Julia: I’d give my dad Trinity Six by Charles Cumming. A wonderful mix of historical – the Philby, Burgess and MacLean scandal; the dying days of the Cold War in Germany – and contemporary drama with an academic on the track of a possible sixth member of the notorious Cambridge spy ring. Charlie is amongst the best modern espionage writers around (he’s regularly touted as the heir to le Carre) and this story in particular weaves in fascinating detail from my father’s early life while giving him a genuinely edge-of-your-seat read.
Helen: Oh, have I got a recommendation for you. The single-most heart-stopping book I’ve read this year has got to be The Hunt by Tim Lebbon – a race against the clock thriller that your dad won’t be able to put down. If he can’t get enough of Taken or was hooked by 24, then you can’t go wrong with this edge-of-the-seat thriller.
Imagine one day coming back from your morning run and finding a man standing in your kitchen, making himself a cup of coffee. This is what happens to Chris. In the eerie quiet that follows, the stranger tells him that he works for an organisation called The Trail. They organise hunts for super rich clients – and their prey is always human…
The Trail have taken Chris’s wife and daughter – and now he has to run. If he’s caught and killed, his family go free. If he escapes, they die. And so starts one of the most epic chases I’ve read in I don’t know how long. Buy a copy for your dad and one for yourself – you won’t regret it.
Hayley: I’m getting my dad Andrew Marr’s new thriller Head of State for father’s day (4th Estate). Dubbed to be as dark and twisted as House Of Cards with scandalous conspiracy theories, murders and tyrannical leaders, with Marr’s experience and insider knowledge it’s sure to be a witty and clever read. I can only hope Marr’s protagonist is as wicked as Frank Underwood to keep my dad entertained until season 4 is released…
Lucy: In my father’s eyes, the only character who rivals James Bond is Jason Bourne, so why not give him a cross between the two? Daniel Silva’s new thriller, The English Spy is the latest to feature the inimitable Gabriel Allon – legendary art restorer and spy. When an iconic member of the British Royal Family is murdered, Allon is called upon to track down the killer. There’s the usual blend of intrigue, thrills and exotic locations, including our very own United Kingdom!
Marion: For Father’s Day, I would give my dad Greg Iles’s The Bone Tree. Firstly because I absolutely loved Natchez Burning and have been recommending the Penn Cage series to anyone who asks me for a new book to get stuck in. Also, since my dad was a Yankee-transplant in the South for the four years of my childhood that we lived there, I think Iles’s atmospheric writing would be a real treat to have alongside its haunting narrative.
Sarah: My Dad was a keen reader, and as someone who had a travel a lot for work, could often be found with the latest airport blockbuster in his hand luggage. He appreciated a well thought-out plot with plenty of twists and a satisfying ending. So if he was still around I don’t think I could do better than give him the great Jack Higgins’ latest high-octane thriller Rain on the Dead.
