Spies and Other Gods, James Wolff
Spies and Other Gods, James Wolff
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Spies and Other Gods

Author: James Wolff

Narrator: Matt Addis

Unabridged: 8 hr 42 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/14/2026


Synopsis

In this cat-and-mouse spy thriller, an anonymous whistleblower sends British Intelligence into a frenzy, threatening to reveal secrets that could bring the establishment to its knees.

The Head of British Intelligence is having a bad day. Only six months off retirement and Sir William Rentoul is wondering if he'll make it that far, what with the sudden descent of a brain fog dense enough to turn every day into a series of small humiliations.

To make matters worse, when parliamentary researcher Aphra McQueen is brought in to investigate an internal complaint, she discovers something horrifying: the murder of nine Iranian dissidents. The elusive assassin, nicknamed CASPIAN, kills across borders, forcing intelligence services throughout Europe into an alliance. Their only lead? An unsuspecting dentist in the UK.

Aphra McQueen seems to know more about the operation than she is letting on. What will she uncover? What is she really up to? And can she survive the unexpected events that will bounce her from London to Birmingham to Paris to Lausanne?

In the exhilarating chase that follows, Spies and Other Gods offers a vibrant, fresh and darkly funny take on the spy thriller that lays bare the human cost of secrecy.

About James Wolff

James Wolff is the author of the Discipline Files series, including the three novels Beside the Syrian SeaHow to Betray Your Country, and The Man in the Corduroy Suit. The first book in the series was a Times Thriller of the Month, and the latest installment is the only espionage novel to be longlisted for the 2023 CWA Silver Dagger award. A former British intelligence officer, he grew up in the Middle East and now lives in London.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Ryan on October 08, 2025

Out in the world, an Iranian operative has killed at least ten people on European soil and is eluding detection. Inside the headquarters of British Intelligence, a researcher for Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee investigates a complaint lodged about a past operation. With the seeds o......more

Goodreads review by John on February 05, 2026

Spies and Other Gods is an intelligent and very enjoyable spy novel, driven as much by character as by plot. The standout is Aphra McQueen, a fascinating protagonist whose sharp mind and quiet determination make her a pleasure to follow. Much of the book’s appeal lies in watching how she thinks and m......more

Goodreads review by Mars on December 05, 2025

This is a spy thriller that follows a British Intelligence investigation and the secrets and mess that surround it. Aphra McQueen is the center of this story as she challenges the institution and ventures on a kind of spy chase. I loved the writing style and the distinct voice of this story. There w......more

Goodreads review by Dan on March 22, 2026

My thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an advance copy of this novel set in the world of espionage dealing with assassins, spy craft, agents in place, bureaucracy, revenge, set in a world of questionable alliances, questionable morals, and questionable memories. One of the genres that I miss......more

Goodreads review by Robert on January 30, 2026

It feels like writing an espionage novel is the thing to do if you are an ex-intelligence agent. There is a long roll call of authors out there who have successfully followed this path – Stella Rimington (UK), David McCloskey (US) and Jack Beaumont (France) – to name a few. As James Wolff notes in h......more