Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Another solid entry in the series, a very timely novel with a interesting protagonist. Very well plotted and believable. Mr Porter is one the most dependable authors in the genre. Recommended.

My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
This is the third and apparently final book of the Paul Samson series, but he and other survivors of this excellent series are such brilliant characters I find it hard to believe they won't be revisited, I certainly hope so.
Well written and researched a fast paced clever complex story of deceit and high level corruption, with an evil old Stasi agent the main protagonist.
Completely and utterly recommended

I loved this spy story, number three of a series but it works equally well as a standalone read. It has all the classic elements you expect of an espionage tale but remains, current and gripping. The protagonist is a believably flawed hero and is surrounded by a cast of engaging characters representing people from many different lives, most of whom have something to hide.

The first chapter is devastatingly good and sets the tone for a fast pace, thrilling narrative and real understanding of humanity. The author takes the traditional spy story elements and combines these with contemporary issues and a global setting to remake the genre anew.

Action spy thriller - part of a series but includes a lot of info from previous books which helps the storyline but slows it down a bit in places.
Paul Samson is the main protagonist - working in security in London when he is attacked.
Following the murder of his friend/ former spy, attempted murder of a billionaire and another attempt on his life Paul goes undercover to find out who is behind this.
Echoes of the Cold War and current interference into USA/U.K. politics by Russia and other Eastern Bloc countries.
Enjoyable but complicated read.
Recommended for anyone who loves good spy novels.
4 Stars ⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.

The spy thriller genre markets itself well, with the catch being that some of my recent reading in this field has marked itself as competent but over-complex, a tad weak on characterization and purpose. Prolific thriller author Henry Porter, with the third of his Paul Samson series, "The Old Enemy," honors the genre's promise of espionage skullduggery but renders his two core characters as real humans and carefully stage manages a complicated tapestry of twists rooted in WWII-evil. In other words, The Old Enemy satisfies as it intrigues and thrills. Paul Samson, an ex-MI6 agent now freelance, and his old flame Anastasia are gathered up into a storm when an old spy is assassinated and Anastasia's husband is poisoned while appearing before the US Congress. Whizzing around the espionage globe, the author choreographs a seemingly realistic conspiracy plot replete with Jason Bourne thrills. The dialogue is dab, the settings deftly drawn, and the climax more than satisfies. The Old Enemy: one of the classy spy releases of 2021.

I really enjoyed this book despite not having read the previous volumes. Porter does give a lot of back story so one could follow the current events. It is quite a long book with lots of characters some good, some bad and some a bit of both. The story is complicated with spies, corrupt politicians, ex-Stasi, Kurds travelling between USA, London and Eastern Europe. Although this is the third in the trilogy, the door has been left open for further books. I'm sure this book would have been even better had I read the previous plus I would have been able to enjoy more of Porter's writing.

A convoluted beginning to this book which would have made more sense had I read the previous books in the series.
The story, as a standalone doesn’t work for me as it’s too reliant on a knowledge of the previous books
The complexity of the story has at its heart characters from previous books. But, who are the good guys and who are the bad
One of the characters has been killed, others are attacked, but who is trying to wipe out these ex&current agents
Why was one of them spending a fortune on a covert group, whilst paying an old friend to keep a covert eye on one of the main players in that group.
This is a spiderweb of a story, it’s worth persevering with, and after about halfway through I was beginning to understand who was who, and what the relationships there were

I did enjoy this book although didn’t realise was Book 3 in a series ( my fault for not researching ) amd so like any series when you jump in after 2 previous books there is back story to try and learn,in the end though it didn’t spoil the book and although took some time to ‘settle in’ once did it was full on with the story
Enjoyed the writing style and would definitely read more....

The Old Enemy is the latest Paul Samson spy thriller by Henry Porter and it is a well written and absorbing book.

As you would expect with a book of this genre there are numerous twists and turns with everything and everybody not always being what they appear to be.

A knowledge of the main characters backstories would probably assist a reader in fully enjoying the book however don’t let that put you off what is a very good book

Loved this book, I took a while to get into it but when I did it was great. If you like Cold war books this is for you.

This novel concerns the murder of a retired spy and the investigation of a company, Greenstate, which is involved in some nefarious business. Paul Samson, a former MI6 operative, is asked to keep an eye on Zoe Freemantle , a young woman who works for Greenstate, by a friend who works in intelligence circles.
When someone tries to kill him whilst he is following Zoe and then an old friend of his, Denis Hisani, is targeted whilst giving evidence to Congress in Washington DC, Samson ends up teaming up with Alexandra, Hisani’s wife and his former lover as they try and piece together what is going on and how these events are connected.
This was a complex espionage thriller which followed on from the author’s previous two books. I found it rather difficult to get into and then really hard to maintain my interest. I must admit I nearly gave up half way through as I realised that did not care sufficiently about what was going to happen to the main characters as the novel progressed. As I had read the 2nd book in the series and I’d quite enjoyed I decided to persevere with this one and in the end I concluded that it was a reasonable if somewhat over complicated read which did pick up as it moved towards its climax.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third, and best of the Paul Samsom spy/intelligence thrillers and Henry Porter has really found a successful formula with this exceptional series.

The writing is fresh and lucid and the author has a deep knowledge of spy craft. The geographic descriptions are accurate, the characters well depicted, the plot is exciting, credible and drives you on and is totally relevant to what is happening in the world today.

What more do you really want in a thriller?

Highly recommended.

Paul Samson is an ex MI6 officer but he can’t quite escape his background. Having been privately tasked by an old colleague to protect, at a distant, a young woman, he hadn’t realised quite how complicated that task would be, particularly by people trying to kill him.

This is third novel in the series and I hadn’t read the previous two. However, this is well written and researched, making the main characters believable, although I think I would have preferred to read the other two books first. It’s a fast paced story, sometimes feeling too much so, but it’s enjoyable nonetheless.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Took a bit longer than normal to get into, but kept at it and enjoyed it.
A new author for me, but will certainly read more by Henry Porter.