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Richard Knox #3
A Game Of Deceit
In this crackerjack Cold War thriller, MI5 faces a deadly threat, one only Richard Knox can avert. But he only has six days and the clock is ticking fast.
How long can you survive in the shadows?
Richard Knox, freshly returned to active duty after a year out of the field, is ordered to uncover the invisible enemy that’s infiltrated the Service in his absence.
His quest takes him to Hong Kong, a city on the brink of chaos, where he discovers the lines between friend and foe have never been more blurred.
Who is behind the assault on MI5? How long have they been operating in the shadows? And what is their endgame?
How long can you survive in the shadows?
Richard Knox, freshly returned to active duty after a year out of the field, is ordered to uncover the invisible enemy that’s infiltrated the Service in his absence.
His quest takes him to Hong Kong, a city on the brink of chaos, where he discovers the lines between friend and foe have never been more blurred.
Who is behind the assault on MI5? How long have they been operating in the shadows? And what is their endgame?
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Published May 4, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 9, 2023
I have to say I wasn't sure about this one, even if you go by the cover it doesn't real tell you much about the book. The book starts with Richard Knox. Knox for short following his mark Dr Hamish Rabe, Dr Rabe doesn't know he's being followed at first but so realises that someone is following and heads for the underground where he falls and dies. That's chapter one and the twists and turns don't stop. I found the pace of the story worked well and the like the writing style of the author. I will be looking out for the next book.
May 30, 2023
There are always certain books I look back on particularly fondly; the first two instalments in the Richard Knox spy series, Red Corona and A Loyal Traitor definitely fall into that category and so, of course, A Game of Deceit was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year. Having practically inhaled it, I am delighted to say that it more than exceeded my high expectations and I was utterly blown away by this clever, beautifully written thriller.
Set a year after the events in A Loyal Traitor, it's worth mentioning that it's not necessary to have read the previous novels but I strongly recommend that you do. The returning characters and mentions of earlier escapades will obviously resonate more strongly with those familiar with the books and it's really satisfying to see how Tim Glister is developing the series as it progresses. The prologue immediately sets a chilling tone and introduces a mystery which isn't revealed until much later. When Richard Knox appears in the first chapter, he is thrust into a dramatic scene which serves to remind us of his recent travails and results in him doubting whether he is as sharp as he once was. We learn that the international intelligence agencies are noticing the worrying disappearance of key scientists but as concerning as this may be, Knox's boss at MI5, James Holland, has even more troublesome news for him. The Service has been infiltrated and for once, it looks like the Soviet Union is not the enemy.
The authentic sense of time is always exceptional in this series and A Game of Deceit is as immersive as ever. It's just over a year since the start of the Cultural Revolution in China and there is understandable concern that one of the powerful agencies operating within the country might be trying to extend Mao Zedong's reach globally. Knox is sent to Hong Kong, ostensibly to arrange the return of a Labour peer's daughter who has been arrested at a pro-communism protest on the island, however, he is also under orders to discover what he can regarding the lie of the land in this politically sensitive part of the world. I really enjoyed being given a fresh perspective on the Cold War; the excellent descriptions of a turbulent Hong Kong brings the place vividly to life but striking as the visual imagery is, it's the way in which Tim Glister captures the tinderbox feel of the island which is really impressive.
As Knox is drawn into a dangerous investigation with frightening ramifications, the international interconnectedness of spycraft comes to the forefront once again. The depictions of this convoluted, secretive world are a highlight of the series and here, the inevitable reintroduction of key players from previous books is engineered to feel entirely natural. The characterisation is first-rate and the emotional toll of the profession, particularly regarding guilt, is examined with empathetic perceptiveness. Meanwhile, the exploration of what drives people to behave as they do is fascinating. There's an unsettling air of uncertainty running throughout A Game of Deceit and as familiar faces face deadly, unknown enemies, just who can be trusted seems more opaque than ever.
