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BOX 88 #3
KENNEDY 35
The third book in Charles Cumming’s gripping new thriller series surrounding BOX 88 – a covert intelligence organization that operates below the radar.
1995: In the wake of the Rwandan genocide, 24-year-old spy Lachlan Kite and his girlfriend, Martha Raine, are sent to Senegal on the trail of a hunted war criminal. The mission threatens to spiral out of control, forcing Kite to make choices which will have devastating consequences not only for his career at top-secret intelligence agency BOX 88, but also for his relationship with Martha.
The present day: Eric Appiah, an old friend from Senegal days, makes contact with Kite claiming to have explosive information about the activities of the Chinese government in Africa. When tragedy strikes, Kite finds himself in the crosshairs of a ruthless international plot which threatens to unravel everything he holds dear.
1995: In the wake of the Rwandan genocide, 24-year-old spy Lachlan Kite and his girlfriend, Martha Raine, are sent to Senegal on the trail of a hunted war criminal. The mission threatens to spiral out of control, forcing Kite to make choices which will have devastating consequences not only for his career at top-secret intelligence agency BOX 88, but also for his relationship with Martha.
The present day: Eric Appiah, an old friend from Senegal days, makes contact with Kite claiming to have explosive information about the activities of the Chinese government in Africa. When tragedy strikes, Kite finds himself in the crosshairs of a ruthless international plot which threatens to unravel everything he holds dear.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2023
530 people are currently reading
2948 people want to read
About the author
Charles Cumming
26 books1,279 followersCharles Cumming is British writer of spy fiction. His international bestselling thrillers including A Spy By Nature, The Spanish Game, Typhoon and The Trinity Six. A former British Secret Service recruit, he is a contributing editor of The Week magazine and lives in London.
http://www.charlescumming.co.uk/
http://www.charlescumming.co.uk/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
August 27, 2023
It’s 1995 and 24 year old British spy Lockie, and his girlfriend Martha have been sent to Senegal acting as backpackers, but their objective is to track down and bring to justice, the Butcher of Kigali, responsible for the shocking slaughter of the Tutsi population.
As the mission spirals ever more out of control, Lockie has to protect his career at top-secret intelligence agency BOX 88, but also his relationship with Martha.
The storyline moves on to 2023, and Lockie’s school friend and off the record Box 88 asset Eric Appiah, makes contact after many years with information about what really happened all those years ago, which leads to another exciting but dangerous mission.
The dual timelines worked well (though I’m not normally a fan), the storyline itself was extremely gripping, and all in all a terrific read.
I understand that author Robert Harris has named author Charles Cumming as the heir-apparent to le Carré’s throne in spy fiction. Who I am I to argue with that? Highly recommended!
*I was invited to read Kennedy 35 by the publisher and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange. *
As the mission spirals ever more out of control, Lockie has to protect his career at top-secret intelligence agency BOX 88, but also his relationship with Martha.
The storyline moves on to 2023, and Lockie’s school friend and off the record Box 88 asset Eric Appiah, makes contact after many years with information about what really happened all those years ago, which leads to another exciting but dangerous mission.
The dual timelines worked well (though I’m not normally a fan), the storyline itself was extremely gripping, and all in all a terrific read.
I understand that author Robert Harris has named author Charles Cumming as the heir-apparent to le Carré’s throne in spy fiction. Who I am I to argue with that? Highly recommended!
*I was invited to read Kennedy 35 by the publisher and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange. *
August 9, 2023
4+
Box 88#3 - Lachlan (Lockie) Kite
Box 88 is a deeply covert U.K./USA espionage group that operates well below the radar.
In 1995, 24-year-old Lockie and his girlfriend Martha Raine are sent to Senegal ostensibly on a backpacking holiday. They are there to track a genocidaire of the Rwandan slaughter of the Tutsi population, the Butcher of Kigali – Augustine Bagaza and bring him to justice. However, the mission goes badly wrong with Lockie caught between a rock and a hard place. In 2022, Lockie’s old friend Eric Appiah,from school days and from Senegal, makes contact with potentially explosive information about the events of 1995, that could threaten Box 88 and those connected with it.
Charles Cumming always delivers a complex, thought-provoking and clever political thriller with conspiracies lurking at their heart. This latest in the Box 88 series feels authentic as much of the plot centres around fact, and is therefore all too believable. The setting in Senegal is vivid, and colourful with some great descriptions of the country which contrasts sharply with Lockie’s sense of foreboding and pessimism. As ever, Lockie encounters many nefarious character, who are well portrayed – it’s all too easy to picture Bagaza and his girlfriend Grace Mavinga, a.k.a. Lady Macbeth. The Rwandan genocide angle of the storytelling is a heartbreaker with unimaginable cruelty, and you are as keen as Lockie for the apprehension of the perpetrators.
As always, I thoroughly enjoy the espionage angle, and there’s tangible tension and suspense with much thinking on feet which makes for exciting reading. The doodah hits the proverbial fan in both timelines with the two connecting well, deepening the problems. It’s a never a dull moment thriller with plenty of action, some violence and tragedy to keep you reading on with your fingers crossed for a good outcome. It builds in tempo, the ending is explosive, and what a cliffhanger to finish on. I guess that’s me reading number four – sign me up now!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Box 88#3 - Lachlan (Lockie) Kite
Box 88 is a deeply covert U.K./USA espionage group that operates well below the radar.
In 1995, 24-year-old Lockie and his girlfriend Martha Raine are sent to Senegal ostensibly on a backpacking holiday. They are there to track a genocidaire of the Rwandan slaughter of the Tutsi population, the Butcher of Kigali – Augustine Bagaza and bring him to justice. However, the mission goes badly wrong with Lockie caught between a rock and a hard place. In 2022, Lockie’s old friend Eric Appiah,from school days and from Senegal, makes contact with potentially explosive information about the events of 1995, that could threaten Box 88 and those connected with it.
Charles Cumming always delivers a complex, thought-provoking and clever political thriller with conspiracies lurking at their heart. This latest in the Box 88 series feels authentic as much of the plot centres around fact, and is therefore all too believable. The setting in Senegal is vivid, and colourful with some great descriptions of the country which contrasts sharply with Lockie’s sense of foreboding and pessimism. As ever, Lockie encounters many nefarious character, who are well portrayed – it’s all too easy to picture Bagaza and his girlfriend Grace Mavinga, a.k.a. Lady Macbeth. The Rwandan genocide angle of the storytelling is a heartbreaker with unimaginable cruelty, and you are as keen as Lockie for the apprehension of the perpetrators.
As always, I thoroughly enjoy the espionage angle, and there’s tangible tension and suspense with much thinking on feet which makes for exciting reading. The doodah hits the proverbial fan in both timelines with the two connecting well, deepening the problems. It’s a never a dull moment thriller with plenty of action, some violence and tragedy to keep you reading on with your fingers crossed for a good outcome. It builds in tempo, the ending is explosive, and what a cliffhanger to finish on. I guess that’s me reading number four – sign me up now!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
June 2, 2025
The book starts by providing a brief background history lesson on the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, in which half a million Tutsi lives were taken by Hutu militias – all this in a period of around three months. I can remember horrifying nightly news reports of this slaughter at the time, reports that stayed with me for a long time.
The story opens in 2023 when Lockie Kite (star of the previous two books in this series (BOX 88 and Judas 62) is enjoying a sabbatical in Sweden with his wife and young child. He’s notified that an old school chum and ‘friend’ of Box 88, a top secret Anglo-American collaboration, is trying to get hold of him. Once connected, Kite is told that a respected American instigative reporter has gotten hold of information regarding a botched operation carried out by Box 88 in 1995 and is about to break the story to the public. But how much does the reporter know? Does he actually have names of those involved and is he also about to expose the existence of the secret agency itself? The former would be a problem for Kite and would potentially end his career, but it would be a severe embarrassment for both the UK and American governments should details of their undisclosed partnership be made public.
As he’s mulling over what he needs to do – which will inevitably begin with a trip back to London – he takes the unusual step of walking his wife through the 1995 operation. A French journalist had reported the sighting of a man known as the Butcher of Kigali, for his involvement in the Tutsi massacres the previous year. He’d been spotted in Senegal and Kite along with his then girlfriend Martha were dispatched to the country, disguised as a pair backpackers. Once there they would liaise with other members of the team, their goal being to grab their target and smuggle him out of the country. Suffice to say, the operation itself went badly and stands to this day as an embarrassment to the Box 88 team.
