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The Spy Game

A story of family secrets and the search for truth

Georgina Harding author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Published:1st Mar '10

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The Spy Game cover

In The Spy Game, eight-year-old Anna confronts her mother's mysterious disappearance, leading to a journey of discovery about identity and secrets.

On a freezing January morning in 1961, eight-year-old Anna finds herself grappling with the sudden disappearance of her mother into the fog. That same day, a major spy case breaks in the news, igniting intrigue and speculation across the community. Anna's brother, Peter, captivated by tales of espionage, begins to weave a theory that their mother, a refugee from eastern Germany, may have been an undercover spy and could still be alive. As the days unfold, Anna is left to navigate the murky waters of her family's past and her brother's wild imagination.

As life attempts to return to normal, Anna is caught in a whirlwind of confusion and doubt. She struggles to differentiate between reality and the fantasies that Peter constructs. The question looms large: did her mother lead a secret life? And what does it mean to truly know someone who has passed? The emotional depth of The Spy Game invites readers to ponder the complexities of identity and memory, especially in the wake of loss.

For fans of literary thrillers, The Spy Game resonates with themes found in works by authors like William Boyd and Ian McEwan. With its rich narrative and compelling characters, this novel explores the delicate balance between truth and perception, making it a captivating read for anyone interested in the intricacies of human relationships and the shadows of history.

'It is the calm quietness of her writing that is so appealing - she lays an image down so gently that it floats in the mind long after' Margaret Forster 'Harding skilfully weaves together history, memory and imagination in this haunting and beautifully written novel about how, chameleon-like, we construct our own identities' Daily Mail 'Elegant and intelligent ... Should confirm her reputation as a writer of unusual and persuasive talent' Scotsman 'Many writers, from Harper Lee to Suzanne Berne, have explored children's skewed view of the adult world. Georgina Harding has equalled their take ... Elegant ... Lucid, seamless' Independent on Sunday

ISBN: 9781408801000

Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 20mm

Weight: unknown

320 pages