Paul Burke is a Cold War spy fiction devotee, Gold Dagger judge and our man on the fiction desk.
Cold War spy fiction was my first reading passion. Yes, I was there for some of it! Now I've come full circle. My debut book, Spies on Screen, is the first of two surveys that let me revisit my favourite genre: not just the Cold War but centuries of espionage and writing about it, from gritty realism to fantasy, novels to films. After years of reviewing other people's work, it's my turn. We'll see how that goes!
Paul Burke – Photo Credit ©PaulReich
II'm a judge for the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger, the most prestigious prize in British crime fiction. I spent a year anchoring the Spymasters podcast, and since 2021 I've interviewed more than 400 authors as a podcast host for Crime Time FM, many of the top names in spy fiction among them. In 2025 Aspects of Crime gave me the chance to create a magazine and website, and to edit the short story collection Watching the Detectives. I also write for Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, and I've written for Monocle.
About a decade ago I began reviewing for NB magazine. I started with literary fiction but found my real home in crime, thrillers and mystery, where the people are lovely and supportive.
At Spybrary, I'll be Head of Fiction leading our spy thriller author interviews and publishing spy fiction news, articles, commentary, features and opinion on Spybrary.com
I am excited to develop new formats such as the new Spy Book Club, Spies On Screen and co-hosting Dead Drop 5's with Shane Whaley
I grew up in London and South Wales, and my family is from Ireland and Scotland. After time in Yorkshire and elsewhere in England, I've returned to the Rhondda, where the walks are spectacular and the community is strong. Joining Spybrary feels like finding my spiritual home. I'm looking forward to working with Shane and one of the most dynamic and dedicated communities of espionage aficionados in the world.
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