I am not a big reader of spy novels, but this one had me on the edge of my seat and was a major page turner. Taking place in England it surround members of M16, Russian intelligence, and a Prime Minister needing to step down.

The story centers around Kate, high up in M16, and a lead in the Russian investigation. When she gets intel that the future election is compromised she has to figure out who it is before it is too late. Along the way she has to deal with family drama, and trying to keep the spotlight off of her.

This book was fast paced, world traveling, and a little bit overwhelming. The number of characters got a little bit confusing at times, but overall I enjoyed the escape from reality that this book provided to me and it was a good step out of my comfort zone.

I voluntarily read this advanced copy for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I've not read anything from this author before but thoroughly enjoyed this

Fast, tense - an easy read - great characters, good story development - I quickly became engrossed in this

I liked the fact it was a very British subject done by someone with some expertise and knowledge in the area so it felt genuine

I would recommend this

There was hits and misses in this book. My favourite character was Sir Alan, and the book was compelling enough, but the few areas it fell flat really dragged it down for me. And that's a shame.

A bit slow moving in points but overall a story that offers a glimpse into people you could believe have actually existed. I found myself return back to this book often to find out what happens next to them. Overall I’m glad I read it.

All in all, points for pacing, some compelling characters (Rav and Sir Alan, for example), and readability, but false notes throughout make this a bit wooden.

Fantastic book by Tom Bradby! (At first, due to the title, I was expecting the American Secret Service/ a book about the President, but I was glad to read about MI6 instead!) Kate is an engaging character and I enjoyed that there is a mom/ wife/ daughter in the mix of an MI6 agent and all the juggling that entails. She is smart & fierce! It was a faced paced plot and a surprising ending. Overall, a great read!

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader's copy in exchange for my opinion/review.

Unfortunately I did not finish this title. I picked it up a couple of times and the slow start, and language (titles of characters roles), I could not get into the book.

Kate works for MI6 on the Russia desk. She balances work, marriage and children and is drawn into a situation where a tip off she receives comes just a little too easily. Is she being played by an old loved one? Who is Viper? And are the people at the very highest level of government involved in Russian espionage?
This book raced along and I enjoyed it immensely. It is very plot driven which was fine, although characters were well drawn. I loved the evil mother and the back stories of the other characters. What I liked about this book is that it was easy to distinguish characters and their roles. In so may ‘spy’ books, characters often get wedded together in a ‘he’s a baddy’ or ‘she’s a goody’ camp. And often so many names it gets confusing who is who – but maybe that is me. You are kept in suspense right until the end here and although there were plenty of clever signposts, the ending came as a surprise. I also loved the sense of geographical destinations – living across the road from Vauxhall Cross meant I could visualise the steps Kate and her colleagues took – likewise the journey down the M40 and the trip to Oxford. I suspect the Greek islands were also realistically drawn.
If I have one negative comment it is that the epilogue seemed rather to wrap things up too quickly.
However, very small criticism of what was a great read. I rather hope there might be more of Kate Henderson.

ARC received from NET GALLEY

I had never read this author before but I am glad I tried Secret Service. Kate Henderson was an enjoyable character and while there was some good action this is more along the LeCarre genre of digging, watching, waiting, and wondering. Outstanding story!

A propulsive read by an under appreciated talent the characters were intelligently developed and the pacing of the book was so good that I couldn’t put it down. This is one of the best thrillers of the year!

I had wanted to read this book for a while and luckily had the chance to request a copy to review on Via Netgalley - so here is my first Netgalley review......
I’m so glad I enjoyed it.
What a great read. A believable, up to the minute, political thriller with well written characters, and focussing on the worrying relationship between Britain and Russia.
Kate is a senior officer working for MI6. A mother, wife and daughter. Working mums (and dad’s) can relate to her struggle of juggling home life with a full time job. And one that takes her overseas at a minute’s notice. Her husband works in the civil service and is supporting a close friend - Imogen - in the race to become the next PM. Kate suspects they may be closer.
When Kate receives a tip off that one of the ministers running for the PM’s job is a Russian spy she is on a mission to find out who. It also appears there is a mole within her small circle, feeding information to the Russians.
As well as telling the main storyline so well, Tom Bradby writes about Kate’s struggles with her home life - her son, her 15 year old daughter with attitude and a new boyfriend, her husband she wants so much to trust and her ageing mother with dementia. A lot of us adults can relate to this.
The ending answers her questions.

I received this book through the Net Galley Read Now Program.

This did not grab my interest from the start. I am used to getting a lot of action in what I read. This story was more involved in determining who the Russian spies were that impacted their operations.

