Thriller

Box 88

Box 88

  • Downloads：2228
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-06-13 00:16:16
  • Update Date：2025-09-23
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Charles Cumming
  • ISBN：0008200394
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

An organisation that doesn’t exist。

A spy that can’t be caught。

1989: The fall of the Berlin Wall is imminent and the Cold War will soon be over。 But for BOX 88， a top secret spying agency known only to an inner circle of MI6 and CIA operatives， the espionage game is heating up。

Lachlan Kite， recruited straight from an elite boarding school， is sent to France – the frontline of a new secret war。 Kite is tasked with gathering intelligence on a mysterious Iranian businessman implicated in the tragic Lockerbie bombing。 But what he uncovers is even more deadly…

2020: MI5 hear rumours of BOX 88’s existence and go after Kite – only for Iranian intelligence to get to him first。 Taken captive and subjected to torture， Kite is presented with a simple choice: reveal the truth about what happened in France thirty years earlier – or watch his family die。

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Reviews

Mike Shackle ，

I love a good Charles Cumming spy book and this is no exception to his amazing back catalogue。 The story alternates between the present day and the late 80's - bringing back many long forgotten memories for me of that time and place。 A great fun read I love a good Charles Cumming spy book and this is no exception to his amazing back catalogue。 The story alternates between the present day and the late 80's - bringing back many long forgotten memories for me of that time and place。 A great fun read 。。。more

Frances ，

Loved this book， fast moving， interesting and good characters

Tracey ，

Listened as audio book。 Thoroughly enjoyed this espionage thriller。 Great characters

Andrew Turner ，

Charles Cumming leads the pack as far as I am concerned。 His writing style hooks me from start to finish。 I am impatient for his next book。

Jill Wilson ，

Worth 3 and a half stars - a political thriller which has the main character trying to negotiate with his captors and remembering past events as he attempts to talk his way to freedom。

Denise ，

Much as I like slowly unravelling spy stories， this one took a little too long to get where it was going - and took a few detours into the unbelievable on the way。 I have yet to encounter a protagonist I actually care about in any of Cumming's books I've read so far， and this one didn't offer a gripping enough plot to truly hook me in spite of its uninspiring characters。 Much as I like slowly unravelling spy stories， this one took a little too long to get where it was going - and took a few detours into the unbelievable on the way。 I have yet to encounter a protagonist I actually care about in any of Cumming's books I've read so far， and this one didn't offer a gripping enough plot to truly hook me in spite of its uninspiring characters。 。。。more

Helen Almond ，

This was an。 Audible book。 I enjoyed the narration very much and the book even more so。 I like Charles Cummings spy stories and don’t feel I need to compare them with anyone else， they work on their own， always entertaining and great storytelling

Bill McFadyen ，

Charles Cummings knows his way around spying ， special services and suspense。 This is an enjoyable read - although some of the main characters are a little on the ‘superhero side’。 Hangovers ， alcohol， pain or mental stress do not appear to impact negatively upon there abilities - physical or mental。A good book for the beach。

David ，

Enjoyed it and look forward to next book in what will obviously be a series about these characters （but boy， what a lot of lies these spies have to tell！）

Ahmet Kaya ，

The ending was so predictable but still enjoyed reading it。

Sara Tilley ，

Slough House with far more glamorous locations - and much better than the blurb on the cover。A contemporary spy thriller with hints of Casino Royale and Brideshead Revisited。 Super secret spy games and a coming-of-age tale are fleshed out with an interesting cast of characters and 1980s geo-politics and pop culture。The first couple of chapters are rather stilted but then it nips along to a satisfying open ending。It doesn’t have Slough House’s humour， and the title jarrs， but I look forward to th Slough House with far more glamorous locations - and much better than the blurb on the cover。A contemporary spy thriller with hints of Casino Royale and Brideshead Revisited。 Super secret spy games and a coming-of-age tale are fleshed out with an interesting cast of characters and 1980s geo-politics and pop culture。The first couple of chapters are rather stilted but then it nips along to a satisfying open ending。It doesn’t have Slough House’s humour， and the title jarrs， but I look forward to the next instalment。Great narration from Charlie Anson。** Thank you Libby ** 。。。more

Amicus （David Barnett） ，

Another splendid story by Charles Cumming。 With an ending that points to a sequel。

