Our Man In Kuwait: A Cold War Espionage Thriller Inspired by Ian Fleming’s 1960 Visit

by Louise Burfitt-Dons

From world leading expert on chemical weapons Hamish de Bretton-Gordon OBE and author of Chemical Warrior ‘A brilliant marriage of fact and fiction’ A colonial-era thriller set against the background of big power conflict. The ultimate timepiece tinderbox of sun, sex and spies. Kuwait 1960. With Soviet backing Iraq plans to invade. Gordon Carlisle lives in the expat community of Ahmadi with little to worry about other than when to next don his dinner jacket. Following contact by an MI6 agent everything changes. Even marriage to his beautiful new wife Anita breaks down as he becomes a suspect in a chain of deaths in the Protectorate. Ian Fleming’s time in Kuwait is recorded at first hand as Britain prepares to meet the Iraqi forces head on with Operation Vantage.

Genres: Asia, Fiction

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2022

About the author

Louise Burfitt-Dons writes intelligent, emotionally charged thrillers that blend psychological tension, political intrigue, and identity twists. Her novels explore power, betrayal, and moral conflict—from Westminster conspiracies to Cold War espionage.
Her books include The Missing Activist , The Killing of the Cherrywood MP, The Secret War , and the Cold War thriller Our Man in Kuwait.
She is represented by Sarah Such Literary Agency, London.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story set in Kuwait in the 1960’s and if you have even a smidgen of interest in spy’s alongside the dinner parties and lifestyle that was to be had there at that time then this book is for you,the descriptive writing had me there,living that life in Kuwait,it was enticing if tinged with danger
It had a gentle pace, not slow but enough so you could gather your thoughts as to who was who and where and why throughout the book
I would say it’s a thriller with lots of elements combining to make it a good satisfying read
I liked the character of Gordon, not so much his wife but together they were an intriguing pair
All in all an interestingly different enough book to work and to make you think….I wonder if it will be made into a TV series as am sure would flourish in that medium

9/10
5 Stars

[Toni Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the successful “The Karen Anderson” series Ms. Burfitt-Dons changed theme and has penned for us a thought-provoking espionage thriller where we are taken back to 1960 Kuwait when British expats worried about the imminent invasion from Soviet backed Iraq.

Ahmadi, Kuwait 1960

Gordon Carlisle lives in Ahmadi with his beautiful wife Anita. They have little to worry about other what to wear at the next dinner party...till the day a MI6 agent crosses their paths, then everything changed : a marriage breakdown and Anita becomes the prime suspect in a chain of deaths. Gordon tried to unravel this mess and he gets deeper and deeper. The drama takes off and we are in turns and twists galore throughout the story.

With a mix of a fertile imagination, this thriller based on true events has enough spies and double agents to keep us guessing who may be one or not, especially who is the elusive Agent Alex so many are referring to all through the book. I loved this part particularly: very intriguing and captivating.

The pacing at first is very slow but took off when one of the wives dies in a mysterious way and from then on never lets up. I was happy for this change that took place 1/3 into the drama. The first part was more introducing us to the players. I found this a bit long but no doubts necessary. No lack of players to follow and each have a particular role to play and they do so perfectly. So we need to pay attention to know who is who... All characters are well-drawn and have an authentic ring to them. I enjoyed the realistic dialogue and the style is very comfortable to read. Well-done.

Thank you, Louise for this ARC.

[Laurie Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure what to say about this one, it kept me up way past my normal bedtime, I had to finish it.
It drew me in from the start, perhaps because I could recall some of the events.
It certainly blended historical fact with fiction extremely well, it is possible something very close to this actually took place.
There are just too many unforeseen occurrences to comment on the main characters struggle to keep a sane mind and at the same time attempt to discover the truth.
Well recommended to all who enjoy a mystery thriller with multiple twists and a sense of reality.

[Lulwa Al Mousa]

Generally reflects the image of a ‘Western boomers’ take on Kuwait that is obviously seen through the eyes of a detached Orientalist who writes on and about Kuwait with such authority, but ends up describing a typical scene that could be conjured up from any random ‘eastern’ setting, with very heavy-handed comments that frankly reflect a very dated, condescending, almost colonial, mindset.
When this became clear to me while reading, I only continued so that I could write this review having actually completed the book, so I wouldn’t judge it immediately, or inaccurately.

That being said, I would not recommend this book to a friend, nor to anyone who wants to read to get a glimpse of Kuwait in the early 60s or in general about Kuwaiti history. This book won’t give you that. It revolves around the lives of the Western expatriate community in Kuwait, and almost marginalises any mention of Arabs, except for general, very pejorative descriptions. Again, if there weren’t any specific mentions of Kuwaiti places, this could easily be set anywhere, there was nothing grounding about it - very Orientalist.

There were lots of racist undertones eg:
‘tell Mary [the housekeeper] to keep her cotton-picking fingers off the stuff in the laundry’ ????
Continuous mentions of Ian Fleming are so heavy handed you really can’t help but feel that such name dropping is used to fluff up the frankly very boring plot line.
The author writes that Yasser Arafat was Egyptian, and talks about the operations of the PLO which was founded in 1964, while the book was set in 1960. She also includes the wrong date of Kuwaiti Liberation in 1991. These errors make it so hard for you to take the story seriously, or even feel that you’re immersed in the plot.
To claim that this is a ‘historical’ spy thriller only reflects the disinterest the author had for the actualities of the region and its history, instead shaping it to their will to fit their (very bland) story, or not even bothering to conduct at least some primary research. It also ends in such a boring way that almost feels like a relief, just so you’re finally done reading.

At best, it is a novel that is read to pass time, but which reads like a petty soap opera that attempts to weave in an element of espionage for mystery. You really will not enjoy reading if you are from Kuwait or the region and know at least a little about its history, and have common sense and decency.
I acknowledge that this obviously reflects the prejudiced reality the author (who was born and lived in Kuwait) and the characters of the story lived in, but it could definitely have been written with much more respectability and class. Dated and very evidently so for a book published as recently as 2022.

[Rob Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and gentle thriller also containing an element of espionage. .Set in the early 1960s, the main character is Gordon Carlisle who lives in the Kuwaiti expat community of Ahmadi with it's large swimming pool, tennis club and much gossiping during expat dinners and dances!

Yes there are Russian spies and I am certainly not going to reveal who but suffice it to say Gordon is involved. Ian Fleming is thrown in for good measure with his James Bond novels selling really well.

What I really loved about the book is what life was like in small towns Kuwait with the heat, lots of sand, LP records and a diet reliant on what the servants can obtain,- tinned peas spring to mind! Surely a Netflix mini series could be made just about life and loves during that time?

I loved everything about the book including the Kuwait/ Iraq historical references.

Thanks to Net Galley and New Century for the chance to read and review.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Man In Kuwait opens in Beirut and we learn that someone at the heart of the expat community in Kuwait is a Soviet agent. There are twists and turns galore throughout this story as the main character Gordon Carlisle tries to unravel the mess he has got himself into after he’s approached by an MI6 agent. To add to his woes he’s head over heels with a wife who doesn’t seem to feel the same way.

I loved the dances and dinner parties, the dialogue and the way gossip spreads. When one of the wives dies in a mysterious way, the drama takes off. It doesn’t let up until the very end.

It’s a story based on true events and that detail shines through. The community is fearful of an invasion from Iraq as the country nears independence. After a spate of unexplained killings and the discovery of anthrax the Secret Service in London are on high alert. So much to think about in this book including what Ian Fleming was doing out there. A great mix of small-town politics and big power plays.

I also enjoyed a precis at the end of the end book of the real events that took place leading up to the Gulf War of 1991. Thank you to New Century for the Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an honest review

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An ordinary oil company executive is sucked into the spy games being played out across the Middle East in this 1960s thriller. But Gordon Carlisle is not that ordinary. Tall and urbane, he has a large menagerie of desert creatures, a beautiful new wife who is not as committed as he is and secrets in the cupboard.

