Great story, setting and characters to keep me interested and routing for them. I highly recommend this.

One of the many reasons the Middle East is so much upside down sometimes is due to the fact that, besides the colonial histories, the decades-long Cold War confrontations between the Soviet Union and the US and the allied powers on both sides. The chess of interests on both sides were often detrimental to the development of the countries used as an arena of deploying intelligence and military strategies, and abandoned as soon as a new set of interests prevailed. I will not enter too much in non-literary details of geopolitical nature, but literature can somehow remind us of causes and consequences of politicies that did not try to go further than short-term interests.

Our Man in Kuwait by Louise Burfitt Dons enacts the very active nest of spies in Kuwait in the 1960, a reflection of the diffuse landscape of the international political alliances two decades after the end of the WWII. A possible Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, that happened in a completely different context few decades later, is endangering the unstable balance of powers in the region, but also outlines the deep fracture in the Arab unity - due to the game of powers but not only.

Burfitt Dons, whose books I had the chance to previously review on the blog, wrote the book based on her own experiences, being born and brought in Kuwait where her father was Preventative Health Officer for the Kuwait Oil Company. Although sometimes the mindset reminded me of contemporary behaviors, the interactions between different expat couples and their dark secrets built up as a game of smoked mirrors are very captivating, in the thriller kind of way. The dialogues exhibit a sophistication and allusive language that raise even more questions about the character and intentions of the characters.

As I have a fascination and interest in both Cold War and the Middle East, Our Man in Kuwait was my read a choice for putting the topics and the region more into a larger mentalities context.

My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this to read and honestly review.
This is a well written book with superb characterisation throughout. Set in the sixties it's very nostalgic for those of us of a certain age, and there is real feel for the times. Atmospheric clever descriptive a spy story come thriller, with plenty of surprises that kept this reader guessing throughout, always interesting and intriguing.
Recommended.

Our Man in Kuwait is another must-read by Ms. Burfitt-Dons. It's educational, as it describes the whole scenario at the end of the '60s and the possibility of a Russian invasion. It's a brilliant mix of reality and fiction where there are the good and bad guys and the spies who work for their countries and sometimes for more than one... Great story, with a very good plot, and wholesome characters.
I thank the author, her publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Reading this book was like reading the headlines - familiar but so much richer than ordinary newspaper accounts. Characters are well drawn and plausible. The book is well written and seems at times almost like nonfiction given the author's history of having grown up in Kuwait.. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it to other readers, especially those with a special interest in history and the middle east in particular. Full of suspense and twists and turns and an easy way to learn a little history.

Our Man in Kuwait is a wonderful read. This is the first time I’ve read about Kuwait and it’s probably changed since it’s set in 1960. As a huge James Bond fan I found the section about Ian Fleming fascinating particularly about the bit he was working for Naval Intelligence at the time. The plot is quite complex, but everything ties up in the surprise ending. What an intriguing story and wondering what the author will come up with next.

A story set in Kuwait in the 1960’s and if you have even a smidgen of interest in spy’s alongside the dinner parties and lifestyle that was to be had there at that time then this book is for you,the descriptive writing had me there,living that life in Kuwait,it was enticing if tinged with danger
It had a gentle pace, not slow but enough so you could gather your thoughts as to who was who and where and why throughout the book
I would say it’s a thriller with lots of elements combining to make it a good satisfying read
I liked the character of Gordon, not so much his wife but together they were an intriguing pair
All in all an interestingly different enough book to work and to make you think….I wonder if it will be made into a TV series as am sure would flourish in that medium

