Unavailable
Unavailable
Unavailable
Ebook393 pages7 hours
Jack of Spies
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
()
Unavailable in your country
Unavailable in your country
About this ebook
FIRST IN A STUNNING NEW WW1 SPY SERIES FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BESTSELLING 'STATION' NOVELS Jack McColl is a globe-trotting salesman for a luxury car firm. He is also a part-time spy for the fledgling Secret Service on the eve of the First World War, doing London's bidding wherever internal or external enemies threaten the security of the British Empire. As 1913 ends he is in China, checking out the German naval base at Tsingtao between automobile demonstrations in Peking and Shanghai. Caitlin Hanley is a young Irish-American journalist with the sort of views that most British men would find dangerously advanced. McColl is no exception, but once captivated he finds himself unwilling to give her up -- even when Caitlin's radical politi and family connections threaten to compromise his undeclared career as a spy. Then the pair become involved in a plot that threatens the Empire in its hour of greatest need . . .
Unavailable
Author
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.
Read more from David Downing
The Moscow Option: An Alternative Second World War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Agents & Spies Short Stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Jack of Spies
Related ebooks
Nobody from Somewhere: A Crime Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Love Affairs of an Old Maid Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Life of Lord Byron Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIn Plain Sight Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wave of Terror: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Poisoned Sky Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Mind to Kill Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Here Comes Charlie M Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEdge 56: Doom Town Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Third Murray Leinster MEGAPACK®: 15 Classic Stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Factory: And Other Stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Case of the Russian Diplomat Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Empire Discovered: The Rutherford Chronicles Part 1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Man Who Was Nobody Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBullets And Bones Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Angel: A Charles Dickens mystery Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Take or Destroy: The WWII Collection Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5O'Farrell's Law Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Nightmare in the Street Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Forever Man Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFinished Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Savior in Time Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLittle Grey Mice Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Inscrutable Charlie Muffin Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Complete Gunslinger Trilogy: Gunslinger Trilogy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Secret Agent's Bedside Reader: A Compendium of Spy Writing Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Graveyard of Empires Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Road to London Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDark Asset Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Inspector Zhang Goes To Harrogate (A Short Story) Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Thrillers For You
Animal Farm Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Girl Who Was Taken: A Gripping Psychological Thriller Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Perfect Marriage: A Completely Gripping Psychological Suspense Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sympathizer: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Kind Worth Killing: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Housemaid Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rock Paper Scissors: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Paris Apartment: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hidden Pictures: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Rose Code: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Only Good Indians Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Finn Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fairy Tale Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pretty Girls: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5You: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Last Flight: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The It Girl Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Family Upstairs: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Cabin at the End of the World: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dry: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Huntress: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Terminal List: A Thriller Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Long Walk Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Institute: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Golden Spoon: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My Best Friend's Exorcism: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Needful Things Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Maidens: A Novel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Related categories
Reviews for Jack of Spies
Rating: 3.330508474576271 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
59 ratings9 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5OK, 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.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5... just not that good. Did not rivet me. Though, I'm off to try his WWII "station" books.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Excellent 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?
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5An 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.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent historical fiction - great spy story too.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good 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
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5JACK 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.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Jack 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.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Downing 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.