I'm sure you are as tired as me with the trope that every single British author of spy novels who is vaguely literate is lauded as the new Le Carré. Sure enough there were Le Carré references aplenty in the reviews for this debut novel. And yet - Richardson can write, his style is lucid and unfussy. His depiction of the Whitehall scene has plausibility and he has clearly done his research. He gives enough depth and backstory to his main character, Solomon Vine, and you always want to read on. Entertaining if not quite authentically Smileyesque. ( )

This is another complex, and compelling, spy novel from Matthew Richardson, all the more notable as I believe it was his first novel. It was initially a bit disconcerting as the story flitted rapidly between the present day and scenes in the past, but once I sorted out where and when episodes were happening, I found it very entertaining.

Basically it follows the story of Solomon Vine, once tipped for rapid advancement in MI6, although his career had been derailed after a prisoner in his care was shot, and nearly killed. Several years later, his former close friend is kidnapped in Istanbul, where he had been MI^’s Head of Station. The relationship between the two is fraught as the missing man had married the woman who had previously been Vine’s fiancé. In the meantime, there is increasingly strong evidence that there may be a Russian mole high up in MI6, and Vine becomes convinced it is his former friend.

That brief synopsis makes it all seem a bit frenetic, but in fact the plot develops very smoothly and convincingly. Richardson is not in John le Carré’s league, but he is certainly a strong contender to take up the late master’s mantle. ( )

My Name is Nobody – A Brilliant Debut Spy Thriller

Matthew Richardson has written a fantastic debut spy thriller that will grip you from beginning to end. This is well researched, and someone who has certainly worn out their shoe leather around London in the writing of this thriller.

Solomon Vine has been suspended from his counter-espionage role within Mi6, and is clicking his heels at home. When he receives a postcard requesting a meeting in St James Park from Cosmo Newton, an old hand within the spy community. He has a request for Vine, that needs to be kept off the books and nobody should know back at Vauxhall Cross otherwise their careers will be ended.

The mission being find out what has happened to the, Gabriel Wild, Head of Station at Istanbul who seems to have gone missing, with no sight or evidence of where he may have gone. Things take a turn when Gabriel Wild has sent his copy of The Odyssey to Vine with a cryptic message.

As his investigation continues, Cosmo Newton is murdered once he has discovered a secret someone would prefer to remain a secret. Vine is running out allies, and when he is arrested after breaking in to the office of a Member of Parliament, things could go wrong, especially if Mi6 disown him. Fortunately for him, the Director saves him, as he is aware that there is an imminent threat to London and the prime suspect is untouchable.

Vine feels like he cannot see what is happening around him, he just cannot be sure, especially the double life he has to live. He has access to various aspects of the case none of which make sense, and it needs his intellect to crack messages he is being sent and the various warnings. He really does not know who to trust.

As he races around London, wanted by the police, he knows he is being set up, and he struggles to see what he needs to know. The question is once he has worked everything out, will he be able to stop the terrorist atrocity and bring justice for the state?

A great debut, really enjoyable. ( )