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The Spy in a Box
The bold new novel of espionage and betrayal from thriller master Ralph Dennis, the author of A Talent for Killing and the acclaimed Hardman series of crime novels.
Will Hall is a CIA agent in a South American country on the brink of Civil War. But when the moderate, rebel leader that Hall covertly supported is assassinated, the spy resigns and retreats to a cabin in the North Carolina woods. His quiet, civilian life is shattered when an unknown adversary frames him for revealing Agency secrets, putting a kill-on-sight target on his back. Hall runs in a global chase to evade death, clear his name, and free himself from the flawless "box job" that could become his coffin.
Will Hall is a CIA agent in a South American country on the brink of Civil War. But when the moderate, rebel leader that Hall covertly supported is assassinated, the spy resigns and retreats to a cabin in the North Carolina woods. His quiet, civilian life is shattered when an unknown adversary frames him for revealing Agency secrets, putting a kill-on-sight target on his back. Hall runs in a global chase to evade death, clear his name, and free himself from the flawless "box job" that could become his coffin.
Praise for Ralph Dennis:
"A breathless, lean noir thriller. Every line is razor sharp. Jason Bourne fans will find a lot to like." Publishers Weekly
"Ralph Dennis has mastered the genre and supplied top entertainment." New York Times
"Believable and constantly thrilling." The Spy Guys & Gals Site
"His prose is muscular, swift and highly readable. " Joe R. Lansdale, New York Times bestselling author
"Exceptional characterization, strong and vigorous prose." Mystery Scene Magazine
"Straight-up, hardboiled crime fiction, written in a tight, evocative voice with a wicked, dark sense of humor." Lee Goldberg, New York Times bestselling author
178 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 2, 2019
93 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Ralph Dennis
55 books43 followersRalph Dennis was born in South Carolina and had a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina, where he also taught. For mystery fans, Dennis will always be associated with the City of Atlanta, the locale for the twelve novel series about Jim Hardman, former cop and unofficial private eye, all published by Popular Library between 1974 and 1977.
At the time of his death in 1988, he was working at a bookstore in Atlanta and had a file cabinet full of unpublished novels.
At the time of his death in 1988, he was working at a bookstore in Atlanta and had a file cabinet full of unpublished novels.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 24, 2019
A fairly average 70's espionage pot boiler.
A somewhat high ranking soul weary CIA agent is doing his job in a fictional South American country. He recommends backing a moderate leader there, but said leader is assassinated.
The agent returns to the States, to find he is framed for spilling secrets to a radical magazine. The Company is out to get him, and somebody else seems to be after him too.
It's very 70's but not always in a good way.
A somewhat high ranking soul weary CIA agent is doing his job in a fictional South American country. He recommends backing a moderate leader there, but said leader is assassinated.
The agent returns to the States, to find he is framed for spilling secrets to a radical magazine. The Company is out to get him, and somebody else seems to be after him too.
It's very 70's but not always in a good way.
January 11, 2020
THE SPY IN THE BOX was written by Ralph Dennis in the early 1980s, but this Brash Books edition, released nearly 40 years after it was written, is its first publication. Brash has been releasing Dennis’ work, both previously published and unpublished alike, over the past few years and the quality of Dennis’ writing—the style and the plotting—has been consistently good. It’s been good enough that I wonder why it wasn’t published when it was written rather than moldering away in a filing cabinet drawer awaiting discovery by a new generation of publishers and readers.
Will Hall is a CIA agent stationed in Costa Verde, a South American hotspot, trying to navigate a regime change. His choice to take Costa Verde’s presidency is the moderate Paul Marcos, but when he witnesses Marcos’ assassination and the United States’ pallid response, he quits the agency and goes home. But some things are easier to quit than others, and when he’s framed as a whistleblower—an article with his name and detailing the CIA’s work in Cost Verde is set to appear in a liberal New York newspaper—his leisurely retirement is interrupted by assassins.
THE SPY IN THE BOX is a smooth thriller with an abundance of Cold War coolness and double-crosses. Dennis’ prose is straight and sparse. The characters are drawn with depth and include a honey pot with more on her mind than seduction, and a CIA king with a flicker of a conscience. The settings are old-school spy thriller stuff: safe houses, decaying agency-owned motels. The plot is linear and fun. Its only fault is a lack of surprises, but that doesn’t mean it’s not exciting. There are some nice action sequences and a nostalgic sense of 1970s television to it. It’s not as good as Dennis’ Hardman novels, but THE SPY IN THE BOX’s unexpected characterization gives it a nice little push.
