London Spy

by Tom Rob Smith

Starring Ben Whishaw, Charlotte Rampling and Jim Broadbent, this gripping, contemporary, emotional thriller from Tom Rob Smith, bestselling author of Child 44 and The Farm, tells the story of a chance romance between two people from very different worlds. Danny gregarious, hedonistic and romantic falls in love with the enigmatic and brilliant Alex. Then Alex disappears. When Danny finds Alex s body, he is forced to pursue the truth behind his death. This volume of complete scripts is a brilliant companion to the ratings-winning BBC1 series first shown in November 2015 and set for DVD release in May 2016.
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Genres: LGBT, Fiction, Queer, Romance

304 pages, Paperback

First published November 3, 2016

About the author

Tom Rob Smith (born 1979) is an English writer. The son of a Swedish mother and an English father, Smith was raised in London where he lives today. After graduating from Cambridge University in 2001, he completed his studies in Italy, studying creative writing for a year. After these studies, he worked as a scriptwriter.

His first novel, Child 44, about a series of child murders in Stalinist Russia, appeared in early 2008 and was translated into 17 languages. It was awarded the 2008 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for Best Thriller of the year by the Crime Writer's Association. It was recently a Barnes & Noble recommended book. On July 29, 2008 the book was named on the long list for the 2008 Man Booker Prize. In November 2008, he was nominated for the 2008 Costa First Novel Award (former Whitbread).

Child 44 followed-up by The Secret Speech (2009)and Agent 6 (2011).

Japanese: トム ロブ スミス

Reviews

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

London Spy more like LONDON CRY



Okay, so I have an unhealthy obsession with this show, as anyone who has spoken to me at all over the last twelve months will attest to. I love it so, so much, and it caused me a lot of pain and feelings. I thought that it couldn't cause me any more.

I WAS WRONG.

Maaaaaaaan was I wrong. For one thing, the show actually makes more sense now that some of the more confusing scenes have been fleshed out. We have more backstory, which is, of course, tragic. Leading to tears.

Spoiler-y bits...

The extended version of the "I don't want to. I don't need to" scene was just TOO MUCH I COULDN'T TAKE IT AND IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL AND THEY'RE SO PRECIOUS.

And the end.
THE END.

Let's be real here; the ending of the show wasn't great. It just kind of... stops. All we needed was two or three more minutes to give us (and Danny) that little bit more closure, rather than having him and Frances drive off, suddenly best pals, with the other mum burning in the maze? I mean, what?!

But this time - THIS TIME - we got the full version. And my poor fragile heart can't take it. Danny got closure, he's moving on, the other mum lived, and it's not quite alright but it's a darn sight better than it was.

[Krystal Summerhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel heartsick. why why WHY did I think it was a good idea to read these scripts? I haven't watched the episodes since they first aired because they were so soul crushing but I thought enough time had passed for me to read the scripts and not get emotional. clearly I was wrong.

things were elaborated on, extended, added to scenes that didn't seem quite so smooth on the show but made more sense in the book.

it was a great read. it hurt me but it was good

[MRN · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I've never watched the show. I read the first episode and I just have to finish the whole book. It was written in a script format, vividly told, as a love-story set in a back drop of political conflict. I'm trying to be very cautious of not giving away the vital plot of the story so that's all you gonna get from me in term of synopsis. It'll get better each episode and you'll get the same feeling you get with binge watching a show, except you be so invested mentally that every characters bring out so much of your own humanity. I think any book that do that is worth a read.

[Erin]

Still devastated by this mini-series 9 years later 😭 I think this was one of the first media I read fix-it fanfics for because in my universe Alex is still alive and in hiding, waiting for Danny (one can hope.) Also, why is everyone trying to convince Danny that Alex and Alister are two different names?! Alex can clearly be a nickname!

[Anoud · Rating 5 out of 5]

“While he did everything he possibly could to signal to the world that he wanted to be left alone. More than anything, he hoped that someone passing would understand that what he really wanted was the exact opposite.”
I don’t think I can get over it!!

[Jacinta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled in some of the mysteries from the show and BROKE MY FUCKING HEART AGAIN God damn you, Tom Rob Smith.

[Yue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I left, before I had to left, before I totally could not breathe at all, I watched the movie and like Wishaw a lot. I told myself the reason for my crazy likeness (I have never liked a filmstar before) is that his eyes can tell everything. However, after I left the whole previous environment, I suddenly realized the likeness simply came from the script.

The similar feeling of confusion and puzzling on everything was my common days. In that place, I could not ask any reason why the world is like that, why the customs must be followed, why everyone seems really unhappy all the time. Right now, I partly left that place and part of myself was still settled there. I cannot ignore all the news come from that place and cannot stop feeling sad and resent at the same time. If someone asks me why should I take all the words coming from others seriously, I will answer, because you will never know if the world is completely a trick.

[Rudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the dramatic, espionage, love story you'd never expect. I was drawn to this "book" (it actually is the complete screenplay from the show) after completing the TV series. The plot is great and intriguing, even when it is supposed to be a screenplay the way Tom Rob wrote it is almost like a novel. Setting aside the gay relationship between the main characters, Danny, and the agent, Alex that has no impact on the quality or depth of the story. The plot's wonderfully developed and the setting really helps the story. Characters are wonderful if you watch the series this will give some further insight to the story adapted to the BBC series if not, it definitely is quite a good read for a weekend getaway where you can enjoy a noir novel.

[Tef · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me rompió el corazón. Alex y Danny apenas estaban empezando a descubrirse como personas cuando se los arrebataron de una forma muy horrible, pero al final se encontraron de nuevo aunque no haya sido la situación ideal siempre vivirán en el recuerdo del otro.

[nikobran · Rating 4 out of 5]

love the writing style!! good plot, nice characters

[pani tet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Люблю цю історію. Від перших кадрів серіалу до останніх сторінок сценарію. Безкінечно сумне протистояння однієї люди могутнім організаціям, безперервне намагання тримати голову над водою і вбивча самотність. Бажання вивести правду, просту зрозумілу правду, на загальний огляд – і те, як це бажання розбивається об стіну зацікавлених в брехні високопосадовців.

[Odin Miah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite lines.

"I found you, you found me."

"A person who knows nothing yet sees everything."

"An empty grey sky merging with the grey sea."

"You believe you're at the beginning of something but really you're at the end."

"People lie, and they lie well."

"A wonderful wrong answer."

"Acting on instict, not knowledge."

"Love was, at least, true."

"The moment when it's all possibilities and dreaming."

"Whatever it is, we deal with it, together."

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series was great! Ben Wishaw is a great actor, and I was glad to come across the scripts because they add some missing details to the story that I wish had been kept in.

[Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

London Spy is a worthy mysterious work with emotional connect. Wish it was made into a novel.

[Jessica Dagley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read, one of the best scripts I've read. This script discusses many difficult topics but does so in a beautiful way. Would be an excellent starter for anyone not used to reading scripts!