Vagabond: A Thriller

by Gerald Seymour

Overview

“[A] British spymaster delivers [a] first-rate effort—this one focused on an old-fashioned hero facing up to new challenges” as Irish terrorists arms up (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).

Danny Curnow, known in the army family by his call sign, Vagabond, ran agents, informers. Played God with their lives and their deaths, and was the best at his job—and he quit when the stress overwhelmed him.

Now he lives in quiet isolation and works as a guide to tourists visiting the monuments and cemeteries of an earlier, simpler, conflict on Normandy’s D-Day beaches.

Until the call comes from an old boss, Bentinick.

Violence in Northern Ireland is on the rise again. Weapons are needed for a new campaign. Gaby Davies of MI5, sparky and ambitious, runs the double agent Ralph Exton, who will be the supposed middle man in brokering an arms deal with a Russian contact, Timofey.

The covert world of deception and betrayal was close to destroying Danny across the Irish Sea. Fifteen years later the stakes are higher, the risks greater, and there is an added agenda on the table. If he wants to survive, Danny will have to prove, to himself, that he has not softened, that he is as hard and ruthless as before.

Praise for Gerald Seymour

“Seymour excels at creating characters with deep backstories. . . . best of all, the legendary double agent . . . Danny Curnow.” —Publishers Weekly

“Suspense master Seymour dazzles with commanding language and meticulous detail.” —Entertainment Weekly

“Seymour . . . does his research, thinks hard about his story and gives us richly imagined novels that bristle with authenticity.” —Washington Post

“In a class of his own.” —The Times (London)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466887084
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	03/26/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	842,595
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

GERALD SEYMOUR was a reporter at ITN for fifteen years, where his first assignment was covering the Great Train Robbery in 1963. Seymour's first novel was the acclaimed thriller Harry's Game, set in Belfast, which became an instant international bestseller and later a television series. Six of Seymour's thrillers have now been filmed for television in the UK and U.S. The Outsiders is his twenty-ninth novel.

Editorial Reviews

11/23/2015
British author Seymour returns, with mixed results, to the conflict between the Irish Republican Army and Great Britain that catalyzed his first novel, Harry’s Game (1975). In the present day, tensions in Northern Ireland are on the rise. Two Russian agents, who are working from the Czech Republic, are happy to sell weapons to patient, simmering IRA terrorist Malachy Riordan through middleman Ralph Exton, a small-time smuggler who desperately needs money. Exton is afraid of his Russian clients and of the MI5 agents who have made him a reluctant double agent. Seymour excels at creating characters with deep backstories: Riordan, the not-posh MI5 agent Gaby Davies, an unusually honest copy in Prague named Karol Pilar, and, best of all, the legendary double agent brought out of retirement to handle Exton, Danny Curnow (code name Vagabond). He also does a fine job of capturing the enduring hostility on both sides, but a slow-moving, hard-to-fathom plot makes this a slog. Agent: Jonathan Lloyd, Curtis Brown (U.K.). (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"Seymour has his fragmented narrative down to such a science there's never any doubt that we will be rewarded for our patience. As classic a thriller as this is, it boasts a sharp contemporary edge that traffics as much in cynicism as despair (everyone is haunted by a death or moral failure). In either mode, the tension builds. An author who seemingly can do no wrong, British spymaster Seymour delivers another first-rate effort—this one focused on an old-fashioned hero facing up to new challenges."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Seymour excels at creating characters with deep backstories: Riordan, the not-posh MI5 agent Gaby Davies, an unusually honest copy in Prague named Karol Pilar, and, best of all, the legendary double agent brought out of retirement to handle Exton, Danny Curnow (code name Vagabond). He also does a fine job of capturing the enduring hostility on both sides."—Publishers Weekly

“Seymour [is] incapable of creating a two-dimensional character . . . The ending is brilliantly orchestrated.” —The London Times on The Dealer and the Dead

“Crisp, taut and contemporary, by a stylish writer.” —The Observer (UK) on The Dealer and the Dead

“Discerning thriller readers can safely say that the best practitioner currently working in the UK is the veteran Seymour. He is, quite simply, the most intelligent and accomplished in the current field . . . Here, we have a typically compromised Seymour anti-hero, a masterfully organised globe-spanning narrative and a mass of highly persuasive detail. The Dealer and the Dead is Seymour firing on all cylinders, and his rivals need, once again, to look to their laurels.” —Barry Forshaw, author of The Man Who Left Too Soon, on The Dealer and the Dead

“With Seymour, not only do you get a cracking story deftly told, but you also feel you are learning something.” —Birmingham Press on The Dealer and the Dead

“The final scenes are brilliantly orchestrated by Seymour, the sustained tension becoming almost unbearable . . . Without doubt, The Dealer and the Dead is one of the finest thrillers to be published so far this year.” —Yorkshire Evening Post on The Dealer and the Dead

“[Seymour's] meticulous research shines through in his latest thriller.” —Oxford Times on The Dealer and the Dead

