Dark Arena cover art

Dark Arena

The Frenchman Series, Book 2

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Dark Arena

By: Jack Beaumont
Narrated by: Julian Pulvermacher
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About this listen

When a DGSE agent is brutally murdered in front of his family, the 'Company' swings into action, determined to track down the killers.

Meanwhile, operative Alec de Payns is turning a Russian intelligence officer by blackmail. His team must establish who is posting classified material against the Kremlin to embassies all over Europe.

The clues lead to a secret meeting of businessmen, terrorists and mercenaries on a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean, which Alec must infiltrate. What he discovers there will set Europe on course for catastrophe. Can de Payns and his team establish who is setting up an assassination? Who is the target? And will they be able to stop it?

A deadly Europe-wide manhunt, Dark Arena is another electrifying thriller from ex-DGSE spy Jack Beaumont, delivering all the taut plotting, superb action and authentic spycraft that made The Frenchman a critically acclaimed bestseller.

©2024 Jack Beaumont (P)2024 W. F. Howes Ltd Espionage Spies & Politics Suspense Thriller & Suspense
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Most relevant  
If you’re a realist and you’re interested in current Geopolitics you will love this book.

Shelter, water, food and a source of energy is pretty much all humans need to survive.

However, if we’re unable to provide protection to those basics, be it from natural disaster or, other humans possessed by an ideology we find unacceptable, then we have a big problem.

The story follows the home life of the spy, Alec de Payns, his family and colleagues, taking the reader deep behind the scenes into the conceivably real world of geopolitical manoeuvring, in the context of strategic energy security, all on the backdrop of climate change.

Loved it

Gripping, current geopolitical, convincing spy thriller.

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Very cleverly written spy novel with recent political events making it seem more believable and relevant. Highly recommended author.

A wonderful sequel!

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What a ripper!! Incredibly exciting story of modern day espionage based around Russian and Middle Eastern terror threats. A great insight into the life of a spy written by a spy. Narration was terrific too

Outstanding

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this book was as good as the first. well structured and paced. a great read

another great book

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Perhaps because it’s an audio book, I did find it a little hard to follow.

Interesting, bit tricky to follow

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A gripping story combined with an extraordinary glimpse behind the scenes of world events made for a suspenseful and fascinating book, very well narrated too.

gripping spy thriller

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Loved the first book.
Perhaps cause it was an audio book, I have to admit I find it difficult to follow. The books are great for the level of detail they provide into the way spy's operate, but there's too much detail about characters that have nothing to do with progressing a plot.
Too many characters as well. every couple of chapters they'd introduce a few new names, then use code names for some of them, then sometimes use first names and others use surnames. and having main characters with very similar sounding names was frustrating too. Perhaps it's more cause of my English ear and the French names are more difficult. 🤔 I really like the books and the author, but it really honestly got to the point where it was giving me a headache and not as enjoyable Del

Great listen if you're interested in the geopolitics involved in actual spy work, not the ridiculous Bond stories.

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Loved the depth of the characters not just the main antagonist but also his personal life.

Best Sou Novel

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True to the blurb, this story feels very grounded in his spy services likely do operate. It has a ring of realism rather than bombastic nonsense.

But man, what’s up with the narrator? Is he actually an AI reading the book. Or maybe a 1980s news reel anchor? It’s really distracting.

Great to have a relatively realistic spy novel … but the narrator is terrible

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