Hammer to Fall

More about the book

In swinging sixties London, MI6 spy Joe Wilderness finds his assignments far from glamorous. Despite his talent for thriving in challenging situations, his past misadventures have landed him in trouble. A coffee-smuggling operation in divided Berlin turned disastrous when he had to return a spy to the KGB, resulting in a reprimand and a new posting in remote northern Finland under the guise of a cultural exchange program. Bored and with little to spy on, Wilderness turns to smuggling vodka across the porous border into the USSR, capitalizing on a vodka shortage caused by Khrushchev's agricultural policies. He partners with his old KGB acquaintance, Kostya, but suspicions arise about Kostya's sudden appearance and its connection to cobalt mining in the area, crucial for atomic bomb casings. As Wilderness navigates the complexities of Cold War tensions, his assignment becomes increasingly perilous. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of the Prague Spring, featuring familiar allies and adversaries, weaving a tale rich in deception, art, and politics, capturing the thrilling life of a British spy.