Amberlough
2017 • 398 pages

Ratings21

Average rating3.6

15

Le Carré meets Cabaret in this debut spy thriller as a gay double-agent schemes to protect his smuggler lover during the rise of a fascist government coup.

Welcome to Amberlough City, the illustrious but corrupt cosmopolitan beacon of Gedda. The radical One State Party—nicknamed the Ospies—is gaining popular support to unite Gedda's four municipal governments under an ironclad, socially conservative vision.

Not everyone agrees with the Ospies' philosophy, including master spy Cyril DePaul and his lover Aristide Makricosta, smuggler and emcee at the popular Bumble Bee Cabaret. When Cyril's cover is blown on a mission, however, he must become a turncoat in exchange for his life. Returning to Amberlough under the Ospies' watchful eye, Cyril enters a complex game of deception. One of his concerns is safeguarding Aristide, who refuses to let anyone—the crooked city police or the homophobic Ospies—dictate his life.

Enter streetwise Cordelia Lehane, top dancer at the Bee and Aristide’s runner, who could be the key to Cyril’s plans—if she can be trusted. As the twinkling lights of nightclub marquees yield to the rising flames of a fascist revolution, these three will struggle to survive using whatever means—and people—necessary. Including each other.


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Series

Featured Series

1 primary book2 released books

#1 in The Amberlough Dossier

The Amberlough Dossier is a 2-book series with 2 released primary works first released in 2017 with contributions by Lara Elena Donnelly.

#1
Amberlough
The Amberlough Dossier

Reviews

Popular Reviews

Reviews with the most likes.

Amberlough is a highly impressive first novel, but it was too dark for me. While I want to know what happens to the three protagonists, I'm not really likely to go on and read volumes two and three.

March 16, 2019
April 20, 2017

3.5 stars. Dark and somewhat nihilistic. I enjoyed it. Can't say anymore without spoilers.

September 16, 2017

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