The feel of this book reminded me of Casablanca with its mix of society, threat and intrigue. And even the love story which is there in the background. The story centres around the Hubara Club, the go to place or the expat community. And in the midst of this ever-turning mystery is Ian Fleming himself. The characters came alive with the dialogue. Historically it’s accurate for the period. The background is the looming invasion by neighbouring Iraq. Fascinating and a terrific story. Shades of Kim Philby and co. Thank you to New Century for the galley.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Man in Kuwait is another must-read by Ms. Burfitt-Dons. It's educational, as it describes the whole scenario at the end of the '60s and the possibility of a Russian invasion. It's a brilliant mix of reality and fiction where there are the good and bad guys and the spies who work for their countries and sometimes for more than one... Great story, with a very good plot, and wholesome characters.
I thank the author, her publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[John Mccormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this to read and honestly review.
This is a well written book with superb characterisation throughout. Set in the sixties it's very nostalgic for those of us of a certain age, and there is real feel for the times. Atmospheric clever descriptive a spy story come thriller, with plenty of surprises that kept this reader guessing throughout, always interesting and intriguing.
Recommended.

[Lubov Leonova · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great mystery

This story contains all the elements of a good mystery - a good crime, spies, and a strong male protagonist. The plot is set in the 1960-es, and it contains a lot of scenes with the glitter of that time. In many ways, it reminded me of ‘The Big Sleep’ written by Howard Hawks. 

I recommend it to everyone who loves a well-written classic mystery!

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gordon and his beautiful wife Anita live in Ahmadi and enjoy a lavish lifestyle of dinner dances and cocktail parties. That’s the fun part. But there’s a Russian spy in their midst and the story is uncovering who it is. It’s set in 1960 when Kuwait is approaching its year of Independence.

I liked the detail in this book, such as the background to anthrax, the falconry and the description of the desert creatures. It really got me hooked. Wonderful read and definitely recommended for fans of John Le Carre. Based on a true story, it was intriguing and well written. Thank you to NetGalley and New Century for a copy in return for a review.

[مؤيد حسن · Rating 2 out of 5]

I get it, the writer is a “boomer”… and it shows so well in this book. I couldn’t believe there are still writers who write with such an orientalist view in this time and age, the book do seem it was written in the 60s, like a Tintin book maybe.

Although the events of the book are solely in Kuwait, the only Kuwaiti character we see doesn’t appear (briefly) until half the book! And it’s of a sheikh… policeman sheikh!

Politically, the writer built the novel on the idea of Iraq (supported by the soviets) threatening of invading Kuwait just before the Kuwaiti/British protection treaty ends, true historical events by the way. But what the writer is showing is that those threats are in support of the Arabian union, thus it found support of the Arabs in living in Kuwait, specifically the Palestinians, and shows Kuwaitis resisting the idea of the union itself (as shown by the views of the only Kuwaiti character mentioned above), which is misleading to say the least. On the other hand, the writer talked about the establishment of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, which didn’t exist until 4 years after the events of the book.

The book is too westernised for my taste, marginalising Kuwaitis and Arabs, showing them as weak, gullible, terrorists, smelly, and scary (like the veiled ladies)… plainly and unapologetically! Which is completely unacceptable in a book published in this century… and by a writer who supposedly born and lived in the area!

Other than that the book was fun to read.

[Reads by W · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are so few English language books set in the Arabian Gulf that when I come across one, I’m immediately intrigued. But this was a huge disappointment.

The author grew up in Kuwait so it was interesting to hear her reference names of familiar areas, but it was many moons ago and it’s obvious that she was part of an expat community that didn’t mingle with the locals. The names she chose for her characters are stereotypical and don’t align with their ethnicities, there was hardly any knowledge of local customs, and the historical backdrop was totally missing.

Given that it’s promoted as a historical spy thriller, I was expecting a good grasp of history mixed in with a great spy story. I found neither. It was very cliche and the ending totally predictable and unrealistic simultaneously.

It’s a readable book, but not very well-written. Typos and grammatical mistakes distracted from the flow.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kuwait, 1960. With the rumoured threat of a Soviet-backed Iraqi invasion on the horizon, the expat community of Ahmadi is starting to feel unsettled, although business is mostly as usual. Gordon Carlisle, newly married and working for the preventative medicine division at Southwell Hospital, normally has little to concern him beyond his routine work, visits to the Hubara Club, and the busy round of engagements among his social set. However, his involvement an investigation into a recent anthrax outbreak has earned him some renown, the nickname 'James Bond of the Desert', and the unwelcome interest of the security services.

