1995. Northern Ireland. A fragile peace process. And a group of young trainee spies about to discover that espionage is a deadly business.
Love Books Tours is delighted to celebrate Topaz by Richard Robinson, published by HiFli Books, with a ten-day Bookstagram tour running from 9th–20th November 2026, excluding weekends.
The first novel in The Topaz Files series combines espionage, political intrigue and historical events surrounding the Northern Ireland peace process.
Set in the summer of 1995, the story follows Jones, an 18-year-old who dreams of becoming a football reporter but unexpectedly finds himself recruited into a secret intelligence programme.
When a training mission turns into a hostage crisis, Jones and his fellow recruits are drawn into a dangerous conspiracy where betrayal could threaten international peace negotiations.
We’re delighted to introduce this 323-page thriller to our reading community and share the wonderful Bookstagrammers supporting Richard Robinson throughout the tour.
About Topaz
It’s the summer of 1995.
US Peace Envoy Fred Martinson begins brokering a peace deal for Northern Ireland, and the world watches as the first tentative steps towards peace are taken.
Meanwhile, Jones, an 18-year-old from suburban England, has stumbled through education and dreams of becoming a football reporter.
When he’s offered a place at Milton College, a former secretarial school with a clandestine partnership with GCHQ, his future takes an unexpected turn.
Before long, Jones is recruited into an intelligence training programme, paired with Jenny Richmond and sent to Northern Ireland to undertake skills development and resilience testing with the Young Communicators Unit.
But training becomes a matter of life and death when trainee spies are betrayed and Isadora Brown, one of their most promising members, is taken hostage.
MI5 and the Young Communicators Unit receive a video showing Isadora reading demands from a mysterious organisation called Red Line.
With the Northern Ireland peace talks at risk, the young recruits find themselves facing a situation far beyond their experience.
They must race against time to rescue Isadora, uncover the conspiracy and prevent the fragile peace process from collapsing.
But as the danger increases, one question remains.
Who is betraying whom?
Love Books Tours | Bookstagram Tour Schedule
9th–20th November 2026 | Ten Tour Days | No Weekends
We’re delighted to welcome 16 wonderful Bookstagrammers to celebrate Topaz.
Throughout the tour, our hosts will share their reading experiences and help introduce Richard Robinson’s espionage thriller to readers who enjoy spy fiction, historical mysteries and political intrigue.
Please visit their Instagram pages, discover their reviews and show them some support.
Monday, 9th November 2026
- @the_bookmagnet
- @thelibraryofamy
Tuesday, 10th November 2026
- @Sue.wallace1974
- @katsbookcave
Wednesday, 11th November 2026
- @lauren.h_books
- @goosey_loopsy_bookish
Thursday, 12th November 2026
- @plumbobmummy
Friday, 13th November 2026
- @chapters.and.stardust
- @almost40_books_and_a_dog
Monday, 16th November 2026
- @bexbookreviews
Tuesday, 17th November 2026
- @afelton6212
Wednesday, 18th November 2026
- @feistylittlereader
- @tiffanystales
Thursday, 19th November 2026
- @pageswithapassport
Friday, 20th November 2026
- @helenandherhobbies
- @warren.isobel
A huge thank you to all our wonderful Crewbies for supporting this tour!
Every review, photograph and thoughtful post helps connect books with new readers, and we’re incredibly grateful for the time and creativity our hosts bring to their campaigns.
Meet the Author | Richard Robinson
Richard Robinson is an author and journalist who spent his early career freelancing and working in agency positions across the UK and Ireland.
He is the creator of The Topaz Files, a series of espionage novels following Jones and Richmond through the early years of their careers in intelligence.
The first book, Topaz, was published in May 2023, followed by Wild Flowers a year later.
Further instalments, The Mainstay and Deep Swimmers, have also been published.
Although the novels are works of fiction, they reference historical events from 1994–1996, particularly the Northern Ireland peace negotiations.
Richard lives in East Anglia with his wife and two daughters.
Outside writing, he is the CEO of a charity focused on ending the abuse of older people.
He is also a dedicated vinyl collector and can occasionally be found watching football at Loftus Road or Windsor Park.
Readers can also look out for forthcoming Topaz Files instalments SEEN/UNSEEN and The Rock Ledger, along with his Cold War spy novel German Bite.
A Spy Thriller Set Against a Pivotal Moment in History
One of the most intriguing elements of Topaz is its historical setting.
The novel takes place in 1995, during a sensitive period in Northern Ireland’s peace process.