There are nail-biting action scenes littered throughout the novel with the superbly crafted plot designed to keep readers on the edge of their seat from start to finish. As the horrifying truth – or at least some of it – is finally revealed, the blisteringly tense conclusion is a heart-pounding race against time. Perhaps even more tantalisingly, the stage is now primed for more explosive revelations and missions of global importance in the future.
A Game of Deceit is exciting, compelling literary entertainment of the highest order; this is espionage fiction at its most breathtaking and I cannot recommend it highly enough!
Set a year after the events in A Loyal Traitor, it's worth mentioning that it's not necessary to have read the previous novels but I strongly recommend that you do. The returning characters and mentions of earlier escapades will obviously resonate more strongly with those familiar with the books and it's really satisfying to see how Tim Glister is developing the series as it progresses. The prologue immediately sets a chilling tone and introduces a mystery which isn't revealed until much later. When Richard Knox appears in the first chapter, he is thrust into a dramatic scene which serves to remind us of his recent travails and results in him doubting whether he is as sharp as he once was. We learn that the international intelligence agencies are noticing the worrying disappearance of key scientists but as concerning as this may be, Knox's boss at MI5, James Holland, has even more troublesome news for him. The Service has been infiltrated and for once, it looks like the Soviet Union is not the enemy.
The authentic sense of time is always exceptional in this series and A Game of Deceit is as immersive as ever. It's just over a year since the start of the Cultural Revolution in China and there is understandable concern that one of the powerful agencies operating within the country might be trying to extend Mao Zedong's reach globally. Knox is sent to Hong Kong, ostensibly to arrange the return of a Labour peer's daughter who has been arrested at a pro-communism protest on the island, however, he is also under orders to discover what he can regarding the lie of the land in this politically sensitive part of the world. I really enjoyed being given a fresh perspective on the Cold War; the excellent descriptions of a turbulent Hong Kong brings the place vividly to life but striking as the visual imagery is, it's the way in which Tim Glister captures the tinderbox feel of the island which is really impressive.
As Knox is drawn into a dangerous investigation with frightening ramifications, the international interconnectedness of spycraft comes to the forefront once again. The depictions of this convoluted, secretive world are a highlight of the series and here, the inevitable reintroduction of key players from previous books is engineered to feel entirely natural. The characterisation is first-rate and the emotional toll of the profession, particularly regarding guilt, is examined with empathetic perceptiveness. Meanwhile, the exploration of what drives people to behave as they do is fascinating. There's an unsettling air of uncertainty running throughout A Game of Deceit and as familiar faces face deadly, unknown enemies, just who can be trusted seems more opaque than ever.
There are nail-biting action scenes littered throughout the novel with the superbly crafted plot designed to keep readers on the edge of their seat from start to finish. As the horrifying truth – or at least some of it – is finally revealed, the blisteringly tense conclusion is a heart-pounding race against time. Perhaps even more tantalisingly, the stage is now primed for more explosive revelations and missions of global importance in the future.
A Game of Deceit is exciting, compelling literary entertainment of the highest order; this is espionage fiction at its most breathtaking and I cannot recommend it highly enough!
May 18, 2023
4.9 out of 5 stars
A Game Of Deceit by Tim Glister is a pulse-raising book sure to keep you on the edge of your seat!
This book was not messing around! From the very first chapter we were brought straight into the action with a shocking twist pretty much straight away. I loved how Tim just got on with it and wasn’t afraid to get straight into the action.
I loved the mystery and intrigue that comes with spy novels and they’re never short on action either. I find everything to do with MI5 fascinating and always love reading books like this. This was masterfully written too!
Knox was an intriguing character. I warmed to him instantly after Tim did a great job of characterisation and giving all the characters distinct personality traits that set them apart and made them stand out. Knox was so complex and delicately written.
