Quotes
“Both narratives share a laconic edge and a focus on action, reminiscent of Ian Fleming’s James Bond, right down to the hero’s wry stoicism. The contrast between the eager young Terry and the jaded elder Terry adds pathos…[An] appealing espionage caper strongly reminiscent of vintage spy fiction.” Kirkus Reviews
“Barnett adds all the narrative fuel required for this action-packed story…With gusto, Barnett captures the danger and impromptu violence between Nolan…Barnett’s delivery of all the accents helps listeners follow the plot and principals.” AudioFile
“I love good spy yarns: I love intrigue, I love being surprised at the character’s choices as the plot twists, and I love falling so deeply into the story that I wonder what is real and what is fiction. A. J. Chambers’s The Vicar checks each of those desires. It took me into a fascinating environment and did what only the best books do: it kept me up reading far later into the night than I intended. This is a spy thriller that will thrill you—and when you close your eyes you’ll see the inevitable movie.” David Fisher, New York Times bestselling author of The War Magician
“Top-class gut-punch credibility. Chambers has a skill of delivering chilling reality through compelling fiction.” Humphrey Hawksley, BBC correspondent and bestselling author of the Dragon Strike and Rake Ozenna series
“With his crackling debut novel The Vicar, A. J. Chambers vaults into the ranks of classic espionage authors like John le Carré, Frederick Forsyth, and Daniel Silva. His MI5 operative Terry Nolan is no over-amped superhero, but a complex, appealingly human character who is deeply aware of the world’s painful deceptions and sacrifices. As one turns the book’s pages with bated breath, it seems evident Chambers is all too familiar with the dangerous, shadowy landscape he writes about … but if so we won’t blow his cover. It’s rare to discover a great new writer, and we want him sticking around for a long time to come.” Jerome Preisler, New York Times bestselling author
“Right out of the gate, A. J. Chambers’s The Vicar is a smashing galloping debut. The former British Army operative delivers a page-turning plot, gunfire dialogue, and a hero not to be trifled with, bringing us back to those longed-for days of Ian Fleming and Alistair MacLean. If you’re going to pick up The Vicar, make sure you’ve cleared your decks.” Steven Hartov, New York Times bestselling author of The Last of the Seven
“A British espionage thriller reminiscent of Patriot Games, Chambers’s debut spins a Transatlantic hunt that keeps you guessing until the last action-packed pages.” Matthew Betley, Marine and author of the Logan West series and The Neighborhood
“Fans of Le Carré, Ludlum, and Forsyth will go crazy mad for The Vicar. And that is not an overpromise. The Vicar is absolutely, 100 percent that good. Terry Nolan, an off-the-books MI5 operative, has been officially dead for thirty years. When his cover is blown, he must stop deadly attacks on Britain’s biggest cities. Le Carré’s iconic character, George Smiley, would surely want to raise a pint or two in admiration of Nolan’s work.” Myles Knapp, author of Revenge School
“A small, nasty splinter group plans a large, nasty act of terrorism. A resourceful, brave, and equally nasty agent is on their trail. Will he stop them? Find out in The Vicar, a fast-moving, slam-banging, twist-turning thriller in the tradition of Patriot Games.” William Martin, New York Times bestselling author of December ’41
“A book that will remind spy-thriller faithful of the best from the likes of Len Deighton, Frederick Forsyth, and Alistair MacLean…This brilliantly told tale is a can’t miss for spy thriller aficionados and a major debut.” BookTrib.com
