly brought to life.
Meanwhile, Irina lives with her young son in the Povenets B, the former prison turned science city in Karelia. As the daughter of a celebrated linguist who was accused of being a Chinese spy and killed in the Great Purge, her life hasn't been easy and she was tempted to move from Leningrad to Povenets B by the promise of a higher standard of living and unlimited research budgets. It has proven to be a decision she regrets, thanks to GRU administrator Zukolev's harsh treatment of the scientists and their families, and their regimented lifestyle includes a limited supply of food and constant demands for more scientific results. It's clear that her position is a precarious one and Tim Glister vividly describes the severity of life under the regime amidst the knowledge that to be considered a traitor or a failure could result in a harsh prison sentence or even death. When she is presented with a choice, it's patently clear that she has few other options available to her and her actions are understandable even when not lawful.
If Red Corona is an uncompromising look at spy work during the Cold War, Abey Bennett does at least provide a little light relief at times - particularly when we learn more about her unorthodox training methods. She is a hugely likeable character; intelligent and determined but with a lack of experience which risks leading her into situations she isn't prepared for. She joins forces with Knox but it's an uneasy alliance at times as the increasingly dangerous stakes mean they have to decide to trust one another without ever truly knowing what secrets each are protecting - or why. This cleverly structured thriller has several tense scenes and there is always a lingering sense of danger but perhaps the most unsettling passage comes when Knox considers the difference between fiction's depiction of spycraft which features malignant forces eternally watching the population and the strict rules of engagement he follows and accepts most spies adhere to most of the time. He wonders how much the world might change with mass surveillance programmes in place, where every act, thought or statement may be scrutinised. Red Corona is a fascinating exploration of the innovation and ambition of the sixties Cold War period and and captures with superb authenticity the paranoia of the time but it's also sobering to recognise how far we have come - for good or ill - since then as our right to privacy becomes ever more challenged by technological advancements. It's a credit to the author too, that the riveting action sequences are matched by the sharp, insightful examination of individual loyalties, whether to country or on a more personal level and the various dilemmas that ensue as a result.
Taut, ambitious and engaging with a superb sense of time and place, Red Corona is an excellent debut thriller and Tim Glister an author to watch. Highly recommended.
February 23, 2021
This is a spy thriller set in 1961, when the Corona programme was the American’s attempt to establish a surveillance programme as part of the “Space Race” with the Russians. While pushing the edges of knowledge and experiment, this was still a very basic race of people fighting for information, and it is through the eyes of three people Glister has chosen to demonstrate how very delicate the balance was. This is a powerful story of three people, two women and one man, who embody much about the Cold War battle of scientists and spies. Set mainly in a battle scarred London of buildings damaged and destroyed in the recent blitz, three people battle for their freedom and lives against forces that are seemingly one step ahead. Richard Knox is an agent of MI5 forced out by a recent mysterious incident, but he is keen to discover what is really going on. Irina Valera is a brilliant scientist with a breakthrough idea - and little left to lose. Abey Bennett is a rare CIA recruit who is fighting a system which has dismissed her for her entire life, but who has a determination to discover the truth. This taut and powerful novel twists and turns as three people discover that trust is a rare thing, and that knowledge can be power. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this brilliant debut novel.
As the novel opens, Knox is in a London pub, struggling to come to terms with his effective dismissal from MI5 as his immediate boss and chief supporter, Holland, has disappeared from the scene. He is thrown a case to investigate amidst his gloom, and soon discovers that the implications of two dead bodies may well exceed a double murder, and points to a bigger conspiracy. Meanwhile in a Russian village Valera and her young son struggle for a bare existence in a town almost run on prison camp lines. Her work on communications in space may well be on the cutting edge of changing the world, but her son attends a school next to a power station, and food is only available to those in favour with the man in charge of the area. A grim existence is destroyed at the moment of her discovery of a new idea, and her next actions will mean a change into more danger. Bennett knows that her parentage and gender has always worked against her despite her determination and talent, and has discovered that her work in the American Embassy in London has not meant new opportunities for more meaningful challenges unless she seeks them out for herself.
None of the three characters are prepared for the dangers that they are running in this superb thriller as the twists and turns mean everything is threatened. The scientific research represented by this novel is tremendous; the early sixties was a time of immense breakthroughs in many ways, but also a time of the jealous guarding of knowledge and those who possessed it. As the various agencies and forces in play in this genuinely gripping book collide, I found it a very human and understandable thriller that held my interest throughout. This is a very well written, paced and plotted book, and I thoroughly recommend it as an exciting read.
As the novel opens, Knox is in a London pub, struggling to come to terms with his effective dismissal from MI5 as his immediate boss and chief supporter, Holland, has disappeared from the scene. He is thrown a case to investigate amidst his gloom, and soon discovers that the implications of two dead bodies may well exceed a double murder, and points to a bigger conspiracy. Meanwhile in a Russian village Valera and her young son struggle for a bare existence in a town almost run on prison camp lines. Her work on communications in space may well be on the cutting edge of changing the world, but her son attends a school next to a power station, and food is only available to those in favour with the man in charge of the area. A grim existence is destroyed at the moment of her discovery of a new idea, and her next actions will mean a change into more danger. Bennett knows that her parentage and gender has always worked against her despite her determination and talent, and has discovered that her work in the American Embassy in London has not meant new opportunities for more meaningful challenges unless she seeks them out for herself.
None of the three characters are prepared for the dangers that they are running in this superb thriller as the twists and turns mean everything is threatened. The scientific research represented by this novel is tremendous; the early sixties was a time of immense breakthroughs in many ways, but also a time of the jealous guarding of knowledge and those who possessed it. As the various agencies and forces in play in this genuinely gripping book collide, I found it a very human and understandable thriller that held my interest throughout. This is a very well written, paced and plotted book, and I thoroughly recommend it as an exciting read.
February 15, 2021
I chose this book on the basis of a recommendation from Charles Cumming, whose books I have always enjoyed for their compelling plots and generally empathetic protagonists.
The field of contemporary spy fiction is currently rather crowded with the likes of Cumming and Mick Herron securing loyal followings. Tim Glister’s book is, however, set in the past, and focuses on the development of the Cold War in the early 1960s. it is an interesting, and fertile period to choose: the Soviet Union had unsettled American complacency by managing to be the first superpower to send a man into space, and both sides are eager to explore the potential of the spy satellite.
The principal character here is Knox, a dogged senior operative within MI5. As the novel opens, he has just been suspended for disciplinary issues. Having been a bit of an outside, unable to call on the connections afforded to most of his more affluent colleagues through the old boy network, his own progress had been achieved mainly by merit, although he did have a powerful mentor in the shape of Holland, the former Director General of the Service. Holland has, however, succumbed to a sudden stroke, and his acting successor, Manning, is far from a fan of Knox. That antipathy is mutual, and Knox is becoming increasingly convinced that Manning is a Soviet mole.
Meanwhile, in a closed city in the northern reaches of Russia, in the arctic wastes near the Finnish border, accomplished scientist Irina Valera is engaged in experiments to test new means of radio communication between the earth and orbiting satellites, while struggling also to overcome the prejudices and inequalities that her gender cause for her. Disaster will soon befall Valera, driving her to turn her back on her past and seek freedom, at whatever personal cost. Valera’s and Knox’s paths will soon cross in the most devastating manner.
This is a fast paced story, and Glister focuses on the plot. It would not be fair to say the characters are two dimensional, but he does not tarry overlong to develop them. The plot is sufficiently robust for this not to detract from the novel. I may have been a bit spoiled in the past, having grown accustomed to the purple prose of le Carre, or the bawdy hinterland of Mick Herron’s Jackson Lamb, but this brisk tale, perhaps more grounded in the tradition of John Buchan (although without his beautiful prose) offered a welcome temporary change.
The field of contemporary spy fiction is currently rather crowded with the likes of Cumming and Mick Herron securing loyal followings. Tim Glister’s book is, however, set in the past, and focuses on the development of the Cold War in the early 1960s. it is an interesting, and fertile period to choose: the Soviet Union had unsettled American complacency by managing to be the first superpower to send a man into space, and both sides are eager to explore the potential of the spy satellite.
The principal character here is Knox, a dogged senior operative within MI5. As the novel opens, he has just been suspended for disciplinary issues. Having been a bit of an outside, unable to call on the connections afforded to most of his more affluent colleagues through the old boy network, his own progress had been achieved mainly by merit, although he did have a powerful mentor in the shape of Holland, the former Director General of the Service. Holland has, however, succumbed to a sudden stroke, and his acting successor, Manning, is far from a fan of Knox. That antipathy is mutual, and Knox is becoming increasingly convinced that Manning is a Soviet mole.
Meanwhile, in a closed city in the northern reaches of Russia, in the arctic wastes near the Finnish border, accomplished scientist Irina Valera is engaged in experiments to test new means of radio communication between the earth and orbiting satellites, while struggling also to overcome the prejudices and inequalities that her gender cause for her. Disaster will soon befall Valera, driving her to turn her back on her past and seek freedom, at whatever personal cost. Valera’s and Knox’s paths will soon cross in the most devastating manner.
This is a fast paced story, and Glister focuses on the plot. It would not be fair to say the characters are two dimensional, but he does not tarry overlong to develop them. The plot is sufficiently robust for this not to detract from the novel. I may have been a bit spoiled in the past, having grown accustomed to the purple prose of le Carre, or the bawdy hinterland of Mick Herron’s Jackson Lamb, but this brisk tale, perhaps more grounded in the tradition of John Buchan (although without his beautiful prose) offered a welcome temporary change.
January 30, 2021
A debut of the highest quality, oozing tension and drama. Packs a punch. There is a new author on the thriller block.
Synopsis:
British secret agent Richard Knox has been hung out to dry by someone in MI5, and whilst his former boss lies in a coma, he needs to find the traitor in their midst.
Meanwhile in Russia Irina Valera discovers the secret to sending messages through space, a technology that could change the world. But a terrible accident forces her to flee.
Desperate for a way back into MI5, Knox makes an unlikely ally in Abey Bennett, one of the CIA’s only female recruits, realising that Valera’s technology in the hands of the KGB could be catastrophic for the West.
My Thoughts;
In essence what you have here is a wholly gripping thriller set during the Cold War, as Richard Knox tries to restore his reputation and uncover a KGB mole at the heart of the secret service. The author has written characters who are compelling not only in their manner but in their traits, they have depth, you can feel them alive on the pages, you can instantly relate to both Knox and Bennett, are they perfect no, do they have flaws yes, but this only enhances their characters, however I found myself more drawn to Irina and her story, a daily struggle to survive in the harshest of conditions.
There has clearly been plenty of research carried out and this blends superbly with the fiction within the narrative of the book, The setting and locations within the book only add to the atmosphere
The author has created a well plotted thriller with a pace to match the times, there is a wonderful mix of tension and taut drama, the plot twists keep you guessing all the way to end.
Red Corona will keep you hooked from the opening pages until the dramatic ending, enjoy the ride along the way, this for me was a one day read, it is difficult to put the book down once started.
A highly engaging historical thriller, one I would have no hesitation in recommending
I for one eagerly await the authors next book
Synopsis:
British secret agent Richard Knox has been hung out to dry by someone in MI5, and whilst his former boss lies in a coma, he needs to find the traitor in their midst.
Meanwhile in Russia Irina Valera discovers the secret to sending messages through space, a technology that could change the world. But a terrible accident forces her to flee.
Desperate for a way back into MI5, Knox makes an unlikely ally in Abey Bennett, one of the CIA’s only female recruits, realising that Valera’s technology in the hands of the KGB could be catastrophic for the West.
My Thoughts;
In essence what you have here is a wholly gripping thriller set during the Cold War, as Richard Knox tries to restore his reputation and uncover a KGB mole at the heart of the secret service. The author has written characters who are compelling not only in their manner but in their traits, they have depth, you can feel them alive on the pages, you can instantly relate to both Knox and Bennett, are they perfect no, do they have flaws yes, but this only enhances their characters, however I found myself more drawn to Irina and her story, a daily struggle to survive in the harshest of conditions.
