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Ascension

an absolutely gripping BBC Two Between the Covers Book Club pick

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Ascension

By: Oliver Harris
Narrated by: James Langton
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£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

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'One of our finest thriller writers' Evening Standard

A BBC2 BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK 2021

'Oliver Harris is always pure quality' Ian Rankin

'A fascinating tale of modern espionage in a unique setting' Irish Independent

Three friends from a mission many years ago reconnect when one of them dies in mysterious circumstances on remote Ascension Island. Rory Bannatyne had been tasked with tapping a new transatlantic data cable, but a day before he was due to return home he is found hanged. When Kathryn Taylor, on the South Atlantic MI5 desk, begs ex-spy Elliot Kane to go over and investigate, he can't say no, but it's an uneasy reintroduction to the intelligence game.

Entirely isolated from the world, the disappearance of a young girl on the island at the same time as Rory's death means local tensions are high. Elliot needs to discover what happened to her as well as to Rory. But the island contains more secrets than even the government knows, and it's not going to give them up without a fight.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
'Captivating...Gripping, relevant and frenetic. You'll be hard pressed to put this one down for a second' Amazon reader five star review

'Stunning spy novel...This is the best of its genre I've read' Amazon reader five star review

'A bit like a thinking person's Lee Child' Amazon reader five star review©2021 Oliver Harris Espionage Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Political Spies & Politics Suspense Technothrillers Thriller & Suspense
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Critic reviews

One of the best new spy series continues with ex-spook Elliot Kane reluctantly back in harness to investigate the suspicious death of a former colleague on Ascension Island. First-class cloak-and-dagger stuff against an unusual backdrop (Jake Kerridge)
One of our finest thriller writers...Fans of his criminally underrated Belsey novels, about a corrupt London detective, will recognise some familiar themes, including a soft spot for heroic losers and an interest in the physical and mental remains of the Cold War. But it is the location that matters most of all, windswept and staffed by a mixtures of spooks, oddballs and drunks, and it will stay with you long after you close the book
A fascinating tale of modern espionage in a unique setting
Harris evokes a powerful sense of place in a landscape where the elements turn out be a character in its own right and the intrigue developing as a result of his investigation quickly sets up a rather frantic and tense finale. A bloody good read!
A twisty, propulsive spy thriller, all set against the vividly evoked hellscape of one of the most remote islands in the world
A corker...Harris expertly keeps the plates spinning while breathing thrilling life into the ex-pat community and its moon surface existence
Oliver Harris is always pure quality and I'm loving the hell out of his foray into the contemporary spy novel. Elegant and compulsive'
All stars
Most relevant
I kind of wanted to go to Ascension after hearing this. Good spy thriller. Narration excellent.

Good book!

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The first Elliot Kent book was much better but this one was good too. the ending is a bit simple

good spy novel

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Fantastic stuff. Oliver Harris' books are generally excellent, and this is no exception. Enjoy.

Excellent

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Really enjoyed this. It’s a bit different to the previous Elliot Kane novel, but there are so many good twists and turns.

Great thriller

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Certainly not as good as the first novel. It seemed to speak to the audience as if they knew nothing about MI6 or the world of espionage and often stated the obvious, something I haven’t experienced in previous Harris novels, having now read at least five. Didn’t like the narrators style or pace and listened at 1.1, which made it tolerable. Nevertheless it was enjoyable and worth listening to.

Ascension

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