The Spy in Black

A wartime classic of espionage, deception, and double-crosses.

First published in 1917, The Spy in Black by J. Storer Clouston is one of the earliest modern spy thrillers-written in the heat of the First World War. The novel follows Captain Hardt, a German U-boat commander sent on a covert mission to the Orkney Islands, where Britain's naval fleet is stationed. What begins as a daring operation soon becomes a tangled web of deception, shifting loyalties, and psychological intrigue.

Clouston, a Scottish author known for both satire and suspense, pioneered many of the tropes that define the espionage genre: shadowy landings by night, coded secrets, false identities, and betrayals hidden beneath ordinary lives. This is not just a historical curiosity, but a gripping page-turner that foreshadowed the works of John Buchan, Ian Fleming, and John le Carré.

This restored edition, edited by C.S. Bleecker, with preservation support from David Reimer and Al Haines, presents the text with clarity for contemporary readers while honoring its original pace and tone. The Spy in Black remains as suspenseful and atmospheric today as it was when first published-an essential read for fans of classic spy fiction.