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Spy #1
Once a Spy
Drummond Clark was once a spy of legendary proportions.Ìý Now Alzheimer’s disease has taken its toll and he’s just a confused old man who’s wandered away from home, waiting for his son to fetch him.Ìý
Ìý
When Charlie Clark takes a break from his latest losing streak at the track to bring Drummond back to his Brooklyn home, they find it blown sky high—and then bullets start flying in every direction.Ìý At first, Charlie thinks his Russian “creditorsâ€� are employing aggressive collection tactics.Ìý But once Drummond effortlessly hot-wires a car as their escape vehicle, Charlie begins to suspect there’s much more to his father than meets the eye.Ìý He soon discovers that Drummond’s unremarkable career as an appliance salesman was actually a clever cover for an elaborate plan to sell would-be terrorists faulty nuclear detonators.Ìý Drummond’s intricate knowledge of the “deviceâ€� is extremely dangerous information to have rattling around in an Alzheimer’s-addled brain.Ìý The CIA wants to “containâ€� him--and so do some other shady characters who send Charlie and Drummond on a wild chase that givesÌý “father and son quality timeâ€� a whole new meaning.
Ìý
With Once a Spy, Keith Thomson makes his debut on the thriller stage with energy, wit, and style to spare.
From the Hardcover edition.
Ìý
When Charlie Clark takes a break from his latest losing streak at the track to bring Drummond back to his Brooklyn home, they find it blown sky high—and then bullets start flying in every direction.Ìý At first, Charlie thinks his Russian “creditorsâ€� are employing aggressive collection tactics.Ìý But once Drummond effortlessly hot-wires a car as their escape vehicle, Charlie begins to suspect there’s much more to his father than meets the eye.Ìý He soon discovers that Drummond’s unremarkable career as an appliance salesman was actually a clever cover for an elaborate plan to sell would-be terrorists faulty nuclear detonators.Ìý Drummond’s intricate knowledge of the “deviceâ€� is extremely dangerous information to have rattling around in an Alzheimer’s-addled brain.Ìý The CIA wants to “containâ€� him--and so do some other shady characters who send Charlie and Drummond on a wild chase that givesÌý “father and son quality timeâ€� a whole new meaning.
Ìý
With Once a Spy, Keith Thomson makes his debut on the thriller stage with energy, wit, and style to spare.
From the Hardcover edition.
325 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
74 people are currently reading
1228 people want to read
About the author
Keith Thomson
24Ìýbooks146ÌýfollowersKeith Thomson has been a semi-pro baseball player in France an editorial cartoonist for Newsday and a screenwriter. Now a resident of Alabama, he writes about intelligence and other matters for The Huffington Post. His novels include Once a Spy, a New York Times Best Seller, Twice a Spy and Pirates of Pensacola.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
February 17, 2016
You know when I picked this book up it was sort of a , "well it looks a little interesting. I'll see how it goes" decision. I had my reservations. I like good action reads, I like GOOD spy fiction especially if it's a successful bleed over into what can be called "Spy/fi".
I mean we are starting off with a ne'er-do-well son with "daddy issues" (not in the traditional meaning of that phrase where a young woman likes older men [as it happens I still haven't met one of those]). His father was always busy selling his mediocre appliances, traveling to sales conferences and in short neglecting his family. He remembers mom dying young and dad never being there...
Now dad is in the early stages of Alzheimer...and he suddenly finds (while plotting to get money from dad to pay the bookies he owes for losses at the track) that there are people trying to kill his dad, that his dad can hot-wire cars, defeat locks, handle guns like Wyatt Earp and kick butt martial arts wise.
It turned out to be an excellent read and almost gets a 5 (it slowed down and dragged a bit filling in background about the center but not badly). I'm planning of following it.
I can recommend this one, enjoy.
I mean we are starting off with a ne'er-do-well son with "daddy issues" (not in the traditional meaning of that phrase where a young woman likes older men [as it happens I still haven't met one of those]). His father was always busy selling his mediocre appliances, traveling to sales conferences and in short neglecting his family. He remembers mom dying young and dad never being there...
Now dad is in the early stages of Alzheimer...and he suddenly finds (while plotting to get money from dad to pay the bookies he owes for losses at the track) that there are people trying to kill his dad, that his dad can hot-wire cars, defeat locks, handle guns like Wyatt Earp and kick butt martial arts wise.
It turned out to be an excellent read and almost gets a 5 (it slowed down and dragged a bit filling in background about the center but not badly). I'm planning of following it.
I can recommend this one, enjoy.
April 1, 2012
I really enjoyed this book! The pace was great....never any slow spots and the plot had enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. The father/son bonding dynamic adding a nice emotional component, and provided some depth to both characters. The humor was fantastic, the technical details interesting, and the espionage tactics constantly surprising. I wasn't sure if all the convoluted ciphers were tongue-in-cheek or actually legit, but they were entertaining either way. This is the kind of book I love: unpredictable, engaging, and quite funny. The only reason I read this book in the first place is because it was an available kindle title at my local library. I was looking for something light and entertaining and this filled the bill perfectly.
July 12, 2010
ONCE A SPY-by Keith Thomson a Thriller- with sidesplitting dark humor about a degenerate Gambler and his former top spy father- who has early onset Alzheimer's - who are on the run- this book is brilliant- superb characters, plot, dialogue and a sensitivity to the terrible disease- yet somehow almost every page had me laughing out loud or unable to guess what will happen next- A classic in the making!!! Keith Thomson is an author who is a true treasure!!! Quite simply- this book is as fine a book as I have ever read and should not be overlooked by anyone who appreciates well above average story-telling!!
September 29, 2018
This was the goofiest book, and I loved it! This is what happens if James Bond had Alzheimers and an adult son.
October 26, 2018
When I read the back of this audiobook, I was intrigued: Charlie Clark discovers that his run-of-the-mill dad with Alzheimer's is actually a top spy. Because of the Alzheimer's and the risk of leaking top-secret info, people are out to "contain" Dad. This spy novel is full of action, with really no slow parts, and has so much specific detail about the spy world, a look at Alzheimer's, and LOTS of good, dry, sarcastic humour. I think that if I had read this book myself, I would have quite enjoyed it, and laughed out loud on numerous occasions.
However, this Danny Campbell narrator dude, TOTALLY ruins the book. The choice of narrator is horrible. His voice sounds far too dopey to voice these intelligent characters. Honestly, I couldn't buy into the fact that all of these people were top-security-clearance intelligence agents, I just couldn't. And Campbell, in my opinion, couldn't deliver the sarcastic one-timers. Horrible.
However, this Danny Campbell narrator dude, TOTALLY ruins the book. The choice of narrator is horrible. His voice sounds far too dopey to voice these intelligent characters. Honestly, I couldn't buy into the fact that all of these people were top-security-clearance intelligence agents, I just couldn't. And Campbell, in my opinion, couldn't deliver the sarcastic one-timers. Horrible.
August 6, 2013
My review is simply going to be about my reaction to this book. EXTREMELY WELL DONE> A compelling page turner AFTER the first 50 pages or so. (I am guessing about the number of pages having read it on my Kindle)
Never trust anyone who says "Trust me", but trust me when I tell you it is worth the slow beginning. As a matter of fact, I would suggest that you rest and relax and enjoy the slower paced beginning because when the story takes off, it takes off like a shot barely allowing you to catch your breath (or any sleep) until you have come to the end of the book...but hopefully not the end of the story.
Upon reflection, this could very well have been a brilliant piece of writing with the beginning of the story being rather slow and plodding, just like the life of one of the protagonists. Oh well done, very well done indeed.
Congrats to Keith Thomson, you have yet another fan.
Never trust anyone who says "Trust me", but trust me when I tell you it is worth the slow beginning. As a matter of fact, I would suggest that you rest and relax and enjoy the slower paced beginning because when the story takes off, it takes off like a shot barely allowing you to catch your breath (or any sleep) until you have come to the end of the book...but hopefully not the end of the story.
Upon reflection, this could very well have been a brilliant piece of writing with the beginning of the story being rather slow and plodding, just like the life of one of the protagonists. Oh well done, very well done indeed.
Congrats to Keith Thomson, you have yet another fan.
February 5, 2014
This was a surprisingly good read that my mother passed along to me. She found it in the Dollar Stores' books section, and apparently she does find a LOT of very decent books there. This book's author drew me in with funny and suspenseful situations that made for many nights' good entertainment. Looking forward to reading his follow-up novel, Always a Spy.
May 5, 2014
I enjoyed this book so much that I wanted to try the audio version. The narrator sounds as if you are sitting by a campfire with a veteran grandpa spy telling the story. And that actually suits the story to me, considering the subject matter. I'm enjoying this quite a bit.
Full review below.
==========
I came across this thanks to where I have found many great recommendations.
Imagine a super spy managing to live long enough to develop Alzheimer's. What happens when he may inadvertently let slip some of the big secrets he knows?
Such is the premise of this really enjoyable book. Drummond Clark is the aging spy in question. His son Charlie is addicted to betting at the track and desperately trying to figure out how he's going to pay back a Russian mobster when his father turns up missing. All Charlie is trying to do is to return his father home and figure out which assisted living facility would be best, while skimming enough to pay his debts. However, repeated "coincidental" attempts on their lives send them on the lam for a simultaneously humorous and touching attempt to escape.
The scene at the beginning of the book when the father slips his leash of "company" monitors is a great example of the combination of unconscious trained stealth and Alzheimer's with which Charlie must deal for the remainder of the book. Along the way Charlie and his father spend time together, some lucidly and some not, in a way they never did before ... and Charlie discovers that his gambling career and natural talent combine unexpectedly to help keep them alive.
Full review below.
==========
I came across this thanks to where I have found many great recommendations.
Imagine a super spy managing to live long enough to develop Alzheimer's. What happens when he may inadvertently let slip some of the big secrets he knows?
Such is the premise of this really enjoyable book. Drummond Clark is the aging spy in question. His son Charlie is addicted to betting at the track and desperately trying to figure out how he's going to pay back a Russian mobster when his father turns up missing. All Charlie is trying to do is to return his father home and figure out which assisted living facility would be best, while skimming enough to pay his debts. However, repeated "coincidental" attempts on their lives send them on the lam for a simultaneously humorous and touching attempt to escape.
The scene at the beginning of the book when the father slips his leash of "company" monitors is a great example of the combination of unconscious trained stealth and Alzheimer's with which Charlie must deal for the remainder of the book. Along the way Charlie and his father spend time together, some lucidly and some not, in a way they never did before ... and Charlie discovers that his gambling career and natural talent combine unexpectedly to help keep them alive.
February 11, 2011
Charlie Clark's father, Drummond Clark, was konce probably the best secret spy in the world. Today, Drummond Clark is a former spy suffering from Alzheimers.
Charlie thought his father was an appliance salesman that paid very little attention to his son, Charlie's mother, a doting mother, was killed while Charlie was still a young boy. Well, maybe not, could it be that his mother was a spy also and her death had to be arranged by the government?
Charlie finds himself, and his father, in a fight for their lives. A wild chase has begun and his father is going in and out of lucidity, and there is some question as to who they are running away from. There is the social worker, Helen Mayfield (if this is her right name), who may actually be part of the CIA, DEA, or maybe MI6. Of course, Charlie thinks he is being pursued by Leo Grudzev and the Russian Mafia, trying to collect a long overdue bill.
Then there is Drummond, when lucid, is sure he is being pursued by former colleagues because he has become a liability. He knows some very secret secrets that he might compromise due to his Altzheimers.
There is action throughout the book with enough comedy to satisfy everyone's funny bone. Some of the wit is very reminiscent of "Get Smart", although there is no "cone of silence" or "telephone shoe".
Absolutely a delightful read that will satisfy the mystery and comedy need in any reader.
