BOX 88 cover art

BOX 88

Box 88, Book 1

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BOX 88

By: Charles Cumming
Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton
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About this listen

An organisation that doesn’t exist.

A spy that can’t be caught.

Years ago, a spy was born…

1989: The Cold War will soon be over, but for BOX 88, a top secret spying agency, the espionage game is heating up. Lachlan Kite is sent to France to gather intelligence on the Lockerbie bombing. What he uncovers is terrifying…

Now he faces the deadliest decision of his life…

2020: Kite has been taken captive and brutally tortured. He now has a choice: reveal the truth about what happened in France thirty years earlier – or watch his family die.

In a battle unlike anything he has faced before, Kite must use all his skills to stay alive.

What people are saying about BOX 88

‘A spy for the 21st century’ Daily Mail, Books of the Year

‘Wonderfully taut, exciting and up-to-date’ Spectator, Books of the Year

‘An ambitious fusion of coming-of-age novel and gripping espionage thriller’ Financial Times, Books of the Year

BOX 88 is so good. Charles Cumming is up there with the very best espionage writers’ Ian Rankin

‘A wonderful spy novel; Charles Cumming’s most ambitious – and his best – yet’ Mick Herron

‘Charles Cumming has breathed new life into the spy novel’ Ben Macintyre

‘Atmospheric and full of sharply realised characters’ Sunday Times

‘A clever thriller’ Sun

‘Intelligence, grace, and stunning verisimilitude’ Gregg Hurwitz

‘An engaging hero’ James Swallow

‘All the hallmarks of the finest spy thriller’ Charlotte Philby

‘Sharp-eyed and satisfying’ Henry Porter

‘A great new spy hero is born’ Amanda Craig

‘Ideal for anyone nostalgic for their first love and the whiff of Marlboro Lights’ The Times

©2020 Charles Cumming (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers
Action & Adventure Espionage Genre Fiction International Mystery & Crime Mystery Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Political Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense Exciting

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All stars
Most relevant  
I loved the way the book told the story through the eyes of the present day. Excited for the next book in the series and think this is some of the authors best work. Particularly enjoy the characters in these books who are well rounded and believable in both their past and present forms.

A fun tale weaved in the past and present

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Box 88 is a well written espionage thriller. I was reminded of the writing style of Fleming with a dash of le Carre. However, Charles Cumming has created a new engaging spy character, and this is the first installment and origins of Lachlan Kite.
Box 88 is a clandestine agency created by the British and Americans in secret, to do the dirty and illicit work other agencies shy away from. The narration is excellent. With a believable storyline, drama, action, and interesting characters, this novel delivers and then some.

Excellent spy thriller

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Charles Cumming is the #1 spy writer for me - all the smart cultural references resonate - probably because I'm of the same age. The protagonist has a kind of up close and personal feel - we're right there inside his head - makes the incredible credible and compelling.

Just superbly written - pacing, plotting, managing the switch between then and now, very artfully done. And all completely unpretentious.

I loved the narrator on The Spanish Game (another great series from the same author) and did not expect that performance to be topped, but the narrator here is exceptional - accents, speech rate, consistency - unfaultsble.

These books will be deemed classics one day - don't hesitate!

Supeeb

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A great description of spy craft and a thrilling story, well narrated. Thoroughly enjoyable. Leaves me wanting more from ‘Lockie’.

Thrilling

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really enjoyed this, kept me kntetested, gunished over e days, will certainly read more, narrator was excellent too.

pace and subject of the story

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It has a reasonable pace and overall feel, but I was disappointed mainly because it lacks depth. The principal character seems overly needy, with a sense of frustrated entitlement.

An intetesting plot

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