My journey into the world of espionage began not in musty meeting rooms in ancient government offices, but in the glittering glass headquarters of multinational giants. As CEO of a specialist services company (small, but with global reach), I was privileged to travel the globe, working closely with the staff of clients whose names you’d instantly recognise. In the course of negotiating deals, planning projects and collecting the data my business needed to deliver results to our clients, a fascination with industrial espionage took root. Newspaper articles about corporate secrets and clandestine operations led me to reading more, and sparked a question: could some of the seemingly ordinary executives and pen-pushers I met be pursuing a hidden agenda? I suspected a few. Astonishingly, I later learnt that one really was. Seeing the ease of blending into the background in a corporate environment, coupled with my deep love for international exploration, formed the seedbed from which ‘The Repurposed Spies’ series sprung.

‘The Repurposed Spy’ surprised even me with its success. Initially, it was conceived as a standalone thriller, recounting the unlikely exploits of a retired teacher encouraged into clandestine operations and set against the vibrant backdrop of South and Central America. Its unexpected ending, while provoking some initial bewilderment, led many readers to contact me and demand a continuation. And so, in ‘Spies on Safari’, I took my readers to the heart of Africa, expanding the team and raising the stakes. ‘Spies on the Silk Road’ followed, plunging my ‘covert researchers’ into the enigmatic landscapes of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. Now, I’m thrilled to announce the fourth instalment, set in the Far East, scheduled for late 2025.

What sets ‘The Repurposed Spies’ apart is the authenticity of its settings. Every location, every meal described, is drawn from my personal experience. I’ve walked those streets, tasted those flavours, ensuring a vivid and immersive experience for the reader. While the characters are purely fictional and the missions they pursue eyebrow-raising, their world is grounded in reality. I write because I love it, and your enthusiastic feedback has been the greatest reward.

While ‘The Repurposed Spy’ is the natural starting point, each book in the series can be enjoyed independently. ‘Spies on Safari’ and ‘Spies on the Silk Road’ offer a fresh perspective and can serve as compelling introductions to the world of my repurposed spies. I invite you to dive in wherever you feel drawn. Your thoughts, be they praise or constructive criticism, are invaluable. Please connect with me online – I’d love to hear from you.