Nerves and sabers rattle in this high-stakes spy thriller of the Cold War.

- Kathy L. Brown, Independent Book Review, 2021

A British agent confronts the brilliant mastermind behind a suspicious port explosion, only to discover the stakes for human civilization are infinitely higher than a shipping disaster. Cold Star, a spy thriller set during the Cold War, transports readers to a convincing 1960s Casablanca as well as immersing them in a secret agent’s morally ambiguous world.

Author Dick Woodgate displays his love of this genre’s classics with the shadowy spirit of the great spy stories before him. The point-of-view character, an unnamed British spy referred to as ‘the agent’ is assigned to investigate a ship explosion in the port of Casablanca. The official reports don’t quite ring true, and the western allies are eternally vigilant for Soviet nuclear weapons threats. With a little snooping and a lot of informant interrogation, the agent quickly determines that something huge and threatening is under construction out in the Moroccan desert. He meets his match, however, at the facility, facing a number of challenges as he tries and fails to stop the threat. The outcome is in question right to the bitter end.

Cold Star is successful on a number of levels, including its strong plot, its classic spy story nostalgia, and its unique and truly convincing setting. Readers are treated to rich detail of the fabled city in this one. ‘The sun had set about an hour before and the narrow street, densely populated with ancient buildings crowding out the remaining early evening light, provided pockets of deeper shadow which played to his advantage—as did the dark blue paint job on the coachwork of the Maserati.’

The Cold War ambience and attitudes are also communicated well. The 1960s-style secret agent is a classic entertainment icon, and in this way, Cold Star doesn’t disappoint. The agent is a suave young man, savouring life’s sensory pleasures of fast cars, champagne, and luxury hotels. Professionally amoral, he vaguely alludes to some fine point of international law before disposing of his adversary de jour. Yet we do see a bit of introspection as the agent contemplates his future, writ-large before him in the washed-up, alcoholic station chief who helps with his investigation.

The villain’s plot is audacious and clever, and he has a solid motivation to carry the story forward. The high stakes and their global importance make the story a true thriller. The narrative arc is strong, and a great twist at the end generates a force of change for the agent himself, which is a deft touch that elevates the story.

The book has a clean, clear narrative voice, with just enough clever turns-of-phrase to keep me satisfied. For example, the debris at the port after the ship explosion is described: ‘In the process of cooling, it had now fused to form an extraordinary new structure, looking like a monumental dripping sculpture by Salvador Dali.’ Espionage and thriller readers are going to enjoy the novel’s high stakes and the villain’s clever threat to humanity. Historical fiction fans interested in the 1960s, the Space Race, and the Cold War will also appreciate the level of detail woven into the story.

If you like James Bond of the 1960s, with a touch of Michael Caine’s thinking spy, you’ll love this well-penned espionage book set at the height of the Cold War’s space race.

 – Matt McAvoy Book Review, 2021

If you like James Bond of the 1960s, with a touch of Michael Caine’s thinking spy, you’ll love this well-penned espionage book set at the height of the Cold War’s space race. With more than a small element of those Adventure Books for Boys, which were so popular in the 60s and 70s, the unnamed secret agent goes from one extreme situation to another, from cliff-scaling to wreck-diving, with nothing more than his own grit and wit as an ally, when sent to investigate a huge explosion in Morocco.

There is a ruthless efficiency and coldness about The Agent, which borders at times on the psychopathic, and this lack of any emotional depth is actually what layers his character – you can believe that such people exist in the spy business. Perhaps more relatable and even likeable a character is the enigmatic arch-villain, a deranged scientist and super-wealthy megalomaniac with plans to launch a super-weapon. Overall, there are some great elements to this Fleming-esque adventure, which has all the elements, including the fast cars and the beautiful, exotic “love” interest. Woodgate has crafted a very simple yet hugely enjoyable action thriller, which ticks all the boxes of the spy genre, with the recognizable intensifying three acts.

