Liar's Game: A Frenchman Thriller
By (Author) Jack Beaumont
Allen & Unwin
Allen & Unwin
29th July 2025
Australia
General
Fiction
Espionage and spy thriller
Paperback
448
Width 153mm, Height 234mm
While recruiting a Russian human source embedded in the shadows of illicit financial networks, French spy Alec de Payns is abruptly pulled from the field. His new mission: exfiltrate a North Korean walk-in from Beijing who claims to know the details of a massive cyberattack which could destroy the world's economy. But before the defector can utter a word, he dies in de Payns' arms on the journey home.
The failure of such a routine job enrages France's new prime minister, who views the covert actions of the DGSE - the French external spy agency - as a political liability. When de Payns' next mission mysteriously collapses, the Company has no choice but to disavow him.
Now exposed, hunted across Southeast Asia, and cut off from official support, de Payns must survive alone, untangle a deadly conspiracy, and protect his family. But in a world of deception, who can he trust And who is truly pulling the strings in this deadly liar's game
Based on Jack Beaumont's experiences as a former DGSE operative, Liar's Game delivers the incredible authenticity, action and suspense that have made the bestselling Frenchman series an international success.
Praise for The Frenchman series:
'A richly detailed cloak-and-dagger thriller reminiscent of the novels of John le Carre . . . I hope Jack Beaumont, whoever he is, writes a follow-up.' - Stephen Romei, The Australian
'There's authenticity on every page.' - Herald Sun
'A superior thriller.' - Courier-Mail
'Taut and terrific.' - Gold Coast Bulletin
'A gripping thriller with an extremely authentic feel . . . highly recommended.' - Canberra Weekly
'Beaumont reveals a world of international espionage that's at once exhilarating, morally repugnant, and deadly . . . An action-packed spy thriller with an authentic feel.' - Kirkus Reviews
'The Frenchman is, in the way of many thrillers, a disturbing reminder of how fragile our modern world is and how easy it might be [to] upend the world order. It is a spy thriller that only an insider could have written.' - The Blurb
'The Frenchman is one of the finest examples of the spy genre in recent memory. Suspenseful, masterfully plotted, and completely riveting. - Nic Pizzolatto, author of Galveston and creator and writer of HBO's True Detective
'If it wasn't for my background, I would have said that this was fiction, but knowing what I know, Dark Arena is as real and as deeply disturbing as a world I once knew.' - Ant Middleton, former UK Special Forces
'A rollicking good read. Espionage skills abound in each fast-paced chapter.' - Paul Symon AO, former Director-General, Australian Secret Intelligence Service
'An extraordinary story.' - Richard Fidler, Conversations
Jack Beaumont is the pseudonym of a former operative in the clandestine operations branch of the French foreign secret service, the DGSE. He joined 'The Company' after being an air force fighter pilot and later flying special operations and intelligence missions. Beaumont's background gives his novels a level of authenticity that few other spy thrillers have been able to achieve.