Charlie thought his father was an appliance salesman that paid very little attention to his son, Charlie's mother, a doting mother, was killed while Charlie was still a young boy. Well, maybe not, could it be that his mother was a spy also and her death had to be arranged by the government?
Charlie finds himself, and his father, in a fight for their lives. A wild chase has begun and his father is going in and out of lucidity, and there is some question as to who they are running away from. There is the social worker, Helen Mayfield (if this is her right name), who may actually be part of the CIA, DEA, or maybe MI6. Of course, Charlie thinks he is being pursued by Leo Grudzev and the Russian Mafia, trying to collect a long overdue bill.
Then there is Drummond, when lucid, is sure he is being pursued by former colleagues because he has become a liability. He knows some very secret secrets that he might compromise due to his Altzheimers.
There is action throughout the book with enough comedy to satisfy everyone's funny bone. Some of the wit is very reminiscent of "Get Smart", although there is no "cone of silence" or "telephone shoe".
Absolutely a delightful read that will satisfy the mystery and comedy need in any reader.
June 10, 2010
A fast, fun read. The premise works well - Charlie doesn't realize his father, Drummond, is CIA, meanwhile Drummond is suffering from Alzheimer's. Throw in a few bad guys and mayhem ensues. Short chapters and cliffhangers give the book some urgency, but the relationship between Charlie and Drummond is what kept me turning the pages. Of course, you have to suspend some disbelief over the gunfighting scenes (and one helicopter ride), but it is worth a read.
December 31, 2012
Lighthearted FUN adventure
Lighthearted adventure, fast-paced, fun and funny. Great main characters. Clean enough for teens. The timing of dad's episodes is hilarious. Feel-good ending.
Not meant to be a serious spy book!
Lighthearted adventure, fast-paced, fun and funny. Great main characters. Clean enough for teens. The timing of dad's episodes is hilarious. Feel-good ending.
Not meant to be a serious spy book!
July 6, 2014
What would happen if Jason Bourne were in the early stages of Alzheimer's...
February 29, 2016
Totally intrigued by the plot and characters. Well Narrated by Danny Campbell. Will continue series - recommended.
September 18, 2020
This was a fast paced, action packed and funny ride with the Clarks.
I didn't know what to think about at first when I read the premise. A retired CIA agent who has become a confused old man due to alzheimer, suddenly becomes a target for his ex bosses and bring his clueless son into it. But it really did not dissapointed and I laughed really hard with this book. It was definitely a great time.
_
The story with the Clarks ain't an easy one, marked by espionage and treason from the beginning didn't give them much space to have a normal happy life. Charlie Clark never knew his father: he was the most boring workaholic guy on the street and he never had time for him. That just meant that by the end of his life he hardly ever saw his father, let along call. There was no relationship there other than "the guy helped mom to bring me into this world"
But as the plot unravels he gets to see another side of his father that allows him to understand him and his lonely childhood, as well as run for his life from a bunch of CIA officers who wants to kill both of them.
_
The story about the real life of Drummond Clark and how that led him to be such a danger to corrupt agents in his office was great. Maybe we could have get a little more detail with it but it was well developed.
Great persecutions, awesome action scenes and amazing Drummond moments (awesome and really funny I have to say) make this book just great.
Now what I truly love was how the father-son relationship between Drummond and his son grew alongside the disaster they were put into and how Charlie was finally able to meet his father and learned to love him on the road.
_
Definitely a great story for the winter season and for those who love spies stories.
I didn't know what to think about at first when I read the premise. A retired CIA agent who has become a confused old man due to alzheimer, suddenly becomes a target for his ex bosses and bring his clueless son into it. But it really did not dissapointed and I laughed really hard with this book. It was definitely a great time.
_
The story with the Clarks ain't an easy one, marked by espionage and treason from the beginning didn't give them much space to have a normal happy life. Charlie Clark never knew his father: he was the most boring workaholic guy on the street and he never had time for him. That just meant that by the end of his life he hardly ever saw his father, let along call. There was no relationship there other than "the guy helped mom to bring me into this world"
But as the plot unravels he gets to see another side of his father that allows him to understand him and his lonely childhood, as well as run for his life from a bunch of CIA officers who wants to kill both of them.