Once back in the UK, Kite has to orchestrate a response to the threat posed by the reporter. But he quickly finds out that there are now additional elements in play. It’s a clever story, really well told by an author who, I believe, never lets his readers down. Espionage thrillers can be complex beasts, with the action often being too murky for me to be able to follow. But Cumming has the ability to tell a complex story in a way that’s doesn’t lose me along the way. This is another strong book in what is now an excellent short series.
My thanks to HarperColins UK for supplying an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story opens in 2023 when Lockie Kite (star of the previous two books in this series (BOX 88 and Judas 62) is enjoying a sabbatical in Sweden with his wife and young child. He’s notified that an old school chum and ‘friend’ of Box 88, a top secret Anglo-American collaboration, is trying to get hold of him. Once connected, Kite is told that a respected American instigative reporter has gotten hold of information regarding a botched operation carried out by Box 88 in 1995 and is about to break the story to the public. But how much does the reporter know? Does he actually have names of those involved and is he also about to expose the existence of the secret agency itself? The former would be a problem for Kite and would potentially end his career, but it would be a severe embarrassment for both the UK and American governments should details of their undisclosed partnership be made public.
As he’s mulling over what he needs to do – which will inevitably begin with a trip back to London – he takes the unusual step of walking his wife through the 1995 operation. A French journalist had reported the sighting of a man known as the Butcher of Kigali, for his involvement in the Tutsi massacres the previous year. He’d been spotted in Senegal and Kite along with his then girlfriend Martha were dispatched to the country, disguised as a pair backpackers. Once there they would liaise with other members of the team, their goal being to grab their target and smuggle him out of the country. Suffice to say, the operation itself went badly and stands to this day as an embarrassment to the Box 88 team.
Once back in the UK, Kite has to orchestrate a response to the threat posed by the reporter. But he quickly finds out that there are now additional elements in play. It’s a clever story, really well told by an author who, I believe, never lets his readers down. Espionage thrillers can be complex beasts, with the action often being too murky for me to be able to follow. But Cumming has the ability to tell a complex story in a way that’s doesn’t lose me along the way. This is another strong book in what is now an excellent short series.
My thanks to HarperColins UK for supplying an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2024
The third instalment of Charles Cummings' Lachlan Kite series is another lively spy thriller. The plot centres around the Rwandan genocide of the 1990s and events in Senegal [the Kennedy 35 of the title], and then moves to the present day with links to France, UK, and the USA.
Following Charles Cumming on social media, I know that his research and visits to plot locations is considered and thorough, and this helps the story his builds to move along at a realistic pace.
Overall, it is enjoyable and worth the read.
Following Charles Cumming on social media, I know that his research and visits to plot locations is considered and thorough, and this helps the story his builds to move along at a realistic pace.
Overall, it is enjoyable and worth the read.
September 7, 2025
‘It’s a rat-line for the Hutus. They come here (Dakar), they go to the Côte d’Ivoire, they pay enough money to the right people, they get a new identity.’
Dakar 1995. Third in the BOX88 series of the shady UK-US spy agency finds 24 year old operative Lachlan Kite and then girlfriend Martha Raine, playing support roles in an operation to seize a Rwandan war criminal and Congolese girlfriend nicknamed ‘Lady Macbeth’ from their apartment in rue Kennedy before they can flee the country, to face justice for their roles in inciting genocide of the Tutsi. Mistiming, miscommunication, conflicting agendas and sheer bad luck force Kite into a major role in a botched operation – and in the aftermath a face-saving cover-up.
Fast forward to 2023. Middle-aged Kite, married to a Swedish doctor and father of a young child, is contacted by Senegal businessman Eric Appiah – an old friend from his (English) public school, warning him that the whole sorry episode is to be exposed on a podcast by New York writer Lucian Cablean, based on interviews with survivors and the journal of a disgruntled former DGSE officer. For the relevant agencies this is at best an embarrassment, at worst a disaster, and Kite is urged to reach out to the podcaster to tell the (dedacted) truth. Other parties – notably Lady Macbeth, in league with a former DGSE agent – want to eliminate the podcaster and anyone who might incriminate them.
Author Charles Cumming served with MI6 and his works lend an authentic touch to spying. No glamourous outposts here: days of waiting for contacts amid sapping heat and humidity, mosquito-borne diseases, chronic poverty of the masses exploited by a wealthy few. No fast car chases either: here the villain catches a taxi, pursued along the streets of Dakar by Kite on a Vespa.
As with his previous novels (how does Scotland produce so many fine writers?) Kennedy 35 is character-driven, sparse on dialogue, nuanced in violence and holds a level of literacy that my English Literature teacher would praise highly. There are several references to the earlier books, but this would work as a standalone.
Dakar 1995. Third in the BOX88 series of the shady UK-US spy agency finds 24 year old operative Lachlan Kite and then girlfriend Martha Raine, playing support roles in an operation to seize a Rwandan war criminal and Congolese girlfriend nicknamed ‘Lady Macbeth’ from their apartment in rue Kennedy before they can flee the country, to face justice for their roles in inciting genocide of the Tutsi. Mistiming, miscommunication, conflicting agendas and sheer bad luck force Kite into a major role in a botched operation – and in the aftermath a face-saving cover-up.
Fast forward to 2023. Middle-aged Kite, married to a Swedish doctor and father of a young child, is contacted by Senegal businessman Eric Appiah – an old friend from his (English) public school, warning him that the whole sorry episode is to be exposed on a podcast by New York writer Lucian Cablean, based on interviews with survivors and the journal of a disgruntled former DGSE officer. For the relevant agencies this is at best an embarrassment, at worst a disaster, and Kite is urged to reach out to the podcaster to tell the (dedacted) truth. Other parties – notably Lady Macbeth, in league with a former DGSE agent – want to eliminate the podcaster and anyone who might incriminate them.
Author Charles Cumming served with MI6 and his works lend an authentic touch to spying. No glamourous outposts here: days of waiting for contacts amid sapping heat and humidity, mosquito-borne diseases, chronic poverty of the masses exploited by a wealthy few. No fast car chases either: here the villain catches a taxi, pursued along the streets of Dakar by Kite on a Vespa.
As with his previous novels (how does Scotland produce so many fine writers?) Kennedy 35 is character-driven, sparse on dialogue, nuanced in violence and holds a level of literacy that my English Literature teacher would praise highly. There are several references to the earlier books, but this would work as a standalone.
November 27, 2023
When a podcast threatens to expose details of a failed clandestine mission to bring a Rwandan war criminal to justice--and possibly disclose the existence of BOX 88-- Lachlan Kite must confront the past to protect his loved ones in the future.
I am a big fan of this series and Kennedy 35 is a superb addition. Like the rest of the BOX 88 series, Cumming gives us a twofer: the present mission and a past mission which then connects to said present mission. There are no huge explosions nor running gunfights nor indestructible assassins just good old fashion espionage. It's also about regret, love lost and fixing wrongs when able. Kennedy 35 is just a great read all around and you should read it.
Thank you to Mysterious Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Kennedy 35.
I am a big fan of this series and Kennedy 35 is a superb addition. Like the rest of the BOX 88 series, Cumming gives us a twofer: the present mission and a past mission which then connects to said present mission. There are no huge explosions nor running gunfights nor indestructible assassins just good old fashion espionage. It's also about regret, love lost and fixing wrongs when able. Kennedy 35 is just a great read all around and you should read it.
Thank you to Mysterious Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Kennedy 35.
October 23, 2023
The Box 88 series is definitely one of my favourite spy series!
Kennedy 35 is the third book in the series and again a brilliant read.
Lachlan Kite better known as Lockie is an intelligence officer working for Box 88 a top-secret Anglo-American spy agency. He was recruited straight out of school and has been up against some really bad guys.
This time it is not the Russians or the Iranians that Kite is up against. He is up against Augustine Bagaza, who was one of the principal Architects of the genocide in Rwanda, as well as his sidekick and girlfriend Grace Mavinga also known as Lady Macbeth.
We again have dual timelines with Kite telling us the story of what happened in Dakar, Senegal in 1995 when they went over to try and catch Bagaza to bring him back and to stand trial and then the present where a close friend of his is murdered and a journalist is trying to find out what happened in 1995.
