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Brodick Cold War Thriller #3
Spy Trap
In a shady world where no-one is what they seem, Richard Brodick should know better than to sleep with the enemy …
The year is 1992. As a seasoned British agent, Richard Brodick now occupies a respectable – in as far as any spy can be respectable – position in the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service. The isolation and the danger don’t bother him; he survived far worse in childhood, and the respect of his bosses is sufficient.
But when a British man dies in a Chinese hotel, Brodick finds himself face-to-face once more with the ruthless and ambitious Chen Meilin, better known as Fang, codename DRAGON. Their working relationship both pleases and torments Brodick, but in this case he cannot operate without her.
As they delve deeper into the events surrounding Roger Peacock’s death, Brodick and Fang uncover corruption and betrayal at the heart of China’s communist regime. But as events unfold and their own conflicting interests, hopes and ambitions collide, it is not clear that either of them can survive, this time …
Spy Trap is the final book in John Fullerton’s well-received Brodick spy thriller trilogy. It will please readers of the previous books in the series (Spy Game and Spy Dragon) along with fans of Le Carré, Deighton et al.
Praise for John Fullerton’s Brodick spy thriller trilogy novels:
‘[Spy Game is] A first-rate tale, with all the authority of first-hand experience’ - Luke Jennings, author of the Killing Eve series
‘Fullerton is unmatchable at the details of the frontline spy game, the very believable characters engaged in it, and the cold-eyed, cold-hearted decisions that those who intend to win the game have to take. It is not a game for the faint-hearted’ - Russell James, Shots magazine
‘A thriller written by an insider of how cruel and cunning the espionage world can be. Read it’ - John Sweeney, writer and broadcaster
John Fullerton was born in Dorset, the son of a submariner, and raised in apartheid South Africa. He became a journalist, working on papers in South Africa and then England, and in 1981 travelled to Pakistan, from where he covered the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. During the Cold War he worked on contract to MI6, and in 1983 joined Reuters in Hong Kong, working as a correspondent and editor covering wars in more than 40 countries. Fullerton has written several books, both fiction and non-fiction, and now lives in Scotland.
The year is 1992. As a seasoned British agent, Richard Brodick now occupies a respectable – in as far as any spy can be respectable – position in the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service. The isolation and the danger don’t bother him; he survived far worse in childhood, and the respect of his bosses is sufficient.
But when a British man dies in a Chinese hotel, Brodick finds himself face-to-face once more with the ruthless and ambitious Chen Meilin, better known as Fang, codename DRAGON. Their working relationship both pleases and torments Brodick, but in this case he cannot operate without her.
As they delve deeper into the events surrounding Roger Peacock’s death, Brodick and Fang uncover corruption and betrayal at the heart of China’s communist regime. But as events unfold and their own conflicting interests, hopes and ambitions collide, it is not clear that either of them can survive, this time …
Spy Trap is the final book in John Fullerton’s well-received Brodick spy thriller trilogy. It will please readers of the previous books in the series (Spy Game and Spy Dragon) along with fans of Le Carré, Deighton et al.
Praise for John Fullerton’s Brodick spy thriller trilogy novels:
‘[Spy Game is] A first-rate tale, with all the authority of first-hand experience’ - Luke Jennings, author of the Killing Eve series
‘Fullerton is unmatchable at the details of the frontline spy game, the very believable characters engaged in it, and the cold-eyed, cold-hearted decisions that those who intend to win the game have to take. It is not a game for the faint-hearted’ - Russell James, Shots magazine
‘A thriller written by an insider of how cruel and cunning the espionage world can be. Read it’ - John Sweeney, writer and broadcaster
John Fullerton was born in Dorset, the son of a submariner, and raised in apartheid South Africa. He became a journalist, working on papers in South Africa and then England, and in 1981 travelled to Pakistan, from where he covered the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. During the Cold War he worked on contract to MI6, and in 1983 joined Reuters in Hong Kong, working as a correspondent and editor covering wars in more than 40 countries. Fullerton has written several books, both fiction and non-fiction, and now lives in Scotland.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 22, 2022
12 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
John Fullerton
15 books55 followersJohn Fullerton worked briefly during the Cold War as a 'contract labourer' for Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6, an episode that fired up his interest in fictional espionage. He failed spectacularly in his efforts as a farmer in Zimbabwe and as a trainee financial manager in Cape Town. As a newspaperman, freelance journalist and then Reuters correspondent, he lived or worked in 40 countries and covered a dozen wars. The latter provided some of the settings for his fiction, including Beirut and Sarajevo. His latest thriller, Emperor, was published in 2022. He has an MA with distinction in Buddhist Studies and was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Literary Fund at Roehampton University in 2006/7.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 16, 2022
Authentic, rewarding, relevant, very well written. His best yet.
