After a varied career in odd jobs Leonard Flood found his calling as a spy. After ten years at MI5, the blunt, abrasive and highly effective Flood is summoned to investigate the apparent poisoning of a retired colleague. In this world of mirrors nothing is what it seems and Flood quickly discovers the true intentions of the mole hunter who has initiated the investigation.

James Wolff’s novels, of which this is the third, are intelligent and psychologically complex. They take the spy novel, twist it and elevate it. This one is no different. Flood himself is exceptionally perceptive. “He is comfortable drawing inferences from hints shaved off the hard edge of facts.” ( )

The Man in the Corduroy Suit is the story of Leonard Flood’s investigation into Willa Karlsson’s life after she collapses in what looks like one of those Russian poisonings. She had an important, though not thrilling, job in British Intelligence. She evaluated potential hires and decided who got to go forward or not. This put her at the heart of personnel recruitment and suddenly they realize she could have been recruiting double agents. Leonard was someone who went through her interview and is tapped by Charles Remnant, the head of Gatekeeping, a kind of Internal Affairs for spies, to investigate Willa to determine the truth.

Leonard does a phenomenal of investigating Willa, often making intuitive leaps based on scant evidence. As the case heats up, he is given an assistant who is gung ho with the enthusiasm of the new hire. However, the more he learns about Willa, the more he questions himself.

The Man in the Corduroy Suit is the third in a series called The Discipline Files. It makes me want to read the first two, because the plot is complex and full of tension. It’s excellent in merely referring to the first two as scandals that happened that are not at all necessary to know what’s happening in this thriller. In terms of suspense, I love that it’s fair, that we can figure things out with Leonard. Or not.

This story has plenty of surprises. Despite the many espionage necessary tropes such as evading surveillance and so on, it is a completely fresh and original. Not only that, but I really liked the characters, at least most of them. I also love how rationales for people’s actions are learned without any aha! moment. Noted in passing.

I received an ARC of The Man in the Corduroy Suit from the publisher.

The Man in the Corduroy Suit at Bitter Lemon Press
James Wolff author site

https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2023/08/25/the-man-in-the-corduroy-s... ( )

THE MAN IN THE CORDUROY SUIT is a different type of spy novel and a fun read. The third book in James Wolff's The Discipline Files series, named for the very secret room in the MI5 archives. "British intelligence is in a state of panic. Cracks are appearing, or so a run of disciplinary cases would suggest. To cap it all, Willa Karlsson, a retired MI5 officer collapses, the victim of what looks like a Russian poisoning. Investigator Leonard Flood's only objective is to get the job done, whatever the cost." ( )

Superb and refreshingly different contemporary spy novel. Read my review on my blog here: https://annabookbel.net/the-man-in-the-corduroy-suit-by-james-wolff ( )