There has clearly been plenty of research carried out and this blends superbly with the fiction within the narrative of the book, The setting and locations within the book only add to the atmosphere
The author has created a well plotted thriller with a pace to match the times, there is a wonderful mix of tension and taut drama, the plot twists keep you guessing all the way to end.
Red Corona will keep you hooked from the opening pages until the dramatic ending, enjoy the ride along the way, this for me was a one day read, it is difficult to put the book down once started.
A highly engaging historical thriller, one I would have no hesitation in recommending
I for one eagerly await the authors next book
December 17, 2020
Rating: 1.8/5
The first quarter of the novel is decent enough. Here we are introduced to the background events and also to the key protagonists in a writing style is flowing and easily digestible. With the groundwork done and feeling sufficiently invested in the central characters, I was ready for the story to kick on. But it never really does.
Instead of building on its opening foundations the subsequent plot and character development is decidedly lacking. There is no real sense of intrigue and growing suspense that a reader would expect from a Cold War spy novel. There is no shift in gear, the pace remains pedestrian and the narrative is mostly quite simplistic and even amateurish at times. The result is an unconvincing plot acted out by uninspiring, forgettable characters.
By the end I felt a degree of sympathy for the writer. He clearly has a keen interest in the world of espionage and the exploration of space, but it takes more than a passion for a particular subject to turn it into a compelling piece of fiction. The early chapters showed that there is some ability there, but overall this book felt as though it still needed a couple of redrafts before it was ready for publication.
On another day I might have even been tempted to deem this a 1-star read, but with some allowance for it being a debut novel, and in recognition of the fact that the opening 25% was quite engaging, I decided on a low-end 2-star rating.
The first quarter of the novel is decent enough. Here we are introduced to the background events and also to the key protagonists in a writing style is flowing and easily digestible. With the groundwork done and feeling sufficiently invested in the central characters, I was ready for the story to kick on. But it never really does.
Instead of building on its opening foundations the subsequent plot and character development is decidedly lacking. There is no real sense of intrigue and growing suspense that a reader would expect from a Cold War spy novel. There is no shift in gear, the pace remains pedestrian and the narrative is mostly quite simplistic and even amateurish at times. The result is an unconvincing plot acted out by uninspiring, forgettable characters.
By the end I felt a degree of sympathy for the writer. He clearly has a keen interest in the world of espionage and the exploration of space, but it takes more than a passion for a particular subject to turn it into a compelling piece of fiction. The early chapters showed that there is some ability there, but overall this book felt as though it still needed a couple of redrafts before it was ready for publication.
On another day I might have even been tempted to deem this a 1-star read, but with some allowance for it being a debut novel, and in recognition of the fact that the opening 25% was quite engaging, I decided on a low-end 2-star rating.
January 29, 2021
Never fear! Red Corona is NOT about the pandemic. I for one don’t think I could stomach a novel about coronavirus quite this soon, but rest assured that if you pick up this book, you’ll be whisked away from “all this’ and into cold war-era London.
There’s something rotten at the heart of MI5 and Richard Knox is the man appointed to find out the truth, just as an important International conference – with lots of potential for snooping – is set to take place in London. But is Knox being double-crossed? Only a determined CIA recruit can help him find the answers to professional and personal questions…
Don’t you just love an honest-to-goodness spy novel? There are so many books written these days about modern threats to our country, but the cold war is still a rich seam to mine from. To continue my terrible analogy, Tim Glister has certainly mined deeply to create a vivid and detailed novel that will stand up against any of the best in the spy genre.
The 1960s period is often these days portrayed only for its positive points, so it’s great here to see the realities of a London that is still marked with bomb craters and MI5 still mired in the class system – Knox is looked down on for being an East-End orphan and not an old Etonian. Nostalgia is great, but taking the rose-tinted glasses off once in a while is a good thing!
What stuck out for me most in the book is that, while many novels of this genre are firmly set up as ‘the old boys club’, two of the most prominent characters of Red Corona are women – and intelligent, resourceful women at that! That’s great to see, and I felt that Adey Bennett would be good character to follow in a future novel. Her personal battles are being fought on several fronts – on gender lines and racial lines – but she is like a dog with a bone and I really took to her.
The most important part of Red Corona – the mystery – was excellent. There are several layers to it, involving poisoning, murder, unsanctioned operations and a potential conspiracy to the highest levels of MI5 but Knox first has to work out if his suspicions are true, or whether the chip on his shoulder is leading him towards the wrong conclusions. Finding out the answers leads to that most overused of phrases – a book I really couldn’t put down!
There’s something rotten at the heart of MI5 and Richard Knox is the man appointed to find out the truth, just as an important International conference – with lots of potential for snooping – is set to take place in London. But is Knox being double-crossed? Only a determined CIA recruit can help him find the answers to professional and personal questions…
Don’t you just love an honest-to-goodness spy novel? There are so many books written these days about modern threats to our country, but the cold war is still a rich seam to mine from. To continue my terrible analogy, Tim Glister has certainly mined deeply to create a vivid and detailed novel that will stand up against any of the best in the spy genre.
The 1960s period is often these days portrayed only for its positive points, so it’s great here to see the realities of a London that is still marked with bomb craters and MI5 still mired in the class system – Knox is looked down on for being an East-End orphan and not an old Etonian. Nostalgia is great, but taking the rose-tinted glasses off once in a while is a good thing!
What stuck out for me most in the book is that, while many novels of this genre are firmly set up as ‘the old boys club’, two of the most prominent characters of Red Corona are women – and intelligent, resourceful women at that! That’s great to see, and I felt that Adey Bennett would be good character to follow in a future novel. Her personal battles are being fought on several fronts – on gender lines and racial lines – but she is like a dog with a bone and I really took to her.
The most important part of Red Corona – the mystery – was excellent. There are several layers to it, involving poisoning, murder, unsanctioned operations and a potential conspiracy to the highest levels of MI5 but Knox first has to work out if his suspicions are true, or whether the chip on his shoulder is leading him towards the wrong conclusions. Finding out the answers leads to that most overused of phrases – a book I really couldn’t put down!
May 7, 2020
"Red Corona" is a glorious spy novel which transports us back to the early sixties and the height of the Khrushchev / Kennedy Cold War crisis. The KGB, MI5, MI6 and the CIA are all working independently to edge ahead in the space race spying on each other, agents bumping up against each other as they try to make the critical technical satellite communications breakthrough. The story revolves around an MI5 agent in London Richard Knox seeking out a KGB mole and the recent defector from the USSR Irina Valera.
Tension builds as each side in this non-war battles for custody of the Russian defector whilst Knox critically must identify the KGB mole to save his career!
I also loved the many cultural references of the time.
"Red Corona" is a pacy novel that delivers a number of unexpected twists but comes to a satisfying conclusion.
Tension builds as each side in this non-war battles for custody of the Russian defector whilst Knox critically must identify the KGB mole to save his career!
I also loved the many cultural references of the time.
"Red Corona" is a pacy novel that delivers a number of unexpected twists but comes to a satisfying conclusion.
February 18, 2021
Had high expectations for this Cold War space race thriller. But the only thing left in the cold was me the reader. The book was very very light and sketchy on details about the satellites and technology around it. Was definitely no Tom Clancy type book.
The characters were ok but again too much unbelievability regarding their jobs. The real spook world involves secrecy and code words and compartments. In this book the folks jumped from place to place and country to country with little regard for the controls around access to info.
Nice first attempt but very weak in too many areas. Author does need to read Clancy before delving into this genre.
The characters were ok but again too much unbelievability regarding their jobs. The real spook world involves secrecy and code words and compartments. In this book the folks jumped from place to place and country to country with little regard for the controls around access to info.
Nice first attempt but very weak in too many areas. Author does need to read Clancy before delving into this genre.
January 18, 2021
Tim Glister’s debut book - hopefully there will be more. A break from crime thrillers for me and was quite refreshing. The book revolves around the space race in the 1960’s between the USA, Britain and Russia to send messages through space.
Characters from MI5, KGB and CIA make this espionage thriller an exciting read and gives us a small insight into how the countries worked both against each other, against themselves in some case and occasionally together to aid their own goals.
I enjoyed the Knox character who is obsessed with finding moles within the MI5, he teams up with a wannabe CIA agent who believes that women could be more of an asset to the spy network.
Overall I truly enjoyed this book which included quite a bit of historical fact mixed with of course the embellishments to make the story enjoyable.
Highly recommended and a quick read.
Thank you to Tim Glister, Point Blank publishers and Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for allowing me to join the tour.
Characters from MI5, KGB and CIA make this espionage thriller an exciting read and gives us a small insight into how the countries worked both against each other, against themselves in some case and occasionally together to aid their own goals.
I enjoyed the Knox character who is obsessed with finding moles within the MI5, he teams up with a wannabe CIA agent who believes that women could be more of an asset to the spy network.
Overall I truly enjoyed this book which included quite a bit of historical fact mixed with of course the embellishments to make the story enjoyable.
Highly recommended and a quick read.
Thank you to Tim Glister, Point Blank publishers and Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for allowing me to join the tour.
December 11, 2024
There's a Russian mole in MI5. This probably shouldn't be a surprise, but this is no Tinker Tailor yarn. The early 1960s space race is up against a communications barrier. The US and the USSR joust in mid air to recover film dropped from the US spy satellite. The key is a brilliant widow. Her breakthrough discovery will be the future, but the Soviet mole stands in the way........and the body count builds.
December 29, 2020
Red Corona is a terrific spy thriller from Tim Glister. It has all the classic elements of the genre, from the hunt for a mole, to someone out for revenge, cover ups, mysterious deaths and all set to the international back drop of the Cold War. Excellent stuff.
May 13, 2021
Give it a go if you like novels set in and around the 60's a good plot
February 4, 2023
This is a propulsive spy thriller. It’s good pulpy fun. I just rated it down a star because the mole was too easy to figure out.
February 9, 2023
I found it difficult to see the plot through the details, wondering how the long description of a wrist watch will contribute to the story. Perhaps this writing style is just not for me. DNF at 20%.
March 11, 2023
Very interesting Spy novel!
February 27, 2021
Having had a long-held love for and fascination with spy fiction, the space race, Russia and 1960s society- both home and abroad, Red Corona ticked so many boxes before I even began reading it- and I was not disappointed. Beginning with seemingly unconnected story lines in Britain, America and the Soviet Union, Tim Glister slowly and precisely draws them together into an international tale of espionage and surveillance that is so entirely readable and fascinating. I was particularly enamoured with the story of Irina Valera which not only focussed on this woman of exceptional intelligence, but also the heart-breaking pathos of her journey from Russia to the West, and her importance to various nefarious agents of the state. With a good old fashioned Le Carre-esque tale of double agents and betrayal at its core, the various branches of the story all held a particular interest for me, and I glided along with Glister’s superb characterisation, and his nifty twists and turns in the plot. If spies, lies and espionage are your thing, as they are mine, you will find much to enjoy here. Highly recommended.
December 3, 2020
Thanks to Oneworld Publications and NetGalleyUK for letting me read this book in advance.
"Red Corona" by Tim Glister is an espionage thriller set in 1961 at the height of the Cold War. It's the time of the Bay of Pigs Invasion, and only a year before the Cuban Missile Crisis.
While British secret agent Richard Knox is suspended, when he can't produce an alibi for the night his boss James Holland was found in a coma, Soviet scientist Irina Valera, who lives in Povenets B, the former gulag turned into science city in Karelia, makes an astonishing discovery that might change the balance of power, if handed to the KGB. Knox suspects there might be a mole within the ranks of the MI5 and ultimately teams up with ambitious CIA recruit Abey Bennet, who is still in her training. As the KGB, MI5, MI6 and the CIA race independently to gain the critical breakthrough in satellite technology, Irina Velra decides to defect from the USSR. A dangerous game of cat and mouse ensues.
