Deliciously satisfying thriller in which Simpson debut's his thinly disguised lead Jon Swift. Swift is an old school, overweight on-camera journalist finding his professional life frustrating in the PC world of the media. His friend, a govt minister, is found dead in his flat. On the surface the verdict is a sex game gone wrong. But is it Russian interference and why does his friend's Russian girlfriend implore him to investigate? Great read and definitely in the same league as Tom Bradbury. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially Jon's producer and cameraman sidekick.

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot (there are reviews like that out there if that's what you are looking for).

This is the first novel I've read by this author - a well known and respected UK journalist - and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The novel is told from the viewpoint of a fictional well known UK journalist, who is fighting to keep his position. The plot is interesting and the action moves from London to Russia and Paris, as our hero pursues the truth whilst being pursued himself!

I liked the tone of the writing - authoritative and with more than a touch of self-deprecating humour - and enjoyed the novel's twists and turns.

Will definitely read more by this author!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

Moscow, Midnight starts with the death of an MP and then meanders through a series of Russian connections as the words of journalism and espionage intersect.

John Simpson has decades of experience as a foreign correspondent, and he brings that to bear here giving the novel a real feel of authenticity, as real names are dropped in alongside fictional ones. The tale is told as a first person memoir by Anglo-Irish journalist Jonathan Swift, an old school television journalist full of cynicism and outdated attitudes. The creation of a cast of rounded and complex characters is perhaps the key strength of the novel.

The narrative arc is relatively straightforward, as Swift investigates the killing using his contacts in the UK and Russia. The pace takes a little getting used to, with long periods of introspection and asides punctuated by bursts of action. It's unusual but works, suiting the character well.

John Simpson, journalist and well known foreign correspondent for the BBC, writes a espionage novel that resonates in our contemporary world, that of a Russia that interferes in the political affairs of other nations with impunity. The overweight, cynical Jon Swift is a ageing journalist working for a TV company that is looking to edge him out as a analogue hack in a digital world. Swift's world is turned upside down when his long time friend, the Conservative MP Patrick Macready is found dead, a sex game gone wrong. None of this makes sense to Swift, this is not the man he knows, and his suspicions are aroused further when Macready's flat is trashed and burgled soon after. After getting his hands on the politicians Ipad, he learns that Patrick had been looking into a group of Russian Government people who had met similar 'accidental' fates, and that the MP had been planning to give a speech in Parliament on the issue. However, the police are unwilling to investigate, although the intelligence services and others key figures are more willing to consider Swift's theory that the Russians were behind Patrick's death.

Swift's life falls apart, and he is forced to flee the country, making his way to Paris. then on to Brussels. Swift is determined to get to the truth of his friend's death despite the numerous obstacles and brutality he encounters. He finds support from the Russian Varvara Kuznetsov, Patrick's griefstricken girlfriend, his colleague, the politically correct Alyssa Roberts, both women that had initially been hostile to him. There is his brave and courageous South African producer, Os, proving to be loyal and enter dangerous territory in his efforts to help Swift. Rumours swirl of conspiracies, assassinations, and the involvement of the FSB, which replaced the old KGB and those such as Mikhail Gronov in Britain, said to be bringing on board local crime gangs to achieve their nefarious aims. In a story of double agents, betrayal, and of an unforgiving FSB that will never give up on vengeance, Swift is to find that the truth is something the powerful will do anything to suppress and that danger is likely to stalk him for the rest of his life.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable espionage thriller from John Simpson, the author utilises his extensive professional experience as a journalist in the creation of his central character, Jon Swift and the world that Swift resides in, the media news outlets and the type of people that run and work in them. There are flaws in the storytelling, there are times when the narrative is so uneven that I considered not reading on, but I was so glad that I persevered because I got completely immersed and gripped by the characters and the plot. A wonderfully entertaining and compelling book that speaks of the world we live in today and the uncomfortable influence and meddling of Russia in the affairs of other nations. Many thanks to John Murray Press for an ARC.

Written in a very humorous fashion, a funny and clever book, unique in style. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.