The Insider cover art

The Insider

BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE SCARLET PAPERS: THE TIMES THRILLER OF THE YEAR 2023

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The Insider

By: Matthew Richardson
Narrated by: Sean Barrett
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

A thrilling novel of espionage and murder in the dark heart of Westminster, from the UK's most exciting new spy writer

A Russian defector is found brutally murdered in a London hotel.

Only four people knew he had turned - the four most important and powerful figures in Whitehall.

There's only one conclusion - a mole has infiltrated the highest levels of the nation's security.

Operating in secret from within Westminster's darkest corners, former spy, Solomon Vine, must uncover the traitor.

Because Britain's future hangs in the balance.

And with it the fate of the whole world . . .


Praise for Matthew Richardson

Proof that the spy genre is flourishing in the 21st century . . . [Richardson's] plotting has an old-school, Swiss-clock precision - The Guardian

Compelling, intense and sharply authentic - James Swallow, bestselling author of Nomad

A splendid tale of espionage starring an old-fashioned MI6 hero . . . exciting spy literature - The Times

A bang-up-to-date thriller told with old-school panache. A great read. - Mick Herron, CWA Gold Dagger-winning author of the Slough House Series

© Matthew Richardson 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

 Espionage Genre Fiction Political Spies & Politics Suspense Thriller & Suspense Exciting

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Critic reviews

Praise for Matthew Richardson
Proof that the spy genre is flourishing in the 21st century . . . [Richardson's] plotting has an old-school, Swiss-clock precision
Compelling, intense and sharply authentic (James Swallow, bestselling author of Nomad)
A bang-up-to-date thriller told with old-school panache. A great read. (Mick Herron, CWA Gold Dagger-winning author of Dead Lions)
A splendid tale of espionage starring an old-fashioned MI6 hero . . . exciting spy literature
Combines immaculate Cold War tradecraft with modern tech savvy as our maverick hero comes up against a le Carré-esque establishment while trying to find a mole
Supremely confident . . . told with panache and a taste for spy craft that mark it as outstanding
Authentic, mysterious, fraught with deception, betrayal, and uncertain allegiances, it captures perfectly the foggy world of spies (Jason Matthews, author of Red Sparrow)
Calls to mind early le Carré (Gregg Hurwitz, bestselling author of Orphan X)
Truly authentic and frighteningly so . . . a remarkable thriller
All stars
Most relevant
Have to say I loved this. First off it has Sean Barratt, and hes just great at this stuff. You just relax and let him tell you a story.

This book has all the tropes you love if your into Le Carre and McBain. Moscow Rules, chalk, dead letter boxes, rude politicians, clever enemies. It borrows a lot from Tinker Tailor, but clearly with some love.

Personally I like my spy stories really slow and this book could have been longer. Also Im not sure I got one particular bit of plot - but I didnt care by that point. Listened to it over three days and was sad when it finished. Hope he does some more as hes found a way to do Le Carre in a modern setting with modern tech (that sort of ruins the Cold War vibe).

Good book! Get it!

Ripping yarn - like finding a new Le Carre/McBain

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Narrator's sense of timing is brilliant, loved the story line and the main character's mind

Gripping, well paced story. Loved it.

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loved it. veryauthentic. very cinvincing. a good way to spend a few hours on a journey.

excellent

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What a great discovery this book was. I choose it mainly because, Sean Barrett was the narrator and I find he always brings something special to a story. But the was a really good involving plot. Leading you along a parth, that was like all good stories,full of danger if you step off the parth.
I really enjoyed it.

Great discovery.

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Good story. Well paced & good finaly. A great listen. Don’t need to say much more.

Well crafted spy thriller. Stands with the best writers.

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