You don't have to read the series to enjoy this book but they are so good I recommend you start with Box 88.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
Kennedy 35 is the third book in the series and again a brilliant read.
Lachlan Kite better known as Lockie is an intelligence officer working for Box 88 a top-secret Anglo-American spy agency. He was recruited straight out of school and has been up against some really bad guys.
This time it is not the Russians or the Iranians that Kite is up against. He is up against Augustine Bagaza, who was one of the principal Architects of the genocide in Rwanda, as well as his sidekick and girlfriend Grace Mavinga also known as Lady Macbeth.
We again have dual timelines with Kite telling us the story of what happened in Dakar, Senegal in 1995 when they went over to try and catch Bagaza to bring him back and to stand trial and then the present where a close friend of his is murdered and a journalist is trying to find out what happened in 1995.
You don't have to read the series to enjoy this book but they are so good I recommend you start with Box 88.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
November 14, 2023
Details of botched past operation connected to the Rwandan genocide could topple governments and unmask a secret group of spies.
In 2023 the head of the clandestine Anglo-American group known as BOX 88, Lachlan Kite, is on leave in Sweden with his wife and new daughter. He is working to repair their relationship which has been strained by past events, as well as to enjoy his new role of father. That comes to an abrupt end; he receives word that Eric Appiah, a Senegalese friend from his school days who has also helped BOX 88 out in the past, is trying to find him. Eric has dangerous news; a highly regarded American reporter has been given details of an operation carried out in Senegal back in 1995 which ended badly. The source of this news, an embittered Frenchman who has an ax to grind against his former bosses in government, knows the names of people involved in that op, including Kite’s and that of his then-girlfriend Martha. These revelations, if the journalist can find corroboration, would reveal that the accepted story of what happened in 1995 was not true and would expose the involvement of the French, British and American governments. As Kite explains the situation to his wife, the reader learns what actually happened and what led up to the mission. The situation was related to the Rwandan genocide of 1994; a French journalist, witness to the horrors of that time and traumatized by them, believed that one of the key figures who drove the genocide, a so-called “genocidaire” named Augustine Bagaza was now living in luxury in Senegal. Possible protected by members of French intelligence, Bagaza and his lover Grace Malinga escaped retribution for the atrocities they encouraged and were now poised to flee under new identities. The journalist contacted a family friend who just happened to be part of BOX 88 to intervene. A young Lachlan Kite was tasked to travel to Senegal, bringing his girlfriend Martha along as cover, to be part of the team which would verify that the subject under surveillance was actually Bagaza and, if so, extradite him for trial. Lockie contacted his old chum Eric as part of his cover, and soon found himself desperately in need of Eric’s help. He sensed from the beginning that this op was going to end badly, and was soon proven correct. Torn between his feelings for Martha and his ambition to prove himself a worthy asset to his handlers in BOX 88, cursed with subpar communications and transport, and reliant upon a volatile informant with his own agenda, things went terribly wrong again and again. When a plausible cover story was stitched together, Lockie and the remaining team members quickly left Senegal and the operation behind them. Flashing forward to the present, it is evident that the truth of those events may come out, which would prove not only embarrassing to several nations but also could expose both Lockie and Martha to retribution from some of the survivors of the mission.
As with the past two BOX 88 novels, Kennedy 35 can be read as a stand-alone thriller. For those who have read the preceding two novels, however, it is a welcome return to the dual-timeline world of Lockie Kite. There is the building tension of the story unfolding during 1995, with its vivid description of the emerging African country as well as the atrocities of the genocide in Rwanda, the complicity of the French government in the escape of those behind it and the lack of action of the Western world in general, There is also the intrigue and the dangers that come to light in the present day, with assassins roaming the streets of London and New York, a tenacious reporter who wants to bring what he believes to be governmental duplicity to light, and the frantic efforts by Lockie and his crew to reveal the truth in a way that preserves the safety of innocent participants like Martha without rocking governments or exposing BOX 88 to the world. The reader learns yet more of what happened to destroy Lockie’s relationship with Martha, and sees his capabilities as a young operative maturing. As someone who declared that the first two installments of this series were without question my favorite reads of 2022 I am not entirely unbiased, but I found this an intriguing and highly enjoyable read. Charles Cumming has been touted as a worthy successor to John Le Carré, and I fully concur. If you haven’t picked up one of the BOX 88 novels, don’t miss out on an outstanding series. Trust me, buy all three….you’ll thank me when you finish whichever one you read first and have the means at hand to dive right back in to the world of Lachlan Kite. Readers of John Lawton, Martin Cruz Smith and Joseph Kanon should definitely give Charles Cumming and Lockie a try as well. Many, many thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers/Mysterious Press for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy….I couldn’t wait to dive into this latest adventure, and am eagerly awaiting the next!
In 2023 the head of the clandestine Anglo-American group known as BOX 88, Lachlan Kite, is on leave in Sweden with his wife and new daughter. He is working to repair their relationship which has been strained by past events, as well as to enjoy his new role of father. That comes to an abrupt end; he receives word that Eric Appiah, a Senegalese friend from his school days who has also helped BOX 88 out in the past, is trying to find him. Eric has dangerous news; a highly regarded American reporter has been given details of an operation carried out in Senegal back in 1995 which ended badly. The source of this news, an embittered Frenchman who has an ax to grind against his former bosses in government, knows the names of people involved in that op, including Kite’s and that of his then-girlfriend Martha. These revelations, if the journalist can find corroboration, would reveal that the accepted story of what happened in 1995 was not true and would expose the involvement of the French, British and American governments. As Kite explains the situation to his wife, the reader learns what actually happened and what led up to the mission. The situation was related to the Rwandan genocide of 1994; a French journalist, witness to the horrors of that time and traumatized by them, believed that one of the key figures who drove the genocide, a so-called “genocidaire” named Augustine Bagaza was now living in luxury in Senegal. Possible protected by members of French intelligence, Bagaza and his lover Grace Malinga escaped retribution for the atrocities they encouraged and were now poised to flee under new identities. The journalist contacted a family friend who just happened to be part of BOX 88 to intervene. A young Lachlan Kite was tasked to travel to Senegal, bringing his girlfriend Martha along as cover, to be part of the team which would verify that the subject under surveillance was actually Bagaza and, if so, extradite him for trial. Lockie contacted his old chum Eric as part of his cover, and soon found himself desperately in need of Eric’s help. He sensed from the beginning that this op was going to end badly, and was soon proven correct. Torn between his feelings for Martha and his ambition to prove himself a worthy asset to his handlers in BOX 88, cursed with subpar communications and transport, and reliant upon a volatile informant with his own agenda, things went terribly wrong again and again. When a plausible cover story was stitched together, Lockie and the remaining team members quickly left Senegal and the operation behind them. Flashing forward to the present, it is evident that the truth of those events may come out, which would prove not only embarrassing to several nations but also could expose both Lockie and Martha to retribution from some of the survivors of the mission.
As with the past two BOX 88 novels, Kennedy 35 can be read as a stand-alone thriller. For those who have read the preceding two novels, however, it is a welcome return to the dual-timeline world of Lockie Kite. There is the building tension of the story unfolding during 1995, with its vivid description of the emerging African country as well as the atrocities of the genocide in Rwanda, the complicity of the French government in the escape of those behind it and the lack of action of the Western world in general, There is also the intrigue and the dangers that come to light in the present day, with assassins roaming the streets of London and New York, a tenacious reporter who wants to bring what he believes to be governmental duplicity to light, and the frantic efforts by Lockie and his crew to reveal the truth in a way that preserves the safety of innocent participants like Martha without rocking governments or exposing BOX 88 to the world. The reader learns yet more of what happened to destroy Lockie’s relationship with Martha, and sees his capabilities as a young operative maturing. As someone who declared that the first two installments of this series were without question my favorite reads of 2022 I am not entirely unbiased, but I found this an intriguing and highly enjoyable read. Charles Cumming has been touted as a worthy successor to John Le Carré, and I fully concur. If you haven’t picked up one of the BOX 88 novels, don’t miss out on an outstanding series. Trust me, buy all three….you’ll thank me when you finish whichever one you read first and have the means at hand to dive right back in to the world of Lachlan Kite. Readers of John Lawton, Martin Cruz Smith and Joseph Kanon should definitely give Charles Cumming and Lockie a try as well. Many, many thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers/Mysterious Press for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy….I couldn’t wait to dive into this latest adventure, and am eagerly awaiting the next!
