An exciting new spy thriller from author Charles Cumming. Set in two time periods - 1989 and 2020 - Bos 88 introduces us to Lachlan Kite, an agent for the joint MI6/CIA black ops group Box 88. The organisation is so secretive that only a small number of people even within better-known intelligence services know of its existence.
Lachlan, known as 'Lockie', has just returned to work for the agency after a gap year spent in the south of France on a special assignment for the team. But it is not long before he is sent back into the field and finds himself on the frontline of an international war. A mole in the agency has revealed his identity to MI5 who are hot on his trail and want to know what he is up to.
Aware of the threat he poses to their operation, Lockie's captors have him abducted and are soon putting him through his paces in a series of brutal interrogations. He tries to play it cool in the hope that the Iranians will have misjudged their quarry, but there is no guarantee he will escape and MI5 has already spotted his movements.
During his captivity, Lockie is Bos88 forced to reflect on his past and the events of that summer in France thirty years ago. He has to come to terms with a betrayal that left his friend Xavier Bonnard dead. He also has to balance his loyalty to the agency and the desire to protect his family.
The novel is well-written and the action moves along at a brisk pace. But despite its espionage credentials, Bos 88 lacks the depth and emotional weight that could make it a truly compelling read. The character of Lockie is likeable enough, but the author never really develops his inner life beyond his resourcefulness in the face of a frenetic plot.
Nevertheless, the story does have a strong grip on the reader's attention and a series of twists and turns keep things interesting. Fans of James Bond, John le Carre and Ken Follett will certainly enjoy this one.
0 comments: