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ICARUS 17
BOX 88 (Related to this series)
- Author
- Charles Cumming
- Narrator
- Nicholas Boulton
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date
- 9 July 2026
- Run Time
- 12 hours 31 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Genre
- Espionage and spy thriller, Crime and mystery: hard-boiled crime, noir fiction, Political / legal thriller, Thriller: terrorism, Adventure / action fiction, Historical fiction, Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general, Thriller: organised crime / gangland crime, Fiction based on or inspired by true events, Narrative theme: politics / economics
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What to expect
'Nobody writes more enjoyable spy thrillers’ ANTHONY HOROWITZ
‘Charles Cumming has breathed new life into the spy novel’ BEN MACINTYRE
'The rightful inheritor of John le Carré's crown' OBSERVER
'A gripping contemporary thriller' RORY STEWART
Lachlan Kite should have left fieldwork behind by now.As director of covert intelligence agency Box 88, he’s at the apex of his espionage career. But when Martha Raine – a woman he hasn’t seen in twenty years – begs for his help, Kite finds himself back in the game, racing to avert disaster.
Kite must find Martha’s son, Max, who vanished in Athens with his girlfriend, Yasmine. But the couple aren’t just missing, they’re running for their lives. Two rival agencies are hunting them, both with orders to kill on sight.
Max and Yasmine are carrying a dizzying secret, one which could pull apart the foundations of the Middle East for a generation. If Kite fails to save them, the costs – both personal and professional – will be catastrophic.
‘Charles Cumming takes the genre to a new level’ Financial Times
‘A fast-moving, believable spy thriller, which benefits from Cumming’s insider knowledge' Sun
'If there was any question as to who is the rightful inheritor of John le Carré’s crown as the king of elegant spy fiction, this proves that it’s Cumming beyond any doubt' Observer
'Icarus 17 demonstrates Cumming’s inimitable combination of human insight, geopolitical acumen and sheer excitement’ Christopher de Bellaigue
'The perfect thriller to read on holiday' Fani Papageorgiou, The Economist
'Hugely satisfying' Jay Rayner
Critics Review
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Early praise for ICARUS 17
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'The fourth in his Box 88 series – and the best yet. If there was any question as to who is the rightful inheritor of John le Carré’s crown as the king of elegant spy fiction, this proves that it’s Cumming beyond any doubt' Observer, Fiction to Look out for in 2026
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‘Charles Cumming takes the genre to a new level … Cumming handles a lively cast with the easy confidence of a master storyteller in this hefty, satisfying read’ Financial Times
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'A deadly version of the TV show Race Across the World' Sunday Times
See more reviews See fewer reviews
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'The perfect thriller to read on holiday' Fani Papageorgiou, The Economist
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'Excellent contemporary espionage'Daily Mail
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‘A fast-moving, believable spy thriller, which benefits from Cumming’s insider knowledge’ Sun
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‘Compelling modern spy fiction at its best’ Express
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'A nail-biting chase across the Balkans with the high political stakes of top-level international intrigue’ Herald
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'A hugely satisfying, beautifully plotted, chewy piece of modern spy fiction, as ever' Jay Rayner
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'Icarus 17 demonstrates Cumming’s inimitable combination of human insight, geopolitical acumen and sheer excitement’ Christopher de Bellaigue
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'A gripping contemporary thriller' Rory Stewart
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Praise for the BOX 88 series
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‘Charles Cumming has delivered an enthralling and sprawling espionage epic for the ages. In his BOX 88 series, Cumming paints a deeply realistic picture of friendship, loyalty, and betrayal across a canvas of twisty, white-knuckle action and spycraft. A terrific achievement’ David McCloskey, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Persian
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‘Charles Cumming is up there with the very best espionage writers’ Ian Rankin
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‘A wonderful spy novel’ Mick Herron
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‘Excellent’ Anthony Horowitz
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Charles Cumming
- Narrator
- Nicholas Boulton
- Duration
- 12 hours 31 minutes
- Release Date
- 9 July 2026
- ISBN
- 9780008696368
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Genre
- Espionage and spy thriller, Crime and mystery: hard-boiled crime, noir fiction, Political / legal thriller, Thriller: terrorism, Adventure / action fiction, Historical fiction, Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general, Thriller: organised crime / gangland crime, Fiction based on or inspired by true events, Narrative theme: politics / economics
Synopsis
FROM SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR CHARLES CUMMING THE NEW THRILLER FOLLOWING CAREER SPY, LACHLAN KITE 'Nobody writes more enjoyable spy thrillers’ ANTHONY HOROWITZ ‘Charles Cumming has breathed new life into the spy novel’ BEN MACINTYRE 'The rightful inheritor of John le Carré's crown' OBSERVER 'A gripping contemporary thriller' RORY STEWART Lachlan Kite should have left fieldwork behind by now. As director of covert intelligence agency Box 88, he’s at the apex of his espionage career. But when Martha Raine – a woman he hasn’t seen in twenty years – begs for his help, Kite finds himself back in the game, racing to avert disaster. Kite must find Martha’s son, Max, who vanished in Athens with his girlfriend, Yasmine. But the couple aren’t just missing, they’re running for their lives. Two rival agencies are hunting them, both with orders to kill on sight. Max and Yasmine are carrying a dizzying secret, one which could pull apart the foundations of the Middle East for a generation. If Kite fails to save them, the costs – both personal and professional – will be catastrophic. ‘Charles Cumming takes the genre to a new level’ Financial Times ‘A fast-moving, believable spy thriller, which benefits from Cumming’s insider knowledge' Sun 'If there was any question as to who is the rightful inheritor of John le Carré’s crown as the king of elegant spy fiction, this proves that it’s Cumming beyond any doubt' Observer 'Icarus 17 demonstrates Cumming’s inimitable combination of human insight, geopolitical acumen and sheer excitement’ Christopher de Bellaigue 'The perfect thriller to read on holiday' Fani Papageorgiou, The Economist 'Hugely satisfying' Jay Rayner
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