A Spy By Nature - Charles Cumming

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The Making of a Spy

Although I am not much into spy stories, John Le Carre and now Charles Cumming are getting me into it. I loved watching TV and film adaptations of Night Manager and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Somehow watching them seemed more interesting than reading them. I remember reading a Colder War before and loved Cumming's writing style.

Gist:

Alec Milius is stuck in an unhappy job when out of the blue, a family friend suggests at a dinner party if he would be interested in joining the foreign office. Alec agrees to go for it. He is looking forward to a new direction, a new chapter in life. He is intrigued by the idea of becoming a spy. However, it doesn't go the way he planned.

What works:

• The writing style is in keeping with the genre. Simple, straightforward dialogue that pushes the plot forward.

• The protagnist. Alec is a convincing character. His confusions, his mindset are in sync with the way he acts.

What doesn't:

• The pace is racy in the first half but towards the second half, it slackens a bit.

Overall, an ok read.