The chapters were a great length to keep you engaged and to keep the story moving along at a compelling pace. There really wasn’t a point where I was bored. There were slower points to break things up, so it wasn’t all just action action action, but I thought it to be very well balanced.
The only reason why this wasn’t five stars was the prologue. I have a petty hate against prologues a lot of the time as I feel they sometimes ruin the story for me, and I don’t see them as necessary in most cases. Aside from that it was a smashing read and a real pulse-raiser to keep you on the edge of your seat!
Thank you, Point Blank and Anne (Random Things Tours), for my copy.
A Game Of Deceit by Tim Glister is a pulse-raising book sure to keep you on the edge of your seat!
This book was not messing around! From the very first chapter we were brought straight into the action with a shocking twist pretty much straight away. I loved how Tim just got on with it and wasn’t afraid to get straight into the action.
I loved the mystery and intrigue that comes with spy novels and they’re never short on action either. I find everything to do with MI5 fascinating and always love reading books like this. This was masterfully written too!
Knox was an intriguing character. I warmed to him instantly after Tim did a great job of characterisation and giving all the characters distinct personality traits that set them apart and made them stand out. Knox was so complex and delicately written.
The chapters were a great length to keep you engaged and to keep the story moving along at a compelling pace. There really wasn’t a point where I was bored. There were slower points to break things up, so it wasn’t all just action action action, but I thought it to be very well balanced.
The only reason why this wasn’t five stars was the prologue. I have a petty hate against prologues a lot of the time as I feel they sometimes ruin the story for me, and I don’t see them as necessary in most cases. Aside from that it was a smashing read and a real pulse-raiser to keep you on the edge of your seat!
Thank you, Point Blank and Anne (Random Things Tours), for my copy.
June 2, 2023
‘A Game of Deceit’ a thrilling Cold War thriller that manages to intrigue the reader, whilst giving a glimpse in the psyche of political tensions at this point in history. This is the third book in the series but you could pick it up as a standalone but I do recommend reading the previous two books as I really enjoyed them.
Richard Knox has been out of action for over a year but is now back in the world of sliding allegiances, political dogmas and the everyday craziness of the Cold War. He is tasked with uncovering if there are any malicious elements working in the Service and is following a Dr Rabe, who when he realises he is being tracked, hides underground and then dies. This leads to a trail which stretches from London to New York and becomes a case in which the lines are very blurred between who is a friend or a foe.
Once again Tim has managed to create a book which has the power to surprise the reader. It's highly descriptive and subtly injects information as you read and when you work out what is happening you go of course!!! The book is full of great historical detail and it's clear Tim puts in a lot of research for these books and it pays off. They feel authentic and real because of this and is also testament to his level of writing that you accept everything as being gospel!
Highly entertaining! Let me know if you pick this one up.
Richard Knox has been out of action for over a year but is now back in the world of sliding allegiances, political dogmas and the everyday craziness of the Cold War. He is tasked with uncovering if there are any malicious elements working in the Service and is following a Dr Rabe, who when he realises he is being tracked, hides underground and then dies. This leads to a trail which stretches from London to New York and becomes a case in which the lines are very blurred between who is a friend or a foe.
Once again Tim has managed to create a book which has the power to surprise the reader. It's highly descriptive and subtly injects information as you read and when you work out what is happening you go of course!!! The book is full of great historical detail and it's clear Tim puts in a lot of research for these books and it pays off. They feel authentic and real because of this and is also testament to his level of writing that you accept everything as being gospel!
Highly entertaining! Let me know if you pick this one up.
May 28, 2023
This is the third book to feature Richard Knox (it easily reads as a standalone) following on from the acclaimed Red Corona and A Loyal Traitor, for me the series just gets better and better and it started off from a pretty high bar
The plotting within the book stands out, the book is aptly titled as deceit abounds throughout, a wonderfully constructed espionage thriller that takes the reader on a journey. Knox may have been out of the cut and thrust for a year, but is he the only one that can save MI5 from a global threat that would have far reaching ramifications. The book and action moves seamlessly between London and Hong Kong.
