I, SAID THE SPY is a novel about one of the most stubborn conspiracy theories: that of the Bilderberg Group. Originally published in 1980, it's a novel about how the powerful can come to see themselves as invulnerable - only to discover that the opposite is true.
It's another well-written, engaging and well-paced thriller from Lambert. A little different to some of his earlier Cold War novels, it's still enjoyable in all the same ways.

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Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Each year a secretive organisation consisting of influential and wealthy members such as arms dealers, financiers and various shady businessmen meet to discuss their influence upon the superpowers and their economies.

Derek Lambert’s excellent Cold War spy story concentrates on a female Jewish arms dealer, a miserly influential financier and a shady working class East End businessman who engineers an invite to Bilderberg. All three hide terrible secrets which leaves them wide open to blackmail. Add to the potent mix a smart black CIA operative, a jaded MI6 spy, a naïve Swiss little rich girl and a crazy assassin.

I wish I had discovered Derek Lambert before; I had never heard of him. He dismissed his spy/thriller novels as potboilers. He was wrong. In I, Said the Spy he concentrates on six main characters and creates a psychological depth to all of them which is comparable to John Le Carre, along with wonderful intricate plotting. There is also a great surprise twist towards the end. This is a great read for anyone who enjoys Le Carre. 

I took a while to get into this book and it’s a long read but didn’t take long to get a grip on it and there’s a nice twist half way through that I didn’t see coming that has you routing for the main characters. Not a classic spy novel as such- but it is a worthy read and I’d certainly read more stories from this author.