April 21, 2022
Spy Trap, John Fullerton's final installment in the Richard Brodick Spy Trilogy, is a rollercoaster ride of a book that will not disappoint.
The year is 1992. The Soviet bloc has collapsed and countries are vying for influence in this changing world. Britain is in decline and China is an emerging power on the cusp of assuming an active role on the global stage.
A British businessman has been murdered in a Beijing hotel. The incident has brought together Brodick and his Chinese counterpart, Chen Meilin, otherwise known as Fang. The two have been collaborating since their first encounter in Beirut in 1994 betraying their countries' secrets to each other. Their partnership has been fruitful. London-based Brodick is now the head of UK Station and manages a staff of 54; Fang is responsible for Chinese counterintelligence on a global scale and has four times the number of staff under her supervision. Their mutual sexual attraction also makes them "partners-with-benefits". Added to that, is the ever-present risk that the web of lies they have woven over the years will unravel and they will be exposed as traitors. Danger, betrayal, espionage, political intrigue and sex - a heady mix indeed.
Spy Trap is a well-researched book that provides a glimpse of the inner-workings China's intelligence and security agencies, a topic that you rarely see in the spy thriller genre. It leaves one hoping that Fullerton's next thriller will continue delving into this world.
The year is 1992. The Soviet bloc has collapsed and countries are vying for influence in this changing world. Britain is in decline and China is an emerging power on the cusp of assuming an active role on the global stage.
A British businessman has been murdered in a Beijing hotel. The incident has brought together Brodick and his Chinese counterpart, Chen Meilin, otherwise known as Fang. The two have been collaborating since their first encounter in Beirut in 1994 betraying their countries' secrets to each other. Their partnership has been fruitful. London-based Brodick is now the head of UK Station and manages a staff of 54; Fang is responsible for Chinese counterintelligence on a global scale and has four times the number of staff under her supervision. Their mutual sexual attraction also makes them "partners-with-benefits". Added to that, is the ever-present risk that the web of lies they have woven over the years will unravel and they will be exposed as traitors. Danger, betrayal, espionage, political intrigue and sex - a heady mix indeed.
Spy Trap is a well-researched book that provides a glimpse of the inner-workings China's intelligence and security agencies, a topic that you rarely see in the spy thriller genre. It leaves one hoping that Fullerton's next thriller will continue delving into this world.
May 19, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyable read in the final book of Brodick Trilogy. John always leaves you wanting more!
Great characters and unputdownable. Fantastic page turner. It's hard to write an in-depth review without revealing spoilers, nobody wants that!
Great characters and unputdownable. Fantastic page turner. It's hard to write an in-depth review without revealing spoilers, nobody wants that!
July 24, 2022
This is the final chapter in the Brodick/Fang spy thriller series & I could not wait for this last adventure having read the previous two books.
Brodick is still working for the Secret Intelligence Service. He & Fang (his opposite number in the Chinese equivalent) continue to be double agents expecting to be revealed at any moment.
The death of a British National in China leads to the pair meeting again, uncovering corruption & betrayal at the very core of the Chinese regime.
Will this final escapade expose them both? Will they survive?
A fitting finale to this exciting trilogy that kept me enthralled to the end. The conflicting views of the main characters, their ambitions & hopes for the future all add up to make a gripping novel. I was drawn in & hooked from the start.
A brilliant read & I did not want to put it down. Highly recommended & if I could give it more stars I would.
Brodick is still working for the Secret Intelligence Service. He & Fang (his opposite number in the Chinese equivalent) continue to be double agents expecting to be revealed at any moment.
The death of a British National in China leads to the pair meeting again, uncovering corruption & betrayal at the very core of the Chinese regime.
Will this final escapade expose them both? Will they survive?
A fitting finale to this exciting trilogy that kept me enthralled to the end. The conflicting views of the main characters, their ambitions & hopes for the future all add up to make a gripping novel. I was drawn in & hooked from the start.
A brilliant read & I did not want to put it down. Highly recommended & if I could give it more stars I would.
January 16, 2024
Incredible
So incredible as to be plausible. So much research has gone into this story and education into the world of Intelligence. A great trilogy and all good things come to an appropriate end. Thank you John.
So incredible as to be plausible. So much research has gone into this story and education into the world of Intelligence. A great trilogy and all good things come to an appropriate end. Thank you John.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews