The Irregular: A Different Class of Spy cover art

The Irregular: A Different Class of Spy

The Irregular, Book 1

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The Irregular: A Different Class of Spy

By: H. B. Lyle
Narrated by: Gareth Armstrong
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About this listen

 SPY HUNTER SHORTLISTED FOR THE SPYMASTERS BEST ESPIONAGE NOVEL OF 2025, ALONGSIDE THE PEACOCK AND THE SPARROW BY I.S. BERRY AND GABRIEL'S MOON BY WILLIAM BOYD

'Irresistible' Guardian

'Impressive' Daily Mail

'Captivating' Mick Herron

Nominated for the 2018 Best First Novel, Barry Award

London, 1909

Captain Kell of the War Office knows the Empire is under threat - from Russia and Germany, from terrorists and anarchists, spies and infiltrators.

But he can't prove it to his superiors. He needs an agent he can trust, someone who knows the street, not the playing fields of Eton.

Kell needs Wiggins. Trained as a child by Kell's old friend Sherlock Holmes, who used to call his little band of urchins the Baker Street Irregulars, Wiggins is now an ex soldier with an expert line in deduction and the cunning of a bare-knuckle fighter.

But he has no wish to be recruited - until he sees a route to taking his sworn revenge on the killer of his best friend.©2017 H. B. Lyle (P)2017 Hodder & Stoughton Crime Fiction Historical Mystery Fiction Russia Exciting England Sherlock Holmes Crime War Detective Espionage

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Editor reviews

"A thrilling story of espionage, murder and the creation of the Secret Service." (Charles Cumming, author of A Colder War)
"H.B. Lyle has found the golden thread between Bond and Holmes in a thriller which engages on every page." (Giles Foden, author of The Last King of Scotland)
"A fine first entry in what promises to be a great new series. Wiggins is a captivating hero, and Lyle draws his Edwardian backstreets in convincing colour. The game is most definitely afoot." (Mick Herron)
All stars
Most relevant
This novel was so well written, it was a pacey and multi layered story that kept my interest the whole way through. The link to Sherlock Holmes was really well done and I also loved the descriptions on London in the early 1900's. My only criticism was that I wished Bella was voiced by a woman but other than that fantastic narration, will be recommending to everyone I know

Best detective novel I've read in a long time

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A newspaper recommendation lead me to a most enjoyable few hours. A short but interesting story with friends, old and new, splashed through. I sincerely hope that this is not the last I've heard of Wiggins. Great narration helped bring things to life.

Old friends and new

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The story had promise but I didn't find it held my attention. The ending was predictable and the denouement stretched for too long.

Performance was ok but not special. Rather more of a book narrator than a character actor.

Mediocre - didn't grip me

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