Taking his three main characters as a starting point, the author follows their storylines until they interlace and finally meet. Bringing back to life the Swinging Sixties London on the one hand, and the sombre Soviet society on the other hand, "Red Corona" is as much a detailed historic novel as a captivating spy story recreating the Cold War. It seems that Glister has done his homework as far as research is concerned. Since each and every party seems to have its own agenda, there's no simple black and white picture. The complex characters are far from cliché and possess depth as well as the reader's sympathy. There's something of a hero's journey both in Richard Knox's and Irina Valera's narrative, at which Knox's story builds the major part of the novel. At the beginning he seems quite cynical, a troubled history is hinted at. Valeria on the other hand is shown in an area of conflict between her wish to do the right thing and her ambition as a scientist tempted by the promises of a higher standard of living and unlimited research budgets. Amy Bennet serves a little bit as a comic relief, especially when her unorthodox training methods are described, which turns her into a highly likable character. Intelligent and determined, but also with a lack of experience, which leads her into precarious situations she isn't prepared for yet.
Apart from being highly suspense-packed, the fast paced novel bursts with cultural references of the time. There are a number of surprising plot twists, some action and a satisfying conclusion. Glister manages superbly to transport the reader back to the era of Cold War suspicion, competing political systems and technological advances that still influence our lives today. At one point Knox contemplates the possible implication of constant surveillance, foreshadowing what we experience through the internet, mobile communication and spy satellites. This has been written, of course, with present-day knowledge. However, it's that time when it started.
"Red Corona" is a brilliant debut. If you're a fan of Richard Harris, you'll love this book. Tim Glister is a writer to look out for.
I can recommend "Red Corona" without reservation.
"Red Corona" by Tim Glister is an espionage thriller set in 1961 at the height of the Cold War. It's the time of the Bay of Pigs Invasion, and only a year before the Cuban Missile Crisis.
While British secret agent Richard Knox is suspended, when he can't produce an alibi for the night his boss James Holland was found in a coma, Soviet scientist Irina Valera, who lives in Povenets B, the former gulag turned into science city in Karelia, makes an astonishing discovery that might change the balance of power, if handed to the KGB. Knox suspects there might be a mole within the ranks of the MI5 and ultimately teams up with ambitious CIA recruit Abey Bennet, who is still in her training. As the KGB, MI5, MI6 and the CIA race independently to gain the critical breakthrough in satellite technology, Irina Velra decides to defect from the USSR. A dangerous game of cat and mouse ensues.
Taking his three main characters as a starting point, the author follows their storylines until they interlace and finally meet. Bringing back to life the Swinging Sixties London on the one hand, and the sombre Soviet society on the other hand, "Red Corona" is as much a detailed historic novel as a captivating spy story recreating the Cold War. It seems that Glister has done his homework as far as research is concerned. Since each and every party seems to have its own agenda, there's no simple black and white picture. The complex characters are far from cliché and possess depth as well as the reader's sympathy. There's something of a hero's journey both in Richard Knox's and Irina Valera's narrative, at which Knox's story builds the major part of the novel. At the beginning he seems quite cynical, a troubled history is hinted at. Valeria on the other hand is shown in an area of conflict between her wish to do the right thing and her ambition as a scientist tempted by the promises of a higher standard of living and unlimited research budgets. Amy Bennet serves a little bit as a comic relief, especially when her unorthodox training methods are described, which turns her into a highly likable character. Intelligent and determined, but also with a lack of experience, which leads her into precarious situations she isn't prepared for yet.
Apart from being highly suspense-packed, the fast paced novel bursts with cultural references of the time. There are a number of surprising plot twists, some action and a satisfying conclusion. Glister manages superbly to transport the reader back to the era of Cold War suspicion, competing political systems and technological advances that still influence our lives today. At one point Knox contemplates the possible implication of constant surveillance, foreshadowing what we experience through the internet, mobile communication and spy satellites. This has been written, of course, with present-day knowledge. However, it's that time when it started.
"Red Corona" is a brilliant debut. If you're a fan of Richard Harris, you'll love this book. Tim Glister is a writer to look out for.
I can recommend "Red Corona" without reservation.
December 30, 2023
Definitely didn't dislike it but was a wee bit underwhelmed.
First of all, I went in with quite low expectations as I'd flicked through it and wasn't sure if the writing style was to my taste.
The chapters were very short (3-4 pages for many) and the jumping from the perspective of four or five characters was a tad annoying. At times it felt more like a history lesson than a novel.
