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Brian Freemantle
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Charlie's Apprentice (The Charlie Muffin Series Book 10) Kindle Edition

by Brian Freemantle (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 63 ratings
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The end of the Cold War could put British spy Charlie Muffin out of work. “Secrets hide within secrets . . . Superior work from a master of the form” (Publishers Weekly).
 Charlie Muffin shouldn’t be condemned for mourning the end of the Cold War. For decades the KGB provided him with endless professional success and now that it’s gone, Charlie is nearly out of a job. Removed from active duty, he is now training new recruits on operations in a post-Soviet era. It’s dull work that leaves Charlie yearning for the adventures of old and this time, he’ll get more than he bargained for. One of Charlie’s first pupils is arrested within days of arriving in Beijing to extract a blown British agent. Now Charlie must go to China and get both of them out. Meanwhile, someone is searching for Charlie—Natalia Fedova, a former lover, who surfaces with a new job high up in Russian intelligence and a daughter she says is his. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Brian Freemantle including rare photos from the author’s personal collection.
Previous page
  1. Book 10 of 11
    The Charlie Muffin Thrillers
  2. Print length
    491 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    Open Road Media Mystery & Thriller
  6. Publication date
    August 23, 2011
  7. File size
    4364 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

British spy Charlie Muffin, the wonderfully unorthodox hero of several seriocomic adventures by Freemantle, has been put into semiretirement, reduced by his new superiors to training fledgling agents. Charlie adjusts as best he can, forming a personal attachment with his first apprentice, John Gower, and a platonic relationship with the new director's secretary. Meanwhile, in Russia, KGB agent Natalia Fedova, having realized that Charlie had saved her life and career by aborting her planned defection to the West a few years back, decides to track down the rumpled spy in order to let him know that she's borne him a daughter; at the same time, she must guard against the jealous manipulations of a subordinate who wants to destroy her. And in Beijing, a Jesuit who doubles as a British agent finds himself in increasing jeopardy of exposure but refuses to leave his post, prompting the London office to send the unseasoned Gower in to bring him home. When Gower is captured and imprisoned by the Chinese, Charlie must rescue him before an international incident erupts. As usual with Freemantle, secrets hide within secrets, and one way or another, Charlie will have his revenge on those he finds wanting. The delightful way in which that revenge dovetails with Natalia's own designs makes for a most satisfying conclusion, reached amid a flurry of surprises and revelations. Superior work from a master of the form.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

British intelligence officer Charlie Muffin, renowned for his unorthodox methods, has been grounded. Charlie's new female boss thinks his time is better spent teaching new operatives rather than working in the field. Although frustrated, Charlie does his best to instruct recent graduate John Gower in surviving as an agent-practical, life-saving tips of the trade that are not found in any of the training manuals. Charlie is suspicious when the inexperienced Gower is sent to Beijing on a tricky assignment; later, when Gower is arrested and imprisoned, Charlie is dispatched to China to extricate him. This latest Charlie Muffin adventure has several interrelated story lines to hold the reader's attention. Recommended for popular fiction collections.
Maria A. Perez-Stable, Western Michigan Univ. Libs., Kalamazoo
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005HA9I92
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media Mystery & Thriller (August 23, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 23, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4364 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 491 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 63 ratings

About the author

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Brian Freemantle

Brian Freemantle

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Brian Freemantle [b. 1936] is one of Britain's most acclaimed authors of spy fiction. His novels have sold over ten million copies worldwide. Born in Southampton, Freemantle entered his career as a journalist, and began writing espionage thrillers in the late 1960s. Charlie M (1977) introduced the world to Charlie Muffin and won Freemantle international recognition—he would go on to publish fourteen titles in the series.

Freemantle has written dozens of other novels, including two featuring Sebastian Holmes, an illegitimate son of Sherlock Holmes, and the Cowley and Danilov series, about an American FBI agent and a Russian militia detective who work together to comabt organized crime in the post-Cold War world. Freemantle lives and works in London, Englad.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
63 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

William Griffin
5.0 out of 5 stars Charlie Muffin series
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2016
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Another rebellious edition of the Charlie Muffin series, a good read.
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Richard M. Pye
4.0 out of 5 stars Leaves you hanging!
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2023
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What’s next for Charlie? I’ll be reading the next volume to find out. This one was a gem. Charlie shows a couple of his sides to us, proving once again that he is the survivor of survivors. He also shows his human side beneath that cynical and scruffy exterior. His apprentice needs him and he comes through.
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Lynette Crews
5.0 out of 5 stars Charlies Apprentice
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2012
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I love these book about Charlie Muffin and will continue to buy them while ever the same theme's are made available.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Revenge is best served up with a Muffin.
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2018
Each Charlie Muffin book I read, I always think "This is the best one yet". Charlie's Apprentice is no exception. A wonderfully convoluted story that makes one pay attention. Those with short attention spans need not apply. Told from different perspectives, the story becomes more and more complex and interesting but quite easy to follow along. There is no lack of bare bones character portrayals. All the personal faults, but few virtues, come to the surface in surprising ways. One of the few books I might just read again.
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Linda
4.0 out of 5 stars Charlie Muffin Rides Again
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2017
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Some of this is confusing, but aren't all Charlie Muffin books?
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Ken C.
3.0 out of 5 stars Can't Win Them All
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2014
In my last review, I complained of Charlie Muffin fatigue, yet I took on this novel right after. So it serves me right that I didn't get the thrill that I usually get from a Muffin novel. It's okay, as three stars indicates. But it didn't have an overall plot to follow, and the ebook combined the different scenarios that we were following so that you'd move from one to the next without warning. Finally, the characters weren't as fleshed out as we have been accustomed to with Mr. Freemantle's writing.
One person found this helpful
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John G. Hilliard
2.0 out of 5 stars Slow and Old
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2002
Some of his other work is much better. This book seams rushed, almost like the author did not want to take the time to really develop either the story or the characters. Because of the light development it does not hold your attention. I just did not believe the characters. I kept waiting for it to get better which is why I toughed it out to the end, but I was disappointed overall.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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daigoro
4.0 out of 5 stars 冷戦後のスパイ小説は成立しないと言われていたが。
Reviewed in Japan on April 14, 2018
Verified Purchase
冷戦後のスパイ小説は成立しないと言われていたが。
見事に成立する例となっている。
共産中国とバチカンの対立が今（２０１８年４月）話題となっているが、この根っ子が垣間見える。
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Dougie
5.0 out of 5 stars Charlie Back to Best
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is definitely one of the best Charlie Muffin books. The intrigue and mystery is back and the ending is just what I wanted. Next stop: Bomb Grade
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Ruggles
1.0 out of 5 stars This failed to download to my Kindle Fire although it did go to iPhone which I don't use to read.
Reviewed in Japan on March 12, 2021
Verified Purchase
The order has been billed and says I have received the download. There is no link to customer support although my K Fire says to contact you if it fails to download. NOT GOOD service. I can't rate it if I can't read it!
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stewart m thomson
5.0 out of 5 stars Brian Freemantle is one of the finest spy thriller writers I've come across and Charlie Muffin ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 28, 2015
Verified Purchase
Brian Freemantle is one of the finest spy thriller writers I've come across and Charlie Muffin is an exceptional character.
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John Worsman
5.0 out of 5 stars A cracking read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2014
Verified Purchase
Brian Freemantle keeps up to standard.Charlie manages to escape again, more by cunning and luck than tradecraft. Another episode in Charlies adventures.
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