Chris Connor on a new wave of espionage adaptations\u2026<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Espionage fiction on the page is truly thriving both in the UK and the US, spearheaded by Mick Herron\u2019s Slough House<\/strong> series. There is a wealth of other writers, old and new, riding the wave of interest. A string of ex-spies are putting their experience on the page, bringing compelling stories dealing with an array of geopolitical situations to the masses.<\/p>\n David McCloskey is at the forefront of his four novels, starting with 2021\u2019s Damascus Station<\/strong>, which has all proven to be huge successes; his most recent novel, The Persian<\/strong>, has been marked by some as his best work to date. IS Berry\u2019s debut novel, The Peacock and the Sparrow<\/strong>, set in Bahrain amidst the Arab Spring, also proved somewhat of a sensation. Others like James Wollf, Charles Beaumont and Jack Beaumont\u2019s Frenchman series all pull from a variety of real-life scenarios.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not just on the page that spy fiction is booming; of course, Apple TV has brought Slough House<\/strong> to a new audience with Slow Horses<\/strong>, one of its flagship shows. Apple is now set to bring other acclaimed spy works to the masses with Dan Fesperman\u2019s 2018 novel Safe Houses<\/strong>, which bounces between the Cold War and the 2010s. Although the novel has changed some of the geography of the novel, shifting it to Madrid, it looks set to retain the spirit of it and has quite the cast with Ana De Armas and Jennifer Connelly in central roles.<\/p>\n William Boyd is no stranger to espionage books or TV\/film, penning the 2012 BBC adaptation of his novel Restless<\/strong> and creating the Dominic Cooper series Spy City<\/strong> set in the heart of the Cold War. His latest trio of novels centred on the unlikely spy Gabriel Dax, starting with 2024\u2019s Gabriel\u2019s Moon<\/strong>, has a film in active development. Should it prove a success, it could be followed by the 2025 sequel, The Predicament<\/strong>, and the soon-to-be-released Cold Sunset<\/strong>. With a globe-trotting story that follows a travel journalist drawn to the world of espionage in the early 60s, it has every ingredient to be a hit on the big screen.<\/p>\n David McCloskey has signed a first-look deal with Prologue Entertainment to bring both his existing and future works to the big and small screen. His recurring supporting character, Artemis Procter, has become an instant favourite, and the choice of casting for her has led to plenty of fan speculation. IS Berry\u2019s Peacock and The Sparrow<\/strong> also has a film in development. The nuanced characters and Bahrain settings have all the ingredients for a unique film in the world of espionage.<\/p>\n These authors all offer a range of espionage stories across several distinct eras. It remains to be seen whether they will all make a smooth transition to big and small screens, but it will further boost the author profiles and likely lead to more well-received works being brought to a wider audience.<\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/spcdn.shortpixel.ai\/spio\/ret_img,q_cdnize,to_webp,s_webp\/www.flickeringmyth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/slow-horses-season-2-600x338.jpg\" "\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/spcdn.shortpixel.ai\/spio\/ret_img,q_cdnize,to_webp,s_webp\/www.flickeringmyth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8101uVz45iL._AC_UF8941000_QL80_-600x922.jpg\" "\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/spcdn.shortpixel.ai\/spio\/ret_img,q_cdnize,to_webp,s_webp\/www.flickeringmyth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ipcress2022-600x318.jpg\" "\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n