JAMES BURNETT

WRITING INTELLIGENT ESPIONAGE FICTION SHAPED BY GLOBAL EXPERIENCE.

In this exclusive author interview, James Burnett discusses the inspiration behind The Knox Files, his literary influences, and how his experiences in academia and international travel helped shape the world of his espionage thrillers →

Dr James Burnett is a lecturer in linguistics who divides his time between the UK and Asia. He has over a decade of international teaching experience across China, Thailand, and Vietnam. His academic research focuses on the use of immersive virtual reality to reduce foreign language public speaking anxiety.

Alongside his academic career, he writes character-driven espionage fiction shaped by psychology and quiet tension. His work blends linguistic insight with psychological depth. His international experience and academic background bring a grounded authenticity to modern espionage fiction.

THE KNOX FILES

His series, The Knox Files, follows Finlay Knox, a linguistics academic recruited into MI6 and trained for fieldwork. Moving between academia and covert operations, Knox must construct and maintain identities in a world where observation is everything.

Across the series, Burnett explores themes of identity, control, and the cost of self-mastery, set against global backdrops where personal decisions have operational consequences.

START THE KNOX FILES →

READER REVIEWS

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Lean prose, sharp tradecraft, and zero hand-holding. Burnett trusts the reader.”

Early reader, Boston, USA.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Couldn’t put it down. Smart, fast, and fresh.”

Early reader, Edinburgh, UK.

GOODREADS

Explore Burnett’s reading influences and reviews on Goodreads.