_
The story about the real life of Drummond Clark and how that led him to be such a danger to corrupt agents in his office was great. Maybe we could have get a little more detail with it but it was well developed.
Great persecutions, awesome action scenes and amazing Drummond moments (awesome and really funny I have to say) make this book just great.
Now what I truly love was how the father-son relationship between Drummond and his son grew alongside the disaster they were put into and how Charlie was finally able to meet his father and learned to love him on the road.
_
Definitely a great story for the winter season and for those who love spies stories.
October 8, 2024
What happens when one of your top spies develops Alzheimer's and becomes a threat to national security? That is the main story of ONCE A SPY.
I read this book when it was first published and liked it. Someone asked about a recommendation for a guy to read that didn't like to read -- this book came to mind. However, since it had been a long time since I had actually read the book and I was just relying on old memories, I decided to track it down on the internet, buy it, and refresh my memory. I still liked it.
The first chapter is OK - the next few that introduce the son are very slow -- but hang in there because once it starts going it doesn't stop. This is one of the few books that I read straight through not stopping to make notes or anything so I don't have specifics to talk about.
The fast action adventure story is fast and in my mind would make an awesome movie -- Father played by Anthony Hopkins, Mother played by Helen Mirren, and Son played by Bruce Willis.
I didn't like the ending, but it did leave it open to a sequel...which I guess was written because Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ shows this title as #1 in a series.
I read this book when it was first published and liked it. Someone asked about a recommendation for a guy to read that didn't like to read -- this book came to mind. However, since it had been a long time since I had actually read the book and I was just relying on old memories, I decided to track it down on the internet, buy it, and refresh my memory. I still liked it.
The first chapter is OK - the next few that introduce the son are very slow -- but hang in there because once it starts going it doesn't stop. This is one of the few books that I read straight through not stopping to make notes or anything so I don't have specifics to talk about.
The fast action adventure story is fast and in my mind would make an awesome movie -- Father played by Anthony Hopkins, Mother played by Helen Mirren, and Son played by Bruce Willis.
I didn't like the ending, but it did leave it open to a sequel...which I guess was written because Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ shows this title as #1 in a series.
November 16, 2019
Very fast paced, action starts right at the very, very beginning of the novel to the very, very last page. It was difficult to put the book down because it really is constant non stop action, there's no boring in-between characters or events like most thrillers have.
I'm not going to go into the synopsis of what the book is about, you can read that in the books description, I would just be repeating that.you really have no idea how the book is going to end, but there is somewhat of a possible cliffhanger, at least I hope so, because I want to know what happens now, there's got to be more to the story. Seeing that it is numbered as book Spy #1, I'm assuming there's a continuation and I'm going to search out those books from this author. I found the book in the bargain section at the bookstore, this author deserves to be in the bestsellers section. This book was so freaking good!!
I'm not going to go into the synopsis of what the book is about, you can read that in the books description, I would just be repeating that.you really have no idea how the book is going to end, but there is somewhat of a possible cliffhanger, at least I hope so, because I want to know what happens now, there's got to be more to the story. Seeing that it is numbered as book Spy #1, I'm assuming there's a continuation and I'm going to search out those books from this author. I found the book in the bargain section at the bookstore, this author deserves to be in the bestsellers section. This book was so freaking good!!
September 26, 2020
3 1/2 Stars. This was a really fun and unique read that flips the script on what many people think of spy novels. Drummond Clark is a retired spy who has alzheimer's, and when he and his son Charlie get caught up in an mission from his past, things begin to get interesting.
I loved the focus on the relationship between Charlie and Drummond, and the author did a good job of relating Drummond's alzheimemer's to the reader's, as well as blending the story with a sarcastic, dry, and witty humor you don't see in spy novels.
While I usually read espionage stories along the lines of Le'Carre and Ludlum, this was such a fun release of the usual spy novel, I couldn't help but smile and laugh throughout this story. I look forward to ready more of Keith Thomson's work.
I loved the focus on the relationship between Charlie and Drummond, and the author did a good job of relating Drummond's alzheimemer's to the reader's, as well as blending the story with a sarcastic, dry, and witty humor you don't see in spy novels.
While I usually read espionage stories along the lines of Le'Carre and Ludlum, this was such a fun release of the usual spy novel, I couldn't help but smile and laugh throughout this story. I look forward to ready more of Keith Thomson's work.
November 5, 2021
I found this book to be really interesting. While possessing several of the traditional spy novel elements, this book actually contains a more meaningful story. Largely character driven, with a health dose of action sprinkled throughout, the book provides insight into the often-delicate, frequently-misunderstood relationship between a father and a son. Told from the perspective of the son, the story lays out the traps and conflicts and hardness, and the joy and wonder and love that can bond a son to his father, and vice versa. The author masterfully tells a story that keeps us interested and turning the pages, while at the same revealing the awkward emotions fathers and sons can have. Very enjoyable read.
December 20, 2024
Drummond Clark is a retired appliance salesman in the early stages of Alzheimer's. One day his son Charlie gets a call from a social worker letting him know his father was found in his pajamas wandering the streets. He is disoriented and talks of people watching and following him. They are no sooner back at his home when the house explodes from a gas leak, leaving father and son out on the street. Charlie soon realizes his father is more than an ordinary salesman when he hot wires a car and they run for their lives. I couldn't put this book down, something happened on every page. An exciting and dramatic story.
December 28, 2020
A different take on the spy novel. To me, there is a direct line from Bond to Bourne to this. Bond was just a man who was someone consistently able to do extraordinary things. Bourne was an enhanced man who was consistently able to do more extraordinary things. Here we end up with a diminished hero who still can suddenly do extraordinary things. And it is an enjoyable ride.
The story may not wholly hold water, but it fits within the genre nicely. Worth the read.
The story may not wholly hold water, but it fits within the genre nicely. Worth the read.
May 17, 2018
Well-written with inventive plot line and surprisingly engaging characters. Although it came recommended, I was hesitant to read this one based on the description, but ended up thoroughly enjoying it.
December 19, 2018
A pretty good spy yarn with a very interesting premise but I found all the action scenes wearying and thought it was a bit too long. Listened to the audio version which was very well narrated by Danny Campbell.
February 16, 2019
My husband loved this, I didn't. It was mildly entertaining but the characters weren't engaging and the whole thing was preposterous. Worse, the Alzheimer's aspect felt like a gimmick, and didn't mesh with my experiences with a family member who had it. Just didn't work for me.
February 21, 2019
I listened to this book and was disappointed in the reader. When a British woman has a New York gangster accent it just doesn’t sound right. I enjoyed the story and will read the next in the series.
June 3, 2019
This is my book club read this month. Too bloody, too long and too implausible. I imagine that if you love James Bond movies that you might like this book.
Some fun dialog but I have no interest in reading this author again.
Some fun dialog but I have no interest in reading this author again.
Read
December 20, 2020The book has an intriguing concept. The story is fanciful, and plot-based. Its focus on the story does not seem particularly concerned with realism. Some readers may like this, or at least will not mind it. The quality of style is about the same as the Harry Potter series.
March 10, 2021
Neat idea. I could easily see this turned into a movie. Just not realistic. I wish that Alzheimer’s patients had more/longer moments of lucidity, however, that's not been my experience at all.
Still a very enjoyable read.
Still a very enjoyable read.
May 16, 2021
Keith Thomson wrote two books in this series. Great books both. I don't believe he is going to write any more of them. Probably a bit tricky to continue with these two exact characters but a wonderful concept, well carried out. Good for the spy novel enthusiast.
February 21, 2023
The writing is a little clunky. There is reference to how unbelievable James Bond is, and then characters manage to do even more unbelievable things in this book. There is good redemption between father and son.
January 31, 2024
I found the plot tedious. The only good hook was the father who goes in and out of Ahlzeimer's. But then that came to be a convenience. Whenever he was needed he "came back" like a superhero's superpower.
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