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The Repurposed Spy
WINNER BRONZE - THE WISHING SHELF 2023 Adult Fiction GOLD AWARD BOOKFEST AUTUMN/FALL 2023 - BEST THRILLER/ESPIONAGE Looking for an exhilarating read that will take you on a journey of a lifetime? Look no further than this thrilling novel. After years spent teaching, Ronald Jones is ready to escape his chronic anxiety and distrust of others and resolves to explore the world. His first destination? Brazil - a place he once visited as a young man. But just as he's ready to embark on his adventure, the enigmatic Mr Smith appears on his doorstep, turning his world upside down. Suddenly, Jones finds himself in a new and dangerous existence, surrounded by moody men in suits, shape-shifting female agents, spooks, and robotic controllers. With no apparent experience of this new world, Jones is in mortal danger and way out of his depth. As you turn the pages of this gripping novel, you'll be catapulted into a thrilling world filled with unexpected twists and turns. Will Jones cooperate with the mysterious figures surrounding him? And if he does, will they ever bring him back from the edge? Find out in this must-read book that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the � unpredictable - very end. Ronald Jones, The Repurposed Spy, is a spy like no other you've ever read about. So what are you waiting for? Book your one-way ticket to adventure and join Ronald Jones on an unforgettable journey around Latin America and beyond that will leave you breathless.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 24, 2023
18 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Oliver Dowson
6Ìýbooks189ÌýfollowersFollowing a long business career building and managing companies in many countries around the world, I’ve now turned my hand to being an author. I’ve always loved writing, and it’s very satisfying that so many people like the stories I tell. My first book, a travelogue “There’s no business like International Businessâ€� was published in Spring 2022, recounting some of the unlikely and entertaining experiences I had in my business travels. I’ve followed that up with a series of fiction, 'The Repurposed Spies', following a team of covert researchers working around the world. The third in the series, the latest, is "Spies on the Silk Road", published in October 2024 - and there's a fourth on the way..
Away from writing and reading, my Number One passion is travel, and I’m so lucky to have travelled extensively in 150 countries, both for pleasure and business. I’m also an enthusiastic amateur cook, and continue to dabble in international business matters. You’ll find articles about all these on my website, and a lot of evidence of these passions is present in my books.
I was born in Lowestoft, the most easterly town in England, but moved to London when I went to university, and have lived there ever since. I studied Mathematics at Imperial College, then had a variety of jobs through my 20s, with a common theme of international business. In the early 80s I co-founded EnTech, an energy management consultancy, and then over the next 30 years developed that into a small multi-national, the first and biggest specialist energy and environmental data management company, with offices in ten countries.
Now semi-retired, I also provide some pro-bono support to young upcoming business people that I can relate to, want help and who are prepared to tolerate me, write articles on topics of interest that I think I know something about, host the Grow through International Expansion podcast series and relax through cooking and travelling.
Married with one son, and, so far, two granddaughters, I live between London and Oviedo Spain when I’m not travelling further afield!
You can also find me on social media, and if you’d like to write to me or have a chat, check my contact page on my website � I’d love to hear from you.
Away from writing and reading, my Number One passion is travel, and I’m so lucky to have travelled extensively in 150 countries, both for pleasure and business. I’m also an enthusiastic amateur cook, and continue to dabble in international business matters. You’ll find articles about all these on my website, and a lot of evidence of these passions is present in my books.
I was born in Lowestoft, the most easterly town in England, but moved to London when I went to university, and have lived there ever since. I studied Mathematics at Imperial College, then had a variety of jobs through my 20s, with a common theme of international business. In the early 80s I co-founded EnTech, an energy management consultancy, and then over the next 30 years developed that into a small multi-national, the first and biggest specialist energy and environmental data management company, with offices in ten countries.
Now semi-retired, I also provide some pro-bono support to young upcoming business people that I can relate to, want help and who are prepared to tolerate me, write articles on topics of interest that I think I know something about, host the Grow through International Expansion podcast series and relax through cooking and travelling.