“Riveting.” —Manly Daily on The Dealer and the Dead

“In a day when shop-worn plots in the disguise of well-written books are doing the rounds, The Dealer and the Dead comes as a refreshing, breathtaking story that keeps you gripped right till the very end.” —Indian Express on The Dealer and the Dead

“The Dealer and the Dead displays [Seymour's] usual ability to concoct a tightly controlled plot that is cleverly engineered . . . steadily crafted into a compelling tale . . . Another first-class thriller from the always reliable Seymour.” —Canberra Times on The Dealer and the Dead

“A tense thriller.” —Choice on The Dealer and the Dead

“Veteran British spy novelist Gerald Seymour has written an extraordinary work of fiction. This is Seymour's 21st novel, and critics on both sides of the Atlantic have for years compared him to John le Carre, Graham Greene, Eric Ambler and other masters of spy fiction, but his reputation has never quite equaled theirs. No matter. Serious readers will find in A Deniable Death not only suspense, strong characters and a realistic look at the world of espionage, but a majesty that is rare in fiction. At a certain point, the novel rises to a mythic level, portraying courage and loyalty and sacrifice almost beyond understanding.” —Washington Post on A Deniable Death

“Outstanding… Seymour (Harry's Game) is strong on the details of surveillance and spycraft, but on even surer ground with his characters as he focuses on Gibbons's stoic dedication, Badger's ruthless single-mindedness, and Foxy's prideful professionalism. Even the Engineer comes across as a human being, thanks to a complex subplot about getting his wife to the West for cancer treatment. Once the narrative gains momentum, it's hard to put this one down.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review on A Deniable Death

“A book for those seriously into espionage who want to absorb every detail of how a spy mission is planned and carried out… Seymour's painstaking attention to detail is a plus, as it gives the story an authentic ring and lets the reader experience the mission in real time.” —Kirkus on A Deniable Death

“A vividly drawn ensemble of spooks, terrorists and civilians.” —Sunday Times Books of the Year 2011 on A Deniable Death

“Picking up a novel by Gerald Seymour is like taking a deep breath of fresh air . . . When readers get to the nailbiting climax, involving an agonising wait for airborne rescue, they may be wondering why they should bother with any other thriller writer.” —Independent (London) on A Deniable Death

“The novel exemplifies Seymour's ability to create and control a large, vividly drawn ensemble who are unwittingly connected (in this case via two fed-up soldiers)… Also characteristic is a Hitchcockian skewing of the reader's sympathies, with the ostensible good guys in Whitehall shown as coldly ready to sacrifice lives, and the bomb-maker seen in the round as both killer and devoted husband.” —The Sunday Times (London) on A Deniable Death

“Seymour is a master of the thriller set on the murky edges of modern war . . . As ever he juggles action, context and suspense with a special-forces level of expertise.” —i on A Deniable Death

“After 28 novels, Seymour's empathy for those he ensnares in his moral minefields remains movingly even-handed.” —Daily Telegraph (London) on A Deniable Death

“A gripping thriller.” —Sun on A Deniable Death

“Mr Seymour is . . . on form . . . The tradecraft of silent watching and the discomfort, thirst and increasing claustrophobia of the hideout are brought very much to life . . . the grim landscape of the border region and the harsh lives of its inhabitants are skilfully evoked.” —The Economist (Australia) on A Deniable Death

“Great storytelling . . . You just have to read this novel as it is absolutely gripping.” —Eurocrime on A Deniable Death

“Gerald Seymour is the grand-master of the contemporary thriller and Deniable Death is his greatest work yet. Gripping, revealing and meticulously researched, this is a page-turning masterpiece that will literally leave you breathless.” —Major Chris Hunter, author of Extreme Risk, on A Deniable Death

“Suspense master Seymour dazzles with commanding language and meticulous detail.” —Entertainment Weekly on Rat Run

“Seymour is not one to cut corners. He does his research, thinks hard about his story and gives us richly imagined novels that bristle with authenticity.” —Washington Post on The Collaborator

“In a class of his own.” —The Times on THE WAITING TIME

“A dense, intensely satisfying thriller from one of the modern masters of the craft, Seymour's latest novel will remind the world just how phenomenally accomplished a thriller writer he is.” —Daily Mail on THE COLLABORATOR

From the Publisher

Veteran British spy novelist Gerald Seymour has written an extraordinary work of fiction. This is Seymour's 21st novel, and critics on both sides of the Atlantic have for years compared him to John le Carre, Graham Greene, Eric Ambler and other masters of spy fiction, but his reputation has never quite equaled theirs. No matter. Serious readers will find in A Deniable Death not only suspense, strong characters and a realistic look at the world of espionage, but a majesty that is rare in fiction. At a certain point, the novel rises to a mythic level, portraying courage and loyalty and sacrifice almost beyond understanding.

Washington Post on A Deniable Death

A tense thriller.

Choice on The Dealer and the Dead

The Dealer and the Dead displays [Seymour's] usual ability to concoct a tightly controlled plot that is cleverly engineered . . . steadily crafted into a compelling tale . . . Another first-class thriller from the always reliable Seymour.

Canberra Times on The Dealer and the Dead

In a day when shop-worn plots in the disguise of well-written books are doing the rounds, The Dealer and the Dead comes as a refreshing, breathtaking story that keeps you gripped right till the very end.

