Once A Spy

January 11, 2010
Huffington Post
columnist Thomson’s wildly original debut, a darkly satirical thriller, features an unlikely, if endearing, father-son spy duo: retired appliance salesman Drummond Clark, who at age 64 suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, and Charlie Clark, a down-on-his-luck gambler who owes $23,000 to Russian loan sharks. Soon after Charlie rescues Drummond from the Brooklyn streets, where he’d been wandering, the older man’s house blows up and the two barely escape with their lives. Clark and son begin an adrenaline-fueled cross-country flight in which they must evade ruthless CIA assassins long enough to understand why they’re being targeted. During rare moments of lucidity, Drummond hotwires a car and effortlessly kills multiple assailants, suggesting to Charlie he was once much more than just a washing machine salesman. Poignant themes of love and redemption underpin an action-packed story line that includes exotic locales, high-tech gadgetry, and international intrigue.

Charlie Clark is an unsuccessful gambler whose father has developed Alzheimer's disease. Danny Campbell narrates his story in the mature, raspy voice that one would expect of a man of Charlie's age and experience. As far as Charlie knows, his father, Drummond, was an ordinary appliance salesman. So Charlie is surprised to learn that Drummond was also a Cold War spy who is now being hunted by political friends and enemies. Drummond knows too much, and his mental state presents unique problems for the cloak-and-dagger community. A combination of realism, whimsy, and spy tradecraft makes this story is fun to listen to. Campbell's voice works well as Charlie finds himself unexpectedly regarding his father with awe. N.K.L. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine