Today, I’m chatting with Gordon Bickerstaff about his novel Dead Agent Walking, a fast-paced thriller that takes readers into the dangerous world of espionage, cybercrime, and international intrigue. At the centre of the story is Zoe Tampsin, head of the secretive Lambeth Group, who is prepared to challenge orders and cross boundaries when innocent lives are at stake. Join us as Gordon discusses the real-world concerns that inspired the novel, the challenges of writing about modern cyber threats, and what continues to drive Zoe as the Lambeth Group series develops.
But first, let's check out Dead Agent Walking.
Publication Date: 27th June 2026
Publisher: Independently Published
Print Length: 308 Pages
Genre: Crime / Thriller
A group of ruthless scammers steal high-value intellectual property, unaware that the stolen process is inextricably linked to a cataclysmic plot conceived by extremists to change the face of Europe.
When two scientists are abducted by an elite syndicate of cyber-criminals, the head of the Lambeth Group, Zoe Tampsin, prepares a rescue mission only to be denied by spineless bureaucrats who fear her actions will compromise geopolitical negotiations.
With her back to the wall, Zoe must sacrifice her career, bite the bullet, and lead an off-the-books strike team across the Baltic Sea and deep into enemy territory.
Dead Agent Walking combines espionage, cybercrime, and high-stakes international intrigue. What first inspired the story, and how did the idea for the novel develop?
Worrying events in Europe and the rapid rise in cyber-crime. Together, these issues pose a unique threat to stability and security that can affect everyone, and provide rich foundations for the development of tense thriller fiction.
Zoe Tampsin is forced to choose between following orders and doing what she believes is right. What interested you most about placing her in such a difficult moral position?
Zoe always does what’s right by her people and her mission. Sometimes, her bosses make decisions to suit political imperative, even if it means sacrificing victims. Zoe is determined to show her bosses that doing the right thing is the highest priority, and will often result in a satisfactory political outcome.
The Lambeth Group operates in the shadows, often facing obstacles from bureaucracy as well as dangerous criminals. How important was it to show that conflict between official procedure and decisive action?
Zoe is focused on the outcome. She wants to save the victim, and stop the criminal. Bureaucrats are concerned with costs, keeping face, negotiations, diplomacy, and mutual agreement. Collective bureaucracy is vital for running a country, but it has no moral compass for dealing with individuals caught in grip of a crisis. Zoe will fight for the abandoned individuals.
The novel centres on stolen intellectual property and a conspiracy with potentially catastrophic consequences. Without giving too much away, what drew you to this particular premise?
Cybercrime is on a steep rise. Many institutions have been hacked and the advent of AI will support the hackers. As well as military secrets, commercial secrets are at risk, and every country in the world wants to get its hands on the next ultimate weapon. This story shows how ordinary people can be sucked into dangerous events.
Much of the action takes place across the Baltic region and deep inside hostile territory. How did you approach creating authentic international settings for the story?
I like research, and I tracked down articles about life and living for people in the region, travel reports, and news items that revealed background on the area.
Dead Agent Walking balances fast-paced action with complex political and criminal intrigue. How do you maintain that balance while keeping readers invested in the characters?
The characters remain at the centre and they move through the scenes dealing with threats, worrying about what comes next and preparing their next move. Each scene reveals small twists and/or massive twists keep readers invested because the outcome of a given scene is not always what it appears. The scenes build up to a finale in the last couple of chapters.
Zoe has become a central figure in the Lambeth Group series. How has she evolved since her first appearance, and what continues to surprise you about her character?
Zoe started off as a soldier working undercover in the Bosnia conflict, supporting special forces operations. She was recruited to the Lambeth Group who have a remit to protect the UK from internal and external threats. She now heads the department. None of her cases will ever go to court because of Official Secrets and National Security. Zoe has realised that to defeat a monster, she must become a bigger monster, and fighting fire with fire doesn’t give her enough advantage, so she fights fire with petrol.
Modern thrillers often rely on believable technology as much as traditional detective work. How do you ensure the technical aspects of your novels remain accessible to readers?
Research and investigation help me to better understand new tech and allow me to break the detail down to accessible components that I can understand.
As the Lambeth Group series continues, how do you keep raising the stakes while ensuring each novel can stand on its own?
Humanity continues to raise the stakes in ever more creative and conflicting ways. Crimes and conflict today are different from 50 years ago. I just need to keep interpret what I think is happening and re-imagine what a fictional event might become and how it could develop.
For readers discovering the Lambeth Group for the first time, what do you hope they take away from Dead Agent Walking?
No matter how difficult or tortuous the situation, there is always someone who will fight to do the right thing, overcome adversity, and provide hope for the future.
A huge thank you to Gordon Bickerstaff for taking the time to chat with me today and for giving us such a fascinating insight into Dead Agent Walking. It’s been wonderful learning more about Zoe Tampsin, the inspiration behind the novel, and how contemporary issues surrounding cybercrime and international security have helped shape the story. I hope you’ve enjoyed the interview as much as I have, and that you’re tempted to step into the shadowy world of the Lambeth Group for yourself.
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Gordon Bickerstaff
Gordon Bickerstaff is the award-winning author of the Lambeth Group crime/conspiracy thriller series, and author of the science fiction post-apocalyptic survival thriller ‘Talking Leaves’.
After 30 years of teaching biochemistry in several Scottish universities he retired his academic pen and took up his favourite fiction pen where the biochemistry is deadly and dangerous. He lives with his wife in central Scotland where corrupt academics, mystery, murder, and intrigue exist mostly in his mind. He enjoys reading, writing, walking in the hills, 60s & 70s music, and travel.
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