KYD’S GAME follows a former CIA operative who is accused of assassinating a Russian presidential candidate and is being hunted by Russian Special Forces. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I had seen a news video of the chemical attack in Syria (2017). A man and his young son were hopelessly struggling to outrun the effects. It had a strong emotional impact on me. Evidence that the Russians were complicit is documented. I later read Bill Browder’s book Red Notice, which clearly illustrates the corruption and cruelty of Putin’s regime. Putting these influences together with my love of le Carre’s books pushed me forward.

​A lot of time was spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?

Authenticity. No character sees themselves as a villain, they all have a rationale for their actions. I try to see the world from each of their perspectives no matter how others might judge them.

I felt that there were a lot of great twists and turns throughout the novel. Did you plan this before writing the novel, or did the twists develop organically writing?

I come from a screenwriting background, so structure is very important for my confidence. I plan meticulously to keep the story moving in a believable but unpredictable way. Having said that, I’m always open to better ideas and sometimes that means re-structuring. I don’t have the confidence to ‘pants’ it.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?

I have a creative non-fiction/fictional autobiography that needs more work, and I’ve been writing another novel, The Home Run, set mostly in Venezuela. It involves an older man who finds out he has a terminal disease and is asked by the U.S. government to be a suicide bomber. I edit as I go, so my process is slow.

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Neil Kyd, accused of assassinating a Russian presidential candidate, hunted by Russian Special Forces, has only one thing on his mind, saving his daughter’s life.

Kyd has done everything possible to help his terminally ill daughter. He’s out of options when he’s recalled by the Agency and offered a special job, a quick ‘in and out’ assignment to retrieve a memory card from an ex-girlfriend in Moscow. If he accepts, the Agency will place his daughter into a cutting-edge medical program that will give her a chance. He agrees.

 A cross between John le Carre’s “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” and Patricia Highsmith’s “The Talented Mr. Ripley”. “Kyd’s Game” will keep you on the edge of your seat.