Will Hall is a CIA agent stationed in Costa Verde, a South American hotspot, trying to navigate a regime change. His choice to take Costa Verde’s presidency is the moderate Paul Marcos, but when he witnesses Marcos’ assassination and the United States’ pallid response, he quits the agency and goes home. But some things are easier to quit than others, and when he’s framed as a whistleblower—an article with his name and detailing the CIA’s work in Cost Verde is set to appear in a liberal New York newspaper—his leisurely retirement is interrupted by assassins.
THE SPY IN THE BOX is a smooth thriller with an abundance of Cold War coolness and double-crosses. Dennis’ prose is straight and sparse. The characters are drawn with depth and include a honey pot with more on her mind than seduction, and a CIA king with a flicker of a conscience. The settings are old-school spy thriller stuff: safe houses, decaying agency-owned motels. The plot is linear and fun. Its only fault is a lack of surprises, but that doesn’t mean it’s not exciting. There are some nice action sequences and a nostalgic sense of 1970s television to it. It’s not as good as Dennis’ Hardman novels, but THE SPY IN THE BOX’s unexpected characterization gives it a nice little push.
December 7, 2019
The author of the Hardman series offers us a tight espionage thriller that showed us how you never really get to leave the Company. For those of you living in a zone of innocence, the Company is the familiar term for the CIA. Here, we have a guy who retires but is drawn back in, set up, hung out to dry, put in a box so closed in there appears to be no escape. But if you are tough enough, savvy enough, and quick enough, there's always a way to survive.
August 25, 2020
A good spy noir book.
December 12, 2023
4 stars for an intense spy book that I read in 1 day. Ralph Dennis is an underappreciated author of thrillers. This book has Will Hall an ex CIA agent who resigned after he witnessed a CIA assassination which he disapproved of. He retreats to his home in remote North Carolina. Several months after he retires, he revives a magazine in the mail with an article exposing the CIA assassination, supposedly written by him. This violates his contract with the CIA. He knows that he didn't write the article and he sets out to find out who is framing him. He uncovers a web of dirty secrets and is attacked. He survives and ultimately solves the case.
This was a taut thriller that showed an understanding of spy trade craft. There is a romance that has a happy ending. This was a kindle unlimited book.
This was a taut thriller that showed an understanding of spy trade craft. There is a romance that has a happy ending. This was a kindle unlimited book.
December 25, 2020
I Gave UP
The first part of the book was promising and I thought I had picked a good book. Then it went down hill and hit totally unbelievable. I can take a little stretch of the imagination but this was way more than a stretch. I continued to read for a few more chapters hoping that it would get back on track but sadly it didn't. There were glimmers of a good plot but it went off in left field and maybe it alk tied together but unfortunately I just didn't make it that far.
The first part of the book was promising and I thought I had picked a good book. Then it went down hill and hit totally unbelievable. I can take a little stretch of the imagination but this was way more than a stretch. I continued to read for a few more chapters hoping that it would get back on track but sadly it didn't. There were glimmers of a good plot but it went off in left field and maybe it alk tied together but unfortunately I just didn't make it that far.
May 10, 2020
Incredibly good original spy thriller
Part of a team until it turns against you. The seeker of who is plotting against him, and why, sets the ball rolling for a thrilling gallop through the hunt.
Part of a team until it turns against you. The seeker of who is plotting against him, and why, sets the ball rolling for a thrilling gallop through the hunt.
May 17, 2020
A Very Good Spy Noir Book
Burnt by his own spy organization CIA agent Will Hall must trust a few loyal operatives to figure out who hung the frame on him. The writing style is similar to Lee Goldberg.
Burnt by his own spy organization CIA agent Will Hall must trust a few loyal operatives to figure out who hung the frame on him. The writing style is similar to Lee Goldberg.
April 28, 2020
Crisp and entertaining writing
April 30, 2020
Excellent read
I couldn't put this book down. Excellent plotting. What a shame Ralph Dennis never got his dues.
I'm off to find more of his work
I couldn't put this book down. Excellent plotting. What a shame Ralph Dennis never got his dues.
I'm off to find more of his work
May 22, 2022
A no-nonsense thrilller, well wrought
Bravo! A hero as likable as he is formidible, stalwart brothers in arms with curious nicknames, and a love interest to die for make this “box” a thoroughly worthwhile read. Mr. Dennis is welcome in this library anytime.
Bravo! A hero as likable as he is formidible, stalwart brothers in arms with curious nicknames, and a love interest to die for make this “box” a thoroughly worthwhile read. Mr. Dennis is welcome in this library anytime.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews