FILE 01: The Beginning of Directive Press
Thursday 16th April 2026
Welcome to Directive Press - the home of The Knox Files, a new spy thriller series featuring Dr. Finlay Knox. I'm James Burnett, author of the series, and in this first blog post I want to introduce myself and give you a glimpse into the world of my debut novel, The Controlled Identity.
Over the years, I’ve worked as a financial analyst and university lecturer, and it’s through those experiences that the character of Finlay Knox was born. My background is rooted in analysing systems, reading behaviour, and questioning what lies beneath the surface. These are skills that translate naturally into the world of espionage.
I’ve always been an avid reader, and my writing is inspired by the greats of spy fiction: Ian Fleming, John le Carré, Frederick Forsyth, Robert Ludlum, and Charles Cumming. My goal is to craft stories that blend cerebral intrigue with visceral tension. I want to create espionage fiction that’s emotionally intelligent yet ruthlessly paced.
In The Controlled Identity, Finlay Knox is a young academic specialising in language and identity, until his research draws the attention of MI6. After being approached at a conference, he is put through a tough selection process, where he learns that observation, manipulation, and the art of persuasion define success. Knox is recruited into a part-time role within the Service and begins a life operating as both a scholar and a spy.
As Knox attempts to balance two identities, the boundary between them begins to erode. An overseas assignment places him in the midst of a high-risk operation in Beijing and the consequences become immediate. The Controlled Identity reveals the origin of a man forced to live between roles… and the moment he understands that living two lives means belonging to neither.
To give you a taste of the story, I’m offering the prologue and the first three chapters of The Controlled Identity as a free download. It’s an early glimpse into the mind of a man caught between duty and identity. I’ll send new documents and updates roughly once a month. You can get early access now by entering your email address into the link on the website.
Also, I’ll be writing a blog every two weeks in the lead up to the October 2026 release of The Controlled Identity. I’ll be exploring some of the great spy novels of the past, examining real life spy stories like Kim Philby, and looking at how spy novels have changed over the years.
If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch via email. I’d love to hear from you.
Until next time,
James Burnett
