Charles Cumming’s Box 88 kicks off a gritty and brainy spy series with a foot in two eras: the Cold War’s dying days and the chaos of modern espionage. Lachlan Kite is the man in the middle—recruited straight out of boarding school into a shadow agency so secret even MI5 doesn’t know it exists. One minute he’s in France tailing an Iranian businessman tied to the Lockerbie bombing. The next, it’s 2020, and he’s being tortured for the secrets he uncovered thirty years earlier.
Cumming pulls off the dual timelines with real finesse. The flashbacks don’t feel like detours—they add layers, deepen the stakes, and keep the tension tight. The 1989 storyline has a coming-of-age vibe, while the present-day plot moves fast and hits hard.
It’s not your typical high-octane spy thriller. There are no exploding pens or rooftop chases. But it’s engaging—the kind of story that hooks you early and doesn’t let go. Smart pacing, strong characters, and just enough mystery to keep the pages turning.
If you like your espionage lean, clever, and a little old-school, this one’s worth your time. I’m in for the next one. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
** Thanks to NetGalley and Mysterious Press for a complimentary copy. The opinions are my own.