On the Mongolian steppes a general in the People’s Liberation Army stakes his career, and his life, on a GPS-free missile guidance system that will change the balance of power on the battlefield.
In Bath a young Chinese woman has secured the affections of a young brainiac working on that very problem.
In Leamington Spa a deep cover operative has given himself away.
And in London Jonas Merrick watches all, assessing, planning. A moment, perhaps, for him to strike a blow to China’s espionage network in the UK.
One thing he does not see, however, is in Moscow. An order given: ‘bring me his head’.
Tautly plotted and frighteningly authentic Best Served Cold cements Jonas Merrick as one of the great figures of modern spy fiction.
In Bath a young Chinese woman has secured the affections of a young brainiac working on that very problem.
In Leamington Spa a deep cover operative has given himself away.
And in London Jonas Merrick watches all, assessing, planning. A moment, perhaps, for him to strike a blow to China’s espionage network in the UK.
One thing he does not see, however, is in Moscow. An order given: ‘bring me his head’.
Tautly plotted and frighteningly authentic Best Served Cold cements Jonas Merrick as one of the great figures of modern spy fiction.
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Reviews
Praise for Gerald Seymour
Seymour orchestrates the build-up to his denouement as masterfully as Merrick co-ordinates his Spanish sting
You don't read Gerald Seymour, you commit to it totally. His stories have amazing detail, yet you still fly through them. And your effort is well rewarded
As ever, the great strength of Seymour's writing lies in his depiction of the poor bloody infantry of crime and policing
Seymour's portrayal of the city's crime dynasty, and its inner rivalries and tensions, is masterful
Seymour's finger is always on the current socio-political pulse, and the new book is a welcome return for his curmudgeonly MI5 man Jonas Merrick
Even after thirty-seven novels [Seymour] has lost none of his talent for thrilling plots and creating credible and sympathetic characters, nor his journalist's eye for modern espionage tradecraft and techniques
There are strong echoes of George Smiley in Merrick's mild and unprepossessing manner, which disguises a razor-sharp brain and considerable courage when necessary
Supreme spy writer
[Charles] Cumming is perhaps matched only by Gerald Seymour now when it comes to recounting field operations
'Impeccably plotted, and again shows that he's the master of the multistranded ensemble thriller in which each character's world is enthrallingly realised'
Seymour, who redefined the modern thriller 50 years ago with Harry's Game, still hits the target with this
vivid, pacy, addictive story