December 17, 2023
“I want the world to know that the French government protected a genocidaire. I want Augustin Bagaza to pay for his crimes. And I want him d##d.”
With these chilling words, Charles Cumming plunges us into KENNEDY 35, the thrilling third installment of his BOX 88 series. For those who have journeyed with Lachlan Kite through BOX 88 and JUDAS 62, this novel is a familiar territory of intrigue and espionage. Yet, newcomers fear not – KENNEDY 35 stands on its own, making it a welcoming gateway into Cumming’s BOX 88 spy world.
The heart of the novel lies in its backdrop – the Rwandan genocide, a topic I embarrassingly admit I know very little about. Cumming’s helpful opening note sets the stage, guiding us into the hunt for the despicable Augustin Bagaza and his equally sinister wife Grace Mavinga– the 'Lady MacBeth' of MI6’s files.
'Secrecy was so ingrained in Kite’s behaviour that his first instinct was to lie.'
KENNEDY 35
Cumming’s narrative cleverly intertwines two timelines, efficiently outlining Lachlan Kite’s three decades in espionage. The story oscillates between the mid-'90s operations of BOX 88's 'closers' – the author's term for the black ops arm of BOX 88 (I do enjoy it when an author creates their own spy terminology) – and a contemporary setting where the past collides with present dangers. The two periods are seamlessly connected, not just through the plot but also through clever cultural references, like music from the era.
What had happened in Senegal was a tragedy, as close as Kite had come to a professional debacle, an operation beset by problems of shoddy organisation, second-rate personnel and sheer rotten bad luck.
KENNEDY 35
The setting is a character in itself. Cumming’s portrayal of Senegal is steeped in authenticity, a testament to his thorough research. The vivid descriptions of locales, from the potholed streets of Dhaka to the luxurious haunts of the elite, add layers of realism to the spy story.
We do see the return of a few familiar faces, including Michael Strawson the co-founder of BOX 88, Cara Jannaway, Martha Raine, and Azhar Masood, Kite's Number 2 at the Cathedral (another Cumming term, I really should put a glossary together.)
With these chilling words, Charles Cumming plunges us into KENNEDY 35, the thrilling third installment of his BOX 88 series. For those who have journeyed with Lachlan Kite through BOX 88 and JUDAS 62, this novel is a familiar territory of intrigue and espionage. Yet, newcomers fear not – KENNEDY 35 stands on its own, making it a welcoming gateway into Cumming’s BOX 88 spy world.
The heart of the novel lies in its backdrop – the Rwandan genocide, a topic I embarrassingly admit I know very little about. Cumming’s helpful opening note sets the stage, guiding us into the hunt for the despicable Augustin Bagaza and his equally sinister wife Grace Mavinga– the 'Lady MacBeth' of MI6’s files.
'Secrecy was so ingrained in Kite’s behaviour that his first instinct was to lie.'
KENNEDY 35
Cumming’s narrative cleverly intertwines two timelines, efficiently outlining Lachlan Kite’s three decades in espionage. The story oscillates between the mid-'90s operations of BOX 88's 'closers' – the author's term for the black ops arm of BOX 88 (I do enjoy it when an author creates their own spy terminology) – and a contemporary setting where the past collides with present dangers. The two periods are seamlessly connected, not just through the plot but also through clever cultural references, like music from the era.
What had happened in Senegal was a tragedy, as close as Kite had come to a professional debacle, an operation beset by problems of shoddy organisation, second-rate personnel and sheer rotten bad luck.
KENNEDY 35
The setting is a character in itself. Cumming’s portrayal of Senegal is steeped in authenticity, a testament to his thorough research. The vivid descriptions of locales, from the potholed streets of Dhaka to the luxurious haunts of the elite, add layers of realism to the spy story.
We do see the return of a few familiar faces, including Michael Strawson the co-founder of BOX 88, Cara Jannaway, Martha Raine, and Azhar Masood, Kite's Number 2 at the Cathedral (another Cumming term, I really should put a glossary together.)
September 26, 2023
I am not going to go on and on about what many before me have already said, and what I have also said in the past, about what a wonderful espionage writer Charles Cumming is. If you read espionage, then you are aware of his talent. If you do not, you cannot go wrong with any of his books. But do yourself a favor and start with the first two Box 88 books before moving on to his latest, “Kennedy 35”. The development and history of the characters will make this new offering all the better.
So, on to the book itself. Our returning hero is Lachlan “Lockie” Kite, the British head of Box 88, a joint Anglo-American espionage organization for which Lockie has been working since he was recruited while at school in the 1980’s. Lockie is working on getting his life/marriage back together after the events of the past two books, living in Sweden and taking a break from things, when he gets a message that Eric Appiah, an old schoolmate and occasional Box 88 asset, is looking for him back in London. Before he goes to London to track down what is happening, he tells his wife a story, of how Eric helped him in Senegal.
Just like in the previous two Box 88 adventures, we are taken back in time, this time to Senegal, 1995. Lockie and his girlfriend Martha travel to Africa to track down a wanted war criminal, a leader of the Rwandan genocide and his willing accomplice/girlfriend. A simple plan, once a positive identification is made, Lockie and the team will grab him and smuggle him out of the country before anyone knows what is happening. But as anyone who has read spy fiction knows, the simple jobs rarely go as planned. As things begin to go crazy, Lockie has some hard decisions to make, decisions that will have consequences in the present day.
Back in the current day, Lockie goes to London to find out what really happened all of those years ago, and how it threatens both him and Martha. Can Lockie protect his friends while bringing those responsible to justice?
Another great outing, two stories in one, we continue to see Lockie growing up in the service, how his actions and priorities have changed as he has gotten older (and wiser?). Kudos to Mr. Cumming for teaching us a little bit about the Rwandan genocide, something that wasn’t really explored much in the news of the day. It’s just wonderful to see how much espionage has changed, how these characters have grown over the past three books, how one can mix action and tension into a smart, literate, complex story.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
So, on to the book itself. Our returning hero is Lachlan “Lockie” Kite, the British head of Box 88, a joint Anglo-American espionage organization for which Lockie has been working since he was recruited while at school in the 1980’s. Lockie is working on getting his life/marriage back together after the events of the past two books, living in Sweden and taking a break from things, when he gets a message that Eric Appiah, an old schoolmate and occasional Box 88 asset, is looking for him back in London. Before he goes to London to track down what is happening, he tells his wife a story, of how Eric helped him in Senegal.
Just like in the previous two Box 88 adventures, we are taken back in time, this time to Senegal, 1995. Lockie and his girlfriend Martha travel to Africa to track down a wanted war criminal, a leader of the Rwandan genocide and his willing accomplice/girlfriend. A simple plan, once a positive identification is made, Lockie and the team will grab him and smuggle him out of the country before anyone knows what is happening. But as anyone who has read spy fiction knows, the simple jobs rarely go as planned. As things begin to go crazy, Lockie has some hard decisions to make, decisions that will have consequences in the present day.
Back in the current day, Lockie goes to London to find out what really happened all of those years ago, and how it threatens both him and Martha. Can Lockie protect his friends while bringing those responsible to justice?
Another great outing, two stories in one, we continue to see Lockie growing up in the service, how his actions and priorities have changed as he has gotten older (and wiser?). Kudos to Mr. Cumming for teaching us a little bit about the Rwandan genocide, something that wasn’t really explored much in the news of the day. It’s just wonderful to see how much espionage has changed, how these characters have grown over the past three books, how one can mix action and tension into a smart, literate, complex story.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
September 10, 2023
The 3rd ‘Box 88’ book starring Lochlan Kite is another fine read from master spy storyteller Charles Cumming.
Whilst I feel it falls slightly short of the first 2 stellar reads, it is still very good and reads through fast and action packed full of adrenaline inducing moments.
The story takes Kite back to younger days in a hot, humid and dusty Dakar, and I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and the dastardly African criminals and dark government agencies.
Cumming is a fantastic author who knows how to entertain and keep his reader enthralled.
A fast paced, explosive ride through Africa and London, it’s sharp, confident and just really very good and Cummings leaves a very mischievous ending to make readers await book 4 with baited breath.
