An Evening with David McCloskey and Tim Shipman
Join us for an evening with bestselling author ex-CIA analyst David McCloskey to celebrate the publication of his new book The Persian.
David McCloskey returns to his inside knowledge of the Middle East in his fourth novel: a gripping thriller exploring what happens when a loner spy is forced to reckon with the consequences of his deception. From Tehran to Tel Aviv, Istanbul and Stockholm, The Persian traces the rise and downfall of Kamran Esfahani, an Iranian Jew caught in the high stakes struggle between the spy agencies of Israel and Iran, and the secret he’s trying to take to his grave.
David will be interviewed by bestselling author and award-winning journalist Tim Shipman - perhaps best known as Political Editor at The Spectator and author of four books on Brexit, he's also a leading spy fiction expert and on the board of Spybrary.com, for which he also writes.
David McCloskey is a former CIA analyst. While at the CIA, he wrote regularly for the President’s Daily Brief during President Obama’s tenure, delivered classified testimony to Congressional oversight committees, and more. He worked in CIA field stations across the Middle East. He is the co-host with Gordon Corera of the successful The Rest is Classified podcast. His first novel, Damascus Station, set in Syria, was the bestselling debut spy novel of its year and shortlisted for a British Book Award. His second, Moscow X was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month and a Sunday Times Thriller of the Year. And his third, The Seventh Floor, was a Sunday Times Bestseller. The Persian is his fourth novel.
David McCloskey returns to his inside knowledge of the Middle East in his fourth novel: a gripping thriller exploring what happens when a loner spy is forced to reckon with the consequences of his deception. From Tehran to Tel Aviv, Istanbul and Stockholm, The Persian traces the rise and downfall of Kamran Esfahani, an Iranian Jew caught in the high stakes struggle between the spy agencies of Israel and Iran, and the secret he’s trying to take to his grave.
David will be interviewed by bestselling author and award-winning journalist Tim Shipman - perhaps best known as Political Editor at The Spectator and author of four books on Brexit, he's also a leading spy fiction expert and on the board of Spybrary.com, for which he also writes.
David McCloskey is a former CIA analyst. While at the CIA, he wrote regularly for the President’s Daily Brief during President Obama’s tenure, delivered classified testimony to Congressional oversight committees, and more. He worked in CIA field stations across the Middle East. He is the co-host with Gordon Corera of the successful The Rest is Classified podcast. His first novel, Damascus Station, set in Syria, was the bestselling debut spy novel of its year and shortlisted for a British Book Award. His second, Moscow X was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month and a Sunday Times Thriller of the Year. And his third, The Seventh Floor, was a Sunday Times Bestseller. The Persian is his fourth novel.
Tuesday 27 January 2026 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM (UTC+00)
Location
The Great Hall
Alleyn's School, Townley Road, Dulwich , London SE22 8EU
Contact Details
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An Evening with David McCloskey and Tim Shipman
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