Donegal-based author Jamie Smith releases third novel ‘Wall of Spies’

Donegal Town-based author Jamie Smith has just released his highly anticipated third novel, Wall of Spies.

Described as “a rip-roaring page-turner”, Wall of Spies is the sequel to the critically acclaimed spy-thriller The Soviet Comeback.

Jamie, a married father of three, 40, is delighted to see the book hit the shelves, describing this one as a “labour of love”.

“This is the first sequel I’ve written and came with the pressure of expectation which I hadn’t really experienced before,” he said. “The Soviet Comeback really seemed to connect with people, and since it was released in 2021 I’ve been inundated with readers asking when the sequel will arrive.

“There were a few challenges with the publishing journey for Wall of Spies, so I’m really delighted to get it out into the world, and fingers crossed it lives up to the hopes and expectations people have for the next story of Nikita.

“The book was written almost in its entirety in three very intense months, where I was writing almost around the clock and relying very heavily on coffee. But with a character as interesting but haunted as Nikita it felt at times like I needed to be right there on the edge with him to really convey the emotions and rawness of his challenges.”

Author Jamie Smith

Wall of Spies re-enters the world of Nikita Alochka, a young Nigerian immigrant in the USSR who is forced to become a KGB agent to protect his family, as they believed the very last thing the US would expect was a Black Russian spy. Set against the shadow-drenched backdrop of Berlin, in 1989 Wall of Spies follows a Nikita now battling physical scars and moral conflict as he navigates the brutal world of espionage on both sides of the Berlin Wall.

The gripping novel blends historical intrigue with a fast-paced narrative, and explores identity, loyalty, and psychological survival - all hallmarks of the author’s signature style.

Although written thousands of miles from Berlin, Wall of Spies has strong roots in Donegal. Jamie now lives in Donegal Town, and he credits the peace and isolation of Donegal’s coastline with helping him complete the book.

“There’s something about Donegal’s landscape - its ruggedness, its solitude - that lends itself to writing about tension and conflict,” he says. “I conjured up some of the most intense scenes while looking out at a very stormy Atlantic or when surfing down at Rossnowlagh.

“The people of Donegal know as well as anyone the impact that borders and division can have, and there’s a lot about that time in Berlin that still resonates deeply today.”

The book, out on December 10, is available for pre order now on Amazon and other online bookshops, and will be arriving in Donegal bookshops shortly after.

READ NEXT: Dungloe set to glow as Christmas lights to be switched on

Jamie Smith is a novelist known for his atmospheric, character-driven thrillers. He has lived and written in Donegal and Thame, Oxfordshire, and draws inspiration from Cold War history, psychological drama, and the darker edges of moral decision-making. His other book, Where Giants Walk, was a young adult fantasy novel released in 2024. When not writing, he works in digital marketing and enjoys exploring the Donegal landscapes that influence his stories, from surfing in Rossnowlagh to hiking in the Bluestacks.