Moscow X

‘The spy thriller has a champion who can peek behind the curtain’ The Times 

'Moscow X is a propulsive thrill ride and a moving portrait of life, betrayal, and vengeance in Putin’s Russia. It is also the most authentic depiction of CIA deep cover operations you’ll find in print. Those of us who spent our careers running spies have been waiting for the next John Le Carré, Charles McCarry, or Jason Matthews—authors who told riveting and deeply authentic stories about intelligence wars fought in the shadows. With Moscow X, David McCloskey takes his place among that company' - John Sipher, former CIA senior operations officer

‘Thrilling, propulsive and terrifying … unputdownably superb’ - Simon Sebag Montefiore

‘A spellbinding journey into the brutal, shadowy intrigues of the Russian elite and the underground world of espionage. The Russian condition, as seen through Anna’s eyes, is both moving and terrifying. An electrifying read, compelling, and timely – I could not put it down’ - Clarissa Ward, CNN Chief International Correspondent and author of On All Fronts: the Education of a Journalist

'David McCloskey has delivered another mesmerizing tale of intrigue to follow the incredible Damascus Station. Moscow X is even better; an utterly authentic and deeply compelling thriller that is among the very best espionage fiction in print' - Mark Greaney, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Chaos Agent

'Moscow X brilliantly captures the nuances of field work in hostile environments, the thrill and terror that grips every intelligence officer when they are in the belly of the beast. McCloskey is the new poet laureate of the CIA operations officer' - Marc Polymeropoulos, former CIA senior operations officer and author of Clarity in Crisis

'There is a new generation of spy novelists storming the genre, and David McCloskey must be counted as one of the best. His latest novel, Moscow X, is a white-knuckled, fast-paced journey into the modern age of spy craft, where high tech espionage jostles dangerously against old school cunning and Machiavellian intrigue; and where men and women risk everything to uncover an elusive and, ultimately, lethal truth' - Kathleen Kent, New York Times bestselling author of Black Wolf

‘McCloskey shows all the talents that brought so much acclaim for his debut, Damascus Station, and takes us inside the inner workings of the CIA, where he once worked as an analyst … It’s the cast of layered, complex characters that makes Moscow Xsuch a gripping read — one often leavened with dry, poetic wit’ - Adam LeBor, Financial Times

‘Another exhilarating spy thriller filled with suspense and intrigue’ - Spybrary

'McCloskey is the most thoroughly convincing spy novelist to have emerged in the last decade' - Mail on Sunday

‘Packed with insider knowledge, it shimmers with threat’ - Geoffrey Wansell, Daily Mail

'Fantastic. It's full of tradecraft, heart-in-the-mouth action, betrayal and revenge' - Simon Copeland, The Sun

‘As gripping as its predecessor … Complex yet satisfyingly vicious, especially so once Max and Sia in turn enter Russia, Moscow X is a tense, all too plausible depiction of the struggle for power within a corrupt regime’ - The Times, Book of the Month

'A gripping depiction of the struggle for power within a corrupt regime' - Sunday Times, Best Summer Reads

'An informed, gripping tale' - Financial Times, Best Books of 2024

Praise for David McCloskey:

'The best spy novelists, such as David McCloskey, deepen our understanding of the world while telling an enthralling story’ - Adam LeBor, Financial Times

Praise for Damascus Station:

'Simply marvellous storytelling...a stand-out thriller and essential reading for fans of the genre' - Financial Times

'The best spy novel I have ever read' - General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA

'For an authentic representation of what it's like to work in intelligence, look no further than Damascus Station. McCloskey has captured it all: the breathtaking close calls, the hand in glove of tech and ops, the heartbreaking disappointments, the thrill of a hard-won victory' - Alma Katsu, author of Red Widow and former CIA and NSA analyst