9/10
5 Stars

Lots of characters, spies and others, and a plot a bit difficult to keep track of. Maybe, spy stories are not my cup of tea. And I kept wondering, why Ian Fleming had to be part of the cast. It would also be helpful, if the historical info about Kuwait and Iraq was the foreword instead of the postscript, since not everybody knows what happened there in the 1950s. I read the whole novel, but skipped or leaved through a number of pages to speed up the process. The author was droning along, and I was much less intrigued by this book than by her novel about the British PM - The Killing of Cherrywood MP. Plus, I can‘t help noting that Louise Burfitt might be a good screenwriter, but she does not really convince me as a novelist: style‘s a bit flat, and basically purely dialogue. Maybe Our Man in Kuwait is meant to be a film one day? I also wonder: Why is the fact that Gordon stutters repeated (and printed as in - I quote - ‘It’s a t-t-tenuous situation where Kuwait’s involved.’) - time and again? Or that Sylvie wears glasses, and that Prince Mustafa‘s skin is ‚coffee-colored‘: „Prince Mustafa was a member of the Kuwait royal family. He’d inherited the coffee-coloured skin from his father, a minister in the Government. But the dark curly hair came from his mother and the engaging brown eyes from both.“ - A bit of post-editing would have helped, I‘d say. Also to avoid that two sentences in a row begin with ‚But…‘. Yes, I am a bit of a stickler here. But I love my reads to be perfect in style. Thanks for the copy I got via netgalley in exchange for a review.

An amazing story that combines historical and fiction at the same time. There’s no stopping until you read to the last page. Not to be missed.

A wonderful and gentle thriller also containing an element of espionage. .Set in the early 1960s, the main character is Gordon Carlisle who lives in the Kuwaiti expat community of Ahmadi with it's large swimming pool, tennis club and much gossiping during expat dinners and dances!

Yes there are Russian spies and I am certainly not going to reveal who but suffice it to say Gordon is involved. Ian Fleming is thrown in for good measure with his James Bond novels selling really well.

What I really loved about the book is what life was like in small towns Kuwait with the heat, lots of sand, LP records and a diet reliant on what the servants can obtain,- tinned peas spring to mind! Surely a Netflix mini series could be made just about life and loves during that time?

I loved everything about the book including the Kuwait/ Iraq historical references.

Thanks to Net Galley and New Century for the chance to read and review.

An ordinary oil company executive is sucked into the spy games being played out across the Middle East in this 1960s thriller. But Gordon Carlisle is not that ordinary. Tall and urbane, he has a large menagerie of desert creatures, a beautiful new wife who is not as committed as he is and secrets in the cupboard.

The feel of this book reminded me of Casablanca with its mix of society, threat and intrigue. And even the love story which is there in the background. The story centres around the Hubara Club, the go to place or the expat community. And in the midst of this ever-turning mystery is Ian Fleming himself. The characters came alive with the dialogue. Historically it’s accurate for the period. The background is the looming invasion by neighbouring Iraq. Fascinating and a terrific story. Shades of Kim Philby and co.

Thank you to New Century for the galley.

Our Man In Kuwait opens in Beirut and we learn that someone at the heart of the expat community in Kuwait is a Soviet agent. There are twists and turns galore throughout this story as the main character Gordon Carlisle tries to unravel the mess he has got himself into after he’s approached by an MI6 agent. To add to his woes he’s head over heels with a wife who doesn’t seem to feel the same way.

I loved the dances and dinner parties, the dialogue and the way gossip spreads. When one of the wives dies in a mysterious way, the drama takes off. It doesn’t let up until the very end.

It’s a story based on true events and that detail shines through. The community is fearful of an invasion from Iraq as the country nears independence. After a spate of unexplained killings and the discovery of anthrax the Secret Service in London are on high alert. So much to think about in this book including what Ian Fleming was doing out there. A great mix of small-town politics and big power plays.

I also enjoyed a precis at the end of the end book of the real events that took place leading up to the Gulf War of 1991. Thank you to New Century for the Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an honest review

There are enough spies and double agents in Our Man In Kuwait to keep you guessing as to who is and who isn't, one. Above all, who is the elusive Agent Alex? Gordon is right there in the middle, guessing too.

The Expat and Kuwaiti royals' scene were all abuzz to figure out who the murderer was, as tensions rose over a very possible Iraqi invasion. Pinpointing the subversive elements as to who were the culprits secretly active attempting to bring the elite house down, was also imperative.

I enjoyed the pace of the unfolding action in this historical fiction, mystery thriller. It was that too, thrilling. I believe many readers will be well satisfied and will mull the heart-pounding drama over for days afterwards. Don't let the poisonous snakes or scorpion get you. Shivers!

The addenda includes a mini-history of the true events upon which this book is based. The author having spent time in Kuwait as an expat child, adds great unction to the tale.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

October 2022

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.