Jack of Spies

By David Downing

This complex and “always entertaining” espionage novel takes readers to the dawn of the most fascinating characters of the 20th century—the spy (Washington Post).

On the eve of WWI, a Scottish car salesman’s ‘innocent’ data-gathering plunges him into a high-stakes game of espionage he never expected.

It is 1913, and those who follow the news closely can see the world is teetering on the brink of war. Jack McColl, a Scottish car salesman with an uncanny ear for languages, has always hoped to make a job for himself as a spy. As his sales calls take him from city to great city—Hong Kong to Shanghai to San Francisco to New York—he moonlights collecting intelligence for His Majesty’s Secret Service, but British espionage is in its infancy and Jack has nothing but a shoestring budget and the very tenuous protection of a boss in far-away London. He knows, though, that a geopolitical catastrophe is brewing, and now is both the moment to prove himself and the moment his country needs him most.

Unfortunately, this is also the moment he begins to realize what his aspiration might cost him. He understands his life is at stake when activities in China suddenly escalate from innocent data-gathering and casual strolls along German military concessions to arrest warrants and knife attacks. Meanwhile, a sharp, vivacious American suffragette journalist has wiled her way deep into his affections, and it is not long before he realizes that her Irish-American family might be embroiled in the Irish Republican movement Jack’s bosses are fighting against. How can he choose between his country and the woman he loves? And would he even be able to make such a choice without losing both?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: May 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781616952693

David Downing

David Downing is the author of eight John Russell novels, as well as four World War I espionage novels in the Jack McColl series and the thriller The Red Eagles. He lives in Guildford.

Reviews for Jack of Spies

[brianewilliams · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent historical fiction - great spy story too.

[martinhughharvey_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An audio book I started on my drive to and from Dayton, OH and just managed to finish today! I only listen when I'm driving is the reason.A good book and really nicely read. Set in 1914 the central character is a British agent and the tableau is wide stretching from China, across the Pacific, San Francisco, New York, Mexico, Dublin, and finally London. Quite a few societal issues are touched on, in addition to the brewing war, including suffrage, labor relation, Indian and Irish independence. There also is a love interest that meshes well into the story and plot line. Evenly paced. a thinking but not overly complex book, and (while I listened to it) I'd imagine a good read.

[ecw0647 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

OK, I realize Downing is just setting this book up as the first in a new series. I read his "station" series, Zoo Station, etc. and enjoyed them. They were all set in events related to WW II. This one places Jack McColl, a British spy, before WWI, with lots of historical background related to the Germans, the Irish seeking to kick the British from their Island, and the British trying to protect their Empire. Things get really complicated for McColl when he falls in love with a journalist whose brother is working with the Irish. McColl survives several assassination attempts, and it's all murky. Moves from Asia to the U.S. to Mexico, to the U.K.I had this audiobook set up to listen through Alexa and it was fine for that as I need not pay too much attention while making the bed, cleaning up, doing chores, etc. Well read, but not as good as the aforementioned series. Don't know if I'll continue with this series or not. Too many other better books to read/listen to.

[jtck121166 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellent new series from Downing, though without the (for me) more compelling setting of WWII Europe. The Irish connection is interesting, and the pan-American train ride an amusing prequel to Bond, perhaps?

[tmph_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

... just not that good. Did not rivet me. Though, I'm off to try his WWII "station" books.

[jamespurcell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good sense of history and fair main character. His girl friend was much more interesting, hope we do not lose her. James Bondish wilh less savoir faire and much more introspection

[reneerobinson-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

JACK OF SPIES, David Downing-ISBN 978-1616952686 bcid: 806-12702711Jack McColl is the hero of this gripping thriller. The setting is just on the brink of WWI. The year of 1913- Europe. As the world is falling apart with the onset of war Jack manages to find a rose in the ugly black, white and blood world of war. He finds a lovely lady who he is falling in love with.However, as his heart swells with love it also withers away as he travels, spies and continuously risks his life as he leaks the secrets of the Germans,destroys many of plots and saves lives.To onlookers he is a harmless luxurious British car salesman. Jack is beginning to think the seemingly quiet, dull life of a car salesman would suit him much better than the ungratified life of secrets and lies lived by a private undercover spy for hire. This is a great read for history buffs and military thrill/adventure seekers.

[mikebruscellsr · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Downing did not know how to tie all the action together and finish the book properly - it just stopped with no indication that any of the foregoing adventure had a larger meaning, that something significant was learned or gained, or even lost, other than a weakly stated 'lost love' of the last line. The crescendo never crescendoed, so to speak.

[nbmars · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Jack McColl, 32, is a Scot working as a spy for the British Government in 1913, a time when Britain had plenty to worry about: there was unrest in its colonies of Ireland and India, and the possibility of a European or even worldwide war was looming on the horizon.Jack’s latest mission of infiltrating Irish rebels and thwarting their plans is complicated by his attraction to Caitlin Hanley. Although she is an American, some of her family members are active Irish Republicans. McColl likes the job of espionage: it enables him to take advantage of his facility with languages, and he enjoys the danger and excitement. Too, he wants to make a difference with his life. But as his feelings for Caitlin grow, he knows his choice of career will probably come between them if she finds out the truth.Discussion: This story is set against a promising background. First, it takes place at a time when there was no official “spy agency” of the British Government, and intelligence work was done by “free-lancers.” In addition, 1913 was certainly one of the most eventful times historically in the 20th Century. But herein lies the trap the author sets for himself: his apparent desire to convey the complex and momentous history of the time puts the story itself at a lower priority. Thus, much of the writing and pacing is pedestrian and didactic. Also, McColl is a little too knowledgeable about everything that is going on, evincing a very sophisticated 21st Century interpretation of events leading up to World War I, a perspective unlikely to be shared by someone from that time and with his limited knowledge.Caitlin, a suffragette and socialist, provides a way for the author to bruit the most politically correct views on just about everything imaginable. Caitlin’s conversations with Jack seem geared to allow the author to make sociopolitical points rather than to establish some sort of chemistry between the two. It is definitely possible to accomplish both goals: Jennifer Donnelly, for example, excels at this in The Winter Rose. But I didn't feel this author was adept at integrating politics into the narrative.Finally, sometimes the triteness of the prose (combined with the author’s love of Baedeker-ism) is eye-rolling:"After breakfast on Saturday, he took the subway down to City Hall and the el from Park Row across the Brooklyn Bridge to the other Fifth Avenue. She was waiting at the Sixteenth Street exit, looking as gorgeous as ever and drawing admiring glances from every male who passed her.”Evaluation: The writing is a bit ponderous and often uninspired. To my thinking, the author wants too much to convey the history of the time, to the detriment of his telling a good story. He also seems bent on proving that he could reconstruct every street of every place in 1913 where the protagonist traveled.The author is a best-seller, and other reviewers liked this book, but I found it more tedious than compelling.