A spy on the run.
A Father’s hunt for the truth.
David Harkness, retired MI6 field agent and once a top operative in Tehran, has been out of the espionage game for decades. Now living in self-imposed exile in Barcelona, he has cut himself off from the cloak-and-dagger world he once knew.
But when a contact from his past tells him that his daughter has gone missing in Iran, David is plunged back into a world of conspiracy, double-cross and espionage.
Set during the maelstrom of 1970’s Pre-Revolutionary Iran and the modern terrorism war between East and West, James Quinn’s Graveyard of Spies is a thrilling story of one man’s quest to discover the truth and protect what he loves the most – no matter what the cost.
I loved everything about this book and read it in about two sittings. The main character is written so well that you feel like you know him personally, and he’s by no means a perfect character but rather a relatable human with complex emotions, thoughts, flaws, and a history that has made him who he is.
And about that history… I loved that the main story unfolded just enough to introduce suspense before snapping to a flashback. The flashback set the stage, sided you solidly with the MC, then returned to the current circumstances so that I, as the reader, was ready to go. In fact, I think the thing that impressed me most about this book was how it was structured, and the pacing worked wonderfully for a story about spies and intrigue.
I am by no means an expert on Iran, but I appreciated the author’s approach to this land’s complicated history, culture, religious tensions, and the struggles of its people. As an American, I also liked the different perspective that came with having a British spy lead the way. And as a woman, I appreciated how the daughter was portrayed…but no spoilers from me!
Lastly, while I like a good action-packed story, I absolutely loved this slower and more emotionally driven spy story. It felt like a story about family – both in the father/daughter dynamic and in the bonds with the Iranian characters. It covered a lot of real-world history. It was full of thought, and the writing moved with purpose, nothing wasted – the dialogue was sharp, and the plot was neither boring nor rushed. I felt at all times that the author knew what he was doing, tempering action with slowly building tension. There is indeed a climax with more “typical” spy novel action, and it fit perfectly with where the story was going all along.
In the end, this book was a completely satisfying job well done.
See it on Amazon!
About the Author
James Quinn is the author of the “Gorilla Grant” series of spy novels including A Game for Assassins, Berlin Reload and the novella Gorilla Warfare which is currently being developed as a Hollywood movie. He has also written the spy story The Fisherman and the short story anthology Clandestine.
A professional intelligence and security consultant, he currently resides in the UK but likes to travel extensively around the globe; partly to research his books and partly for the adventure of it all!
In his spare time he likes to play the drums, learn the guitar and enjoy the finer things in life.
Visit the official James Quinn author website for more information about upcoming projects and events.
Website: https://gorillagrant101.wixsite.com/jamesquinn
Twitter: https://twitter.com/gorillagrant101