From the glaciers of Spitsbergen to the palaces of Oman, this is an unlikely journey by an unassuming Liverpool boy who spent much of his career rising, to his surprise, through MI6, when not indulging his passion for rock-climbing. It is both a memoir and travellers tale, ranging across many countries among a fascinating cast of characters, from well-known political figures to the shadowy denizens of his trade. Full of colour and incident, it is both funny and serious and always seen through the eye of an outsider who never quite felt he belonged.