The quality of the writing shine throughout, the book drips in anticipation and suspense, the narrative draws you in, from the opening chapter you are left wondering where the story will go, however it sets up what is to follow
The writing gives the reader a real sense of authenticity and it is a read which needs that, you have to believe in everything you read, you then understand things from the characters perspective and what drives their actions
Tim Glister knows how to create characters that resonate with a spy thriller, you get a real sense of who they each are, painting a picture in your minds eye. You have a mix of male and female each complementing and adding to the story, professionals doing their job. Though they may lurk in the shadows, they stand front and centre on the page
You also get a terrific sense of place within the locations used, to some degree Tim Glister puts the reader central to the action
The pacing of the book is pitch perfect as the action ratchets up, so does the tension in what becomes a race against time
It a read packed with heart, a story that demands your attention, for me a read where you need to take in every word as not a one is wasted
There is something about the 60s which lends itself to classic spy fiction, A Game of Deceit draws on this and provides a read that just captivated and drew me in from the opening sequence, it then held me mesmerised in its spell by the writing, plot and character
Tim Glister is an author at the top of their game, for me his books stand up against the giants of the genre, it easy to draw comparisons
This is a 5* read which I would highly recommend, deeply satsyfying leaves you wanting more, storytelling doesn’t get much better
The plotting within the book stands out, the book is aptly titled as deceit abounds throughout, a wonderfully constructed espionage thriller that takes the reader on a journey. Knox may have been out of the cut and thrust for a year, but is he the only one that can save MI5 from a global threat that would have far reaching ramifications. The book and action moves seamlessly between London and Hong Kong.
The quality of the writing shine throughout, the book drips in anticipation and suspense, the narrative draws you in, from the opening chapter you are left wondering where the story will go, however it sets up what is to follow
The writing gives the reader a real sense of authenticity and it is a read which needs that, you have to believe in everything you read, you then understand things from the characters perspective and what drives their actions
Tim Glister knows how to create characters that resonate with a spy thriller, you get a real sense of who they each are, painting a picture in your minds eye. You have a mix of male and female each complementing and adding to the story, professionals doing their job. Though they may lurk in the shadows, they stand front and centre on the page
You also get a terrific sense of place within the locations used, to some degree Tim Glister puts the reader central to the action
The pacing of the book is pitch perfect as the action ratchets up, so does the tension in what becomes a race against time
It a read packed with heart, a story that demands your attention, for me a read where you need to take in every word as not a one is wasted
There is something about the 60s which lends itself to classic spy fiction, A Game of Deceit draws on this and provides a read that just captivated and drew me in from the opening sequence, it then held me mesmerised in its spell by the writing, plot and character
Tim Glister is an author at the top of their game, for me his books stand up against the giants of the genre, it easy to draw comparisons
This is a 5* read which I would highly recommend, deeply satsyfying leaves you wanting more, storytelling doesn’t get much better
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August 12, 20253.5 stars
I enjoyed this book, a fast paced multifaceted story set during the 1967 riots in Hong Kong. It was clearly well researched and I appreciate books that highlight lesser known events in history.
This is third book in the Knox spy series and while other reviews have said that this book can be read as a standalone, I wish I had read the other books first.
This is the reason for my lower than 4 star rating. Throughout this book I felt that I was missing something and never fully came to know or care about Knox as much as I would have liked to.
I enjoyed this book, a fast paced multifaceted story set during the 1967 riots in Hong Kong. It was clearly well researched and I appreciate books that highlight lesser known events in history.
This is third book in the Knox spy series and while other reviews have said that this book can be read as a standalone, I wish I had read the other books first.
This is the reason for my lower than 4 star rating. Throughout this book I felt that I was missing something and never fully came to know or care about Knox as much as I would have liked to.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews