For important covert missions, the UK relies on MI6, Israel has Mossad, and the CIA covers the US. While these agencies fill a need in their respective countries, they are often limited by national borders and nagging bureaucracy. But what about an international organization unbounded by government and unafraid of consequences? For Harry Fernández, a recent transplant to Murcia, Spain, it’s just another day on the job at his branch of Fernández Anticuarios Internacionales. FAI has strict protocols, deep pockets, and a fancy cover as an antique brokerage, but it falls under the mercenary umbrella known as The Conglomerate. Harry’s colleagues are competent and trustworthy, helping him learn to rely on others while honing his own skills. The assignments are dangerous and the hours are unusual, but working as an operative for FAI is a fulfilling venture, allowing Harry to make his mark on the organization and save up a decent sum. In between missions, he has become good friends with a neighbor and drawn closer to his girlfriend, Sofia. But these relationships are on shaky ground as his supposed career as an antiques dealer is merely a ruse, a carefully crafted act that’s getting harder and harder to maintain. Will Harry turn in his weapon, opting for honesty, stability, and a boring desk job? Or will The Conglomerate make Harry an offer this talented spy can’t refuse?
He’s more of a maverick than a team player, but Harry still finds a way to lead the charge in A Necessary Evil. Though not gregarious by nature, Harry takes the reins on these FAI missions while always keeping an eye out for his team, his neighbor, and his girlfriend. He manages his manufactured deception so effectively, his friend observes, “He’s like Indiana Jones, but boring.” As Harry navigates this work-life balance, audiences are introduced to vibrant Spanish culture, with local expressions explained through endnotes and popular dishes described in mouth-watering detail. While the story has plenty of movement, the narration wavers between vague summaries and excessive precision, which can hinder the pacing and make the prose feel rigid rather than fluid and engaging. Still, the plot features dangerous stakeouts, lucrative paydays, costly interventions, unbelievable opportunities, unlikely allies, and unintended casualties, all contributing to a story that will entertain readers. The varied missions and gripping chapter hooks keep the pages turning in Daniel Borrachero Tamame’s spy novel, A Necessary Evil.