The story starts with them recruiting Lena to work with them. Her task was to get hired as a Governess and provide data on the owners of the yacht. She was hired and placed a microphone in a stateroom where there was a meeting of high ranking Russian Agents. The British team obtained information which starting them on the hunt to find who the traitor was.

There was some action where Kate almost got killed and they lost Lena.

To find out the activities that they performed in vetting the Prime Minister candidates, then you need to read the book.

Thanks Netgalley/publishers for the e-arc and the chance to read the book Secret Service. I haven't read any of Tom's books before, so this was an excellent introduction.

It's a really exciting fast paced espionage adventure with a twist. The main character Kate is a wife and mother and trying to balance family life with her job. She's trying to figure out who the perpetrators are, while tracking foreign agents, politics and avoiding assassins, with many ups and downs along the way.

You're also kept guessing until the very end.

I could imagine this book being turned into a short tv series and feel it would be very well received.

A very enjoyable read and I would recommend to everyone who enjoys a thriller. I'll definitely look out for Bradby's other books.

Kate Henderson, senior MI-6 officer who specializes in Russian intelligence, receives a tip from a private source and discovers a wealth of information...which leads her to believe there is a traitor in their midst. This taut political mystery is perfectly paced and main character Kate is fully realized as an intelligence officer, mother and wife trying to do it all when (literally) everything is at stake. As she and her colleagues try to figure out the loyalties of the people campaigning to be the next prime minister, she is also trying to determine the loyalties of those closest to her. A great read that I could easily see binge-watching as a mini-series on any streaming platform. (Advanced copy read courtesy of NetGalley. Opinions are my own.)

I reviewed this already and gave it 4 stars.. I write a long notice already .. not sure I'm allowed to do more than one!

A great story of modern spycraft. During a survelliance mission, MI6 operatives learn, that Russians may have a person in play in the election of prime minister. Also, there may be a man (or woman) on the inside helping them. The ensuing investigation is full of paranoia and political manipulations. Mr Bradby filled the book with interesting characters and it's a pleasure and a thrill to read about them coping with this scenario in a very realistic way. A blast!

It is really refreshing to read about Russia interference in British elections instead of the United States. This is a great spy novel that you will get caught up in and you won't breathe until you read the final sentence. I am now going to go back and read more from this author.

Russian interference in US elections has been a prominent item in the news for some time. Kate Henderson, an agent for British Secret Service, mounts an operation on a tip that three of Russia’s influential Intelligence heads are meeting and she is stunned by what she learns. The current PM is set to announce his resignation due to illness and one of the candidates for the office is working for the Russians. To ensure that their candidate is elected, they have an agent in place to help them, code named Viper.

The hunt is on for Viper and evidence points to a possible mole in the Service itself. Kate has faith in her team, but everyone is still put under a microscope and the atmosphere becomes tense as the investigation continues. There are those that believe that this is just misinformation from the Russians, but when the PM makes the announcement of his resignation it is imperative to find Viper.

Kate is also facing problems at home. Her husband Stuart is the assistant to the Secretary of Education, one of the candidates being investigated. Stuart has always been there to help at home, but with the election looming and Kate under pressure to find Viper, there are also additional strains on her marriage.

Tom Bradby has written an excellent thriller that takes you right into the heart of the Secret Service. His characters are well thought out and the subject is relevant in today’s political situation. It has been a few years since Bradby released a new book and this is a welcome return. This is highly recommended. I would like to thank NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for providing this book for my review.

The UK political thriller for Bodyguard fans!

Kate Henderson was thought to live in ordinary family life with her husband, Stuart and their children. She was the secret agent, working for MI6 with Rav. She had to find the Russian mole who infiltrated the UK political cabinet.

There was the rumour that the British Prime Minister had cancer and would resign. One of the cabinet ministers, who might be the Russian mole, would succeed him. The time was against Kate as she battled to uncover the truth.

The world was unstabilised towards the crisis as the Cold War was making a comeback to haunt the generations of the 80s. Then, shocking events began to happen with some deaths, and her family was on thin ice.

I was stunned at the end of the novel, as the Russian agent was unveiled. I love this brilliant novel.

Columbpoirot

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

Secret Service is an easy reading novel about foreign influence possibilities in an election. Hmmm, sounds familiar, but instead of the US news stories, this takes place in the UK. It kept me interested until the end, trying to figure out which of the possible people could be the potential spy or spies. Each seemed, at times, to be the one, until another bit of fact made the reader doubt it.
Mostly the story looks through the eyes of Kate, Russia desk for the government. Is the info given to her real? Is she being played? Which of the people in the know could be trusted and all, including Kate and her husband, must be investigated?
I also learned more about how the elections there vary from what I am used to here in the US. Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.