Married with one son, and, so far, two granddaughters, I live between London and Oviedo Spain when I’m not travelling further afield!
You can also find me on social media, and if you’d like to write to me or have a chat, check my contact page on my website � I’d love to hear from you.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 10, 2023
“I’d wanted to travel. I hadn’t envisaged doing so locked into a coffin, but variety is the spice of life, and one has to adapt to one’s surroundings �
Ronald Jones has had a long career in teaching, and now he can’t wait to retire, with travel high on his agenda. In particular he’d like to return to Brazil where he’d spent some time as a student many years ago. However, his plans are upended when he’s offered work which makes use of his language skills, but he’s thrown into a world of espionage, and he has no idea who he’s working for or indeed why. All he wanted was a simple holiday in Brazil, but instead he finds himself in serious danger.
What a thoroughly enjoyable read this was. I doubt you’ll have read a spy story quite like this one, and even though the storyline might appear a little bit incredible at times, it pulled me in to the extent that every time I put it down I couldn’t wait to get right back to it. Definitely recommended!
*Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
Ronald Jones has had a long career in teaching, and now he can’t wait to retire, with travel high on his agenda. In particular he’d like to return to Brazil where he’d spent some time as a student many years ago. However, his plans are upended when he’s offered work which makes use of his language skills, but he’s thrown into a world of espionage, and he has no idea who he’s working for or indeed why. All he wanted was a simple holiday in Brazil, but instead he finds himself in serious danger.
What a thoroughly enjoyable read this was. I doubt you’ll have read a spy story quite like this one, and even though the storyline might appear a little bit incredible at times, it pulled me in to the extent that every time I put it down I couldn’t wait to get right back to it. Definitely recommended!
*Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
October 28, 2023
Ronald Jones is in solitary confinement. The man himself confirms that. But what is the purpose of his imprisonment? Where is an individual confined not in a cell but an apartment of sorts? As Ronald begins writing his story on a computer accessible to him, the details of preceding days and nights become more puzzling. The man himself confirms the details of the space, but at first, the reason is withheld. What led a retired Head of Modern Languages at a private high school in Slough, England, to this enforced confinement?
I requested the eARC from LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer Group monthly offerings as I love espionage thrillers and was excited at the prospect of a new voice in this genre. The cover was intriguing, with visions of classic thrillers enhanced by the publisher’s book description with words including gripping, thrilling, and unexpected twists and turns. I was also curious how the author’s experiences of international travel might flourish within the travel experiences of his characters.
Curious, I checked the number of pages as I came to the end of the novel. This is an unusual action for this reader, before or after the reading experience. The 274 pages felt exhaustive, like a novel at least double that, many of length reading with intensity and suspense, but this was not. It took me several evenings to push through until a turn of the page to a new day catapulted the storyline to divulge the reason for the subterfuge, and that allowed me to move the rating from 2 stars to 3 stars. This unique voice is not for me.
Thank you to Oliver Dowson, and LibraryThing for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.
I requested the eARC from LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer Group monthly offerings as I love espionage thrillers and was excited at the prospect of a new voice in this genre. The cover was intriguing, with visions of classic thrillers enhanced by the publisher’s book description with words including gripping, thrilling, and unexpected twists and turns. I was also curious how the author’s experiences of international travel might flourish within the travel experiences of his characters.
Curious, I checked the number of pages as I came to the end of the novel. This is an unusual action for this reader, before or after the reading experience. The 274 pages felt exhaustive, like a novel at least double that, many of length reading with intensity and suspense, but this was not. It took me several evenings to push through until a turn of the page to a new day catapulted the storyline to divulge the reason for the subterfuge, and that allowed me to move the rating from 2 stars to 3 stars. This unique voice is not for me.
Thank you to Oliver Dowson, and LibraryThing for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.
May 8, 2023
Unusual story
I knew nothing about the book, but the title attracted me to it. I had no idea it would end the way it did. I thought it was a little strange.
I knew nothing about the book, but the title attracted me to it. I had no idea it would end the way it did. I thought it was a little strange.
