📚 Journal Flashback: Forgotten Books – Bill Granger’s November Man
I’ve seen other bloggers post about Forgotten Books, and I’ve done my share of Forgotten Music—so here’s a dive into a forgotten book series that still sticks with me: Bill Granger’s November Man.
I started keeping a book journal in 1987, jotting down the dates I finished each book along with a few thoughts and star ratings. Looking back, I noticed that in both March 1988 and March 1989, I read one book from this series each year—and both left a strong impression.
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📖 March 1988 – The Infant of Prague
Rating: ★★★☆☆
This was book #8 in the series. My journal says:
“Devereaux tries to bring a defector out of Czechoslovakia. The story kept moving and the ending was satisfying. Better than the previous one I read (*Hemingway’s Notebook*).”
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📖 March 1989 – Henry McGee is Not Dead
Journal comments:
“Henry McGee is an agent who crossed over in Alaska. There’s a complex plot to destroy R Section, a bomb on the pipeline, and Devereaux and Denisov (Soviet defector) are in the middle of it. The writing was occasionally difficult, but overall a good read.”
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🕵️ Why I Loved the Series
These were some of the best spy novels I read back in the day—always exciting, with a fascinating lead character in Devereaux. The books had an edge, a Cold War atmosphere, and a different tone from your typical spy thrillers.
More on Bill Granger at Fantastic Fiction
Looking back, the November Man books definitely laid the groundwork for my later love of authors like Brad Thor, Vince Flynn, and Alex Berenson.
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📚 Forgotten Book Tip
If you ever see a copy of a Bill Granger novel at a library sale or used bookstore—grab it! You won’t be disappointed.
