'Nobody writes more enjoyable spy thrillers’ ANTHONY HOROWITZ

‘Charles Cumming has breathed new life into the spy novel’ BEN MACINTYRE

'The rightful inheritor of John le Carré's crown' OBSERVER

As director of covert intelligence agency Box 88, he’s at the apex of his espionage career. But when Martha Raine – a woman he hasn’t seen in twenty years – begs for his help, Kite finds himself back in the game, racing to avert disaster.

Kite must find Martha’s son, Max, who vanished in Athens with his girlfriend, Yasmine. But the couple aren’t just missing, they’re running for their lives. Two rival agencies are hunting them, both with orders to kill on sight.

Max and Yasmine are carrying a dizzying secret, one which could pull apart the foundations of the Middle East for a generation. If Kite fails to save them, the costs – both personal and professional – will be catastrophic.

‘Charles Cumming takes the genre to a new level’ Financial Times

‘A fast-moving, believable spy thriller, which benefits from Cumming’s insider knowledge' Sun

'If there was any question as to who is the rightful inheritor of John le Carré’s crown as the king of elegant spy fiction, this proves that it’s Cumming beyond any doubt' Observer

'Icarus 17 demonstrates Cumming’s inimitable combination of human insight, geopolitical acumen and sheer excitement’ Christopher de Bellaigue

'The perfect thriller to read on holiday' Fani Papageorgiou, The Economist

'Hugely satisfying' Jay Rayner

Early praise for ICARUS 17
'The fourth in his Box 88 series – and the best yet. If there was any question as to who is the rightful inheritor of John le Carré’s crown as the king of elegant spy fiction, this proves that it’s Cumming beyond any doubt' Observer, Fiction to Look out for in 2026
‘Charles Cumming takes the genre to a new level … Cumming handles a lively cast with the easy confidence of a master storyteller in this hefty, satisfying read’ Financial Times
'A deadly version of the TV show Race Across the World' Sunday Times
'The perfect thriller to read on holiday' Fani Papageorgiou, The Economist
'Excellent contemporary espionage'Daily Mail
‘A fast-moving, believable spy thriller, which benefits from Cumming’s insider knowledge’ Sun
'A hugely satisfying, beautifully plotted, chewy piece of modern spy fiction, as ever' Jay Rayner
'Icarus 17 demonstrates Cumming’s inimitable combination of human insight, geopolitical acumen and sheer excitement’ Christopher de Bellaigue
Praise for the BOX 88 series
‘Charles Cumming has delivered an enthralling and sprawling espionage epic for the ages. In his BOX 88 series, Cumming paints a deeply realistic picture of friendship, loyalty, and betrayal across a canvas of twisty, white-knuckle action and spycraft. A terrific achievement’ David McCloskey, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Persian
‘The Rwandan genocide still casts a long shadow in this haunting, masterful work, which also asks tough questions about international justice’ Financial Times, Thriller of the Year
'Tense and topical' Waterstones Best Espionage Thrillers of 2023
‘A bold choice of setting, which adds skilful dabs of colour to a tightly wrought tale' The Times
‘A compelling exploration of the consequences of realpolitik and the intermingling of the personal with the political’ Guardian
‘Charles Cumming is up there with the very best espionage writers’ Ian Rankin
‘A wonderful spy novel’ Mick Herron
‘Excellent’ Anthony Horowitz

Charles Cumming was born in Scotland in 1971. Shortly after university, he was approached for recruitment by the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), an experience that inspired his first novel, A Spy by Nature. He has written several bestselling thrillers, including A Foreign Country which won the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for Best Thriller and the Bloody Scotland Crime Book of the Year. He worked on Sky’s acclaimed drama The Day of the Jackal and was the screenwriter of the Gerard Butler movie Plane. He lives in London.