March 18, 2023
This is a spy thriller with a difference- I’m a big fan of this genre but I’ve never read anything quite like this. It’s a great story which held my attention from the very first page and kept me guessing right to the very last! Definitely a fun read!
Ronald Jones is a teacher of Modern Languages - Spanish and Portuguese- working in a secondary school in Slough. He lives alone and seems to be completely anti social, avoiding human contact as much as possible- somewhat surprising in a school teacher but maybe he finds children easier to cope with than adults.
Having worked hard all his life he decides to retire, take his pension and travel the world. However he gets more than he bargained for when he is approached by the mysterious Mr Smith who wants him to do a bit of translating whilst visiting South America in exchange for his travel costs. Jones thinks it sounds pretty harmless and accepts the offer.
The book is told in the form of a diary written by Jones and his travels turn into something more than a post retirement adventure when he ends up in some pretty difficult situations and held hostage by some very shady characters. Jones was a very entertaining protagonist who narrated the story in a laconic and humorous manner which had me chuckling out loud in places!
On the more serious side the book portrayed social anxiety in a sympathetic way as Jones navigated his way across South America, forced to communicate with others in order to survive his ordeal.
This is a real ripping yarn with much humour and a fair amount of action. It is a fast paced read which I thoroughly enjoyed and which I highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for my advance copy.
Ronald Jones is a teacher of Modern Languages - Spanish and Portuguese- working in a secondary school in Slough. He lives alone and seems to be completely anti social, avoiding human contact as much as possible- somewhat surprising in a school teacher but maybe he finds children easier to cope with than adults.
Having worked hard all his life he decides to retire, take his pension and travel the world. However he gets more than he bargained for when he is approached by the mysterious Mr Smith who wants him to do a bit of translating whilst visiting South America in exchange for his travel costs. Jones thinks it sounds pretty harmless and accepts the offer.
The book is told in the form of a diary written by Jones and his travels turn into something more than a post retirement adventure when he ends up in some pretty difficult situations and held hostage by some very shady characters. Jones was a very entertaining protagonist who narrated the story in a laconic and humorous manner which had me chuckling out loud in places!
On the more serious side the book portrayed social anxiety in a sympathetic way as Jones navigated his way across South America, forced to communicate with others in order to survive his ordeal.
This is a real ripping yarn with much humour and a fair amount of action. It is a fast paced read which I thoroughly enjoyed and which I highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for my advance copy.
October 7, 2023
In Oliver Dowson's riveting novel, The Repurposed Spy, readers are invited to embark on an extraordinary journey alongside Mr. Jones, a retired linguistics professor with an undeniable thirst for adventure. With his sights set on South America, Mr. Jones is unwittingly thrust into a maze of intrigue when he accepts a seemingly benign translation assignment from the mysterious Mr. Smith. This assignment not only pulls him into the exhilarating world of espionage but also reveals depths and capabilities in Mr. Jones that neither he nor the reader anticipated.
Dowson's masterstroke lies in his choice to present the narrative as Mr. Jones' memoir, lending both authenticity and depth to the unfolding drama. Dowson's vivid descriptions, particularly those detailing the myriad of cuisines encountered, add layers of richness to the tale, making it all the more immersive. While The Repurposed Spy might not be classified as a comedy, its moments of situational humor are both unexpected and thoroughly enjoyable. It artfully balances suspense with levity, ensuring readers remain riveted throughout.
The Repurposed Spy is a testament to Dowson's storytelling prowess, plunging readers into a realm of subterfuge, disguise, and unexpected turns. For those with an affinity for espionage or simply a love for gripping narratives, this book is an unmissable treat.
Dowson's masterstroke lies in his choice to present the narrative as Mr. Jones' memoir, lending both authenticity and depth to the unfolding drama. Dowson's vivid descriptions, particularly those detailing the myriad of cuisines encountered, add layers of richness to the tale, making it all the more immersive. While The Repurposed Spy might not be classified as a comedy, its moments of situational humor are both unexpected and thoroughly enjoyable. It artfully balances suspense with levity, ensuring readers remain riveted throughout.