Gordon is contacted by an MI6 agent who encourages him to gather information about those who might be sympathetic to the Iraqi cause. Although he is reluctant, he can hardly refuse, and Gordon, being Gordon, he tries to do his best to complete his task. Unfortunately, the consequences of this send his life spinning out of control. His recent marriage after years of singledom to a beautiful, younger woman has already made him the subject of gossip in this close community, and he is now the target of rumours connected to the mentally fragile wife of one of his old friends too. His relationship with Anita is heading for the rocks, as he becomes increasingly bewildered by her suspicious behaviour, and her coolness towards him - and then, to top it all, he finds himself implicated in a brutal murder. It is not the best time to be asked by the powers that be to entertain the famous Bond author himself, naval intelligence officer, Ian Fleming... but perhaps this might be a silver lining to the cloud that is hanging over him?

I was not really sure what to expect of this book. The title suggests a nod to Graham Greene's humorous espionage thriller, Our Man in Havana, but the blurb promises a hard-edged colonial thriller, with an injection of Cold War spy shenanigans. Which would it prove to be? Well, in fact this is a glorious mix of both - an accomplished espionage thriller that thrums with the authenticity of an expat community in the dying days of colonialism, and one which has clever little touches of tongue in cheek sardonic humour among its twisty plotlines. Burfitt-Dons uses her experience as a child growing up in Kuwait in the uncertain era in which story is set, and the real-life friendship that existed between her own father and Ian Fleming, to craft a delicious mix of fact and fiction that holds you fast all the way to a beautifully contrived climax.

Nothing about this time and place escapes Burfitt-Dons' attention, from the over-arching impact of political unrest; religious division; territorial claims; the fear of insurgency; the rival interests of multiple intelligence agencies; and the complexities of divided loyalties. In addition, she immerses you in the nitty-gritty of the domestic arrangements of this community, with their preoccupations with money, status, appearance, and the private lives of their friends and neighbours, bringing in a compelling human element. You find yourself becoming equally caught up in the thriller elements of the story, as you do in the gossip and speculation among the ex-pat community members, and I loved how Burfitt-Dons uses the themes of secrets and betrayal throughout. Everything blends together in a very entertaining whole, and the inclusion of Fleming's visit to advance the plot is genius.

Gordon is an unlikely hero in this story, with his innate decency and unusual menagerie of creatures, but I became really fond of him as he naively entangles himself in a series of ever more dangerous situations, while trying to do the right thing. I have my fingers crossed that Burfitt-Dons decides to write a sequel featuring dear old Gordon, because I really want to follow more of his brand of adventures. I am seriously impressed with this mix of baking sun, sex and spies!

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that is a little bit of a slow burner but one that slowly crept up on me. I did struggle a little in the beginning but once I got to know the characters I began to feel more effortless with the book. While it started as a slow burner it definitely picked up pace as the story unfolded, and, what an intriguing story it was!

This is set in 1960 in Kuwait, I am mostly aware of the recent history of this area, but I didn't know much about it from the 60s, just a little before my time. The author has woven an interesting mix of fact with fiction to give a convincing and extremely twisted account of the roles of spies, governments, double agents and foreign powers in the region. It is focused on Gordon Carlisle.

Gordon is a bit of a non-descript man as such, goes to work, has friends, is married to Anita and carries on with his life in the Ahmadi ex-pat community. Talk between friends about potential problems in Kuwait, if the British government will send in troops and if those living there will have to flee.

With rumour running rife it doesn't take much for suspicions to escalate. This means that one act can be seen as something more sinister. When the finger points in the direction of Gordon, he above all is surprised. In a world of espionage nothing and no one is completely innocent... are they?

I really enjoyed the weaving and intrigue the author built up around her characters. I did kind of like Gordon and I did feel for him as he did seem to be the innocent party. It is however that old saying of "there's no smoke without fire" or that he surely must have known something. This constant state of suspicion makes everyone look guilty.

While the author told of Gordon, his friends, work and the politics of the area there is something else working in the background. This makes the story addictive and it did keep my interest. With mentions of anthrax, bombs, kidnapping and questioning by the police, there is enough of a tense atmosphere to create a dangerous scenario.

I liked this one and I did like the slower pace in the beginning as there are quite a few characters to get to know and also some history of the region and its main players. An enjoyable story and one that I would happily recommend.