Bob George ，

A fascinating spy thriller。 Lachlan （Lockie） Kite the UK head of the secret Box 88 spy network; being investigated by MI5， captured by an Iranian group who torture him to find out details of an operation in 1989 when he was just 18 and recruited whilst still at school。 Much of the story is his recollections from his school days and his friendship with Xavier; whose father Luc had some dealings with an Iranian suspected of being involved with the Lockerbie bombing。 He recalls how he got to end up A fascinating spy thriller。 Lachlan （Lockie） Kite the UK head of the secret Box 88 spy network; being investigated by MI5， captured by an Iranian group who torture him to find out details of an operation in 1989 when he was just 18 and recruited whilst still at school。 Much of the story is his recollections from his school days and his friendship with Xavier; whose father Luc had some dealings with an Iranian suspected of being involved with the Lockerbie bombing。 He recalls how he got to end up at one of the top UK schools （ a sort of parody of Eton） and how he is there recruited because of his friendship with Xavier。There is a race against time for Box 88 to find and rescue him， and his pregnant wife， whilst M15 are also trying to investigate him and the Iranians also trying to get to some historic truths。 There are some great twists in the story and Charles Cumming again writes an excellently crafted storyA few things do seem awkward; BOX 88 seems to be a fairly unsavoury organisation so should we really have sympathy for the threatened Lockie Kite？ He appears to have taken on the class that Alford （Eton） bestows on its entitiled students。 The Iranian terrorist who has captured Kite seems to have been much more a victim and his actual objective， once revelaed， is fairly benign; more personal than ideological。 It's also hard to believe that an 18 year old would have such skills at deception; an 18 year olds deceptions are surely not finely honed; they would entail thrill seeking and personal development; but unlikely to be ones that a secret service would aim at; but then that is the nub of the story。 So it is interesting at many levels 。。。more

Niko ，

Final is a bit disappointing。 Cause there is no final， no any logical conclusion。"We need to talk" and that's all。 Final is a bit disappointing。 Cause there is no final， no any logical conclusion。"We need to talk" and that's all。 。。。more

Susan ，

If a person rambled on without cease， giving answers to questions that had never been asked， it was a sure sign of guilt。Finished finally。。。 Some endings are never to be understood。。。 Still worth reading。。。

Christopher Williams ，

I knew little about this author before reading this。 Very impressed， I have to say。 Box 88 is a sort of UK/US MI6 but operating with a lot less restrictions。The story is of Lachlan Kite， a long time member of Box 88。 The action is set in two periods。 One is 1989 when Kite is 18 years old and has just been recruited。 The purpose is to spy on an Iranian called Ali Eskandarian who is staying with the family of Lachlan's school friend Xavier in France。 Ali is a long time friend of Xavier's father Lu I knew little about this author before reading this。 Very impressed， I have to say。 Box 88 is a sort of UK/US MI6 but operating with a lot less restrictions。The story is of Lachlan Kite， a long time member of Box 88。 The action is set in two periods。 One is 1989 when Kite is 18 years old and has just been recruited。 The purpose is to spy on an Iranian called Ali Eskandarian who is staying with the family of Lachlan's school friend Xavier in France。 Ali is a long time friend of Xavier's father Luc Bonnard。It is also set in the present with Lachlan kidnapped after attending Xavier's funeral by a group of Iranians。 The plot is suitably complex and keeps you gripped right to the end。 One or two issues may be unresolved but maybe to be followed up in the next book。 Good stuff。 。。。more

Jane Hunt ，

This is an intriguing spy thriller with relentless action。 Its layers of secrets have sinister implications for Kite， the spy first recruited in 1989。 Intricate world-building， relatable characters and plot twists keep the reader on edge as the events of 1989 illuminate the dangers of 2020。I received a copy of this book from Harper Collins via NetGalley in return for an honest review。