However, this middle third was well written and pacy but the ending was a bit all over the show. It did leave me with several questions too:
All in all - not bad, not great.
First of all, I went in with quite low expectations as I'd flicked through it and wasn't sure if the writing style was to my taste.
The chapters were very short (3-4 pages for many) and the jumping from the perspective of four or five characters was a tad annoying. At times it felt more like a history lesson than a novel.
However, this middle third was well written and pacy but the ending was a bit all over the show. It did leave me with several questions too:
All in all - not bad, not great.
January 31, 2021
This is an atmospheric spy novel which was sufficiently fast paced that I read it in double quick time. Corona is the name of a new satellite surveillance system that in 1961 is the first game changing spy satellite; but it has one issue: no one yet has worked out how to send complicated radio waves through the upper atmosphere. Whoever figures it out will transform the global power landscape. Meanwhile, Irina Valera, a brilliant Russian scientist, has made a breakthrough, but she is being held by a tyrannical soviet middleman in a secret city inside Russia with very little to hope for her and her son’s bleak existence there.
Richard Knox is an MI5 agent who has been thrown out in the cold after a power change, but he suspects Manning, the new man in charge, of being a soviet mole - it is down to Knox and a rebellious rookie from the CIA to try and prove that and to stop dangerous information that could help the Corona mission from falling into the wrong hands.
This novel is so well written and full of interesting facts about the period and history. The main protagonists, Valera, Knox and Bennet are all people whose stories I was invested in by the end. I could see Knox and Bennet back for future escapades and I hope it happens!
My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher, Oneworld Publications, for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Richard Knox is an MI5 agent who has been thrown out in the cold after a power change, but he suspects Manning, the new man in charge, of being a soviet mole - it is down to Knox and a rebellious rookie from the CIA to try and prove that and to stop dangerous information that could help the Corona mission from falling into the wrong hands.
This novel is so well written and full of interesting facts about the period and history. The main protagonists, Valera, Knox and Bennet are all people whose stories I was invested in by the end. I could see Knox and Bennet back for future escapades and I hope it happens!
My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher, Oneworld Publications, for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2021
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Oneworld Publications - Point Blank, for the ARC.
I really enjoyed this book. It is well-written and extremely atmospheric.
Set in 1961 there are two main strands to the story: in England Richard Knox, a secret agent, is convinced there is a traitor in MI5. His boss, and friend, James Holland, is mysteriously taken ill and because Knox refused to explain his whereabouts at that time he had been suspended. Gordon Manning the now acting director general calls him back to investigate the murders of two Italians who were electronic hackers and it's on the eve of an OECD conference where leaders from the world's most powerful nations were together in London.
Irina Valera is a research scientist living in a secret Russian science city. She's working on a means of satellite communications and makes a powerful discovery, then following a disaster at the city she leaves with her secret, determined to reach Finland, and safety.
The Corona Project is a joint CIA/NASA undertaking to try and perfect space communications and the Russians are doing all they can to beat them to it. What are the scientific scribblings found in the Italian's flat in London? Is there a plot to disrupt the conference? Will Knox find his mole?
A gripping thriller with a final twist. Excellent.
I really enjoyed this book. It is well-written and extremely atmospheric.
Set in 1961 there are two main strands to the story: in England Richard Knox, a secret agent, is convinced there is a traitor in MI5. His boss, and friend, James Holland, is mysteriously taken ill and because Knox refused to explain his whereabouts at that time he had been suspended. Gordon Manning the now acting director general calls him back to investigate the murders of two Italians who were electronic hackers and it's on the eve of an OECD conference where leaders from the world's most powerful nations were together in London.
Irina Valera is a research scientist living in a secret Russian science city. She's working on a means of satellite communications and makes a powerful discovery, then following a disaster at the city she leaves with her secret, determined to reach Finland, and safety.
The Corona Project is a joint CIA/NASA undertaking to try and perfect space communications and the Russians are doing all they can to beat them to it. What are the scientific scribblings found in the Italian's flat in London? Is there a plot to disrupt the conference? Will Knox find his mole?
A gripping thriller with a final twist. Excellent.
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