A Spy at War

‘Beaumont strikes back with an absolutely riveting plunge into the dark heart of the spy war between Russia and the West in Ukraine. A Spy At War is the best sort of espionage novel, shimmering with authentic tradecraft, geopolitical intrigue and a gritty exploration of betrayal and revenge’ – David McCloskey, former CIA analyst and author of The Seventh Floor ‘Charles Beaumont is that rare combination in spy fiction: a genuine former intelligence officer who is also a first-class writer’ – Charles Cumming, author of Kennedy 35 ‘With his second novel, Beaumont has cemented himself as an author who both fearlessly tackles hard subjects and spins masterful tales. A Spy at War is daring and unflinching, a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the insidious nature of influence politics and soft power that defines modern warfare and espionage. Fast-paced, compelling and riveting, this is a story that will leave you haunted and moved’ – I.S. Berry, author of The Peacock and the Sparrow ‘This second espionage thriller from former MI6 operative Charles Beaumont underlines his quality’ – Daily Mail ‘An unadorned take on the brutal realities of the Ukrainian war, told with literary flair and an insider’s insights into the corrupt political forces at work behind the trenches. Smart, well written, darkly humorous’ – Paul Vidich, author of Beirut Station ‘Angry, propulsive and very, very timely. It also feels like Beaumont’s home turf – and is all the better for it. If A Spy Alone was his cry of rage as a citizen, A Spy at War is his cry of rage as a spook. It’s the ex-SIS officer’s professional world of untested sources, Whitehall chess and long waits in foreign cities, capped with a great portrayal of the life-on-the-edge strangeness of a country at war for its survival. Topping A Spy Alone was a tough ask. Beaumont has managed it’ – Dominick Donald, author of Breathe ‘Many works of fiction will be inspired by the war in Ukraine, the seminal European war of the 21st century. Charles Beaumont literally blasts out ahead of the field with an effort that is both cinematic and compassionate in depicting the frontlines of this terrible conflict, and merits its own Netflix series. A worthy sequel to his debut masterpiece’ – Dr Fiona Hill, CMG, former US National Intelligence Officer for Russia ‘A Spy At War is a classic of the spy fiction genre. Beaumont’s portrayal of the contrast between a dysfunctional, working-from-home Whitehall and the horrors of the Ukraine war is particularly powerful. The new ambiguities in once clearcut international relations are there too, as well as the perplexing diversity of modern security threats we face… Its denouement is both shocking and unexpected. A real tour de force’ – Christopher Steele, author of Unredacted: Russia, Trump, and the Fight for Democracy ‘Beaumont has done it again: a gripping spy thriller, this time set in war-torn Ukraine, which is so true to life you feel you are there. It’s also about Britain, now, and how so many in the Establishment have sold their souls for Russian gold’ – John Sweeney, author of Killer in the Kremlin