Totally believable story in this day & age of uncertainty.

Uses current day issues to lend credibility to story. Lots of twists and turns. Flashbacks were hard to follow but were also integral to the story..

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A very good story based in current times.

Really enjoyed the story and the performance. It being set in very recent times (2022) made it very interesting for me.

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Current Relevance

Liked inclusion of latest tech, range of accents from narrator and current UK political trauma

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Why do my reviews keep disappearing?

Just because this one is negative?

This book is a bit preachy and the delivery a bit too Adrian Mole Diary to work.

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What a spell binder!

We all know about Cold War spying and have absorbed the genre, but this is right up to date, right now and the political shenanigans make you wonder long and hard. How much is true?! The narrator reads the story well and as the whole story ramps up, you don’t want it to finish. Perhaps Simon will emerge again!

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Good story marred by inappropriate narration.

I spent the first half of the book confused as to whether it was an elaborate spoof - due to the jaunty, almost jokeu, narration.
I'm glad I stuck with it, and I've bought the kindle book to read so that I can fully appreciate what I think is a very clever, and all too believable, story

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The 666th Protocol

Mischievous school boy narration, imparts this almost lampoon tale of what spies ex or otherwise are up to these days, with some call backs to the days when Le Carre/Clancy/Freemantle/Forsythe ruled the roost, which will amuse those who read their books back in the day. A fraught factionalized fillip on the state of the state?

It showcases how woke tiptoed into the now and how concepts no one from 1980/1990 ever contemplated or envisioned, but which can cripple all the institutions set up back in the year dot and what we are expected to do and think about it.

Where is George Smiley or Charlie Muffin when you need them? Personally I have long sided with Bill Hicks and his "It's just a ride" scenario.

AN ENJOYABLE TRIP

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Superb!

One of the best spy stories I have read in many years. Gripping, frustrating and exciting in equal measure. The style is excellent and the narrative voice is first class. Outstanding all round, from story and plot through to narration.

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Outstanding

For a book I rated highly, I started out almost returning it.

I am glad I stuck with it. it has been one of the most enjoyable listens of the year for me so far.

The narration takes a little getting used to, but once it clicks, this is a well-plotted story with more twists and turns than the proverbial twisty-turny thing.

Excellent work all round, I look forward the authors next one.

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This seems interminable

I am about 2/3rds through this - will keep plodding on but really have lost interest.
All the people seem absolutely ghastly - starting with the " charismatic" Mckenzie whose voice is most unpleasant.
Hard to believe our hero Simon has been a secret agent for 20 years, he seems curiously naive.
I think part of the problem (as with most modern thrillers) is that the book is about 100 pages too long - the 39 Steps, the Spy who came in from the cold, etc. are about 250 pages. Le Carre got quite dull when he forgot his audience and real marathon books,
However, shall look out for Beaumont's next books.

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