Old School Spy Meets New School Gadgets

 

Spycraft and Technology

AKA when an old school spy (that's Arthur, the blond on the right) has to work with a new school spy (that's Harun, bottom left).

By the way, this gorgeous book cover was drawn by artist Elizabeth Barrette.

This is my first 'book details' post on my new blog! The purpose being to share fun little details from my books that I particularly enjoyed.

I wrote my spy novella, Jingle Jingle Kill, in 2025, in the middle of summer, but after having had the initial idea the Christmas prior. That idea being, what if holiday jingles (those annoying pop tunes we hear on the radio) were a trigger for deadly sleeper agents? What then?

So, I came up with a plot for that, and the plot involves my MC's doing some spycraft. Arthur Romeo, blond, British, gentleman spy, currently age 49 and as old skool as they come, has to reunite with his former partner and old flame, Harun, age 45, a spy from 'the other side' that flipped sides.

Both men are young Gen X, but while Arthur prefers vintage things like newspapers, landlines telephones, and quiet, Harun is more into tech and modern gadgets. 

This is one of my favourite moments when Harun is kitting Arthur out before sending him undercover to a private gentleman's club that is also a secret organisation:

"And here is their club signet ring. Wear it on your left hand."

Harun handed Arthur a gold ring with a red and gold emblem of a Christian cross and a builder’s set square.

Arthur slipped it on over his left pinkie, twisting it to fit. "Where did you find one of these? Go raiding the MI6 cupboards on your break, did you?"

"It's 3D printed," Harun said. "I found photos of one in the archives."

"3D? Hm." Arthur inspected the ring closer. He never would've known. 

Little interactions like these, revealing Arthur's absolute lack of knowledge when it comes to modern technology, really make me smile.

Luckily Arthur has Harun to keep him up to date!

If you like spies with a diverse cast, done in a vintage James Bond style, with plenty of British humour, check out Jingle Jingle Kill, book one of the new series Arthur Romeo Mysteries

Available direct from my small queer publisher, Ninestar Press, or available at various digital stores.

Read an excerpt here!

Signing off,

C. Quince.