International diplomacy, political tensions and the possibility of renewed violence create a backdrop in which even a small intelligence failure could have enormous consequences.
Richard Robinson uses this setting to explore a fictional scenario in which young intelligence trainees become involved in events that could influence the course of history.
For readers who enjoy espionage novels grounded in recognisable historical circumstances, this combination of fact-inspired context and fictional intrigue offers an appealing premise.
Jones and Richmond: Unexpected Recruits
Jones doesn’t begin his journey as an obvious candidate for espionage.
At 18, he’s uncertain about his future and dreams of becoming a football reporter.
His recruitment through Milton College changes everything.
Paired with Jenny Richmond, who proves every bit his equal, Jones is introduced to a world of communications intelligence, specialist training and increasingly dangerous responsibilities.
Their experiences provide a different perspective from the seasoned intelligence operatives often found in spy fiction.
Rather than following agents with years of experience, readers encounter young people who are still learning what their new roles demand.
When Training Becomes a Matter of Life and Death
The Young Communicators Unit is supposed to prepare its recruits for the challenges of intelligence work.
But when trainees are betrayed and Isadora Brown is taken hostage, the danger becomes immediate.
A mysterious organisation called Red Line issues demands, forcing MI5 and the unit to confront a crisis that could threaten peace negotiations.
The young recruits must navigate a situation involving political sensitivities, competing interests and potentially devastating consequences.
The central mystery is not simply whether Isadora can be rescued.
It’s also about discovering who is responsible for the betrayal and what they hope to achieve.
Espionage, Betrayal and Political Intrigue
Trust is one of the most important themes in spy fiction.
Intelligence work depends on secrets, coded information and the ability to distinguish allies from enemies.
In Topaz, the betrayal of the trainee spies raises immediate questions about loyalty and hidden agendas.
As Jones and Richmond become more deeply involved, they must consider who can be trusted and how far the conspiracy extends.
The novel’s political setting adds another layer of tension, with international relations and the Northern Ireland peace process potentially affected by the actions of people operating in the shadows.
The Beginning of The Topaz Files
Topaz is the first book in Richard Robinson’s espionage series, The Topaz Files.
The novels follow Jones and Richmond as they develop their careers and undertake missions during the 1990s.
Readers who enjoy following recurring characters through multiple books may appreciate the opportunity to begin the series with their earliest experiences.
Other published titles include:
- Wild Flowers
- The Mainstay
- Deep Swimmers
The author has also announced plans for SEEN/UNSEEN and The Rock Ledger.
Why Thriller Readers Might Enjoy Topaz
A historical espionage setting
The Northern Ireland peace process provides a politically sensitive backdrop.
Young intelligence recruits
Jones and Richmond offer a perspective on espionage through characters still learning their profession.
A hostage crisis
Isadora Brown’s abduction creates immediate stakes and a race against time.
A mysterious organisation
Red Line’s demands introduce questions about motives, alliances and hidden agendas.
Themes of betrayal
The central conspiracy challenges the characters’ understanding of who they can trust.
The beginning of a series
Readers can follow Jones and Richmond beyond their first mission.
Who Might Enjoy Topaz?
Topaz may appeal to readers who enjoy:
- Spy fiction and espionage thrillers.
- Political thrillers.
- Historical crime fiction.
- Irish crime fiction.
- Intelligence and secret-service stories.
- Mysteries involving betrayal and conspiracies.
- Fiction set during the 1990s.
- Stories inspired by significant historical events.
- Thriller series featuring recurring characters.
Book Details
Title: Topaz
Series: The Topaz Files, Book One
Author: Richard Robinson
Publisher: HiFli Books
Genre: Spy Fiction, Terrorism Thriller, Thriller, Irish Crime Fiction, Mystery
Length: 323 pages
Bookstagram Tour: 9th–20th November 2026, excluding weekends
Where to Buy Topaz
Would you like to enter the dangerous world of The Topaz Files?
Discover Topaz and find purchasing options through the link below.
Buy Topaz:
Follow the Bookstagram Tour
At Love Books Tours, we’re passionate about connecting readers with gripping stories and celebrating the authors behind them.
We’re delighted to support Richard Robinson and HiFli Books with Topaz.
Our wonderful Bookstagrammers are helping introduce this historical espionage thriller to readers throughout the tour.
Please explore the full schedule above, visit our hosts and discover their thoughts on the book.
We’d love to know: Do you enjoy spy thrillers inspired by real historical events, or do you prefer completely fictional espionage adventures?
Thank you for supporting Love Books Tours and the wonderful authors and publishers we work with.
Authors / Publishers
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