In the aftermath of Hamas’s October 7th attack on Israel, Mossad’s London station chief Eli Amiram is fighting battles on all fronts. When his ambitious rival plans an assassination on British soil – supposedly authorized by Trump supporters – Eli suspects a deeper conspiracy.
Meanwhile, British intelligence asset Petra is hunting for redemption. Tasked with recruiting Wasim Al-Arikhi – whose sister she failed to save from becoming a suicide bomber – Petra’s drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse. Can Wasim be trusted or has she become a target?
As Eli and Petra’s paths converge, they discover that in the shadow world of international espionage, the greatest threats often come from within. They must confront not just their enemies, but their own moral choices. A sophisticated spy thriller that weaves together tradecraft, betrayal and the human cost of intelligence work.
It's my pleasure to be hosting the blog tour for The Protocols of Spying by Merle Nygate today. Many thanks to No Exit Press and Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me and for my advance copy of the novel.
The Protocols of Spying is the third book in Merle Nygate's Eli Amiram series and I think I would have benefitted from reading the previous novels as past events are referred to here. Nevertheless, this elegant spy thriller is a thoughtful, compelling read about recent, tragic events.
The two year anniversary of the October 7th attacks has just passed but obviously the dreadful consequences, particularly the genocide in Gaza, are still ongoing. It was an interesting prospect, therefore to read a novel told from the Israeli perspective. Merle Nygate portrays the horror felt by the global Jewish population in the immediate aftermath of the attacks well. Whether due to personal connections or due to the long history of anti-Semitism and pogroms, it's not surprising that the co-ordinated attacks by Hamas should have been felt by many as another attack on all Jews.
As Mossad's London station chief, Eli Amiram is naturally involved in the global Israeli response. Eli is a likeable character, a man who believes the correct course of action is to endeavour to influence Palestinian politics through the recruitment of a lochesh – a whisperer. The discussions here aren't about the systematic destruction of Palestine and its people but about achieving peace by supporting a secular regime change and by the appointment of somebody capable of becoming a minister or diplomat, somebody who can help impact policy. Meanwhile, both his wife, Gal and son, Doron are drawn back to Israel following the attacks and The Protocols of Spying is as much about the personal cost to those who are engaged in state-sponsored lying and scheming while regularly risking the lives of themselves and others.
Petra is a British Jew but, still wracked with guilt following a previous failure, is desperate to make amends and, despite her relative inexperience, it is agreed that she should try to recruit Wasim Al-Arikhi, following a botched first attempt by Eli. Petra is an intelligent, determined woman but having been unable to prevent the death of Wasim's sister, questions persist throughout as to whether she is too emotionally invested in the mission. She quickly makes contact with Wasim but not everyone is as convinced as she is that he can be trusted.
The Protocols of Spying is a slow-burning read which allows the complicated machinations of intelligence work to unfold steadily before the tension ratchets up in the final chapters. Merle Nygate captures the finely balanced, intertwined world of spies, and the mutual, simultaneous trust and mistrust between the global agencies superbly throughout. This is a perceptive exploration of geopolitical relations, including Russia's mendacious propaganda and manipulation of world affairs, particularly leading up to the start of Trump's second presidency.
An insightful look at the external and internal pressures of espionage work, The Protocols of Spying is a moving, character-driven thriller and one I enjoyed very much.
The Protocols of Spying is published by No Exit Press, purchasing links can be found here.
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