The Spy in a Box - Softcover

Dennis, Ralph

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1941298893 ISBN 13: 9781941298893

Publisher: Brash Books, 2019

Synopsis

The bold new novel of espionage and betrayal from thriller master Ralph Dennis, the author of A Talent for Killing and the acclaimed Hardman series of crime novels.

Will Hall is a CIA agent in a South American country on the brink of Civil War. But when the moderate, rebel leader that Hall covertly supported is assassinated, the spy resigns and retreats to a cabin in the North Carolina woods. His quiet, civilian life is shattered when an unknown adversary frames him for revealing Agency secrets, putting a kill-on-sight target on his back. Hall runs in a global chase to evade death, clear his name, and free himself from the flawless "box job" that could become his coffin.

Praise for Ralph Dennis:

"A breathless, lean noir thriller. Every line is razor sharp. Jason Bourne fans will find a lot to like." Publishers Weekly

"Ralph Dennis has mastered the genre and supplied top entertainment." New York Times

"Believable and constantly thrilling." The Spy Guys & Gals Site

"His prose is muscular, swift and highly readable. " Joe R. Lansdale, New York Times bestselling author

"Exceptional characterization, strong and vigorous prose." Mystery Scene Magazine

"Straight-up, hardboiled crime fiction, written in a tight, evocative voice with a wicked, dark sense of humor." Lee Goldberg, New York Times bestselling author

About this title

Reviews

A disciplined focus on atmosphere bolsters this previously unpublished spy novel from Dennis (1931–1988). In 1980, Will Hall, a CIA agent stationed in the South American country of Costa Verde, witnesses the killing of Paul Marcos, a prominent political figure Hall strongly supported for his moderate views. Angry and disenchanted, Hall quits the agency, but is framed to seem like a whistle-blower when a magazine article is published bearing his name and exposing a definitive account of the CIA’s involvement in Marcos’s murder and the region’s political affairs. Hall subsequently becomes a target for assassination by dangerous enemies, including members of his former outfit, and finds himself “boxed in tighter than a coffin.” Calling in favors from ex-agency associates, Hall fends off numerous attempts on his life while trying to uncover the truth and prove his innocence. Dennis’s stark, impassive prose will appeal to noir fans, but readers should be prepared for an absence of genuine suspense. Nevertheless, steady plotting and authentic characters hold the story together.

Edition details

• Publisher: Brash Books
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1941298893
• ISBN 13: 9781941298893
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 200