DOUBLE
TWO BOOKS IN ONE
$US16.99
More Thrillers Books
Diabolical deeds from despicable desperados! These nail-biting stories are all told in graphic style by the doyen of Humorous Crime. It’s a menu of Russian spies, American gangsters, MI5 and the CIA. Double trouble for them and a double delight for you!
SUNBEAMS FROM SIBERIA
A beautiful Russian physicist is on a mission to help destroy one of Britain’s most iconic institutions. Resolute and ready to thwart her best intentions are the finest operatives from MI5 and Scotland Yard.
THE HITMAN FROM HONOLULU
Lured by big money, a retired gangster commits to one last job, only to find himself enmeshed in a can of worms, namely the people who retained him. The art of the double-cross was never more complicated.
Date Book Launched
20.02.2026
Awards This Book Has Won
Independent Press Award - 2nd place Crime category
Finalist Nomination
Independent Press Award
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Comments
DOUBLE - 5 STAR REVIEWS
Gerry Burke's Double combines two novellas into one entertaining espionage package. In the first, a murder reveals a bigger plot to bomb Oxford University. Can anyone stop Putin? The second tale, The Hitman from Honolulu, focuses on an assassination plot targeting two people. You meet characters from sleeper agents to CIA and even the White House. The plots are unpredictable and the storytelling is superb. I raced through the pages.
Christian Sia (Goodreads Review)
DOUBLE
Category:Terrorist-Thriller
Author: Gerry Burke
Publisher: iUniverse
Gerry Burke’s Double is a tongue-in-cheek espionage thriller that combines two novellas to deliver a rollicking ride for fans of the genre. Sunbeams from Siberia begins with the brutal murder of Delia Deschamps in the quaint English village of Omelette. What appears to be a simple countryside homicide unravels into an elaborate Russian plot to detonate a dirty bomb at Oxford University. Delia’s murder connects to a conspiracy involving smuggled plutonium, a Russian nuclear scientist posing as a Miss World contestant, and multiple moles embedded in British society, including a long-term Russian sleeper agent.
Can anything stop Putin from unleashing chaos? The Hitman from Honolulu is a tale about an assassination plot on two people that involves the CIA and the White House. And you will meet some of the characters from Sunbeams from Siberia.
Gerry Burke is a great storyteller who creates remarkable characters, delivering a cast that is both eccentric and engaging. I was invested in these characters, from the vodka-drinking Irish assassin “The Iceman” to the potato-obsessed villagers, all rendered with satirical flair. The novel's greatest strength lies in its absurdist humor, adeptly juxtaposed with genuine Cold War tension: a village named Omelette, characters with punny names —Sandy Beech, Don Armstrong— and ridiculous scenarios like the dead fish smuggling plutonium. These absurdities coexist with authentic spycraft, and that makes the read even more enjoyable.
Burke employs rapid-fire chapter transitions, mock-serious narration, and playful footnotes to sustain momentum. The pastoral English setting is ingeniously rendered. While the plot occasionally strains credibility—this is clearly intentional—the author winks at readers who appreciate genre parody. Double will appeal to fans of Get Smart, early John le Carré with a comedic twist, and readers who enjoy mysteries that don't take themselves too seriously.
Burke delivers both entertainment and subtle commentary on how absurd real-world espionage can be, proving that sometimes the most dangerous weapons aren't plutonium—but potatoes. This one kept me awake the whole night, thanks to the humor, the fluid prose, and the elaborately written characters.
Reviewed By: Meg McKinnon
The Book Commentary|
Date: February 11, 2026