Simon Kovalic, top intelligence operative for the Commonwealth of Independent Systems, is on the frontline of the burgeoning Cold War with the aggressive Illyrican Empire. He barely escapes his latest mission with a broken arm, and vital intel which points to the Empire cozying up to the Bayern Corporation: a planet-sized bank. There’s no time to waste, but with Kovalic out of action, his undercover team is handed over to his ex-wife, Lt Commander Natalie Taylor. When Kovalic’s boss is tipped off that the Imperium are ready and waiting, it’s up to the wounded spy to rescue his team and complete the mission before they’re all caught and executed.
The Commonwealth and the Illyrican Empire are, on paper at least, at peace. The truth however is far more complex. Factions within factions have distinctly different ideas about this uneasy truce. Simon Kovalic exists in the front line of an invisible war. He and his team of counter-intelligence agents are tasked with attempting to stop any plot from boiling over into the resumption of direct conflict.
It’s probably unsurprising to discover the Kovalic is a complicated soul. The political machinations he must try and navigate are not clear cut. There is no black or white, but multiple shades of grey. It means our hero has to try and constantly manage the bigger picture. There are instances where split-second decisions have huge ramifications and Kovalic is responsible for any fallout. In the field, Kovalic is a man of action and needs to try and foresee every eventuality. His actions don’t happen in isolation, there are always consequences. Afterwards though, when the dust has settled and there is the chance to reflect, you discover Kovalic is as a far more introspective character.
The rest of the Special Projects Team are exactly what you would expect from a group of spies. Tapper is the reliable, utterly unflappable, sergeant who will follow Kovalic to Hell and back (he’ll grumble about it constantly, but he’ll do it). Then there is Aaron Page, the very definition of taciturn. I guess that makes him a near perfect operative now that I think about it. Page is less of a team player and often fades into the background throughout the narrative. I rather like that. A spy should be able to be nondescript, blending seamlessly with their environment. Next up is Natalie Taylor, skilled expert in infiltration and ass kicking. As an added bonus she is Kovalic’s ex-wife. I think their relationship can best be described as “multi-layered”. The final member of the team is latest recruit to the SPT, a cocky ex-military pilot called Eli Brody. Uncertain, and untested in the field, this young man acts as the reader’s conduit to understanding the mechanics of interstellar espionage. I particularly liked how his character evolves over the course of the story. There is a nice balance between his growing confidence and his internal self-doubt. He’s not perfect, making it far easier to empathise when he does screw things up.
There is also a character called Harry Frayn who really stands out. Frayn works for the Illyrican Empire in a similar position to Kovalic and the back and forth between the two men is a highlight. From the way he is described I was picturing Frayn as part Oscar Wilde and part Harry Palmer. Kovalic’s counterpart is the quintessential gentleman spy, well educated, affable but with the suggestion of utter ruthlessness hiding just under the surface. It stands to reason that Kovalic is not the only expert in covert tradecraft. Frayn is a contemporary as well as a potential adversary. Both men have experienced war and are willing to bend the rules to ensure open conflict is avoided at all costs. You can sense there is an air of respect between these two. When they are up against one another it has become almost a game, like a couple of chess grandmasters continually trying to out manoeuvre one another.
For me, the mark of a good spy story is the plot must keep you on your toes. I don’t want anything too obvious, too heavily signposted. The Bayern Agenda achieves this in a couple of different ways. The majority of action takes place in a neutral location so both sides lose the home field advantage. Almost every character that is introduced has a shady past in one form or another. Kovalic has to tread lightly at every turn. There are allies and enemies everywhere. I can guarantee you’ll be asking yourself “Who can be trusted?” more than once. The constant air of uncertainty kept me engaged with the plot. It certainly makes for a more entertaining read when motivations are murky at best.
I was pleased to note The Bayern Agenda is the first book in a series. The adventures of Kovalic and his team drew me in from the very beginning. I’m a sucker for a good spy story and mixing some intergalactic conspiracy into the mix is an added bonus. Turns out the expansion of humanity to the stars just makes politics that much more complicated.
The Bayern Agenda, book one in The Galactic Cold War, is published by Angry Robot Books and is available now. If you’re looking for an action thriller with some nicely executed science fiction flourishes, then look you need look no further.
My musical recommendation to accompany all this thrilling hi-techspionage is an album called The Secret World by Mark Canham and Simon Poole. With tonal nods to genre movie favourites like The Third Man and The Ipcress File, it feels like exactly the sort of soundtrack that fits with a bit of spy versus spy.
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