Dugald Bruce Lockhart

And that was when I discovered that, having read Donna Tom, I thought, right, I now know where to go.

So again, I was pulling on all of these books that I'd read because I loved all of them.

But again, eventually you have to commit.

But I think a little bit of each of them has seeped into it.

Well, the last book I just read, which was just fantastic, is Box 88 by Charles Cumming.

Charles Cumming is the new John le Carre.

He's the most fantastic spy thriller writer.

And I was very privileged to get this.

He actually gave me the copy himself because it's not out till October.

But he's written a series of spy novels, and this one is set partly in the late 80s and partly in the modern day.

In the 80s, it talks about how this young protagonist ends up being chosen by MI6 to work for MI6.

And then in the current thread, it's how he is in a crisis situation and dealing with it.

He has the ability, which I think very few authors have, and I don't know how I would do it if I attempted to try it, of keep maintaining the tension when you're jumping from time zones.

You forget that it's even two different time zones, and actually it makes sense within one.

And I think any complex thriller, one can get too caught up in the wham-bam, thank you, ma'am, of plot progression and actually forget to enjoy the journey.

And maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I love to enjoy the journey.

And he manages to combine the modern with a wonderfully old-fashioned yet vibrant, dynamic storytelling technique.

So, yes, the book I just read recently was Box 88 by Charles Cumming, but his debut novel was called A Spy by Nature.

And I think he wrote it in 2003.

It's about a young guy who is offered the chance to be recruited for MI6.