Want a NOOK? Explore Now
A Foreign Country
Charles Cumming
On the vacation of a lifetime in Egypt, an elderly French couple is brutally murdered. Then, days later, on the streets of Paris, a young French accountant is kidnapped. When Amelia Levene, who in six weeks is due to take over as the first female Chief of MI6, disappears without a trace while in the south of France, it is the gravest crisis MI6 has faced in more than a decade. Desperate not only to find her but to keep the press from learning that she has gone missing, Britain’s top intelligence agents turn to one of their own: disgraced former MI6 officer Thomas Kell.
Tossed out of the Service only months before, Kell is given one final chance to redeem himself—all he has to do is find Amelia Levene: quickly, quietly, and at any cost. Following a trail that leads him to France and then Tunisia, Kell uncovers a shocking secret and a conspiracy that could have unimaginable repercussions for Britain and its allies. All that stands in the way of personal and political catastrophe is Kell himself…
Winner of the 2012 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award
A Foreign Country
“A fast-paced and absorbing spy thriller.”—Wall Street Journal
“Charles Cumming makes his espionage novel feel fresh.” —The New York Times
“Simmers and crackles until the explosive finale.”—Library Journal
“Eat your heart out, Daniel Craig... Cumming vividly showcases meticulous research and insight into the undercover life of spies.”—GQ
“Superb.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A tale of European intrigue and conspiracy from a novelist who knows how the espionage game is played.”—Shelf Awareness
“Smart and intricate, with a large cast of cool characters and an authentic feel.”—Kirkus Reviews
“One of those very rare books that from its first page demonstrates that it’s something out of the ordinary, one of those tales that the reader hopes will never end...”—Bookreporter
RobertDowns
Posted August 7, 2012
This review isn’t an easy one to write, since I wanted to really like this book, instead of just liking it. However, the author has a handle on the spy thriller, and he more than proves his capabilities as a writer. But in order for me to really like a story, I have to become fully invested in the novel in some form or fashion, either through one or more characters, a hair-raising plot, or dialogue that projects louder than an Italian opera singer. And I didn’t get any of those feelings from this story.
Charles Cummings and his publisher have done all that they can do for this novel, but A Foreign Country lacks a bleeding, beating heart. From the first page to the last, the author appeared to be going through the motions of what it takes to write a great spy novel. The multiple characters were developed thoughtfully and meticulously, but none of the characters really grabbed me around the leg and yanked me into the story. The pages turned easily, and the short chapters helped me to race effortlessly to end, but neither the story itself, nor the characters, will resonate with me much after the conclusion.
Unlike other reviewers, I appreciate the risk the author took by going against the typical formula for a mainstream thriller and writing the story using multiple first person point of views. While it did take away a bit of the suspense, it provided a rather unique perspective and taking chances is what writing is all about.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Robert Downs
Author of Falling Immmortality: Casey Holden, Private Investigator
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The book starts out with many intriguing story lines…
Tunisia; a young nanny suddenly vanishes...
Egypt; an elderly couple are brutally murdered...
Paris; an accountant is kidnapped...
South of France; the first soon to be female chief of M16 vanishes…
From there it is edge of your seat subtle spy tingling tension!
Thomas Kell is a disgraced agent who was put out to pasture and reluctantly called back in from “the cold” for his particular set of skills along with his past relationship with the soon to be new M16 Chief Amelia Levene. Should news of the missing Chief get out all hell would break loose… so he must not fail!
It just gets better as you read more! I had not read anything from Charles Cumming before but, now I will be checking out all of this guys books starting with the first one “A Spy By Nature”
This book kept me on the edge of my seat and turning pages one right after the other well into the night! Great finger nail biting suspense & tension...a perfect spy thriller, my mother will love this one!
tcr5900
Posted November 22, 2012
I enjoyed the multiple plot twists, characters, and the pace of the story, but I kept expecting there to be more involvement from the French DGSE based on the references in the story. I feel like there was a missed opportunity to expand on the complexity of the story. Overall a good read!
No reason I can find not to give this well constructed novel five stars. It was a very good read, one that kept me reading until I finished it. The plot was engaging and the characters, at least the good guys, likeable. For a while I was in Tunisia, then Marseilles, Paris and London, always with an eye over my shoulder for the next bad guy to appear. I regretted Vincent's turn toward the end as I had thought he might not be so bad, and may actually turn against the bad guys. but such is the right of the novelist to make choices for which he alone knows the reason. It's all part of telling a good tale. So, if you like foreign capers involving spies, you should like A Foreign Country. I didn't get a free copy and have no axe to grind.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 7, 2013
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted August 18, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted September 3, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted December 29, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
A Foreign Country
Charles Cumming
On the vacation of a lifetime in Egypt, an elderly French couple is brutally murdered. Then, days later, on the streets of Paris, a young French accountant is kidnapped. When Amelia Levene, who in six weeks is due to take over as the first female Chief of MI6, disappears without a trace while in the south of France, it is the gravest crisis MI6 has faced in more than a decade. Desperate not only to find her but...