It was nice to read a book which harked back to a time when readers took their enjoyment from more formulaic fiction, and you can appreciate the author’s aspiration to create a series from this character’s missions and exploits. There is a cool darkness about The Agent, and I hope Woodgate resists the temptation to humanize him too much with a backstory and/or life development. When considering Bond, for example, do we know what he does on his day off, or ever see him just watching TV in his house? Of course not, because to over-develop the character would totally dilute his mystery and callous ambiguity – and that is what is so appealing like these types of character. Woodgate has created one in a similar mould, and I like guessing at his issues and eyebrow-raising faults. Additionally, it is to the writer’s credit that he doesn’t linger on the violence of which we know The Agent is capable – even seems compelled toward, perhaps damaged or desensitized by things he has seen in his work; the suggestion of The Agent’s cruelty are enough, and quite frankly we find ourselves not wanting to witness it. This is definitely a good choice by the author.

A good job done by Dick Woodgate, and I would be intrigued to read more from this series.

An anonymous secret agent in 1960’s Casablanca must deal with danger, a deadly conspiracy, and heated romance in author Dick Woodgate’s espionage thriller, Cold Star.

– Anthony Avina’s Blog, 2021

This was an incredible espionage read. The atmosphere and tone the author employed here very much captured the era of the narrative’s setting. The iconic spy thriller style novel presented both political and action thriller vibes, and the imagery the author used in the writing, from the powerful sports cars the Agent utilized in his adventures to the trickery and air of tension that the protagonist had with other key figures in the novel, really did an amazing job of crafting this fictional world in the reader’s minds.

The characters themselves really brought the novel’s heart into play here. The protagonist himself being this anonymous secret spy known only as The Agent was an inspired choice, as he represented the classic literary characters (and film) such as James Bond that readers have come to know and love over the years while allowing enough room for imagination in the reader’s minds to take over and craft a wholly original and unique experience. The ruthless and almost cold nature of the character’s actions gave such an interesting psychological aspect to his development as well, as he worked to do the “heroic” thing while still struggling to find the meaning and humanity behind his actions.

A masterfully executed, creative, and engaging spy thriller, author Dick Woodgate’s “Cold Star” is a must-read novel of 2021. The author’s balance of imagery and character growth will have readers harkening back to an iconic time in espionage thriller novels, while the plot and tone will keep readers on the edge of their seat as the shocking finale explodes onto the page.

Cold Star: abridged excerpt - chapter 2

The aeroplane climbed towards its cruising altitude; on the wing, water droplets froze with the sudden fall in temperature. Inside the cabin, cocktails were served. The agent swirled his tumbler and the ice within it cracked as it transformed, surrendering to the pale gold liquid enveloping it. Through the new-style oval window of the aircraft, he watched tiny ice crystals forming on the outside of the glass, developing long, delicately branched filaments around the perimeter. The process held the agent’s attention and helped to focus his thoughts. What was this really about? He’d been told he would have to work this assignment out for himself and he’d an inkling there may be more to it than he’d been led to understand. He lifted the tumbler and sipped his whisky sour. It hit the spot. Lowering his glass, he observed the ice being slowly drowned in the spirit. The agent finished his drink and called the stewardess for another.

Later, the aeroplane flew down the Atlantic coastline and then came in low over the ocean to land at Casablanca. As the aircraft approached the airfield, the agent looked out of his starboard window onto the endless blue-grey of the Atlantic, stretching all the way to the Eastern American seaboard. His mind wandered there for a moment. But for now, he’d settle for fragrant scents, exotic spices and the pleasant climate of a North African spring. There would be warmth and vivid colour by day, and by night – out in the Berber villages of the interior – smoke from the fires and the sound of the bendir drum being played. Across the Strait of Gibraltar, Europe was left behind and the north-western tip of Africa was a taste of things to come from this vast continent. Where Europe meets Africa, the agent would shortly be arriving in Morocco.