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Charles Cumming

Scotland (b.1971)

Charles Cumming is a British writer of spy fiction. He was educated at Eton College (1985-1989) and the University of Edinburgh (1990-1994), where he graduated with 1st Class Honours in English Literature. The Observer has described him as "the best of the new generation of British spy writers who are taking over where John le Carré and Len Deighton left off".

Awards: CrimeFest (2015), Bloody Scotland (2012), CWA (2012) see all

Genres: Thriller

New and upcoming books

July 2026

ICARUS 17
(Box 88, book 4)

Series

Alec Milius
1. A Spy by Nature (2001)
2. The Spanish Game (2006)

Thomas Kell
   1. A Foreign Country (2012)
   2. A Colder War (2014)
   3. A Divided Spy (2016)

Box 88
   1. Box 88 (2020)
   2. Judas 62 (2021)
   3. Kennedy 35 (2023)
   4. ICARUS 17 (2026)

Novels

   The Hidden Man (2003)
   Typhoon (2008)
   The Trinity Six (2011)
   The Man Between (2018)
     aka The Moroccan Girl

Omnibus editions show

Awards

	2015 CrimeFest: eDunnit Award : A Colder War
	2012 McIlvanney Prize : A Foreign Country
	2012 CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger : A Foreign Country

Award nominations

	2024 McIlvanney Prize (longlist) : Kennedy 35
	2018 McIlvanney Prize (nominee) : The Man Between
	2013 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year (shortlist) : A Foreign Country
	2013 Barry Award for Best Thriller (nominee) : A Foreign Country

Charles Cumming recommends

Children of Wolves (2026)
Lawrence Osborne
"An unsettling, hypnotic meditation on violence and privilege. Osborne is an unsung master of the literate, thought-provoking thriller."

Octagon (2026)
C J Merritt
"A smart, slick, adrenaline-fuelled adventure for today's fans of Ludlum and Fleming."

A Stranger in Corfu (2026)
Alex Preston
"A beautiful, devastating and multi-layered tour de force which brings Greece vividly to life."

A Sting in Her Tale (2025)
(Felicity Jardine, book 1)
Mark Ezra
"Anyone who enjoys Richard Osman and Mick Herron will love this taut, atmospheric spy thriller about a veteran female spook drawn back into the chilliest days of the Cold War."

Spy Hunter (2023)
(Irregular)
H B Lyle
"A thrilling story of espionage."

Chameleon (2023)
(Black Box Ops, book 1)
Remi Adeleke
"Soldier, filmmaker, teacher, father, spy: Remi Adeleke has lived an extraordinary life. He has written a thriller every bit as tough and uncompromising as the man himself. Authentic, powerful and nerve-shreddingly tense, Chameleon deserves to be a smash hit."

The Burning Time (2023)
(William Carver, book 4)
Peter Hanington
"Topical, authoritative and gripping."

The Siberia Job (2023)
Josh Haven
"An astonishing story, excitingly told, and all too close to the reality of Russia in the murderous 1990s."

Double or Nothing (2022)
(Double O, book 1)
Kim Sherwood
"Bang up to date and action-packed, Kim Sherwood has taken the world of James Bond and turned it on its head."

Winter Work (2022)
(Claire Saylor)
Dan Fesperman
"So fluent, so clever. Fesperman brilliantly recreates the atmosphere of post-Communist Europe. Winter Work confirms that he belongs alongside Joseph Kanon and David Ignatius in the front rank of American spy novelists."

Red Corona (2020)
(Richard Knox, book 1)
Tim Glister
"A gripping historical thriller, impeccably researched and skilfully told."

To Kill the Truth (2019)
(Maggie Costello, book 4)
Sam Bourne
"A dazzling thriller."

Firefly (2018)
(Paul Samson, book 1)
Henry Porter
"An espionage master."

The Driver (2017)
Hart Hanson
"The ghost of Raymond Chandler is apparently alive and well and living inside Hart Hanson. I felt as though I was reading a 21st century reboot of The Long Goodbye. Brutal, gripping and funny. A dazzling debut."

The Spy's Daughter (2017)
(Philip Mangan, book 3)
Adam Brookes
"Authentic, taut and compelling."

City of Sins (2011)
(Franco Patrese, book 2)
Daniel Blake (Boris Starling)
"Stunning. A Chinatown for the twenty-first century."

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