The Man in the Corduroy Suit by James Wolff
British intelligence is in a state of panic. Cracks are appearing, or so a run of disciplinary cases would suggest. To cap it all, Willa Karlsson, a retired MI5 officer collapses, the victim of what looks like a Russian poisoning. Leonard Flood is ordered to investigate – and quickly. Notorious for his sharp elbows and blunt manner, Leonard’s only objective is to get the job done, whatever the cost.
When Leonard discovers that he is also a suspect in the investigation and that Willa’s story is less a story of betrayal than one of friendship and a deep sense of duty, he must decide whether to hand her to her masters or to help her to escape.
About the author
James Wolff worked for the British government for over ten years before leaving to write espionage fiction. His first novel, Beside the Syrian Sea, was a Times Crime Book of the Month and an Evening Standard Book of the Year. Of his second novel, How to Betray Your Country, Publishers Weekly wrote 'Brilliant sequel. This is spy fiction like no other.’
Review
‘The Man in the Corduroy Suit’ is a very different type of spy thriller. There are no high octane car chases or even any running really. It has the sedate pace of an afternoon out in the English countryside. It's old school. But even a new take on that. It delves into the quandary of how to deal with those in the business who might have nefarious inclinations and how do you police them. I LOVED it! I have read the previous book in this series but it deals with different characters this time round and I have to say that I loved Leonard. Utterly and completely. But this means you can pick this book up and don't need to have read anything else by this author. I recommend you do though!
This is the story of an internal investigation into the past of a British agent that is suspected to have been a Russian double agent. British Intelligence is in a panic as they can't have another scandal especially one dealing with Russia. Willa Karlsson, a retired agent has been poisoned and Russia is suspected. But why? Leonard Flood has been tasked to investigate and he has a reputation for having notorious sharp elbows and a blunt manner. He gets the job done basically.
This book surprised me. I devoured it literally in one sitting and there will be scenes from it that I will always remember. Especially the train journey - that was a stroke of genius. This book became more about relationships and how friendships can form under pressure and have a lasting impact. I don't want to say too much as there was a joy in seeing it all unfold in a very pleasing manner!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