Indian Express on The Dealer and the Dead

Riveting.

Manly Daily on The Dealer and the Dead

[Seymour's] meticulous research shines through in his latest thriller.

Oxford Times on The Dealer and the Dead

The final scenes are brilliantly orchestrated by Seymour, the sustained tension becoming almost unbearable . . . Without doubt, The Dealer and the Dead is one of the finest thrillers to be published so far this year.

Yorkshire Evening Post on The Dealer and the Dead

With Seymour, not only do you get a cracking story deftly told, but you also feel you are learning something.

Birmingham Press on The Dealer and the Dead

Crisp, taut and contemporary, by a stylish writer.

The Observer (UK) on The Dealer and the Dead

Seymour [is] incapable of creating a two-dimensional character . . . The ending is brilliantly orchestrated.

The London Times on The Dealer and the Dead

Gerald Seymour is the grand-master of the contemporary thriller and Deniable Death is his greatest work yet. Gripping, revealing and meticulously researched, this is a page-turning masterpiece that will literally leave you breathless.

Major Chris Hunter

Great storytelling . . . You just have to read this novel as it is absolutely gripping.

Eurocrime on A Deniable Death

Mr Seymour is . . . on form . . . The tradecraft of silent watching and the discomfort, thirst and increasing claustrophobia of the hideout are brought very much to life . . . the grim landscape of the border region and the harsh lives of its inhabitants are skilfully evoked.

The Economist (Australia) on A Deniable Death

A gripping thriller.

Sun on A Deniable Death

After 28 novels, Seymour's empathy for those he ensnares in his moral minefields remains movingly even-handed.

Daily Telegraph (London) on A Deniable Death

Seymour is a master of the thriller set on the murky edges of modern war . . . As ever he juggles action, context and suspense with a special-forces level of expertise.

i on A Deniable Death

The novel exemplifies Seymour's ability to create and control a large, vividly drawn ensemble who are unwittingly connected (in this case via two fed-up soldiers)… Also characteristic is a Hitchcockian skewing of the reader's sympathies, with the ostensible good guys in Whitehall shown as coldly ready to sacrifice lives, and the bomb-maker seen in the round as both killer and devoted husband.

The Sunday Times (London) on A Deniable Death

Picking up a novel by Gerald Seymour is like taking a deep breath of fresh air . . . When readers get to the nailbiting climax, involving an agonising wait for airborne rescue, they may be wondering why they should bother with any other thriller writer.

Independent (London) on A Deniable Death

A vividly drawn ensemble of spooks, terrorists and civilians.

Sunday Times Books of the Year 2011 on A Deniable Death

Suspense master Seymour dazzles with commanding language and meticulous detail.

Entertainment Weekly on Rat Run

A dense, intensely satisfying thriller from one of the modern masters of the craft, Seymour's latest novel will remind the world just how phenomenally accomplished a thriller writer he is.

Daily Mail on THE COLLABORATOR

In a class of his own.

The Times on THE WAITING TIME

Seymour is not one to cut corners. He does his research, thinks hard about his story and gives us richly imagined novels that bristle with authenticity.

Washington Post on The Collaborator

Discerning thriller readers can safely say that the best practitioner currently working in the UK is the veteran Seymour. He is, quite simply, the most intelligent and accomplished in the current field . . . Here, we have a typically compromised Seymour anti-hero, a masterfully organised globe-spanning narrative and a mass of highly persuasive detail. The Dealer and the Dead is Seymour firing on all cylinders, and his rivals need, once again, to look to their laurels.

Barry Forshaw

★ 2015-11-04
Twenty years after the IRA declared a cease-fire in Northern Ireland, a small, unreconstructed group of its members are plotting to buy weapons from a Russian arms dealer. A legendary runner of agents for MI5 known as Vagabond is called out of self-imposed retirement to thwart their efforts to stir up trouble. For 16 years, Vagabond—given name Danny Curnow—has been leading tours of World War II sites in Normandy to get over the psychic hurt of manipulating too many intelligence officers to their deaths. But "Desperate," as he's also known, can't sit on the sidelines when British double agent Ralph Exton leads republican Malachy Riordan to Prague to do business with a one-time Russian intelligence agent now involved in organized crime. A host of characters adds to the intrigue, including Matthew Bentinick, the higher-up to whom Curnow is unflaggingly loyal, and ambitious MI5 agent Gaby Davies. Will Exton have the gumption to follow through on his assignment in the face of mortal danger? The action unfolds slowly with all its individual stories, interconnected points of view, and shifts between present and past. But in this, his 30th novel (and fourth concerning the Troubles), Seymour has his fragmented narrative down to such a science there's never any doubt that we will be rewarded for our patience. As classic a thriller as this is, it boasts a sharp contemporary edge that traffics as much in cynicism as despair (everyone is haunted by a death or moral failure). In either mode, the tension builds. An author who seemingly can do no wrong, British spymaster Seymour delivers another first-rate effort—this one focused on an old-fashioned hero facing up to new challenges.

Kirkus Reviews