A Spy at War: Charles Beaumont Reveals More About His New Spy Thriller

🔥 In This Episode:

He's back.

Former MI6 officer turned critically acclaimed novelist, Charles Beaumont returns to the Spybrary podcast on the launch day of his second novel, A Spy at War, the highly anticipated sequel to his bestselling debut, A Spy Alone.

Recorded on publication day, this conversation delves deep—not only into the plot and characters of the new book, but also into the role of spy fiction in helping us make sense of today’s volatile geopolitical landscape.

Join us for a gripping conversation about war, fiction, statecraft, and the moral complexities of modern espionage.

A QUICK HEADS UP. A Spybrary first, due to Charles Beaumont's work for the Intelligence Services, our technical division has digitally altered his voice to protect his identity.

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🧠 What You’ll Learn:

Why spy fiction matters now more than ever.
Charles shares how the genre provides a skeptical lens through which to view world events—and why that’s a good thing.

Behind the story: How A Spy at War picks up after A Spy Alone—and the real-world events it eerily anticipates.

On writing close to the news.
The tension between fiction and reality, and the responsibilities that come with writing spy thrillers set in modern-day Ukraine, Russia, and the corridors of British power.

The baddies aren't caricatures.
Why Charles takes pains to portray villains with nuance—and what that says about today’s ideological battlegrounds.

Ukraine, corruption, and Western hypocrisy.
An honest, clear-eyed discussion about Ukraine's challenges—and how corruption has been weaponized by Russian statecraft and its “useful idiots” abroad.

Character craft.
How Charles builds unforgettable, morally complex characters—and why he insists he is not his protagonist, Simon Sharman.

The future of the genre.
How spy fiction is evolving post-Cold War, post-9/11—and why today's chaotic world is fertile ground for compelling espionage stories.

Intelligence and the US-UK relationship.
From “Signalgate” to Five Eyes: Is the “special relationship” at risk in a post-Trump era?

On screen soon?
An update on the screen adaptation of A Spy Alone—and how Slow Horses’ success has lit a fire under commissioning editors.

📚 About the Guest:

Charles Beaumont is a former British intelligence officer and the author of A Spy Alone and now A Spy at War. Writing under a pseudonym and using a voice changer for public appearances, Beaumont brings unique authenticity to his fiction, blending real-world insight with thrilling narrative tension.

His books are set firmly in the now—featuring spy rings embedded in British high society, covert missions in Ukraine, and a protagonist grappling with both global instability and personal demons.

So what is A Spy At War By Charles Beaumont all about, Shane?

Russia is struggling to defeat Ukraine on the battlefield. But can it win the war for influence?

August 2022. Simon Sharman is out for revenge, pursuing the assassin of his former colleague across war-torn Ukraine. Back in London, a Russian spy ring at the heart of the British Establishment remains active, attempting to sabotage the West’s support for Ukraine.

In the fiercely contested Donbas region, Simon finds himself sucked into a terrifying shadow conflict between Russia and the West. Can a lone spy make a difference to the course of a conflict?

From the ruins of Bakhmut to the corridors of Whitehall, A Spy at War reveals the secret struggle for Ukraine, on the frontlines and in the arena of global public opinion.

Praise for A Spy at War

‘With his second novel, Beaumont firmly establishes himself as a commanding new force in spy fiction—serious, suspenseful, intelligent, and credible, with just the right dose of gritty action. His firsthand insight into war-torn Ukraine resonates in every scene, painting a vivid and unflinching portrait of a country at war. It's premier cru.' Shane Whaley, Spybrary

‘Beaumont must surely be the most plugged in spy writer of the day, almost ahead of the curve… He pens thrillers you can’t let go of, page turners full of power and intelligence. Indispensable’ Maxim Jakubowski, Crime Time

‘Beaumont is increasingly a name to watch as he moves into the first division of spy writers… An informed, authentic-seeming tale, shot through with dark menace. Current events make this gripping read even more timely’ Adam LeBor, Financial Times

‘Beaumont strikes back… A Spy At War is the best sort of espionage novel, shimmering with authentic tradecraft, geopolitical intrigue and a gritty exploration of betrayal and revenge’ David McCloskey, author of The Seventh Floor and co-host of The Rest is Classified podcast

‘Charles Beaumont is that rare combination in spy fiction: a genuine former intelligence officer who is also a first-class writer’ Charles Cumming, author of Kennedy 35

‘With his second novel, Beaumont has cemented himself as an author who both fearlessly tackles hard subjects and spins masterful tales. A Spy at War is daring and unflinching, a must-read’ I.S. Berry, author of The Peacock and the Sparrow

‘This second espionage thriller from former MI6 operative Charles Beaumont underlines his quality’ Daily Mail

‘Retired spy Charles Beaumont brings to life the terror, violence and confusion of the war in Ukraine… in this well-informed and revealing novel. Excellent’ Literary Review

‘An unadorned take on the brutal realities of the Ukrainian war, told with literary flair and an insider’s insights into the corrupt political forces at work behind the trenches’ 

Paul Vidich, author of Beirut Station

Did you know that one of the UK's top journalists Tim Shipman of The Sunday Times, has a passion for espionage novels? And that he has meticulously curated a compendium of his favorite 125 spy authors for the Spybrary Podcast and Community, all carefully ranked with suggestions on which book to start with from each spy author.

Grab your copy of this invaluable dossier and as a bonus, your enlistment ushers you into the monthly Spybrary Briefing, where we divulge imminent and upcoming spy book releases.

• Buy A Spy At War By Charles Beaumont
• Follow Charles Beaumont on Twitter/X
• Follow David Clark on Twitter/X
• David Clark's five best spy books
• Listen to Charles talking about A Spy Alone with David Clark
• Follow Spybrary on Twitter
• Join the Spybrary Community

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