Good News, Bad News [Paperback]

David Wolstencroft (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 6, 2005

George and Charlie are on their last posting for the Agency before retiring from the spy game. But, in the blink of an eye, these two friends become lethal enemies-until it occurs to them that some orders just aren't meant to be followed.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Wolstencroft takes a spy novel convention—the wrongly accused agent on the run from his own agency—and gives it a clever twist in this quirky, literate book: two British spies, each ordered to kill the other, go on the run together. Charlie Millar and George Shaw work in a tiny, two-man photo-developing station—but unbeknownst to the other, both work for the Secret Service. After George and Charlie save each other from being killed, though, the two cop to their real jobs, and shortly thereafter, each receives orders to kill the other. Thinking this must be another mistake, they attempt to straighten it out with their bosses and just miss getting blown up by a missile-firing motorcyclist. They flee London and, after many close escapes and twists and turns of the plot, eventually end up in Canada. Back at the Secret Service home office, upper-level manager Rose Willets and the mysterious agent Latham are involved in a secret mission called the Project, which relates to the Charlie and George imbroglio. Wolstencroft leaves his final pages open-ended, but readers will be so enthralled with his intelligence and breezy, amusing style they'll hardly notice a few minor ragged edges and inconsistencies. FYI:Wolstencroft is the award-winning creator of the British TV spy series Spooks, known to American A&E viewers as MI-5.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Bookmarks Magazine

Award-winning writer and creator of the A&E spy drama MI-5, Wolstencroft offers a smart, witty homage to past spy masters like John le Carré. With his intelligent, amusing style, Wolstencroft adds some tantalizing twists to the genre. His two main characters speak in pitch-perfect dialogue and leave readers in suspense about their motives. A few ragged edges and plot inconsistencies may put off true espionage obsessives. But, overall, Good News, Bad News is an impressive first novel.

Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Onyx (September 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451411943
• ISBN-13: 978-0451411945
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,382,380 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hello everyone, and thanks for stopping by.

My name is David Wolstencroft. I'm the author of two thrillers, GOOD NEWS BAD NEWS, and CONTACT ZERO. Both of these are published in the US by Dutton.

I am also creator of the BAFTA-winning spy series MI-5 ("Spooks" in the UK and Australia)

This is just a stub for the moment as I'm thrilled that the kindly souls at amazon are offering this service to authors. It really does help to know that there is a throughline to readers.

Thanks again, and keep checking in. I promise there will be exciting news about Good News Bad News, Contact Zero, MI-5 and more!

In the meantime, check out my website (soon to be overhauled) at:

http://www.davidwolstencroft.com

Best wishes,

David

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wolstencroft...What A Find, August 22, 2004

By 

Cynthia (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Good News, Bad News (Hardcover)

I brought the book on a lark because I love the writer's television series (MI-5 on A&E)...and boy was I rewarded for listening to my spirit of adventure. Wolstencroft is an extremely clever and entertaining writer who rewards his reader with every turn of the page. You will love his rich characters, relish his creative plot twists and marvel at his sheer talent for storytelling. I simply couldn't put the book down. Now if only it were December, all my Christmas shopping would be done.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A one-night read . . . because you can't put it down, April 10, 2005

By 

Jerry Saperstein (Evanston, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Good News, Bad News (Hardcover)

"Good News, Bad News" is just plain fun. It takes the classic aggrieved spy tale, betrayed by his masters and turns the genre on its head.

George and Charlie work at a photo kiosk. Charlie suspects George is a spy and, so, spies on George. Charlie also suspects one of the customers of the photo kiosk of being a spy as well and stakes out her hotel. Some sleuth Charlie is: the woman sends over a drink and invites Charlie to her room. Some very interesting events occur, resulting in the rather odd bonding of Charlie and George.

A few days later, some film arrives at the photo kiosk to be developed. Both Charlie and George look through the developed prints and learn something: they are to kill each other.

Turns out Charlie and George are both spies.

From that point on, Wolstencroft weaves a marvelous tale. It kept me awake through the night. I hope it does the same for you.

Jerry

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A DAZZLING SPY THRILLER DEBUT, October 5, 2004

By 

Felix Unger (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Good News, Bad News (Hardcover)

If you love MI-5, you'll love this book. If you've never watched MI-5 (on A&E) you'll still go crazy over it. This is a phenomenal rollercoaster spy ride with two of the most original and entertaining characters I've read in a long time. George and Charlie remind me a little of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and I don't think I've enjoyed a yarn quite so much since I saw that movie. Also, I loved MI-5 on A&E because of the twists and turns and this book has more than the whole show put together. They just keep coming until the final standoff. The good news is, this book delivers on all its promises. The bad news is, we'll have to wait a little while for the next one!