- Imprint: Penguin
- ISBN: 9781405988667
- Price: £14.00
Octagon
Brought to you by Penguin.
The whiplash-inducing spy thriller, for fans of Scott Mariani and Black Doves.
A deadly weapon.
A human sacrifice.
A prophecy of mass murder…
… One woman can unravel the conspiracy,
And one man must keep her alive.
© C. J. Merritt 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
JACK CARR, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Cry HavocEspionage, action, terrorism, cage fights, motorcycles, mystery and mayhem, C.J. Merritt delivers the goods and then some! Octagon bleeds authenticity from the first page to the last. Read it today!
M.W. CravenAn espionage novel that moves fast and hits hard. Stella and Tommy are wonderfully drawn protagonists, damaged but fiercely loyal to each other and to their country, and the plot is current and very scary. Highly recommended.
Julian Fisher, author of Think Like a SpyI hate this book, for keeping me up all night. Psychological insights, authentic tradecraft, sharply-drawn characters and a compelling plot grab the reader with a grip as tight as Tommy Kane’s. Well-observed prose engages them with all the charismatic poise of Stella McRae. Bourne meets Smiley, with exquisite balance.
VASEEM KHAN, author of QUANTUM OF MENACEOctagon blends high-stakes, high-octane spy fiction with cryptic clue intrigue and a side order of globetrotting action adventure. A blistering thrill ride!
CHARLES CUMMINGA smart, slick, adrenaline-fuelled adventure for today's fans of Ludlum and Fleming.
The CriticA gritty, well-paced, page-turner.
James Wolff, author of Spies and Other GodsA classic ticking-clock thriller ... fast-moving, full of surprises and very hard to put down.
I.S. Berry, author of The Peacock and the SparrowA timely tale of the dangers of extremism lying just beneath the surface, of the dark web and cults of personality, Octagon will enthrall, grip, and spook you in equal measure. Will have you turning pages at breakneck speed. A top-shelf spy thriller from someone who knows his stuff.
DAVID GOODMANOCTAGON plunges the reader into a nightmarish nuclear conspiracy that spans the European continent, from the darkest woods of Scandinavia to the Adriatic coast. Short on options, time and resources, the protagonists of this breakneck espionage thriller untangle a web of threats, opportunities and uneasy alliances that left my head spinning. An authentic and compelling spy novel that hooked me from the opening scene.
ALAN JUDDHere you have everything you look for in a spy thriller: action, suspense, drama, deft plotting and gritty realism. Buy now.
About C.J. Merritt
C. J. Merritt served as a British diplomat in Iraq and Jerusalem. Pursuing his interest in the psychological impact of armed conflict, he then retrained as a Clinical Psychologist and worked for the National Health Service in London, where he focused on treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. During this time, he began writing fiction, and his debut novel was published in 2018. Since then, he has authored several more thrillers (as Chris Merritt). Now, alongside his writing, he analyses espionage and insider risk for a cybersecurity consultancy. He lives in London.
Details
All editions
- Hardback 2026
- Ebook 2026
- Audio Download 2026