Spy Story (novel) Spy Story (novel) Spy Story is a 1974 spy novel by Len Deighton, which features minor characters from his earlier novels "The IPCRESS File", "Funeral in Berlin", "Horse Under Water", and "Billion Dollar Brain". In common with several of his other early novels, the chapter headings have a "feature". In "Spy Story" these take the form of excerpts from the fictional Studies Centre's rules. As in the earlier "Unnamed hero" novels, we never learn the protagonist's real name, only that he is living under the name Pat Armstrong. Armstrong works for the Studies Centre in London, where various tactical wargame
A Very British Coup The first version, also titled "A Very British Coup", was adapted in 1988 by screenwriter Alan Plater and starring Ray McAnally. The 2012 four-part Channel 4 series, "Secret State", was "inspired" by the same novel. Starring Gabriel Byrne, this version was written by Robert Jones. A Very British Coup A Very British Coup is a 1982 novel by British politician Chris Mullin. The novel has twice been adapted for television; as "A Very British Coup" in 1988 and as "Secret State" in 2012. Harry Perkins is the left-wing Leader of the Labour Party and Member of Parliament for Sheffield Central.