Jonathan ，

When Lachlan Kite， an agent in joint US and UK intelligence organisation Box 88， is kidnapped， he is forced to recount the summer he was recruited， as a teenager， fresh from public school Alford （Eton in all but name） when he visited the south of France with a school friend's family to get information about fellow house-guest Ali Eskandarian， an Iranian businessman。 Moving back and forth between the two timelines gives plenty of scope for cliffhanging moments， of which there are plenty， ensuring When Lachlan Kite， an agent in joint US and UK intelligence organisation Box 88， is kidnapped， he is forced to recount the summer he was recruited， as a teenager， fresh from public school Alford （Eton in all but name） when he visited the south of France with a school friend's family to get information about fellow house-guest Ali Eskandarian， an Iranian businessman。 Moving back and forth between the two timelines gives plenty of scope for cliffhanging moments， of which there are plenty， ensuring a fast pace， as well as enabling us to see the difference between the young， rookie spy and his more worldly， experienced self。 Yet another brilliant thriller from Charles Cumming， filled with tension， unexpected revelations and edge of the seat plot twists。 It is set up for a sequel which I am of course looking forward to。 Cumming is the only writer of spy fiction I read now， and can't recommend him highly enough if you like spy novels or a thriller of any kind。 。。。more

Meredith ，

The author’s authentic knowledge of the realm of spies and international intrigue is delightfully evident in the taut， double timeline thriller。The reader is immediately taken with young Lachlan Kite and eagerly follows him through recruitment， initiation and his first assignment - complicated by old friendships and new dangers。 Parallel timelines and flashbacks are deft， and the complex structure remains clear。 There is a bright young woman as well， clever and promising。Recommended

Bill Hill ，

As good as Le CarreCharles Cumming has effortlessly taken up the mantle of Britain’s greatest spy novelist。 BOX88 gets inside the heads of those that operate in the espionage world to give you a sense of the danger， the fear and mundanity of what they are doing。 Can’t wait for the next one。

Charlie Sanchez ，

Good readingEnjoyable story， well written easy to follow。 The reading gives a sense of espionage very lightly， recommended for espionage starters

Nicholas ，

Mr Cumming never disappoints！

Matthew ，

A disappointment。 Unconvincing。 Cumming’s has produced much better stuff。

Chris Hindle ，

Gripping for start to finish。 If you like fast paced and a twisting， well thought out plot， you'll love this Gripping for start to finish。 If you like fast paced and a twisting， well thought out plot， you'll love this 。。。more

Kerry Finlay ，

Very clever！ Had me captivated！ Nothing like a good spy novel， and this one was excellent！

Simon Chapman ，

Have been a fan of Charles Cumming for a while， and was sad to see Tom Kell being rested （I hope it’s that， and not goodbye for ever）。 Next up， The Man Between， was fun， but the character and context didn’t have the weight and credibility to sustain a new series。Box 88 was hugely enjoyable though and more than compensated for Kell’s leave of absence。 Good plot， well-drawn characters。 I’m looking forward to more of Martha， and her perspective on Lockie and the world he’s inhabiting。Many have call Have been a fan of Charles Cumming for a while， and was sad to see Tom Kell being rested （I hope it’s that， and not goodbye for ever）。 Next up， The Man Between， was fun， but the character and context didn’t have the weight and credibility to sustain a new series。Box 88 was hugely enjoyable though and more than compensated for Kell’s leave of absence。 Good plot， well-drawn characters。 I’m looking forward to more of Martha， and her perspective on Lockie and the world he’s inhabiting。Many have called CC the successor to Le Carré - rather like every English all-rounder was burdened by being seen as the heir to Botham for a while。 And that’s certainly valid。 The evocation of an intelligence world （that I know absolutely nothing about！） feels authentic。 CC’s voice isn’t as disillusioned as Le Carré’s became， and that’s refreshing。 But this also reminded me of Buchan at times， particularly the scenes when Kite was being auditioned for Box 88 without being aware of it。Looking forward to more， soon。And wondering why CC hasn’t got a mention of Box 88 on his website。 。。。more

Charlie Cassidy ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Not his best。 Too many loose ends leave one with unresolved issues - Torabi's fate， & questions around the Stadium。 We won't discuss Billy Not his best。 Too many loose ends leave one with unresolved issues - Torabi's fate， & questions around the Stadium。 We won't discuss Billy 。。。more

Brian ，

3。75。。。

Barbara ，

Rather pedestrian and predictable。 Undemanding， and not as good as his previous novels。

Dawn Bowater ，

I didn’t enjoy this。 A lot of blah， blah， blah in France and very little of substance going on。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Box 88

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Box 88&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Box 88&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0