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Non-British readers are probably less familiar with the main subject of Charles Cumming's spy thriller than those in his home country. Cumming, a notable author of five spy novels to date, grounds his narrative in the legacy of the Cambridge Five, a 1950s spy ring. The Trinity Six fuses the traditional conventions of the spy novel with a twenty-first century setting, coupling a quick read with an interesting part of British and Russian history. The result proves that the spy novel, a genre that some might think to be stuck in the Cold War era, is far from dead. (Reviewed by Elizabeth Whitmore Funk).
Full Review
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Recent Reader Reviews
Rated 
of 5
by Xavier Huntley
xMANS Review
This book was the beastyest book I have read so far my entire life. This book ROCKS! :)
Rated 
of 5
by Sandra M. (Shakopee, MN)
History lesson and page-turner
The Trinity Six starts slowly as Cumming develops all the characters in turn, but then it accelerates to its page-turning climax. The tone of the book seems appropriate to the character of the frumpy professor, out of his element in the world of... Read More
Rated of 5
by Kristine L. (The Woodlands, TX)
Trinity Six
I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were excellent and I wish to see more of Charlotte in other books if possible. Honestly, the book kept me guessing as well as led me down a believable path of intrigue. Keep them coming!
Rated 
of 5
by Joan N. (Evanston, IL)
Interesting Use of History
Fast moving thriller with likeable, albeit shallow characters. An academic in need of money stumbles into a story about World War II and Cold War espionage. Based on actual circle of five Cambridge graduates who became spies for Russia, including... Read More
Rated of 5
by Cynthia C. (Peekskill, NY)
Trinity Six
Charles Cumming puts a new spin on the well-known, and real-life, spy ring of Kim Philby, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt, Donald Maclean & John Cairncross. Known as the Cambridge Five, they were recruited by the Soviet Union while at Trinity College... Read More
Rated of 5
by Sandy P. (Gainesville, FL)
Quite exceptional
I liked the fact that historical figures were employed in a work of fiction. Being old enough to remember the Philby "Sex for Secrets" scandal made this book extremely interesting. There are quite a few characters (I kept a roster) but they are... Read More
...17 More Reader Reviews
Library Journal
William Boyd
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The Cambridge Five consisted of Kim Philby, Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt, and John Cairncross, all Cambridge graduates, who made their careers in various British government agencies including the Secret Intelligence Service.
They were recruited to work for Stalin's NKVD (the precursor to the KGB) while students at Cambridge in the 1930s by Arnold Deutsch, a Russian talent spotter. Many British students at that time saw the rise of Fascism as dangerous and felt that only the Soviet Union was powerful enough to stand up to the threat.
This...