[Ilana · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the many reasons the Middle East is so much upside down sometimes is due to the fact that, besides the colonial histories, the decades-long Cold War confrontations between the Soviet Union and the US and the allied powers on both sides. The chess of interests on both sides were often detrimental to the development of the countries used as an arena of deploying intelligence and military strategies, and abandoned as soon as a new set of interests prevailed. I will not enter too much in non-literary details of geopolitical nature, but literature can somehow remind us of causes and consequences of politicies that did not try to go further than short-term interests.

Our Man in Kuwait by Louise Burfitt Dons enacts the very active nest of spies in Kuwait in the 1960, a reflection of the diffuse landscape of the international political alliances two decades after the end of the WWII. A possible Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, that happened in a completely different context few decades later, is endangering the unstable balance of powers in the region, but also outlines the deep fracture in the Arab unity - due to the game of powers but not only.

Burfitt Dons, whose books I had the chance to previously review on the blog, wrote the book based on her own experiences, being born and brought in Kuwait where her father was Preventative Health Officer for the Kuwait Oil Company. Although sometimes the mindset reminded me of contemporary behaviors, the interactions between different expat couples and their dark secrets built up as a game of smoked mirrors are very captivating, in the thriller kind of way. The dialogues exhibit a sophistication and allusive language that raise even more questions about the character and intentions of the characters.

As I have a fascination and interest in both Cold War and the Middle East, Our Man in Kuwait was my read a choice for putting the topics and the region more into a larger mentalities context.

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of a book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

[LiA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of characters, spies and others, and a plot a bit difficult to keep track of. Maybe, spy stories are not my cup of tea. And I kept wondering, why Ian Fleming had to be part of the cast. It would also be helpful, if the historical info about Kuwait and Iraq was the foreword instead of the postscript, since not everybody knows what happened there in the 1950s. I read the whole novel, but skipped or leaved through a number of pages to speed up the process. The author was droning along, and I was much less intrigued by this book than by her novel about the British PM - The Killing of Cherrywood MP. Plus, I can‘t help noting that Louise Burfitt might be a good screenwriter, but she does not really convince me as a novelist: style‘s a bit flat, and basically purely dialogue. Maybe Our Man in Kuwait is meant to be a film one day? I also wonder: Why is the fact that Gordon stutters repeated (and printed as in - I quote - ‘It’s a t-t-tenuous situation where Kuwait’s involved.’) - time and again? Or that Sylvie wears glasses, and that Prince Mustafa‘s skin is ‚coffee-colored‘: „Prince Mustafa was a member of the Kuwait royal family. He’d inherited the coffee-coloured skin from his father, a minister in the Government. But the dark curly hair came from his mother and the engaging brown eyes from both.“ - A bit of post-editing would have helped, I‘d say. Also to avoid that two sentences in a row begin with ‚But…‘. Yes, I am a bit of a stickler here. But I love my reads to be perfect in style. Thanks for the copy I got via netgalley in exchange for a review.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up during the time when Iraq invaded Kuwait I remember the tension of that time and this is what Themis book feels like.  I can feel the tension that the characters were feeling and could sympathize.


The characters themselves I am not fully into as much but I do enjoy the story.  Generally I am more into the character building more so than story building but in this case I feel the story is pushing this into a better read.


I see a relationship that seems to be in problems at times but it isn't like most.  The woman seems unhappy with Kuwait and the man seems to be more thinking of the politics than anything else.  The stress is very real for them.


Ophelia drives me nuts so much the way she acts and what she keeps on pushing for.  It seems like she just wants to ruin everything for Gordon.  Doesn't want him to have a life or his love.


The book seems to have very many rude or obnoxious people.  It makes the story a bit more endearing to me.


The mystery part wasn't overly huge in the story.  I found that it was more the after thought to the whole overall story.  


For me this was great book and had so much to offer readers especially as stories to.  The only item I would say wasn't my norm was the characters they didn't really have me feeling anything strongly.


The writing style was also very good and I would definitely read this author again.  I can't thank the author as well as Anne who organized the tour for this wonderful opportunity 

[Eunice Chin · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are enough spies and double agents in Our Man In Kuwait to keep you guessing as to who is and who isn't, one. Above all, who is the elusive Agent Alex? Gordon is right there in the middle of it, guessing too.

Then there was a murder and the Expat and Kuwaiti royals' scene were all abuzz to figure out who the murderer was, as tensions rose over a very possible Iraqi invasion. Pinpointing the subversive elements as to who were the culprits secretly active undermining and attempting to bring the elite house down, was also imperative.

I enjoyed the pace of the unfolding action in this historical fiction, mystery thriller. It was that too, thrilling. I believe many readers will be well satisfied and will mull the heart-pounding drama over for days afterwards. Don't let the poisonous snakes or scorpion get you. Shivers!

The addenda includes a mini-history of the true events upon which this book is based. The author having spent time in Kuwait as an expat child, adds great unction to the tale.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

October 2022

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable historical spy thriller set in Kuwait in 1960 where the country is under threat of invasion from Iraq, who held that Kuwait is part of Iraq, and life is very jittery amongst the British ex Pat community. Based on true events, this is fairly slow paced at the beginning but when the action really starts it really ramps up the tension and suspense. Well written and clearly well researched.

Briefly, oil executive Gordon Carlisle is married to Anita and appears to live a charmed life. However when he is contacted by a member of MI6 life suddenly becomes extremely unsettling and dangerous. A British subject is murdered, a neighbours wife apparently commits suicide and then the couple have marital issues! All this whilst the expat community is wary about the potential invasion.

I enjoyed the fact that Ian Fleming’s (yes that Ian Fleming!) visit to the country has been included - very apt as there are a lot of spies and espionage going on! This is a clever interweaving of fact and fiction with some dramatic conclusions. A very enjoyable read with some fascinating details and descriptions of life in Kuwait.

[Annabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scene: Kuwait and the newish oil town of Ahmadi, populated by British and American ex-pats working for the oil company. Social life revolves around dinner parties and the local country club, lubricated by gallons of booze. Introduce the political instability of Kuwait into the mix, with a Soviet spy stirring up things and supporting neighbours Iraq, and there's already enough intrigue. But Burfitt-Dons uses her own childhood and experiences in Kuwait to add one more ingredient - the visit of Ian Fleming in 1960, hired to write a history of the Kuwait Oil Company - this actually happened. Obviously, the rest of her characters are fictional, and she puts Fleming into a slightly more dangerous situation than he really encountered (as far as I can ascertain). This adds up to a spy thriller with that glamorous touch, but it was all the ex-pat wives and booze I think I enjoyed the most!

[Athoob Al-Shuaibi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The richness of detail makes the story incredibly vivid, allowing my mind to start painting faces on the characters as early as the first chapters. I also couldn’t help but admire the author’s deep understanding of Kuwaiti culture, which is reflected in her choice of name for the fictional royal family member. She deliberately selected a name that no real Kuwaiti royal would have, a thoughtful decision to avoid any potential sensitivities for native readers.

[Jessie Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. It's less action than the Karen Anderson series and more historical spy/espionage drama, immersing you in the world of 1960s Kuwait. The details of expat life in the desert were fun and unique. The chapters move quickly with lots of little twists along the way to keep you guessing.

[Joshua Sink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great cold war spy story

I really liked this story, very engaging, interesting and keeps you guessing at what happens next. The character develops well and really places right in the story. Thank you, I really enjoyed everything about it.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an intriguing book. A mixture of historical and fiction together to keep you wanting to learn more. I absolutely loved everything about the characters and all that happened

[Joseph Whipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, setting and characters to keep me interested and routing for them. I highly recommend this.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

But of historical setting helped. Not very suspenseful. Book Bill took to the hospital Dec, 2023. Just made 16 Nov 2023 (inside back cover)

[S.G. Ansari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminds those of us who lived in Kuwait at the time of the "good old times." The story is pretty gripping and full of twists and turns.

[Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Man in Kuwait is a wonderful read. This is the first time I’ve read about Kuwait and it’s probably changed since it’s set in 1960. As a huge James Bond fan I found the section about Ian Fleming fascinating particularly about the bit he was working for Naval Intelligence at the time. The plot is quite complex, but everything ties up in the surprise ending. What an intriguing story and wondering what the author will come up with next.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cold War thriller of the year

Not only is this book well written, it’s also full of suspense. I was on the edge of my seat for nearly the entire thing. I think this is the thriller of the year for me!