Tod Productions (producers of Criminal Record for AppleTV+) has secured the rights for the compelling espionage novel A Spy Alone.

Written by former MI6 operative Charles Beaumont, this debut thriller explores the possibility of a secret Russian spy ring in Oxford and is described as a searing portrait of modern Britain in the age of cynical populism.

Set in 2022, former spy Simon Sharman is eking out a living in the private sector. When a commission to delve into the financial dealings of a mysterious Russian oligarch comes across Sharman’s desk, he jumps at the chance. But as he investigates, worrying patterns begin to emerge. He begins to question if he has found what none of his former colleagues believed possible, a Russian spy ring now nestled in the heart of the British Establishment.  Or is he another paranoid ex-spook left out in the cold, obsessed with redemption?

Published by Canelo in November 2023, A Spy Alone has sold over 55,000 copies across all formats. It received glowing reviews in The Times, FT, Spectator, and Private Eye, and was praised by James O’Brien on LBC. A sequel will be released by Canelo in early 2025.

Author Charles Beaumont worked undercover as an MI6 operative in war zones, on diplomatic missions and in international business, across two decades and four continents.

Tod Productions is an independent production company specialising in high end drama and is run by respected drama producer, Elaine Collins (Shetland, Vera, Criminal Record), and is the exclusive co-production partner to STV Studios. The team at Tod is delighted to be developing the novel for screen.

Elaine Collins said: “We’re thrilled to pick up A SPY ALONE, the first in a new returnable franchise.  Charles’ novel is a brilliant combination of old-school spy craft and contemporary politics. We were really drawn to the novel’s fresh approach to the spy genre – where our hero tussles with the new rules for intelligence in a post ideological world.  Most of all, it’s a cracking thriller with a smart political message.”

Charles Beaumont said: “I am excited and delighted to be working with Elaine and her team at Tod Productions. Every author dreams of seeing their work on screen, but to be working with someone with Elaine’s considerable track record of successes is a real privilege. I feel that my book is in the best possible hands.”

The deal was negotiated by Michael Dean at Andrew Nurnberg Associates.