I-Spy
Featuring Chris Merritt as Chair In Conversation with
James Naughtie and Charles Cumming

Written by Louise Cannon – Lou

Check out the books and what then more about what the panel of authors talked about below. Some was certainly far from the norm…

The Books

Chris Merritt is a clinical psychologist turned novelist and has written several crime fiction books, his latest is Committed. He talked about the panel going to cover espionage, geo politics and the psyche of it all.

Buy Link: Waterstones

Charles Cumming once got a “tap on the shoulder” by MI6, he didn’t work for them in the end and now writes spy novels. He is a Sunday Times and NYT bestselling author of BOX 88, JUDAS 62, A Spy by Nature. Screenwriter of ‘Plane’.
He “cut his teeth” on John Le Carre books.

Buy Link: Waterstones

James Naughtie is a journalist, a special correspondent, BBC News . He writes spy novels, his latest being The Spy Across the Water. He finds it fun these days, making up the stories in books. A bit different from the factual information he would give as a journalist.

Buy Link: Waterstones

More Discussion

They discussed about the secretive nature of being a spy and the psyche a person would have to have to lead that double life, as it were. Interestingly he did talk about how things have changed a bit when it comes to family, with the signing of the Official Secrets Act. They talked about the pressures within this.

They talked about wanting adventure within books and the psyche as well as the emotions within their books, bringing up John Le Carre and his books quite a bit.

Journalism was talked about and how you have to have curiosity and similarly like you do when writing fiction and look further, look behind the eyes of the person/character.

They discussed about their books being there to entertain, but also how they layer it up in realism, then how the ending is important to leave readers satisfied.

Committed
By Chris Merritt

I’ve long enjoyed the themes of Chris Merritt’s books and his writing style. Committed is his eighth novel and today I am joining the blog tour with a blurb and my review, then a bit about the author, do take a look below…
Thanks to Chris Merritt for inviting me to the blog tour in-exchange of an honest review.

Six days to stop a deadly attack. And no one else believes it’s real.

‘Very well done – tight action and a smart central character.’ Anthony Horowitz

‘A propulsive nail-biter of a thriller that will keep your heart in your throat all the way through’ Lisa Regan

‘A blistering, heart-pounding, edge-of-the-seat, adrenaline rush of a read. Absolutely outstanding and without doubt the best book I have read this year.’ Carol Wyer

‘Heart-pounding suspense until the very last page. I absolutely loved it!’ Ava Glass

Former CIA undercover operative Ellen McGinley is battling to overcome PTSD when she stumbles upon a domestic terror plot. The deadly attack is due to take place in six days and will strike at the very heart of her homeland.

For Ellen, it’s a chance to find redemption for her greatest mistake – one she will never allow herself to forget.

But no sooner than she alerts the authorities, she finds herself diagnosed as delusional and locked in a psychiatric ward. No one believes her story.

She’s the only one who thinks the danger is real, which means she’s the only one who can stop it.

Ellen must draw on all her old skills to escape, stay alive, protect her family, and find those responsible – before all hell breaks loose.

Committed is the propulsive thriller you won’t want to miss this summer. Perfect for fans of Lee Child, David Baldacci, JB Turner and Robert Dugoni.

Review

Ellen McGinley is a wonderfully written complex character as the main protagonist. On one hand she has a very unexpected important job to do, on another, she has her personal mental health battles to overcome.

It is a gripping and is mostly set in Pennsylvania. Ellen McGinley is a former CIA Officer and is grappling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which in itself makes for interesting reading, and then she becomes aware of domestic terror occurring.

Ellen finds herself being committed into a psychiatric ward. It’s supposed to be secure, but instead she finds herself in mortal danger. The writing is darkly tense and from here on in, it becomes even more of a page-turner. Ellen knows what she saw and wholly believes and knows the implications if a terrorist attack occurs. She has a major problem, apart from being diagnosed as being delusional and can’t leave the hospital, no one believes her. There is then, no one she can trust. She must use all her experience and willpower to keep going to save lives against terror as readers are led down a dark twisty path at speed, with edge of your seat tension.

The calibre of plotting and writing is of high quality and won’t leave you disappointed. It will leave its mark, (in a positive light) and leave you wanting more from this author, or reading from the back catalogue, if you haven’t already done so. He uses all his knowledge and experiences and skilfully fictionalises them into books you can’t put down.

About the Author
Chris Merritt is a clinical psychologist and former diplomat. As a member of the British foreign service, he completed postings in Jerusalem and Iraq. He has also lived and worked in the US. Committed is his eighth novel.