A Loyal Traitor: A Richard Knox Spy Thriller: Longlisted for The CWA Steel Dagger 2023

THE TIMES THRILLER OF THE MONTH CHOICE MAGAZINE HARDBACK OF THE MONTH ‘A thoroughly gripping spy thriller... Captures the high stakes paranoia of the era brilliantly.’ Adam Hamdy, author of Black 13 ‘Intelligent, involving and gripping.’ Choice  ‘Considered and entertaining, I was drawn in from page one.’  Charlotte Philby, author of Part of the Family   Duty or honour. Which would you betray? It's 1966. London is swinging, and the Cold War is spiralling. Clear cut lines have faded to grey areas. Whispers of conspiracies are everywhere. Spies on both sides of the iron curtain are running in circles, chasing constant plots and counterplots. And MI5 agent Richard Knox is tired of all of it. But when Abey Bennett, his CIA comrade in arms, appears in London with a ghost from Knox's past and a terrifying warning that could change the balance of power in the Cold War for good, he has to fight to save the future.

About the Author :
Tim Glister is a creative director working in advertising. He’s worked for a range of famous and infamous brands, including eighteen months at the controversial political communications agency Cambridge Analytica. His debut novel Red Corona won The People’s Book Prize, and his second book A Loyal Traitor was The Times thriller of the month and longlisted for the CWA Steel Dagger. His third Richard Knox novel, A Game of Deceit, publishes in spring 2023. He lives in London.

Review :
‘A Loyal Traitor is a thoroughly gripping spy thriller. Tim Glister puts the reader at the heart of the Cold War and captures the high stakes paranoia of the era brilliantly.’ ‘There is a ruthless female killer at large, sightings of a Soviet submarine and ambitious KGB officers fomenting audacious coups. All this and references to Harry Palmer and The Day of the Jackal, cram the stage with scenery before a climax at the Royal Opera House.’ ‘A Loyal Traitor is an accomplished and atmospheric spy novel with an original protagonist and a burning question at its heart. Considered and entertaining, I was drawn in from page one.’ ’Stunningly authentic, masterfully plotted and brilliantly composed, this is historical thriller writing at its very best.’  ‘Original, gritty and compelling, A Loyal Traitor cements Glister's reputation as a master storyteller. Fans of John le Carré will love this!’ ‘Intelligent, involving and gripping… The jigsaw pieces of the complex plot are picture-perfect.’ ‘It is incredibly satisfying reading a follow-up that not only matches but surpasses the original... This is superior stuff. A lean, intelligent espionage thriller skillfully rendering not just the messy truth of Cold War operations, but the intimate emotional toll of such work.’ ‘Tim Glister is creating such an elegant and vivid style of his own. This is another pitch perfect portrayal of a Cold War crisis. Glister creates a distinctive and fascinating thriller, which I hugely enjoyed.’ ‘The plot is fast-paced, with plenty of tension and action.’ ‘It is a classic set up and Glister never misses an opportunity to play with the conventions established by his notable predecessor, John le Carré… always entertaining.’ ‘A brilliantly convoluted plot with layer on layer of subplot at every turn.’ Praise for Red Corona: ‘This pitch-perfect debut – a gripping espionage thriller in the vein of Charles Cumming, Tom Rob Smith and Mick Herron – signals the arrival of a remarkable talent.’ A.J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window ‘An entertaining blend of Le Carré-like in-house establishment rivalries and sheer propulsive action reminiscent of Len Deighton.’  Maxim Jakubowski ‘A thoroughly engaging spy thriller that had me gripped from start to finish and left me desperate for more!’ S. J. Watson, author of Before I Go to Sleep ‘An entertaining, not to say nostalgic, espionage thriller.’ The Times Crime Club 'With its thoughtful, complex and surprisingly poignant plot, A Loyal Traitor is an absolute treat for anybody who enjoys intelligent, authentic and utterly compelling thrillers.'