This episode I’m joined by author David Goodman, author of A Reluctant Spy and the new sequel Solitary Agents. We talk about reading John le Carré as a kind of travelogue and why place matters so much in spy fiction.

David shares how his dissertation on spy novels was a stepping stone to writing espionage himself, albeit many years later. We talk about what it’s like being compared to le Carré in the UK press, why globetrotting heightens paranoia and atmosphere, and how books can capture lost places and times.

David also explains researching locations on a budget using YouTube city walks and Google Street View, we discuss le Carré’s “boots on the ground” approach, modern pacing, and whether a truly le Carré-esque novel could be published today.

All that and more in this episode!

David Goodman’s Website – https://www.davidgoodman.net/

A Reluctant Spy – https://www.headline.co.uk/titles/david-goodman-7/a-reluctant-spy/9781035416011/

Solitary Agents – https://www.headline.co.uk/titles/david-goodman-7/solitary-agents/9781035434145/

Find more on my Substack.