The Man in the Corduroy Suit
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4.2 • 34 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
“A wonderful, artful, absorbing espionage novel.” Adam Brookes, author of Night Heron
The story of an internal investigation into the past of a British spy suspected of having been turned by Russian agents. British intelligence is in a state of panic. Cracks are appearing, or so a run of disciplinary cases would suggest. To cap it all, Willa Karlsson, a retired secret services officer collapses, the victim of what looks like a Russian poisoning.
Leonard Flood is ordered to investigate – and quickly. Notorious for his sharp elbows and blunt manner, Leonard’s only objective is to get the job done, whatever the cost. When Leonard discovers that he is also a suspect in the investigation and that Willa’s story is less a story of betrayal than one of friendship and a deep sense of duty, he must decide whether to hand her to her masters or to help her to escape.
The third in the espionage trilogy The Discipline Files, after the acclaimed debut Beside the Syrian Sea, and its follow-on novel How to Betray Your Country.
Written by an insider: James Wolff is the pseudonym of a young English novelist who worked for the British government for over ten years before leaving to write spy fiction.
Against the backdrop of increasing Russian spying and interference (including assassination) in the UK, this novel explores themes of loyalty and betrayal in modern intelligence work, threatened from the inside by whistle-blowers, serial leakers and Robin Hood hackers. A taut thriller about the thin line between following your conscience and following orders. A fascinating conundrum we have been struggling with for decades. Edward Snowden, hero or traitor?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The brilliant final entry in Wolff's Discipline Files trilogy (after 2021's How to Betray Your Country) is another clever, twisty treat for espionage fans. Leonard Flood has gained a reputation as a dogged interrogator for MI5, and his skills have brought him to the attention of Charles Remnant, who heads a "secret cadre of officers" known as the Gatekeepers, who, in addition to their official duties, spy on the spies in their own department. Remnant taps Flood to help determine the loyalties of Willa Karlsson, who resigned the previous year after vetting candidates for the spy agency for decades, including Flood himself; she's been poisoned and is recovering in the hospital. Given a spate of recent episodes that have hit MI5 with what Remnant terms "turbulence," the officer fears there may be rot inside the service. Flood agrees to probe Karlsson's activities, which turns up one surprise after another and leaves him questioning the loyalties of more than one colleague. Wolff is particularly good at making his lead, who could have been a colorless figure in lesser hands, sympathetic, and delivers some truly knockout twists. John le Carré admirers will be hungry for more.
Customer Reviews
3 for 3!
Wolff has done it again. After reading the first of the trilogy, I immediately downloaded and devoured the 2nd. Ditto the 3rd. Now I’m close to despair that there is nothing else to read of his - for now. Please, Mr. Wolff, give us more as soon as possible.
Wonderful
Charming and so touching in a spy vs spy manner