Publishers Weekly [Starred review]:
“Razor-sharp writing, laugh-out-loud humor, and a sturdy plot combine to make Twice a Spy a real treat for thriller fans tired of more of the same old same old.…” Full Review
Porter J. Goss :: Former Director of the CIA
“An ingenious plot supported by insider tradecraft material.”
“A good-natured romp that offers slapstick and endless fast-paced shootouts and chase…[Thomson] writes fluid, vivid prose, good dialogue and first-rate action scenes.”
“It really, really IS like Ludlum.”
Jon Jordan :: Crimespree Magazine
“…Thomson really grabbed the corners of the thriller genre blanket and gave it a major shake with his first book. That amazingly fresh feel continues in Twice a Spy. I already love good espionage novels, but Thomson has really done something special. He is now on my shortlist of authors I will drop whatever I'm doing to read.”
“A major genre voice in the making.”«complete review»
“James Bond, take a number.”
“Couple the cheddar-sharp wit of Carl Hiaasen with the action-packed styling of Robert Ludlum and you get you get Keith Thomson's Twice a Spy.”«complete review»
“The action…is as fast, furious and entertaining as Thomson's first novel, which is saying a lot.”«complete review»
“The book is money and time well spent.”
“A fast-moving plot with lots of twists and lots of chases—car, ambulance, and even amphibious vehicle.”«complete review»
“By the explosive (!) ending, all the mysteries are solved, explained, and neatly tied up. And the reader is on the edge of his seat only in that he must wait in suspense to see if there is a third entry in the series. Hope so.”«complete review»
“A breakneck thriller that’s twice as explosive as the original, Once a Spy.…Thriller fans rejoice over this new novel.”«complete review»
Elizabeth White :: Musings of an All-Purpose Monkey
“Just as in Once a Spy, spy gadgets, surveillance and counter-surveillance techniques, non-stop action, and plot twists abound in Twice a Spy. Yet despite the James Bond meets Jack Bauer breakneck pace with global ramifications, it’s the relationships that really propel Twice a Spy. Amidst the amphibious vehicle chases, gun fights, plane crashes, and wicked one-liners, author Keith Thomson has subtly and skillfully worked a quite touching plot line about the reuniting of a father and son into a spy thriller.”
“Thomson again hits a sweet spot in this highly original thriller, balancing gripping action sequences with humor a step or two above what you'd expect from the genre…Buoyant, fast and fun.…”
“Keith Thomson mixes abundant plot twists, humor, and breathless action in his spy-novels-with-a-difference…” read an interview with Thomson»
Reviews for Once A Spy
“Thomson has made a spy story that sticks.”
“Nonstop action, thrills, and more escapes than Houdini in his lifetime.”
“Roadrunner meets Columbo.”
“It's hard to make a spy novel both funny and suspenseful, but Keith Thomson manages to pull it off…A great read.”
Lincoln Child :: New York Times Bestselling Author:
“It takes a huge talent to blow dust from the corners of today's comfortable thriller genre. Keith Thomson has that talent, in spades. Once a Spy is an important debut--as well as a welcome breath of fresh air.”
Christopher Reich :: New York Times Bestselling Author:
“Once A Spy is the most enjoyable book I've read this year. Utterly original, it is an adrenaline-fueled concoction of sidesplitting humor and genuine suspense. Think Carl Hiassen taking on John Le Carré and the winner is the reader. What a find! I can't imagine not loving this gem of a novel!”
James Bamford :: Bestselling Author of The Shadow Factory: The NSA From 9/11 To The Eavesdropping On America:
“Once a Spy is a wild ride.”
Chuck Hogan :: New York Times Bestselling author
Hammett Award winner for Prince of Thieves and Devils in Exile:
“With great characters, nonstop action, and dark humor, all told in a fresh, energetic voice, Keith Thomson's Once A Spy is the most appealing debut thriller I've read in years.”
Margaret Cannon :: The Globe and Mail:
“It takes a lot to engage me in a spy novel. I want smarts, thrills and some realism in the spycraft. My icons are writers like John le Carré and Len Deighton, and not too many spymasters can hit those peaks. Once A Spy, a debut novel by Keith Thomson, gets close. This tale of a doddering old spy and his slightly addled son has plenty of twists and turns, and you’ll find it very difficult to put aside.”
Publishers Weekly:“Huffington Post columnist Thomson’s wildly original debut, a darkly satirical thriller, features an unlikely, if endearing, father-son spy duo: retired appliance salesman Drummond Clark, who at age 64 suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, and Charlie Clark, a down-on-his-luck gambler who owes $23,000 to Russian loan sharks. Soon after Charlie rescues Drummond from the Brooklyn streets, where he’d been wandering, the older man’s house blows up and the two barely escape with their lives. Clark and son begin an adrenaline-fueled cross-country flight in which they must evade ruthless CIA assassins long enough to understand why they’re being targeted. During rare moments of lucidity, Drummond hotwires a car and effortlessly kills multiple assailants, suggesting to Charlie he was once much more than just a washing machine salesman. Poignant themes of love and redemption underpin an action-packed story line that includes exotic locales, high-tech gadgetry, and international intrigue.”
Jen Forbus :: Crimespree Magazine:“…As a reader, I am a hard sell on the spy thriller, but Keith Thomson is a top-notch salesman and I walked away a happy customer.…” Full Review
“If you’ve never cared much for thrillers, Keith Thomson’s genre debut could cause you to have a conversion experience. It’s that gripping and good. If you’re already a reader whose criteria for a page–turner include a surfeit of suspense, plot twists, mysterious murders, dangerous chases, narrow escapes, thwarted villains and a few triumphs by an unlikely hero or two, then Once A Spy should satisfy you. It’s got all that, plus…”«read the whole story»
“An engaging tale of father-and-son redemption wrapped up in a pedal-to-metal thriller that's told with much humor and great enthusiasm, Thomson's Once a Spy gives the tried-and-true secret-agent suspense a fresh twist…”«read the whole story»
“Once a Spy by Keith Thomson is highly recommended for those looking for something both well written and laugh out loud funny.”
“Thomson’s sharp humor, swift pacing and surprising twists are refreshing antidotes to the sober, overcooked, underwritten thrillers crowding the market.”
“A father with Alzheimer’s and a son with a gambling problem bond as they fence with some nasty nemeses in this breakneck thriller.…Thomson’s sharp humor, swift pacing and surprising twists are refreshing antidotes to the sober, overcooked, underwritten thrillers crowding the market.”
Rick Kleffel :: bookotron.com:
“I'd recommend picking up Once A Spy (Doubleday/Random House; March 9, 2010; $24.95) by Keith Thomson and dipping right in, bypassing the spoiler-ific dust jacket and "Product Descriptions." I like my spy thrillers cold, and Once A Spy is as cold…” Full Review
“If you’ve never cared much for thrillers, Keith Thomson’s genre debut could cause you to have a conversion experience. It’s that gripping and good. If you’re already a reader whose criteria for a page–turner include a surfeit of suspense, plot twists, mysterious murders, dangerous chases, narrow escapes, thwarted villains and a few triumphs by an unlikely hero or two, then Once A Spy should satisfy you. It’s got all that, plus…”«read the whole story»
“What happens when a legendary spy starts to lose it? That, in a nutshell, is the startling and original premise behind Once A Spy, Keith Thomson's debut novel due out this month. It's an idea that the author takes to both surprising and delightful places.…”«read the whole story»