Dead Man Telling Tales

About this book

The master of cold war espionage fiction returns with a tale of intrigue and suspense set in post-Soviet Latvia. When wine-merchant Matt Clough learns that the father he never knew has died, he sets out to discover the truth of his father's past. What he finds is a secret that will mean great riches, or sudden death. England, 2001. Matt Clough is an ordinary English wine-merchant, approaching middle age with no family and no great ambition. An orphan. An ex-spy. Latvia, 2001. Krisjanis Kulbergs is far from ordinary. Ex-spy. Double agent. Master of the triple-cross. Guilty of just about every crime or sin the twentieth century had to offer. He is the unknown father of English wine-merchant Matt Clough. He is also dead. When Clough learns of the death of a father he never knew, he travels to Latvia to uncover the secrets of his father's life and his own inheritance. The Cold War has been over for a decade, but some men still keep secrets so great that old spies from both sides of the divide will go to any lengths to get hold of them. Including murder. International praise for David BrierleyTough...witty...in the best tradition of suspense fiction. New YorkerSuper skilled graft of fiction onto history...an authentic winner. Sunday TimesUnusual, exotic and tantalising. Irish TimesHas the rancid strength of a distillation of the best of Le Carré and Deighton: an authenticwinner. Sunday TimesIn the top flight of thriller writers. Natal MercurySmashing action scenes...superb entertainment. New York Times Book ReviewEspionage in the le Carré class The ObserverBrierley's style is first class, and his evocation of external bleakness...is superb. The Jerusalem PostOne is definitely hooked from the first page BBC French ServiceWritten with all the sly cynicism of the spy world, along with some wonderful descriptions of a country coming to terms with a changing present while living with memories of a cruel history, this is Brierley's first novel in more than twenty years and an elegant reminder of what a fine writer he is. Mike Ripley's Book of the Month, Shots Crime & Thriller eZine About the AuthorDavid Brierley was born in Durban. He moved to Canada, then England and back to SouthAfrica all by the age of thirteen. Travel and curiosity about different countries is deep in hisnature. After Oxford University, he taught at a lycée in France followed by work in Londonadvertising agencies. Once his career as a novelist was established he moved to France. Aswell as writing, he was a prison visitor. Together with his wife Jill he created a garden thatwon first prize in a regional competition. Now back in England, they live near Bristol in asmall market town whose name - Chipping Sodbury - always raises a smile. Also by David BrierleyNovelsCold WarBlood Group OBig Bear, Little BearShooting StarCzechmateSkorpion's DeathSnowlineOne Lives, One DiesOn Leaving a Prague WindowThe Horizontal WomanThe Cloak-and-Dagger GirlDeath & Co Short StoriesTo El and Back Safe House Books is an independent British publisher of spy fiction which is reviving qualityespionage for a new audience.