Whilst I feel it falls slightly short of the first 2 stellar reads, it is still very good and reads through fast and action packed full of adrenaline inducing moments.
The story takes Kite back to younger days in a hot, humid and dusty Dakar, and I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and the dastardly African criminals and dark government agencies.
Cumming is a fantastic author who knows how to entertain and keep his reader enthralled.
A fast paced, explosive ride through Africa and London, it’s sharp, confident and just really very good and Cummings leaves a very mischievous ending to make readers await book 4 with baited breath.
October 27, 2023
5* Kennedy 35 is the 3rd in Charles Cumming’s Box 88 series, each of which would make a great stand-alone, but read in order are an absolute treat. Brilliant writers such as Robert Harris tout CC as the new Le Carre. So far all of his books have been excellent but this is fantastic on another level. I absolutely loved it and have been eeking it out to make it last.
Modern day London. Lockie Kite, part of the secret Box 88 group which is a collaboration between MI6 and the CIA, is contacted by an old school friend using a highly unorthodox methodology. The last time the two were in touch was a disastrous mission in Senegal to snatch central protagonists in the massacres of Rwanda and it seems that either the past has come back to haunt or there is the opportunity to make things right.
A superb mix of high octane action and slow burn tension, bringing together many of the characters from the previous Box 88 books. It feels like this series has absolutely hit it’s sweet spot.
Kennedy 35 hits the perfect balance of well paced plot, the weaving in of real events without overwhelming the reader with detail, intrigue, complexity and smart characters. I’ve read just about all of the author’s books (he’s a pre-order author for me) and this is by far and away the one I have enjoyed the most. Hugely looking forward to the return of Lockie and Box 88 in book 4.
Thanks to Harper Collins for inviting me to read and ARC and Netgalley for making it happen.
Modern day London. Lockie Kite, part of the secret Box 88 group which is a collaboration between MI6 and the CIA, is contacted by an old school friend using a highly unorthodox methodology. The last time the two were in touch was a disastrous mission in Senegal to snatch central protagonists in the massacres of Rwanda and it seems that either the past has come back to haunt or there is the opportunity to make things right.
A superb mix of high octane action and slow burn tension, bringing together many of the characters from the previous Box 88 books. It feels like this series has absolutely hit it’s sweet spot.
Kennedy 35 hits the perfect balance of well paced plot, the weaving in of real events without overwhelming the reader with detail, intrigue, complexity and smart characters. I’ve read just about all of the author’s books (he’s a pre-order author for me) and this is by far and away the one I have enjoyed the most. Hugely looking forward to the return of Lockie and Box 88 in book 4.
Thanks to Harper Collins for inviting me to read and ARC and Netgalley for making it happen.
September 24, 2023
A far from quiet life in the Intelligence Services
This is the third outing in the Box 88 series, about an even more secret service formed from some of the Intelligence service personnel of Britain and the States. But you really don’t need to have read those prior books – I haven’t, yet still I was gripped, absorbed, educated. And yes, I shall go back and read the first two, at some point, as the central character in this one, Lachlan Kite, clearly has a past worth discovering.
This is spying, bleak, gritty and brutal.
The overarching story concerns the Rwandan Civil War, and the genocide of somewhere between half a million and a million people, mainly Tutsis, but also moderate Hutus.
The story is told in two timelines.
In 1995, Kite is a fairly new recruit to the secret service, and, together with his girlfriend, are sent to Senegal, where one of the main people involved in mass brutal torture and murder during that genocide, is hiding out, with his equally brutal mistress. A concerted plan to capture and bring the pair to justice goes terribly wrong.
More than 25 years later, Kite, now a man in his 50’s risen high in the service, still involved in missions, married, with young a daughter, and now in Sweden, is recalled to London. Unfinished business has emerged connected with that complicated plan to bring perpetrators of war crimes and genocide to justice.
This is the third outing in the Box 88 series, about an even more secret service formed from some of the Intelligence service personnel of Britain and the States. But you really don’t need to have read those prior books – I haven’t, yet still I was gripped, absorbed, educated. And yes, I shall go back and read the first two, at some point, as the central character in this one, Lachlan Kite, clearly has a past worth discovering.
This is spying, bleak, gritty and brutal.
The overarching story concerns the Rwandan Civil War, and the genocide of somewhere between half a million and a million people, mainly Tutsis, but also moderate Hutus.
The story is told in two timelines.
In 1995, Kite is a fairly new recruit to the secret service, and, together with his girlfriend, are sent to Senegal, where one of the main people involved in mass brutal torture and murder during that genocide, is hiding out, with his equally brutal mistress. A concerted plan to capture and bring the pair to justice goes terribly wrong.
More than 25 years later, Kite, now a man in his 50’s risen high in the service, still involved in missions, married, with young a daughter, and now in Sweden, is recalled to London. Unfinished business has emerged connected with that complicated plan to bring perpetrators of war crimes and genocide to justice.
August 24, 2024
A third outing for spy Lachlan Kite and the shadowy organization he works for Box eighty eight.
I was looking forward to this having read the previous two books and waited for it to come out in paperback.
I wasn't disappointed. It's very good. Starts at a lively pace and doesn't really ease up.
The author follows the same formula of success for the previous books, jumping between the modern day and events in the past. In this case the botched kidnapping of a Rwandan warlord in nineties West Africa an event which might come back to bite Kite and his settled life in Sweden.
As expected a top notch espionage thriller.
I was looking forward to this having read the previous two books and waited for it to come out in paperback.
I wasn't disappointed. It's very good. Starts at a lively pace and doesn't really ease up.
The author follows the same formula of success for the previous books, jumping between the modern day and events in the past. In this case the botched kidnapping of a Rwandan warlord in nineties West Africa an event which might come back to bite Kite and his settled life in Sweden.
As expected a top notch espionage thriller.
October 8, 2023
The novel, Kennedy 35, was a really good spy thriller of a ride, with an important history lesson as part of the story; the horrifying Rwandan Genocide. Great characters(maybe too many), great plot flow(with flashbacks), and a homerun of an ending. I will check into Charles Cumming's previous novels, since I really enjoyed his style of writing. Thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers/Mysterious Press for the ARC of this fantastic novel. Highly recommend the spy thriller.
May 7, 2024
Charles Cumming’s books are always very good value. He writes with an intelligence about the world of espionage and his stories are full of adventure. Like a modern day le Carre.
February 16, 2025
3rd of the series.
Very good spy story.
I would recommend the first 2 to really understand everything.
Very good spy story.
I would recommend the first 2 to really understand everything.
June 2, 2024
I love Cumming's novels--they are all tightly paced, super smart, surprising, and delightfully thrilling. The first three Box 88 novels do not disappoint. Each stands on its own but together paint a bigger picture of characters and contexts of geopolitical espionage. While completely different in subject matter, Cumming reminds me a bit of the late, great Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther novels. Each novel takes a master framing situation and nests background stories that fill the current peril with even more weight and dread. In other words: lovely, perfect, and in every way wonderful.
August 17, 2025
Quick exciting read. Written well enough although not quite Len Deignton or Le Carre level. I found the ending a bit too speedy and lacking in tension although there is a cliff hanger twist on last page! Will keep reading this series.
August 27, 2023
Kennedy 35 started off as a bit of a slow burner for me but by the time the story took off, I was unable to put it down!
Much like the previous installments in this series, Kennedy 35 is fast paced, thrilling and wonderfully written with plenty of tension and suspense. The characters are well developed and I appreciate that the reader learns a little more about Lockie and Box 88's backstory in each book, making their motivations and choices all the more understandable. The dual storylines worked perfectly together and formed a satisfying conclusion.
The only reason I'm deducting one star is due to the cliffhanger and abrupt ending which had me checking to make sure I hadn't missed a page. How am I meant to wait a year to find out what happens?!
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollinsUK for the ARC.
Much like the previous installments in this series, Kennedy 35 is fast paced, thrilling and wonderfully written with plenty of tension and suspense. The characters are well developed and I appreciate that the reader learns a little more about Lockie and Box 88's backstory in each book, making their motivations and choices all the more understandable. The dual storylines worked perfectly together and formed a satisfying conclusion.
The only reason I'm deducting one star is due to the cliffhanger and abrupt ending which had me checking to make sure I hadn't missed a page. How am I meant to wait a year to find out what happens?!
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollinsUK for the ARC.
December 2, 2023
When I first saw the 2004 film “Hotel Rwanda” starring Don Cheadle, it blew me away. Not just because of the powerful acting performances but because it opened my eyes to the situation in Africa between the Hutu and the Tutsis that resulted in a mass genocide with tens of thousands of Tutsis being wiped out in barbaric fashion.
This brings me to KENNEDY 35, the latest Lachlan Kite novel from Scottish author Charles Cumming. With his recurring Box 88 series, Cumming has shown why he is one of the top espionage writers working today. This latest effort is dealing with the Rwandan genocide and specifically the hunt for those war criminals who were behind much of the killing and have escaped justice.
The action jumps between the years 1995 and present day 2023. We are introduced to the story initially in 1995 with a scene set in Dakar, Senegal. The then head of Box 88, Michael Strawson, is meeting with a former member of the French foreign legion named Philippe Vauban to discuss their shared experience in Rwanda during the time of the mass genocide. This leads to Strawson assigning a twenty-four-year-old Lachlan Kite to the case of hunting down two war criminals that were part of this brutal genocide.
We get to see young Kite and his then girlfriend Martha, who tags along with him on the case so that they can pose as tourists, as he seeks out the two war criminals. The criminals of note here are Augustin Bagaza and his wife, who has been tagged with the appropriate nickname of ‘Lady Macbeth.’ Kite takes on an undercover role as an interpreter for a journalist, played by Philippe Vauban, as they are doing a story about the Rwandan genocide. Complicating matters is the fact that Martha gets badly ill from what appears to be a bout of food poisoning. Kite has no choice but to reach out to an old school chum of his who lives in the area by the name of Eric Appiah. Eric has no idea of Kite’s affiliation with Box 88 or MI6 and is also told that he is on a journalistic assignment.
Things get extremely tense when Kite and his team catch up with Bagaza at a nightclub. That evening ends with a wild run-in from Philippe, who is under the influence of some drug or medication, who proceeds to attack and kill Bagaza with a machete. Immediately after this act, Lady Macbeth shoots and kills Philippe, and she then proceeds to flee the area. Kite also takes off since the mission has gone south in a bad way and they lose track of Lady Macbeth for the next twenty-five years.
In the present day, Eric Appiah reappears and is looking for Kite and Martha, who have long since broken up. Kite is married to his wife, Isobel, and is unaware of Martha’s whereabouts. Before Eric can hook up with his old friend, he dies mysteriously in what looks like a suicide from jumping off of a building. Kite believes something else is at play and now will never know the message Eric was trying to get to him. All Kite knows is that the Rwandan mission from 1995 has come back to haunt him in a big way and he must now find his old girlfriend Martha to warn her that both of their lives might be in jeopardy.
The Box 88 series from Charles Cumming remains one of the finest espionage series going and KENNEDY 35, which represents the address that Bagaza and Lady Macbeth were staying at in 1995, never disappoints. Cumming has a great eye for historical detail and mixes that in seamlessly with the spy game action to continuously create great thrillers that are not to be missed.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
This brings me to KENNEDY 35, the latest Lachlan Kite novel from Scottish author Charles Cumming. With his recurring Box 88 series, Cumming has shown why he is one of the top espionage writers working today. This latest effort is dealing with the Rwandan genocide and specifically the hunt for those war criminals who were behind much of the killing and have escaped justice.
The action jumps between the years 1995 and present day 2023. We are introduced to the story initially in 1995 with a scene set in Dakar, Senegal. The then head of Box 88, Michael Strawson, is meeting with a former member of the French foreign legion named Philippe Vauban to discuss their shared experience in Rwanda during the time of the mass genocide. This leads to Strawson assigning a twenty-four-year-old Lachlan Kite to the case of hunting down two war criminals that were part of this brutal genocide.
We get to see young Kite and his then girlfriend Martha, who tags along with him on the case so that they can pose as tourists, as he seeks out the two war criminals. The criminals of note here are Augustin Bagaza and his wife, who has been tagged with the appropriate nickname of ‘Lady Macbeth.’ Kite takes on an undercover role as an interpreter for a journalist, played by Philippe Vauban, as they are doing a story about the Rwandan genocide. Complicating matters is the fact that Martha gets badly ill from what appears to be a bout of food poisoning. Kite has no choice but to reach out to an old school chum of his who lives in the area by the name of Eric Appiah. Eric has no idea of Kite’s affiliation with Box 88 or MI6 and is also told that he is on a journalistic assignment.
Things get extremely tense when Kite and his team catch up with Bagaza at a nightclub. That evening ends with a wild run-in from Philippe, who is under the influence of some drug or medication, who proceeds to attack and kill Bagaza with a machete. Immediately after this act, Lady Macbeth shoots and kills Philippe, and she then proceeds to flee the area. Kite also takes off since the mission has gone south in a bad way and they lose track of Lady Macbeth for the next twenty-five years.
In the present day, Eric Appiah reappears and is looking for Kite and Martha, who have long since broken up. Kite is married to his wife, Isobel, and is unaware of Martha’s whereabouts. Before Eric can hook up with his old friend, he dies mysteriously in what looks like a suicide from jumping off of a building. Kite believes something else is at play and now will never know the message Eric was trying to get to him. All Kite knows is that the Rwandan mission from 1995 has come back to haunt him in a big way and he must now find his old girlfriend Martha to warn her that both of their lives might be in jeopardy.
The Box 88 series from Charles Cumming remains one of the finest espionage series going and KENNEDY 35, which represents the address that Bagaza and Lady Macbeth were staying at in 1995, never disappoints. Cumming has a great eye for historical detail and mixes that in seamlessly with the spy game action to continuously create great thrillers that are not to be missed.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
September 2, 2023
I’ve read the two previous books in this excellent espionage series which follows the escapades of Lachlan Kite, an officer for Box 88, a top secret spy organisation.
As in the previous books, this is a dual time line thriller with action taking place in the 1990s and the present day.
The past plot line is about a plan to capture a man complicit in the Rwandan genocide and how it goes disastrously wrong.
The present day part of the book concerns some people who took part in the past operation along with Kite. It looks like someone is out to get them including Kite’s ex girlfriend, Martha.
Box 88 have a race against time to catch the supposed perpetrator, a nasty criminal business woman and former girlfriend of the war criminal.
I liked getting to know all the characters again and once I’d got my head around the extremely complicated plot, I was well away in the secret world of Lockie and his colleagues.
The storyline about the genocide was a period of recent history which I knew very little about so it was interesting and rather sad to read about what had happened. This author had obviously done a lot of meticulous research.
As an espionage writer I would say that Charles Cumming is a worthy successor to Le Carre or Deighton. I really like his writing style and character development as he creates the secret world. Each book of his that I have read makes me eager to read the next, particularly so in the case of Kennedy 35.
Definitely a highly recommended spy thriller.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hyde publishers for my advance copy.
As in the previous books, this is a dual time line thriller with action taking place in the 1990s and the present day.
The past plot line is about a plan to capture a man complicit in the Rwandan genocide and how it goes disastrously wrong.
The present day part of the book concerns some people who took part in the past operation along with Kite. It looks like someone is out to get them including Kite’s ex girlfriend, Martha.
Box 88 have a race against time to catch the supposed perpetrator, a nasty criminal business woman and former girlfriend of the war criminal.
I liked getting to know all the characters again and once I’d got my head around the extremely complicated plot, I was well away in the secret world of Lockie and his colleagues.
The storyline about the genocide was a period of recent history which I knew very little about so it was interesting and rather sad to read about what had happened. This author had obviously done a lot of meticulous research.
As an espionage writer I would say that Charles Cumming is a worthy successor to Le Carre or Deighton. I really like his writing style and character development as he creates the secret world. Each book of his that I have read makes me eager to read the next, particularly so in the case of Kennedy 35.
Definitely a highly recommended spy thriller.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hyde publishers for my advance copy.
September 22, 2023
This is the third book in the Box 88 series and, while it is not necessary to have read the first two excellent stories, it would be somewhat helpful.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Two settings: well-researched Senegal in 1995 and present-day London, New York, and other locales
Characters: Lachlan Kite returns in both his earlier novice days in Africa and his professional present day covert intelligence work, Martha Raine, his girlfriend/cohort and old friend, Eric Appiah who triggers the story line
Overview: Kite and Raine become re-involved in the hunt for Senegal war criminals responsible for Tutsi atrocities when Appiah uncovers information that their earlier work is far from finished and a particularly nasty female terrorist has surfaced under a new identity.
Recommendation: I rate this book 3 stars
Extras: This was an overall disappointment, having high expectations from Box 88 and Judas 62. For some reason, the story just didn’t keep me engaged. Part of the reason is the back-and-forth timelines, but unlike the previous two books where this format worked well, this story seemed fragmented and lost the intrigue, particularly at the disappointing abrupt ending.
Thanx to NetGalley and the Mysterious Press for the opportunity to provide this candid review.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Two settings: well-researched Senegal in 1995 and present-day London, New York, and other locales
Characters: Lachlan Kite returns in both his earlier novice days in Africa and his professional present day covert intelligence work, Martha Raine, his girlfriend/cohort and old friend, Eric Appiah who triggers the story line
Overview: Kite and Raine become re-involved in the hunt for Senegal war criminals responsible for Tutsi atrocities when Appiah uncovers information that their earlier work is far from finished and a particularly nasty female terrorist has surfaced under a new identity.
Recommendation: I rate this book 3 stars
Extras: This was an overall disappointment, having high expectations from Box 88 and Judas 62. For some reason, the story just didn’t keep me engaged. Part of the reason is the back-and-forth timelines, but unlike the previous two books where this format worked well, this story seemed fragmented and lost the intrigue, particularly at the disappointing abrupt ending.
Thanx to NetGalley and the Mysterious Press for the opportunity to provide this candid review.
November 28, 2023
This 3rd book in the Box 88 series by the author is a very good read. The book was engaging, decently paced and well-written. Many earlier reviewers give a good summary of the plot, so I won't replicate that. Cumming uses the "looking back in time" device here, as he does in many of his other books; I find it well-done and not as jarring as some others in their use.
This book could be a stand-alone read, but the reader does benefit by reading the other two Box 88 books, in series order, to benefit from a few, decently presented serial plot lines. Some reviewers have not appreciated the book's ending, but I await this series' next installment. Cumming further cements his place among some of the top espionage writers, bar none... Five stars.
This book could be a stand-alone read, but the reader does benefit by reading the other two Box 88 books, in series order, to benefit from a few, decently presented serial plot lines. Some reviewers have not appreciated the book's ending, but I await this series' next installment. Cumming further cements his place among some of the top espionage writers, bar none... Five stars.
November 12, 2023
This book was not my favorite of the series, but is still worth the read
2 years ago Lachlan Kite came out of the woodwork with Box 88, and found what felt like a whole new take on the espionage novel. For fans of Le Carre and Forsyth the books are like catnip. Intelligent, introspective, and creating a story that interweaves the beginning and end of a spy’s career.
The pacing in this third book is a little slower, the exposition a little heavier, but the bones of what make this series so good are all still there. I’m looking forward to the next one.
2 years ago Lachlan Kite came out of the woodwork with Box 88, and found what felt like a whole new take on the espionage novel. For fans of Le Carre and Forsyth the books are like catnip. Intelligent, introspective, and creating a story that interweaves the beginning and end of a spy’s career.
The pacing in this third book is a little slower, the exposition a little heavier, but the bones of what make this series so good are all still there. I’m looking forward to the next one.
January 21, 2024
A good page turner
December 9, 2023
"Kennedy 35" by Charles Cumming is a gripping espionage novel that offers readers a captivating blend of history, politics, and suspense. Known for his expertise in the spy thriller genre, Cumming delivers a thought-provoking narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
The book opens with a synopsis of the Rwandan genocide in 1994 that saw more than half a million Tutsi tribes massacred by Hutu militias, led by the butcher of Kigali – Augustine Bagaza. Later, he moves to Senegal under an alias and is waiting for his new identity and passport that will give him and his girlfriend, Grace Mavinga (Lady Macbeth), a safe passage to Europe. In 1995, Lachlan Kite (Lockie) and his girlfriend Martha Raine are sent to Senegal under the cover of a holiday to exfiltrate Augustine and to bring him to justice. However, their mission gets botched up and the top-secret intelligence agency BOX 88 now wants to cover up this operation and Lockie, protect his career.
Fast forward into 2023, Lockie is enjoying a sabbatical with his wife and young child in Sweden, when he is approached through a connection by his childhood friend Eric Appiah, an advocate of BOX 88. He informs Lockie that an investigative journalist has got hold of some explosive information about the 1995 botched up operation and he is going to make this public. Just how much does this journalist know of the operation? Is he aware of the existence of the under-cover agency BOX 88? Lockie is nervous as this could be a potential threat to the very existence of the organization and an embarrassment to the US and UK government, should these details be leaked to the public.
Lockie rewinds back to the details of the 1995 operation to find out where this leak could have come from. As he begins to delve into the past, he soon realizes that there are more players to this game, and he must make his moves carefully. The French government and DGSE have not taken the events of 1995 very well, but are they steering this leak or are they not?
One of the standout features of "Kennedy 35" is Cumming's ability to create an atmosphere filled with intrigue and suspense. His attention to detail, combined with meticulous research, brings the story to life and adds an authentic touch to the narrative. The intricate plot unfolds at a well-paced rhythm, ensuring that readers are constantly engaged in the story and eager to discover what lies ahead. The gradual unveiling of secrets and unexpected twists keeps the book riveting until the very end.
The author's writing style is clear, concise, and accessible. Cumming's ability to seamlessly merge historical facts with fictional elements is commendable, making "Kennedy 35" a perfect read for both spy thriller enthusiasts and fans of historical fiction. The narrative is well-researched and grounded in realism, incorporating real-life events into this fictional conspiracy.
Overall, a captivating and evocative spy thriller that will appeal to fans of the genre. Charles Cumming's skillful storytelling, intriguing plot, and well-drawn characters make this novel a compelling read.
The book opens with a synopsis of the Rwandan genocide in 1994 that saw more than half a million Tutsi tribes massacred by Hutu militias, led by the butcher of Kigali – Augustine Bagaza. Later, he moves to Senegal under an alias and is waiting for his new identity and passport that will give him and his girlfriend, Grace Mavinga (Lady Macbeth), a safe passage to Europe. In 1995, Lachlan Kite (Lockie) and his girlfriend Martha Raine are sent to Senegal under the cover of a holiday to exfiltrate Augustine and to bring him to justice. However, their mission gets botched up and the top-secret intelligence agency BOX 88 now wants to cover up this operation and Lockie, protect his career.
Fast forward into 2023, Lockie is enjoying a sabbatical with his wife and young child in Sweden, when he is approached through a connection by his childhood friend Eric Appiah, an advocate of BOX 88. He informs Lockie that an investigative journalist has got hold of some explosive information about the 1995 botched up operation and he is going to make this public. Just how much does this journalist know of the operation? Is he aware of the existence of the under-cover agency BOX 88? Lockie is nervous as this could be a potential threat to the very existence of the organization and an embarrassment to the US and UK government, should these details be leaked to the public.
Lockie rewinds back to the details of the 1995 operation to find out where this leak could have come from. As he begins to delve into the past, he soon realizes that there are more players to this game, and he must make his moves carefully. The French government and DGSE have not taken the events of 1995 very well, but are they steering this leak or are they not?
One of the standout features of "Kennedy 35" is Cumming's ability to create an atmosphere filled with intrigue and suspense. His attention to detail, combined with meticulous research, brings the story to life and adds an authentic touch to the narrative. The intricate plot unfolds at a well-paced rhythm, ensuring that readers are constantly engaged in the story and eager to discover what lies ahead. The gradual unveiling of secrets and unexpected twists keeps the book riveting until the very end.
The author's writing style is clear, concise, and accessible. Cumming's ability to seamlessly merge historical facts with fictional elements is commendable, making "Kennedy 35" a perfect read for both spy thriller enthusiasts and fans of historical fiction. The narrative is well-researched and grounded in realism, incorporating real-life events into this fictional conspiracy.
Overall, a captivating and evocative spy thriller that will appeal to fans of the genre. Charles Cumming's skillful storytelling, intriguing plot, and well-drawn characters make this novel a compelling read.
December 3, 2023
Hotel Rwanda, the 2004 film starring Don Cheadle, blew me away. It wasn’t just because of the powerful performances, but because it opened my eyes to the situation in Africa between the Hutus and Tutsis that resulted in over 800,000 people (mostly Tutsis) being wiped out in barbaric fashion.
This brings me to KENNEDY 35, the latest BOX 88 thriller from Charles Cumming, who has shown why he is one of the top espionage writers working today. The action jumps between the years 1995 and 2023. In the earlier timeline is a scene set in Dakar, Senegal. Michael Strawson, the then-head of BOX 88, is meeting with Philippe Vauban, a former member of the French Foreign Legion, to discuss their shared experience in Rwanda during the time of these unthinkable deaths. This leads to Strawson assigning a 24-year-old Lachlan Kite the task of hunting down two war criminals who were part of the genocide: Augustin Bagaza and his mistress, Grace Mavinga, who has been tagged with the appropriate nickname “Lady Macbeth.”
"Charles Cumming has a great eye for historical detail, which he mixes in seamlessly with all the action to create outstanding thrillers that are not to be missed."
We get to see a young Kite and his girlfriend at the time, Martha Raine, who accompanies him so they can pose as tourists. Kite takes on an undercover role as an interpreter for a journalist, played by Philippe, as they are doing a story about the Rwandan genocide. Complicating matters is that Martha falls ill from what appears to be a bout of food poisoning. Kite has no choice but to reach out to an old school chum of his who lives in the area, Eric Appiah, who isn’t aware of his affiliation with BOX 88 or MI6.
The situation gets extremely tense when Kite and his team catch up with Bagaza at a nightclub. The evening ends with a wild run-in from Philippe; under the influence of some drug or medication, he proceeds to attack and kill Bagaza with a machete. Lady Macbeth then immediately shoots and kills Philippe before fleeing the area. Kite also takes off as the mission has gone south in a bad way, and they lose track of Lady Macbeth for the next 28 years.
In the present day, Eric reappears and is looking for Kite and Martha, who have long since broken up. Kite is unaware of Martha’s whereabouts. Before Eric can hook up with his old friend, he dies mysteriously in what appears to be a suicide from jumping off a building. Kite believes something else is at play but will never know the message Eric was trying to get to him. All he knows is that the Rwandan mission from 1995 has come back to haunt him in a big way, and he must find Martha to warn her that both of their lives could be in jeopardy.
This remains one of the finest espionage series going, and KENNEDY 35 never disappoints. Charles Cumming has a great eye for historical detail, which he mixes in seamlessly with all the action to create outstanding thrillers that are not to be missed.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
This brings me to KENNEDY 35, the latest BOX 88 thriller from Charles Cumming, who has shown why he is one of the top espionage writers working today. The action jumps between the years 1995 and 2023. In the earlier timeline is a scene set in Dakar, Senegal. Michael Strawson, the then-head of BOX 88, is meeting with Philippe Vauban, a former member of the French Foreign Legion, to discuss their shared experience in Rwanda during the time of these unthinkable deaths. This leads to Strawson assigning a 24-year-old Lachlan Kite the task of hunting down two war criminals who were part of the genocide: Augustin Bagaza and his mistress, Grace Mavinga, who has been tagged with the appropriate nickname “Lady Macbeth.”
"Charles Cumming has a great eye for historical detail, which he mixes in seamlessly with all the action to create outstanding thrillers that are not to be missed."
We get to see a young Kite and his girlfriend at the time, Martha Raine, who accompanies him so they can pose as tourists. Kite takes on an undercover role as an interpreter for a journalist, played by Philippe, as they are doing a story about the Rwandan genocide. Complicating matters is that Martha falls ill from what appears to be a bout of food poisoning. Kite has no choice but to reach out to an old school chum of his who lives in the area, Eric Appiah, who isn’t aware of his affiliation with BOX 88 or MI6.
The situation gets extremely tense when Kite and his team catch up with Bagaza at a nightclub. The evening ends with a wild run-in from Philippe; under the influence of some drug or medication, he proceeds to attack and kill Bagaza with a machete. Lady Macbeth then immediately shoots and kills Philippe before fleeing the area. Kite also takes off as the mission has gone south in a bad way, and they lose track of Lady Macbeth for the next 28 years.
In the present day, Eric reappears and is looking for Kite and Martha, who have long since broken up. Kite is unaware of Martha’s whereabouts. Before Eric can hook up with his old friend, he dies mysteriously in what appears to be a suicide from jumping off a building. Kite believes something else is at play but will never know the message Eric was trying to get to him. All he knows is that the Rwandan mission from 1995 has come back to haunt him in a big way, and he must find Martha to warn her that both of their lives could be in jeopardy.
This remains one of the finest espionage series going, and KENNEDY 35 never disappoints. Charles Cumming has a great eye for historical detail, which he mixes in seamlessly with all the action to create outstanding thrillers that are not to be missed.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
September 28, 2023
Kennedy 35 is the third of Cumming’s BOX 88 series of novels featuring the secret Anglo-American spy organisation that exists in the fringes of the intelligence services.
In the present day, Lachlan ‘Lockie’ Kite is the head of the UK division. We find him hoping for some rapprochement in his marriage to Isobel who has for time being headed home to Sweden with their young daughter. But Kite quickly has to return to London when he gets contacted by a former school colleague of his who needs to speak with him.
An American journalist has got hold of the memoirs of former French intelligence serviceman, and is planning to reveal all in his “Woodstein” podcast.
This is a novel that is set against the backdrop of the Rwandan genocide, and the immediate following. The book actually opens with a potted history of what happened before we get into the story itself. Once more, we travel back in time to see what happened when Kite was part of a BOX 88 team enlisted to capture an escaped figure central to the genocide. He and his equally culpable girlfriend are in Senegal, and he flies to Dakar taking his girlfriend Martha as cover.
They are to meet up with a local contact who turns out to be a French sometime photojournalist who has some curious behavioural issues – perhaps PTSD, perhaps because of the dangerous side effects of the anti-malarial drug lariam which he is taking.
The operation in Dakar very much goes sideways, and the outcome will have consequences decades later, with some of the characters who escaped the net back in the 90s now wealthy and fairly powerful themselves. Meanwhile both Kite and Martha’s names might be made public, so for the first time in many years, Kite is trying to reach Martha who is now happily married and living in New York. But he can’t reach her.
This is another great entry in the BOX 88 series, and the complexities and culpabilities of those who did nothing while so many hundreds of thousands died are explored here – not least the behaviour of the French government.
What I enjoy about these novels is that while they can be read as standalone titles, there is very much a through line telling the ongoing stories of key characters, and things are definitely ratcheting up in some of those stakes. I eagerly await the next book in the series.
In the present day, Lachlan ‘Lockie’ Kite is the head of the UK division. We find him hoping for some rapprochement in his marriage to Isobel who has for time being headed home to Sweden with their young daughter. But Kite quickly has to return to London when he gets contacted by a former school colleague of his who needs to speak with him.
An American journalist has got hold of the memoirs of former French intelligence serviceman, and is planning to reveal all in his “Woodstein” podcast.
This is a novel that is set against the backdrop of the Rwandan genocide, and the immediate following. The book actually opens with a potted history of what happened before we get into the story itself. Once more, we travel back in time to see what happened when Kite was part of a BOX 88 team enlisted to capture an escaped figure central to the genocide. He and his equally culpable girlfriend are in Senegal, and he flies to Dakar taking his girlfriend Martha as cover.
They are to meet up with a local contact who turns out to be a French sometime photojournalist who has some curious behavioural issues – perhaps PTSD, perhaps because of the dangerous side effects of the anti-malarial drug lariam which he is taking.
The operation in Dakar very much goes sideways, and the outcome will have consequences decades later, with some of the characters who escaped the net back in the 90s now wealthy and fairly powerful themselves. Meanwhile both Kite and Martha’s names might be made public, so for the first time in many years, Kite is trying to reach Martha who is now happily married and living in New York. But he can’t reach her.
This is another great entry in the BOX 88 series, and the complexities and culpabilities of those who did nothing while so many hundreds of thousands died are explored here – not least the behaviour of the French government.
What I enjoy about these novels is that while they can be read as standalone titles, there is very much a through line telling the ongoing stories of key characters, and things are definitely ratcheting up in some of those stakes. I eagerly await the next book in the series.
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