Legacy

Charles Thoroughgood #2

by Alan Judd

First new novel for many years from the prize-winning author of best-selling A Breed of Heroes. Legacy is the first novel of a new spy trilogy based on friendship and working relationship between the two central characters.
Alan Judd is the author of the best-selling A Breed of Heroes ( over 100,000 copies sold, shortlisted for the Booker Prize and winner of the Royal Society of Literature Award for fiction). It was also turned into a very popular and well-regarded TV film. His Fordian novella The Devil’s Own Work is regarded as his most original and accomplished work (it won the Guardian Fiction Prize) and his biography of Ford Madox Ford won the Royal Society of Literature Award for biography and the Heinemann Award. He is extraordinarily well-connected in the world of literature, very highly thought of, and a very fine journalist.
The chief protagonist of Alan’s autobiographical novel A Breed of Heroes was Charles Thorougood. Charles is resurrected in the new novel as an agent of MI6 working in London during the Cold War, with a young Soviet assistant. Unexpectedly he learns of a strange legacy left to him by his estranged father, the implications of which are much darker than expected at first. Charles and his Russian associate begin to uncover information about a Soviet plot to dump dangerously toxic and nuclear substances on mainland Britain. The Soviet operation is code-named Legacy.
The book is based mainly in London at the end of the Cold War. It is a spy thriller full of unexpected twists. Le Carre’s novels saw espionage as a metaphor for the treacherousness and helplessness of the human heart and Alan builds on this theme with his new novel also showing how intrinsic and close the world of espionage is to everyday life.

Genres: Espionage, Fiction, Novels, Thriller

Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Alan Judd is a pseudonym used by Alan Edwin Petty.

Born in 1946, he graduated from Oxford University and served as a British Army officer in Northern Ireland during 'The Troubles', before later joining the Foreign Office; he currently works as a security analyst. He regularly contributes articles to a number of publications, including The Daily Telegraph, and The Spectator as its motoring correspondent. His books include both fiction and non-fiction titles, with his novels often drawing on his military background.

He lives in Sussex with his wife and daughter.

Reviews

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are in John le Carre territory in this Cold War spy story set in 1970s London. Charles Thoroughgood, whose name describes his character, has left the British army and joined the Secret Service as a trainee. By coincidence, a Russian acquaintance from university days shows up as a Soviet diplomat with a weakness for a particular London postitute. Charles is taken out of his training course and told to approach his former classmate. When he does so, the Russian turns the tables on him by revealing that Charles's own father, now deceased, was a long-standing Soviet agent.
There is lots of interesting tradecraft in this novel. The author clearly knows what he's talking about. Also, some quirky British characters in the best tradition of the cast of eccentrics created by le Carre.
Judd differs from le Carre in that he sees no more equivalence between the British and the Soviets. Whereas Le Carre regards his characters as players in a game in which both sides observe the same rules more or less, Judd has no such scruples. He clearly sees the Brits as morally superior and the Soviets as utterly evil.
There are some surprises in this book which are not altogether surprising and the depiction of England circa 1970 seems more like the 1950s to me than the actual England I remember. Judd clearly brings out the upper class nature of the secret service, still the realm of public school boys and a few women from the "right" families and universities. His women are not convincing and the subject of sexual desire is handled as if it were an embarrassing social faux pas.
Still this is an entertaining and interesting book.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A New Author To Me - definitely one to follow

I had never come across Alan Judd before, but now I have, I find I have a lot to catch up on. I love espionage novels, particularly those of the “Le Carre” sub-genre, which is right where this slots in. Good characters, lots of excellent trade craft, and great storytelling. Highly recommended!

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A wise friend recommend Alan Judd's novels with Charles Throughgood as protagonist. She also recommended I read them chronologically so I searched and found A Breed of Heroes. I found it OK, and learned a lot about the British army and Belfast, but then what do I know since it was nominated for a Booker Prize.
Legacy's pace is altogehter different. In the time between both books the author's writing became sharp as a saber. I loved everything about this book and luckily, have two more to read right here at home, but becoming anxious about not having more in my stash. Please Mr. Judd, keep feeding my new addiction.

[Terry Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Authentic feeling

Quietly evocative of the period ,well drawn characters and a plot that keeps you guessing. A read that makes you look forward to the next

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intelligent espionage novel without the glamour of Bond.

[Pauline Liu-Devereux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh joy!

So pleased to discover Alan Judd and know there are many more in the series. Recommended by Mick Herron no less, to whom I'm very grateful.

[Michael Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliantly written, excellent, clever story. Really enjoyed this.

It isn't a mega spy epic, more low key, felt very realistic. Will definitely read more from Alan Judd

[M C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libby book. Start of mi5 series

[Corto · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Le Carre fans, rejoice. A worthy successor exists. Alan Judd- a former MI6 officer (outed by disgruntled fellow traveler Richard Tomlinson, in his book "The Big Breach") brings us a believable, intricate and compelling espionage story. Fans of spy fiction generally judge a book on how authentic the tradecraft feels and Judd doesn't disapoint. He delivers that aspect with the ease and familiarity of an insider. The main character is Charles Thoroughgood, fresh out of the Army and in training to be in his country's clandestine service. Judd first introduced Thoroughgood in "A Breed of Heroes", as a Para officer (like Judd had been)cutting his teeth in Northern Ireland. "Legacy" shows character development for both the author and his alter ego. Judd wrote "A Breed of Heroes" in the satirical, cynical and absurd vein of Evelyn Waugh, with Thoroughgood as an unsure neophyte. "Legacy" was written 20 years after "Breed", and is independent of Waugh's style. Additionally, Thoroughgood arrives in this novel as a more confident and sophisticated adult. I won't bore you with a synopsis of "Legacy". It's a thoroughly enjoyable "old-school" 70's-era Cold War tale- though if you aren't invested in the main character things don't pick up until after the first 70-odd pages. I couldn't put it down past that point. Well done.

[SeaShore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read, totally surprising me. Good. Thrilling ride giving me a much needed and pleasant distraction.

[Gerald Sinstadt]

We are in Le Carre territory, as we were with Uncommon Enemy. This time Alan Judd is concerned with posing moral dilemmas and with portraying the characters who are recruited into the word of espionage. These he does well - Hookey, the Chief, is splendidly drawn and so are the foibles of bureaucracy - but the actual events are less convincing. The need for an open ending so that Charles Thoroughgood can reappear next time has a somewhat arbitrary feel, loos ends left just a little too loose.

The period evocation flirts with the usual dangers - "in the loop" has too much of a modern feel, and I doubt if the Park Lane Intercontinental existed then - but Alan Judd is good value.

[Bob Mobley · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy well written "Spy Stories," Alan Judd's book "Legacy" will capture your attention and be a fun read. Well written with a fast moving plot, Judd's book is set at the beginning of the Cold War after World War II. It is an excellent tale of conflicting values within the British Intelligence Community. Alan Judd's understanding of how MI5 and MI6 work together and in competition, brings insights into the complexity of "Human Nature" when intelliegent services are seeking to gain the upperhand. Add in the KGB and this truly becomes an entertaining, engrossing and enjoyable book. A wonderful book to take on your next "Road Trip."

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half spy novel, half psychological exploration of family issues. The spy stuff is all fun - set in the 50s with details on how spies were trained and contacted each other, etc. Has some fun surprises. Full of very British stuff so Anglophiles should enjoy.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent spy thriller, though I'm not sure it's up to the "successor to John le Carre" standard. Good though, with a lot of authentic seeming detail about the bureaucracy of MI6, and interesting and well-drawn characters.

[Ethan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had some good moments of zippy dialogue, but overall it moved slowly. I should have known, since the book jacket described it as a "historical spy procedural."

[Eric Grounds · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one second and by chance it fitted in with the sequence. A fun series

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very British spy thriller. Highly recommended especially for those fond of the genre.