The Repurposed Spy is a testament to Dowson's storytelling prowess, plunging readers into a realm of subterfuge, disguise, and unexpected turns. For those with an affinity for espionage or simply a love for gripping narratives, this book is an unmissable treat.
July 27, 2023
This is an interesting take on the old school spy novel in that while it may be a normal spy plot, the story is mostly told from the point of view of the main protagonist writing in his diary while in solitary confinement. What an unusual way to tell a story! However, while reading the diary of the main character, you realize that there is the possibility that some things about his life don’t add up. He, himself, admits this could be the result of the long-term confinement he has found himself in. It was definitely a page-turner and you continue to read to find out how this character found himself in the situation he is in. Each new chapter offers dribbles of information as to how he got to where he is.
This book was interesting to read, and I enjoyed the South American setting. Occasionally, the author spends a large amount of time focusing on repetitive elements of the main character’s living situation that might have been better used elsewhere. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but let’s just say it sort of turns all the diary entries into something else entirely, and I’m not sure I appreciated that.
This book was interesting to read, and I enjoyed the South American setting. Occasionally, the author spends a large amount of time focusing on repetitive elements of the main character’s living situation that might have been better used elsewhere. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but let’s just say it sort of turns all the diary entries into something else entirely, and I’m not sure I appreciated that.
May 9, 2023
This was a totally unique book and I absolutely loved it. Five stars because this book reeled me in early on and I couldn’t have stopped reading if I wanted to. One reviewer called it unusual and I’d agree. Mr. Jones is recruited by a consultancy run by Mr Smith upon his retirement from teaching. He is basically an odd ball and generally unlikeable main character which in itself is unusual for a good novel. He is more than fluent in a number of languages and the consultancy needs his linguistic capability in South America. All bills paid vacation? Nothing is free! Mr. Jones writes the story from his “prison� and the entire story unfolds as we read his daily journal. I was totally captivated by the unusual story telling and gave this five stars. The ending was a bit weak in my opinion but the book was so unusual and the story so captivating that it deserved the rating. This obviously sets up book 2 in which “Chameleon� might be the main character but will the odd and unlikeable Mr Jones be a part of it?
July 28, 2023
Such an exciting book! Is starts with the interesting premise of main character Ronald retiring, then promptly getting drawn into the exciting world of spycraft! There is plenty of action and excitement, and I had a hard time putting the book down, since I had to know what happened next.
Everything is made even more interesting by the fact that much of the story is told through Ronald's diary entries, and he himself admits he may be a less-than-reliable narrator. So, as the reader enjoys the thrill ride of a story, he or she is also trying to figure out how much of what Ronald has to say is actually true vs. a product of his potentially compromised mental state.
I enjoyed every minute of this fast-paced and unusual story!
Everything is made even more interesting by the fact that much of the story is told through Ronald's diary entries, and he himself admits he may be a less-than-reliable narrator. So, as the reader enjoys the thrill ride of a story, he or she is also trying to figure out how much of what Ronald has to say is actually true vs. a product of his potentially compromised mental state.
I enjoyed every minute of this fast-paced and unusual story!
August 26, 2023
This story is quite intriguing. You definitely need to designate some time to reading it because you can fall into the story quite fast and have a hard time getting away from it.
I wasn't sure what to expect as I started reading this book but once I turned the page I was hooked and couldn't look away! I enjoyed the characters and definitely went back and forth on who was/wasn't the bad-guy (or girl). I really enjoy stories that keep you wondering and this one definitely does. Then the twist hits you like a ton of bricks. I definitely recommend reading this book. It is a good one!
I wasn't sure what to expect as I started reading this book but once I turned the page I was hooked and couldn't look away! I enjoyed the characters and definitely went back and forth on who was/wasn't the bad-guy (or girl). I really enjoy stories that keep you wondering and this one definitely does. Then the twist hits you like a ton of bricks. I definitely recommend reading this book. It is a good one!
