Deep Swimmers by Richard Robinson – Review
- Tracey Holland
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
BLURB
Belfast, 1995. When an elderly couple fall to their deaths from the city’s notorious Ashton Tower, the incident is quickly ruled a suicide. For most, it’s a tragedy. For British Intelligence, it’s the beginning of something far more dangerous.Jones and Jenny, now seasoned members of MI5’s Young Communicators Unit, find themselves pulled into an investigation that reaches back to the Second World War. The case sees Jones return home to Suffolk, where he must handle a homeless republican veteran still hiding from something.What begins as a routine inquiry soon exposes buried loyalties, forgotten operations, and a web of deception that comes to an extraordinary conclusion.As police investigators, MI5 officers, and retired spymasters circle the truth, a Mossad agent opens old wounds. Someone is determined to keep the past buried, no matter the cost.Set against the tense backdrop of 1990s Northern Ireland, Deep Swimmers is a gripping espionage thriller about the deadly legacy of covert lives and the price of keeping secrets.Some falls are accidents. But hiding from the truth is a deadly game.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Richard W. Robinson is an author and journalist and spent his early days freelancing or working in agency positions across the UK and Ireland. The Topaz Files is a series of spy fiction novels where we follow the missions of Jones and Richmond as they make their way through the early years of a career in espionage. The first, published in May 2023, is Topaz and this was followed by Wild Flowers a year later, The Mainstay and Deep Swimmers have since been published. The novels are works of fiction but reference historic events in 1994-1996, around the time of the peace talks in Northern Ireland.
Outside the literary world, Richard lives in East Anglia, England, with his wife and two daughters. He is the CEO of a charity focused on ending the abuse of older people. He's a very committed cratedigger (vinyl collector) and can occasionally be seen in the stands at Loftus Road and Windsor Park. Look out for the Topaz Files on social media and for the forthcoming releases of SEEN/UNSEEN (book five) and The Rock Ledger (book six). Robinson has also finished a Cold War spy story called German Bite which is expected to be published in late 2026.
Book Review: Deep Swimmers by Richard Robinson
Having already read the earlier books in The Topaz Files series, I went into Deep Swimmers with high expectations, and I’m pleased to say it didn’t disappoint.
From the very first chapter, the story pulls you straight back into that familiar world of espionage, layered characters, and quiet tension that Robinson does so well. There’s something about the way he builds atmosphere that feels both grounded and slightly unsettling, like you’re always aware that something bigger is happening beneath the surface.
What I particularly enjoyed in this instalment is how the emotional side of the characters is given more space to breathe. Jones, especially, feels more human than ever. His internal struggles and reactions to personal events add depth to the story and make the stakes feel real, not just political or professional.
As someone who has followed the series, it’s rewarding to see how everything continues to develop. The relationships, the tension between personal lives and secret work, and the gradual unfolding of larger plot threads all come together beautifully. This isn’t a book that rushes. It trusts the reader, and that’s something I really appreciate.
Masterful Pacing and Engaging Storytelling
If you’re new to the series, you could read this as a standalone, but I’d definitely recommend starting from the earlier books to fully appreciate the characters and the world. For those already invested, Deep Swimmers feels like a natural and satisfying continuation.
Overall, this is a strong addition to the series and one that kept me turning the pages. Thoughtful, engaging, and full of subtle tension, it’s exactly what I’ve come to expect from this author.
There’s a quiet truth about long-running series: they either deepen or they decay. This one is clearly deepening, which is far rarer than people think.
LINKS TO BUY
WEBSITE
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE - https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Richard-Robinson/author/B0C8ZP6YHL
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Twitter at @TheTopazFiles
Richard on Instagram at @r_we_r
Email Richard at thewash_house@live.co.uk
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