The author cam write. However there are 2 big problems with the book. By 25% of the way through very little has happened; the plot is thin and so are the characters. And then, the author makes his case that equates left wing radicals with jihadists. "And Americans have learned to adjust to this, just as we are slowly learning to adjust to the threat from suicide bombers, from jihadists, from left-wing radicals." What a crock. The so-called left wing is not doing any of this stuff. It is a fabrication suited for Trump, Le Pen, and Pro-Brexit. Enough. Garbage!

5*****!

I DEVOURED this book. It is a top-notch spy thriller.

".....His novels occupied a literary space equidistant between Ludlum's kiss-kiss-bang-bang and the slow-burn chess game of Le Carré."

So says Kit Carradine, Cumming's lead character, a writer, who in this book is describing his own work. The same statement couldn't be more accurate of Cumming's own work, which appears to be at least semi-autobiographical - it does feel like a truly contemporary Le Carré - less action than a Ludlum and more cerebral.

I also loved the direct mention of The Man Who Knew Too Much, as it came strongly to mind with the setting and circumstances and similarly Highsmith's thriller writing was also evoked.

I found myself muttering "No!" at Carradine when he made a poor decision (regularly) and was utterly gripped in the pursuit sequences. The characters were believable, the places felt authentic and the writing was solid. It is an incredibly fast-paced read and I flew through it, only to be disappointed that I had no more of it left to read at the finish. The exciting thing is that Cumming has written more books and I'm grateful to have been introduced to his oeuvre.

Please note that this book is titled "The Man Between" in the UK, but I actually think this is a catchier title...

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Charles Cumming for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.