November 24, 2024
Great story, well written with a good pace to it, interesting characters and the last two chapters I wasn't expecting.
I did manage to read the prequel first, which got me a bit confused to begin with, but continued to read and it all made sense.
Highly recommended
I did manage to read the prequel first, which got me a bit confused to begin with, but continued to read and it all made sense.
Highly recommended
May 7, 2023
A retired teacher, Ronald Jones decides to travel. He doesn't enjoy being around people, though, and selects a solo trip to Brazil where he briefly visited as a teen. Then, Mr. Smith pays a call and makes Jones an offer he can't refuse. In exchange for a free tip, Jones will translate documents and perform other translation duties. Jones agrees to the terms and finds himself interacting with three key people (Pilot, Chameleon, Latvian) who play various roles designed to confuse him and others. Eventually, Jones begins to feel like a true spy. But he's in danger, too. Who will win in the end? And what is the truth?
I'm debating between 3 and 4 stars for this novel. The first section started slow but then the excitement built, and I felt eager to continue reading. I really connected with Mr. Jones and found myself rooting for his success. Then the ending felt like an emotional letdown. Everything I believed got twisted and turned upside down, and I felt robbed emotionally - probably because I bonded with Mr. Jones and didn't care or connect with any of the other characters.
Despite the ending, I would read more books in this series.
I'm debating between 3 and 4 stars for this novel. The first section started slow but then the excitement built, and I felt eager to continue reading. I really connected with Mr. Jones and found myself rooting for his success. Then the ending felt like an emotional letdown. Everything I believed got twisted and turned upside down, and I felt robbed emotionally - probably because I bonded with Mr. Jones and didn't care or connect with any of the other characters.
Despite the ending, I would read more books in this series.
March 18, 2023
Man, what a plot twist! For 3/4 of the book, I sympathized with certain characters and loathed others only for everything to be flipped on its head at the end. The enemies were not who I thought they were at all!
The whole book was a non-stop thrill ride. For the first time in a long time, the solutions to conflict were unpredictable. Characters behaved in ways you wouldn't have anticipated. Our main character, Jones, ended up in situations that were NOT in his job description. I devoured the book in two days because I just had to keep flipping pages to find out what happens next.
Definitely give this book a read! Jones might not be 007, but he's not just a teacher-turned-spy either.
The whole book was a non-stop thrill ride. For the first time in a long time, the solutions to conflict were unpredictable. Characters behaved in ways you wouldn't have anticipated. Our main character, Jones, ended up in situations that were NOT in his job description. I devoured the book in two days because I just had to keep flipping pages to find out what happens next.
Definitely give this book a read! Jones might not be 007, but he's not just a teacher-turned-spy either.
April 18, 2023
Thank you to Oliver Downson and insta book tours for allowing me to be a part of this book tour.
I wasn't sure about this at first as I found it confusing to follow and difficult to get into at first but as I kept on reading, I was hooked.
Ronaldo who was a former teacher just wants a peaceful retirement and to travel back to Brazil where he spent time as a young man. However, when he receives a call from Mr Smith, he is thrown into a different reality which he is unable to escape from.
The writing style and narrative was superb with plenty of twists and turns throughout which keeps you guessing as to who Mr Smith and the coverts are and why they do what they do. I definately recommend if you enjoy a thriller.
I wasn't sure about this at first as I found it confusing to follow and difficult to get into at first but as I kept on reading, I was hooked.
Ronaldo who was a former teacher just wants a peaceful retirement and to travel back to Brazil where he spent time as a young man. However, when he receives a call from Mr Smith, he is thrown into a different reality which he is unable to escape from.
The writing style and narrative was superb with plenty of twists and turns throughout which keeps you guessing as to who Mr Smith and the coverts are and why they do what they do. I definately recommend if you enjoy a thriller.
Shelved as 'on-hold'
May 18, 2023I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
July 2, 2023
Not a fan, it was tedious to read and almost landed on my DNF pile
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