Matt McAvoy Book Review

If you like James Bond of the 1960s, with a touch of Michael Caine’s thinking spy, you’ll love this well-penned espionage book set at the height of the Cold War’s space race.  With more than a small element of those Adventure Books for Boys, which were so popular in the 60s and 70s, the unnamed secret agent goes from one extreme situation to another, from cliff-scaling to wreck-diving, with nothing more than his own grit and wit as an ally, when sent to investigate a huge explosion in Morocco.

There is a ruthless efficiency and coldness about The Agent, which borders at times on the psychopathic, and this lack of any emotional depth is actually what layers his character – you can believe that such people exist in the spy business.  Perhaps more relatable and even likeable a character is the enigmatic arch-villain, a deranged scientist and super-wealthy megalomaniac with plans to launch a super-weapon.  Overall, there are some great elements to this Fleming-esque adventure, which has all the elements, including the fast cars and the beautiful, exotic “love” interest.  Woodgate has crafted a very simple yet hugely enjoyable action thriller, which ticks all the boxes of the spy genre, with the recognizable intensifying three acts.

It was nice to read a book which harked back to a time when readers took their enjoyment from more formulaic fiction, and you can appreciate the author’s aspiration to create a series from this character’s missions and exploits.  There is a cool darkness about The Agent, and I hope Woodgate resists the temptation to humanize him too much with a backstory and/or life development.  When considering Bond, for example, do we know what he does on his day off, or ever see him just watching TV in his house?  Of course not, because to over-develop the character would totally dilute his mystery and callous ambiguity – and that is what is so appealing like these types of character.  Woodgate has created one in a similar mould, and I like guessing at his issues and eyebrow-raising faults.  Additionally, it is to the writer’s credit that he doesn’t linger on the violence of which we know The Agent is capable – even seems compelled toward, perhaps damaged or desensitized by things he has seen in his work; the suggestion of The Agent’s cruelty are enough, and quite frankly we find ourselves not wanting to witness it.  This is definitely a good choice by the author.

A good job done by Dick Woodgate, and I would be intrigued to read more from this series.