Reluctant Spy David Goodman’s in East Africa

Submitted: 3rd December 2025

A Reluctant Spy – Espionage in East Africa

Reluctant Spy David Goodman shares top secret information about his winner thriller’s locations…

The Reluctant Spy

If you trust this man and wish to accept this mission….read on…..

In the summer of 2002, I was twenty-one years old, backpacking through East Africa on an absolute shoestring. Sunset found me standing in the famous Stone Town night market, watching Zanzibari teenagers cut and crush sugar cane for the sweet juice within. I vividly remember the speed and practiced ease of their work, the hiss of nearby cooking grills, the bright whiteness of the arc lamps above each stall and the warm night breeze from the Indian Ocean.

The Reluctant Spy

In my novel ‘A Reluctant Spy’, the same market plays host to my protagonist, Jamie Tulloch, who is as fascinated by the cane sugar stall as I was. When I was there, though, my biggest problem was deciding which delicious food to eat next. Jamie needs to worry about finding a contact from MI6 and avoiding the attention of terrifying Russian mercenaries.

The Reluctant Spy

Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar have lived in my imagination for over twenty years. I’d always wanted to set a story in the region, so when I pitched my story of an anxious Scotsman who lends his identity to an MI6 agent, but ends up on the mission himself, my experiences in East Africa immediately came to mind.

The Reluctant Spy David Goodman

The Reluctant Spy

In the twenty years since I visited, there has also been enormous geopolitical realignment, conflict and strife all over the continent. China, Russia and the Western powers compete for access to minerals, oil and other resources through investment, political influence and, sadly, a great deal of violence. And where there’s the human struggle for power and control, there’s also intelligence operatives, covert activity and a proliferation of secrets.

‘A Reluctant Spy’ takes place primarily on Zanzibar, though Jamie also passes through London, Paris and Dar es Salaam. When I was researching the book I did a lot of double-checking my memories through Google Street View.

The Reluctant Spy

If you want to follow in Jamie’s footsteps, you could start with a couple of days in Dar es Salaam. Sadly you won’t find the hotel where he meets the terrifying Russian arms dealer Arkady Bocharov, since that’s fictional.

Mercury Café

The Reluctant Spy

You can take the high-speed ferry to Zanzibar though, which was a very bumpy ride when we did it. And as you pull into Stone Town harbour, you’ll see Forodhani Gardens, the public park which becomes the Night Market when the sun goes down. You’ll also see the Mercury Café, where Jamie meets his MI6 handler Nicola Ellis. It’s named after Freddy Mercury, who was born on Zanzibar. After a coffee, why not wander the narrow streets and alleyways of the older parts of this port city, where you’ll find the famous carved wooden doors, some of which are centuries old. Hopefully, unlike Jamie, you won’t be fearing the tread of Russian spies while you do.

Nungwi

The Reluctant Spy

Finally, if you want to get out of the city and see some of the rest of the island, you could head north to the beach resort town of Nungwi. You won’t find the fictional Stevie’s Bar and Grill where Nicola charms her way into a party of drunk Russian security men, but you will find a lot of very nice bars and restaurants at the very northern tip of the island. When I visited in 2002 it was a fraction of the size it is now, but it’s still an amazing place to enjoy a little sun, sand and the incredible fusion cuisine Zanzibar is known for.

Nungwi centre:

The Reluctant Spy

Most of all, I’d love for more people to experience the unique culture, food and beauty of Tanzania and Zanzibar. It’s a place I’d love to return to one day, especially since I’ve now set an award-winning novel there. You can never go back to a place and time – the only thing that’s always true is that everything changes. But I think you can see familiar places from a new perspective. And I do wonder what it would be like to return with Jamie Tulloch walking by my side (or at least at the back of my mind).

Thank you David! And reader – you have completed your mission. This page may or may not self destruct in 30 seconds…… 😉

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