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The Vicar
- Author
- A. J. Chambers
- Narrator
- Rory Barnett
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date
- 19 September 2023
- Run Time
- 9 hours 17 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
What to expect
Inspired by the author’s own experience, The Vicar introduces Terry Nolan, an MI5 operative who, when he discovers his cover is blown and millions of lives are at stake, will do whatever it takes to stop enemy forces.
Terry Nolan, an off-the-books MI5 operative known as the Vicar, has been officially dead for the past thirty years. But when Nolan is attacked in Boston, it becomes clear his cover is blown. Even worse, his Parishioners—the network of spies who work under the Vicar—have all been compromised.
Nolan races to New York to try and find his last remaining agent, Shae, whom he personally recruited years ago. Instead, he finds Kristen, a young civilian who is determined to save Shae, too—and who may know more than she’s letting on.
In the search for his missing agent, Nolan intercepts intelligence that indicates weapons of mass destruction are on their way to Britain’s four largest cities. Working directly with the ruthless head of MI5, Nolan must call upon all his clandestine skills to save the final Parishioner and find out who is behind the attacks and why. But he’s playing a dangerous game, and the dark secrets of his past are about to catch up with him.
Critics Review
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“Both narratives share a laconic edge and a focus on action, reminiscent of Ian Fleming’s James Bond, right down to the hero’s wry stoicism. The contrast between the eager young Terry and the jaded elder Terry adds pathos…[An] appealing espionage caper strongly reminiscent of vintage spy fiction.”
Kirkus Reviews
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“Barnett adds all the narrative fuel required for this action-packed story…With gusto, Barnett captures the danger and impromptu violence between Nolan…Barnett’s delivery of all the accents helps listeners follow the plot and principals.”
AudioFile
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“I love good spy yarns: I love intrigue, I love being surprised at the character’s choices as the plot twists, and I love falling so deeply into the story that I wonder what is real and what is fiction. A. J. Chambers’s The Vicar checks each of those desires. It took me into a fascinating environment and did what only the best books do: it kept me up reading far later into the night than I intended. This is a spy thriller that will thrill you—and when you close your eyes you’ll see the inevitable movie.”
David Fisher, New York Times bestselling author of The War Magician
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“Top-class gut-punch credibility. Chambers has a skill of delivering chilling reality through compelling fiction.”
Humphrey Hawksley, BBC correspondent and bestselling author of the Dragon Strike and Rake Ozenna series
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“With his crackling debut novel The Vicar, A. J. Chambers vaults into the ranks of classic espionage authors like John le Carré, Frederick Forsyth, and Daniel Silva. His MI5 operative Terry Nolan is no over-amped superhero, but a complex, appealingly human character who is deeply aware of the world’s painful deceptions and sacrifices. As one turns the book’s pages with bated breath, it seems evident Chambers is all too familiar with the dangerous, shadowy landscape he writes about … but if so we won’t blow his cover. It’s rare to discover a great new writer, and we want him sticking around for a long time to come.”
Jerome Preisler, New York Times bestselling author
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“Right out of the gate, A. J. Chambers’s The Vicar is a smashing galloping debut. The former British Army operative delivers a page-turning plot, gunfire dialogue, and a hero not to be trifled with, bringing us back to those longed-for days of Ian Fleming and Alistair MacLean. If you’re going to pick up The Vicar, make sure you’ve cleared your decks.”
Steven Hartov, New York Times bestselling author of The Last of the Seven
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“A British espionage thriller reminiscent of Patriot Games, Chambers’s debut spins a Transatlantic hunt that keeps you guessing until the last action-packed pages.”
Matthew Betley, Marine and author of the Logan West series and The Neighborhood
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“Fans of Le Carré, Ludlum, and Forsyth will go crazy mad for The Vicar. And that is not an overpromise. The Vicar is absolutely, 100 percent that good. Terry Nolan, an off-the-books MI5 operative, has been officially dead for thirty years. When his cover is blown, he must stop deadly attacks on Britain’s biggest cities. Le Carré’s iconic character, George Smiley, would surely want to raise a pint or two in admiration of Nolan’s work.”
Myles Knapp, author of Revenge School
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“A small, nasty splinter group plans a large, nasty act of terrorism. A resourceful, brave, and equally nasty agent is on their trail. Will he stop them? Find out in The Vicar, a fast-moving, slam-banging, twist-turning thriller in the tradition of Patriot Games.”
William Martin, New York Times bestselling author of December ’41
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“A book that will remind spy-thriller faithful of the best from the likes of Len Deighton, Frederick Forsyth, and Alistair MacLean…This brilliantly told tale is a can’t miss for spy thriller aficionados and a major debut.”
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Details
- Author
- A. J. Chambers
- Narrator
- Rory Barnett
- Duration
- 9 hours 17 minutes
- Release Date
- 19 September 2023
- ISBN
- 9798200913084
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Genre
- Thriller / suspense fiction, Espionage and spy thriller, Thriller / suspense fiction, Thriller / suspense fiction, Thriller / suspense fiction, War, combat and military adventure fiction, Adventure fiction
Synopsis
Inspired by the author’s own experience, The Vicar introduces Terry Nolan, an MI5 operative who, when he discovers his cover is blown and millions of lives are at stake, will do whatever it takes to stop enemy forces.Terry Nolan, an off-the-books MI5 operative known as the Vicar, has been officially dead for the past thirty years. But when Nolan is attacked in Boston, it becomes clear his cover is blown. Even worse, his Parishioners—the network of spies who work under the Vicar—have all been compromised.Nolan races to New York to try and find his last remaining agent, Shae, whom he personally recruited years ago. Instead, he finds Kristen, a young civilian who is determined to save Shae, too—and who may know more than she’s letting on.In the search for his missing agent, Nolan intercepts intelligence that indicates weapons of mass destruction are on their way to Britain’s four largest cities. Working directly with the ruthless head of MI5, Nolan must call upon all his clandestine skills to save the final Parishioner and find out who is behind the attacks and why. But he’s playing a dangerous game, and the dark secrets of his past are about to catch up with him.
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