Agent Sarah Black is back, and she's done asking permission.
Scarred by the events of her first official assignment, new recruit Sarah has cut all ties with the special liaison unit known as The Pelicans. Abandoning enigmatic leader Michael on the banks of the Thames and defying all orders, she vows to finish the mission he set her . . . alone.
Her dogged pursuit of the mastermind who eluded her in Georgia takes her to searing heat and civil unrest in west Africa, to a lawless land rife with war profiteering. When she hears that her mark is bankrolling a ruthless rebel leader, the only surprise is that it's her one ally, Elias, who delivers the news. How did he earn his place in the inner circle? Can she trust the intelligence he shares, that the endgame is more deadly than she could ever have imagined?
With doubt thrown on Elias and no backup from the Pelicans, Sarah must rely on raw instinct to neutralise the operation and burn the network to the ground. She needs to think three moves ahead to outmanoeuvre her ruthless opponent, and in a game without rules, every move counts.
But when the game is being played on a global stage with catastrophically high stakes for peace, for democracy, and for everything Sarah believes in, how far will she go to win?
-------
Compulsive, taut and whip-smart, Rogue Agency is the second gripping instalment of L.D. Sharpe's series of modern spy thrillers. Perfect for fans of I.S. Berry, Ava Glass and David Goodman.
Rogue Agency was previously published by Burning Chair in 2023 as The Head of the Snake by Lucy Hooft.
Praise for L.D. Sharpe's Pelican Black series:
'A terrific tale with plenty of action, set in the novel theatre of the Caucasus . . . a cracking read' - NetGalley reviewer, ?????
'A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book, it was brilliant' - NetGalley reviewer, ?????
'The first in a series and I will definitely be reading the others . . . the female lead is very well written. I loved it' - NetGalley reviewer, ?????
'Sarah Black's wit and guile shines through . . a colourful, enjoyable book and the start of a promising series' - NetGalley reviewer, ?????
'Thoroughly entertaining . . . I would pick up the next book by Sharpe without hesitation' - NetGalley reviewer
'It's just so exciting to see a powerful female character like Sarah Black . . . This is a fast-paced espionage thriller that feels fresh and exciting . . It will keep you up far too late!' - Holly Watt, author of The Casey Benedict Investigations
'Sarah Black is bold, brainy, and badass! And believable too - this story is as authentic as it is exciting, from the magnificently crafted cast of characters to the incredibly well-drawn locations. Gripping, pacy, and intelligent, I couldn't put it down' - Daniel Aubrey, author of Dark Island
'The Recruit introduces an impressive, complex, resourceful recruit to British espionage, and a world that is shabbier, darker, more ambiguous and far more compromised than the MI6 of James Bond. But it's every bit as tense and exciting . . . this is a sharply written thriller that is also sharply contemporary' - Michael Russell, author of the Stefan Gillespie thrillers
