Listen to a sample
Octagon
- Author
- C. J. Merritt
- Narrator
- Nadia Albina
- Publisher
- Penguin Books Ltd
- Publish Date
- 28 May 2026
- Run Time
- 12 hours 45 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
Not available in your country
We don't have the rights to sell this audiobook where you are. If it's already in your library you can still listen to it in My Books.
What to expect
Brought to you by Penguin.
The whiplash-inducing spy thriller, for fans of Scott Mariani and Black Doves.
A DYING RUSSIAN SCIENTIST
confesses to his children what he did as a young man.
A MURDERED SPY
shares vital intelligence before he’s ruthlessly assassinated in the English countryside.
A RITUAL KILLING
hidden in a forest clearing in Sweden hints at something much worse.
FORMER MI6 AGENT RUNNER
Stella McRae is the only person who can be trusted to investigate now her former employer has been compromised.
EX-SAS OPERATOR
Tommy Kane has always had Stella’s back, but as the threats against them escalate, will his formidable skills be enough this time?
OCTAGON
A devastating plot against the West is already in train. Only Stella and Tommy stand in its way. And time is running out...
‘A freight train of a novel. Exhilarating, raw, unmissable’ DAVID McCLOSKEY
‘Crackles with tension. Brilliant, exciting and worryingly believable’ CHARLES BEAUMONT
'Octagon bleeds authenticity from the first page to the last. Read it today!' JACK CARR, #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF CRY HAVOC
'An espionage novel that moves fast and hits hard' M.W. CRAVEN
'A blistering thrill ride' VASEEM KHAN, author of the Q Mysteries
'A smart, slick, adrenaline-fuelled adventure for fans of Ludlum and Fleming' CHARLES CUMMING
© C. J. Merritt 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
Critics Review
-
Espionage, action, terrorism, cage fights, motorcycles, mystery and mayhem, C.J. Merritt delivers the goods and then some! Octagon bleeds authenticity from the first page to the last. Read it today!
JACK CARR, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Cry Havoc
-
An espionage novel that moves fast and hits hard. Stella and Tommy are wonderfully drawn protagonists, damaged but fiercely loyal to each other and to their country, and the plot is current and very scary. Highly recommended.
M.W. Craven
-
I hate this book, for keeping me up all night. Psychological insights, authentic tradecraft, sharply-drawn characters and a compelling plot grab the reader with a grip as tight as Tommy Kane’s. Well-observed prose engages them with all the charismatic poise of Stella McRae. Bourne meets Smiley, with exquisite balance.
Julian Fisher, author of Think Like a Spy
-
Octagon blends high-stakes, high-octane spy fiction with cryptic clue intrigue and a side order of globetrotting action adventure. A blistering thrill ride!
VASEEM KHAN, author of QUANTUM OF MENACE
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
A smart, slick, adrenaline-fuelled adventure for today's fans of Ludlum and Fleming.
CHARLES CUMMING
-
A gritty, well-paced, page-turner.
The Critic
-
A classic ticking-clock thriller ... fast-moving, full of surprises and very hard to put down.
James Wolff, author of Spies and Other Gods
-
A timely tale of the dangers of extremism lying just beneath the surface, of the dark web and cults of personality, Octagon will enthrall, grip, and spook you in equal measure. Will have you turning pages at breakneck speed. A top-shelf spy thriller from someone who knows his stuff.
I.S. Berry, author of The Peacock and the Sparrow
-
OCTAGON plunges the reader into a nightmarish nuclear conspiracy that spans the European continent, from the darkest woods of Scandinavia to the Adriatic coast. Short on options, time and resources, the protagonists of this breakneck espionage thriller untangle a web of threats, opportunities and uneasy alliances that left my head spinning. An authentic and compelling spy novel that hooked me from the opening scene.
DAVID GOODMAN
-
Here you have everything you look for in a spy thriller: action, suspense, drama, deft plotting and gritty realism. Buy now.
ALAN JUDD
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- C. J. Merritt
- Narrator
- Nadia Albina
- Duration
- 12 hours 45 minutes
- Release Date
- 28 May 2026
- ISBN
- 9781405988667
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Penguin Books Ltd
- Genre
- Espionage and spy thriller, Adventure / action fiction, Crime and mystery: women sleuths / detectives
Synopsis
Brought to you by Penguin.The whiplash-inducing spy thriller, for fans of Scott Mariani and Black Doves.A DYING RUSSIAN SCIENTISTconfesses to his children what he did as a young man.A MURDERED SPYshares vital intelligence before he’s ruthlessly assassinated in the English countryside.A RITUAL KILLINGhidden in a forest clearing in Sweden hints at something much worse.FORMER MI6 AGENT RUNNERStella McRae is the only person who can be trusted to investigate now her former employer has been compromised.EX-SAS OPERATORTommy Kane has always had Stella’s back, but as the threats against them escalate, will his formidable skills be enough this time?OCTAGONA devastating plot against the West is already in train. Only Stella and Tommy stand in its way. And time is running out...‘A freight train of a novel. Exhilarating, raw, unmissable’ DAVID McCLOSKEY‘Crackles with tension. Brilliant, exciting and worryingly believable’ CHARLES BEAUMONT'Octagon bleeds authenticity from the first page to the last. Read it today!' JACK CARR, #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF CRY HAVOC'An espionage novel that moves fast and hits hard' M.W. CRAVEN'A blistering thrill ride' VASEEM KHAN, author of the Q Mysteries'A smart, slick, adrenaline-fuelled adventure for fans of Ludlum and Fleming' CHARLES CUMMING© C. J. Merritt 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.