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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.92
EAN num: 9780312366353
ISBN number: 0312366353
Label: St. Martin's Press
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 368
Printing Date: July 10, 2007
Publishing house: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: July 10, 2007
Sale Popularity Level: 332699
Studio: St. Martin's Press
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
This is what they told me a long time ago.
Only make contact in the event of an emergency.
Only telephone if you believe that your position has been fatally compromised.
Under no circumstances are you to approach us unless it is absolutely necessary in order to preserve the security of the operation.
This is the number.
Alec Milius is young, smart, and ambitious. He also has a talent for deception. He is working in a dead-end job when a chance encounter leads him to MI6, the elite British Secret Intelligence Service, handing him an opportunity to play center-stage in a dangerous game of espionage.
In his new line of work, Alec finds that the difference between the truth and a lie can mean the difference between life and death—and he is having trouble telling them apart. Isolated and exposed, he must play a role in which the slightest glance or casual remark can seem heavy with unintended menace. Caught between British and American Intelligence, Alec finds himself threatened and alone, unable to confide in even his closest friend. His life as a spy begins to exact a terrible price, both on himself and on those around him.
Richly atmospheric and chillingly plausible, A Spy By Nature announces the arrival of British author Charles Cumming as heir apparent to masters like John le Carré and Len Deighton. A bestseller in England, it’s the gripping story of a young man driven by ruthless ambition who finds himself chasing not just success, but survival.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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It is not a Ludlum, a Follet or a Fleming.
More of a long, torturous test of will, esp in the middle 50%.
It was refreshing for its difference from most spy book architectures.
Really not much of a Thriller.
Almost no Thread-Switching at all.
The end is dumb.
The title is stupid given the prot.'s flaws and mistakes.
CC Did have me invested though; -feeling that the ppl who would set up an op like this with an untrained freshman were idiots.
->Which is also something that makes me dislike the book, too. -But the end is not possible without a fatal mistake that seems basically impossible.
I found the basic malaise/melancholy/hollowman personality of the prot. Tiresome after a very short while.
Not as boring and tiresome as "An Ordinary Spy" by Joseph Weisberg which is a hyper-redacted 30%, 60%, 10% past-anecdote structured ~single-thread borefest.
I found myself overall uninvested in the prot.'s past relationship with the girl, "Kate" -I did recognize some notes of truth, though; as I know a few girls ~like her.
Otherwise: Good writing skills. Many truisms/aphorisms about a spy's existence, politics, administrators, international, etc.
Not that good, but 3 stars b/c it's better than Weisberg.
Rated by buyers 
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With respect to the reviewers who did not enjoy the book, I think you're missing the point. A Spy By Nature is not a traditional 'spy novel' in the sense that it is not about action sequences, sex and subterfuge. It's a hyper-realistic, psychological study of what happens to a young man, Aec Milius, who becomes a spy. In this context, it is both highly original and - if you have the patience - very, very gripping.
You shouldn't buy it if you're expecting pure escapism. The book is written in the same tradition of 'serious' British spy novels as John le Carre, Eric Ambler and Len Deighton. If you want a 'faster' read, I would recommened The Spanish Game or Typhoon by the same author.
Rated by buyers 
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First let me say that the writing itself in this novel is quite good. Having suffered through a number of works by bestselling authors who really cannot write (e.g., James Patterson) I was looking forward to reading what I understood to be a well written spy novel. Despite it being well written, the book lacks an essential element -- a great plot. At one-third of the way through I was still patiently waiting for the real story to begin; at half-way through I was wondering if it ever would; and by two-thirds of the way through I was annoyed to discover (correctly) that it the whole story was what I thought was going to be the preamble to the story. The author should consider devoting his considerable writing talents to either turning Mr. Grisham's (published) final drafts (which are really not much more than very first drafts of the screenplays for his movies) into quality novels or trying to get Mr. Patterson's stories to appear to be written by a professional writer rather than a high school student with a good idea for a plot. My suggestion is that readers turn to Daniel Silva and enjoy his series of spy novels until Tom Clancy decides to write his own books again.
Rated by buyers -
I picked up this novel, excited to read, was I in for a disappointment. I am an avid reader of spy novels and this just didn't click for me. It was boring at the beginning, middle, and end and in my opinion to real plot. In fact I'm surprised this book was ever published! Sorry Charles Cumming I'm never reading one of your books again.
Rated by buyers -
I agree the begining of the book was interesting about the testing procedure to get into MI6. But I was expecting more action. I found I really didn't care about Alec's past relationship and way to much time was spent on this. I also did not get a feeling of suspense and the end seemed rushed. I like the Author's writting style, but was not crazy about the story.
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