Jack of Spies

Reviews

“Mr. Downing’s previous series, about journalist-spy John Russell during World War II, set a high standard for documentary authenticity. The author is a master at bringing the past to life through the careful and often loving observation of even minor players and through the artful deployment of specific detail. In addition, Jack McColl’s debut has a zest, an exoticism, and a joie de vivre well-suited to an era when bestsellers were being written by Zane Grey, suffragettes were demanding the vote, and opium parlors were a readily accessible temptation.”

“Downing, a fiendish researcher, does a believable job of inserting McColl into real life events, and the result is a novel marked by surprising adventures of an oddly amiable sort.”

“Moves along briskly and offers interesting facts about events now a century past. It’s always entertaining.”

“Engaging…Fans of Downing’s WWII-era spy series that concluded with Masaryk Station will appreciate the author’s command of history and period detail.”

“In this sparkling production, set just before the outbreak of World War I, narrator Gildart Jackson employs his husky baritone to capture the many facets of Jack McColl. He supplies confidence to the Scotsman’s persona as a luxury car salesman and provides caginess to Jack’s alter ego as a novice agent in Britain’s fledgling intelligence service. Jackson’s voice clearly reflects the conflict McColl feels when his spying clashes with his budding relationship with Caitlin Hanley, an Irish-American journalist.”

“With his celebrated John Russell series, which began between the wars and extended through WWII, behind him, Downing launches a new series about a different war…It’s clear that the talented Downing is off and running once again, with an agreeable new hero and another richly atmospheric historical backdrop.”

“A rookie spy gets in over his head when he’s forced to choose between his assignment and the dynamic woman he’s fallen for…This first installment of a proposed series by the author of the six John Russell novels moves deliberately but colorfully, with intelligent prose and a strong period feel.”

“It would already be enough that Jack of Spies is a taut, highly intelligent spy thriller without it being a brilliant historical portrait and a captivating love story to boot. A remarkably engaging world tour of pre–World War I espionage featuring an honorable protagonist begging for a long series.”

“Vividly explores the worldwide intrigues that spawned World War I, through the all-too-human British spy Jack McColl and the lover he betrays.”

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