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Alan Judd

    Writing under the pseudonym Alan Judd, this author's work is deeply informed by a career that spans military service in Northern Ireland during 'The Troubles' and subsequent work within the Foreign Office. These formative experiences provide a rich backdrop for his fiction, which often draws on themes of conflict and duty. Beyond his novels, he is a recognized security analyst and a contributor to prominent publications, lending his sharp insights to both fictional narratives and insightful commentary.

    Dancing with Eva
    The quest for C
    A Breed of Heroes
    The Devil's Own Work
    Uncommon Enemy
    Queen & Country
    • In a dangerous world nothing is straightforward. Not even murder. 'Judd...knows his stuff when it comes to the milieu of espionage.' The Times 'An elegant and informed British espionage novel.' Financial Times 'Authentic, clever and wonderfully entertaining.' Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6 'We can't think of a better Christmas read.' Oxford Alumni Magazine 'He saw Cleaner Bob arrive that morning, the morning of his death.' In the peaceful towns and villages of England, Cleaner Bob is washing windows, and people are dying in sudden and unexpected circumstances. When it becomes clear that the victims have a common history as Russian defectors, foul play is suspected and a hunt begins to locate their assailant, the lethal poison that killed them, and the mole who is leaking their locations. In a race against time, only one man has the connections and experience to crack the case before more people perish. Charles Thoroughgood, former head of MI6, is enjoying retirement in the Oxfordshire hamlet he calls home when the call comes in. A man of duty, he agrees to take part in a mission that will lead him into the heart of enemy territory and threaten to undermine the very values he holds most dear. Tense, engrossing and terrifyingly believable, the latest Charles Thoroughgood novel is a timely and brilliant reminder that Alan Judd is a master of the spy thriller and a writer of the very highest quality.

      Queen & Country
    • Uncommon Enemy

      • 368 pages
      • 13 hours of reading
      4.0(10)Add rating

      A penetrating new spy thriller from a master of the genre

      Uncommon Enemy
    • The Devil's Own Work

      • 102 pages
      • 4 hours of reading

      A young author unexpectedly receives an invitation from the renowned O.M. Tyrell after writing a harsh review of his novel. Following Tyrell's sudden death during their meeting, the author experiences a meteoric rise in his career, gaining fame and acclaim. However, he becomes increasingly haunted by his success. The narrator uncovers a mysterious manuscript, an enchanting woman linked to it, and a dark bargain that suggests achieving greatness comes with a heavy cost.

      The Devil's Own Work
    • A Breed of Heroes

      • 480 pages
      • 17 hours of reading

      A new edition, with new introduction, of Alan Judd's classic novel of army life.

      A Breed of Heroes
    • The quest for C

      Sir Mansfield Cumming and the founding of the British Secret Service

      3.6(24)Add rating

      This text presents a history of the launch of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service through the life of its founder, Mansfield Cumming. Cumming was a soldier of 50 with a distinguished military record when asked to set up MI6. Many aspects of his work and character remain traditions to this day.

      The quest for C
    • Dancing with Eva

      • 214 pages
      • 8 hours of reading
      3.5(16)Add rating

      In April 1945 Hitler's bunker in Berlin was the last place Edith Mecklenburg wanted to be. But Edith had no choice: as secretary to Eva Braun, Hitler's mistress and -- for a few final, desperate hours -- his wife, Edith had to see it through to the bitter end. Edith was one of the lucky few. She not only got out alive but made a new life for herself in England. Sixty years on, now a widow and grandmother, the Bunker is almost forgotten. But the past has not forgotten her. Hans, a soldier she knew from those dark days, has written asking if he may visit. Obsessed with the war, he has spent the intervening decades tracking down all who were there, and who survived. In her reluctant raking-over of old coals, Edith finds embers that still burn, and in the act of remembrance a very current threat . . .

      Dancing with Eva
    • A Fine Madness

      • 256 pages
      • 9 hours of reading
      3.3(13)Add rating

      *SUNDAY TIMES HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTH, MARCH 2021* ‘Absolutely spellbinding. I gobbled it up in two days and could not stop' Miranda Seymour  A remarkable and meticulously researched novel from award-winning writer Alan Judd, exploring the life of literary genius Kit Marlowe, whose violent death compose one of the most fascinating unresolved mysteries of all time.     In Elizabethan England, the Queen’s chief spymaster, Francis Walsingham, and his team of agents must maintain the highest levels of vigilance to ward off Catholic plots and the ever-present threat of invasion.   One agent in particular - a young Cambridge undergraduate of humble origins, controversial beliefs and literary genius who goes by the name of Kit Marlowe - is relentless in his pursuit of intelligence for the Crown. When he is killed outside an inn in Deptford, his mysterious death becomes the subject of rumours and suspicion that are never satisfactorily resolved.   Years later, when Thomas Phelippes, a former colleague of Marlowe’s, finds himself imprisoned in the Tower, there is one thing that could give him his freedom back. He must give the king every detail he is able to recall about his murdered friend’s life and death. But why is King James so fascinated about Kit Marlowe – and does Phelippes know enough to secure his own redemption?    Praise for A Fine Madness 'A masterful storyteller with an intricate knowledge of his subject' The Daily Telegraph    'Alan Judd knows more about the secret world than any other writer living. To have him turn his expert eye on the world of Christopher Marlowe – and on Francis Walsingham, the Elizabethan George Smiley – is a special kind of literary treat.' Mick Herron 'Well-researched splice of fiction and historical fact... A vivid tale of espionage, dissent and intellectual discourse, with the past brought to teeming, pungent life'' GUARDIAN 'Judd skilfully evokes the atmosphere of suspicion and fear...convincing portrait of the mercurial dramatist while still allowing Marlowe to remain something of the enigma he has always been' Sunday Times 'At the heart of this spy novel stands the mercurial, enigmatic figure of Christopher Marlowe, whose premature death is a tavern brawl has proven an enduring mystery... drawing on the real records of Marlowe’s death and the secret service to craft a gripping story' BBC History Magazine 'Judd keeps us guessing until the last pages of this taut, clever, thought-provoking thriller.' The Spectator    

      A Fine Madness
    • Legacy

      • 400 pages
      • 14 hours of reading
      3.3(16)Add rating

      A powerful Cold War thriller in the tradition of John le Carre from the acclaimed author of A Breed of Heroes

      Legacy
    • A masterclass in short-form fiction, this is a stunning novella from the acclaimed author of Legacy, Deep Blue and the forthcoming Accidental Agent.

      Shakespeare's Sword