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Yesterday's Spy

The fast-paced new suspense thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Secret Service

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Nothing good ever comes from a midnight phone call. For washed-up spy Harry Tower, it is the worst news at the worst possible time. His son, Sean, has gone missing in troubled Iran after writing an exposé about government corruption.

Their relationship has never recovered since Harry's wife's suicide, for which Sean holds his father responsible. And Harry, with his career on the verge of disintegration, needs to find him and put things right.
When Harry arrives in Tehran, he finds a city on the cusp of revolution. Foreign powers are jockeying for influence, money and, most importantly, oil. The CIA are conspiring to undermine the government with an impending coup, and there are dark mutterings about opium smuggling. But the reasons for Sean's disappearance may be even more sinister than Harry first suspected.

Before long, he is on the run - not only from a faceless enemy, but from his own past. Which will catch up with him first?

Yesterday's Spy is Tom Bradby at his very best, delivering a cunning espionage novel rich in intrigue and history that will keep you guessing until the final pages.

© Tom Bradbury 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

 Crime Fiction Espionage International Mystery & Crime Mystery Spies & Politics Suspense Thriller & Suspense Iran Middle East Fiction Exciting

Critic reviews

Atmospheric, informative and flawlessly plotted
Bradby makes the complicated history and politics of the region admirably clear
A cracking thriller! Totally recommended
A superb thriller...exhilarating
Riveting...with style and energy, evocative scene-setting and strong characterisation
'A fascinating and powerful thriller of the highest order'
All stars
Most relevant
This is one of the best spy books that I have listened to or read. Fantastic plot with excellent characters and a story line that you may continue to listen to the annoyance of those that would like your attention. Yes, an incredible read. Pat

An incredible read

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Great plot set in an interesting part of our history. Characters are really well developed throughout the story. Excellent narration. Would definitely recommend.

Excellent

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I learnt a great deal about communism and Iran. A totally different book from what Tom usually writes about.

One of the best cold war novels

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I agree with others - this is not Bradby’s best. The plot follows a too well-trodden path and becomes erratic and overly derring do towards the end. But it does shine an important light on a neglected piece of history. The 1953 coup in Iran underpins continuing antipathy towards the US and U.K. from Iran today. It is doubtful the 1979 revolution would have happened if Mossadegh had remained in power. Bradby also reminds us of the consequences of what may appear to be initially smart intervention leading to long term difficulty - cf Iraq and 1980s Afghanistan for similar examples.

Great history - weaker plot

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Brilliant story, well written, paced and exceptionally well narrator. Definitely recommend it for an exciting read

A story and a half - brilliant

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