A Perfect Spy

It tells the tale of Magnus Pym, a long-time spy for Great Britain who mysteriously disappears, leaving behind his wife and son and a number of his fellow secret agents, who suspect he may have betrayed them. Although the book is filled with intrigue, wit, and suspense, the novel is primarily an unadorned recollection of Rick, Magnus's father, who was based on Cornwell's own father Ronnie.

The story itself is non-linear and told primarily in a memoir format, incorporating a number of flashbacks into Pym's childhood with the enterprising and charismatic Rick (himself a spy), his early years at university, his indoctrination into the world of espionage and state secrets, and his numerous adventures on the job. In addition, the novel incorporates multiple narrators, from Pym's wife Mary to his mentor and family friend Jack Brotherhood.