A quick extract from the title story, "Thirty Shades of Coffee" - get the flavour here...

"We spies are supposed to stick to coffee, aren't we?"

Just as a starter... Thirty Shades of Coffee

Table 4, outside on the front. No-one there. I sat and waited, ordered my coffee from Agent Purple and checked it was Shade Twelve with my little disc spread out like a fan. Thus, I knew who I was. And he knew who I was. So I drank it.

I waited. I get nervous, sitting outside places, in full view of all the passers-by, and fending off a couple of dodgy-looking young ladies. And a pair of even dodgier-looking men – I think.

It then occurred to me that my target might be sussing me out. Perhaps he’ll come and check my coffee shade. Or buy a coffee inside, and walk round comparing his with mine – as the saying goes. So I ordered another coffee,

He brought an overly-milky concoction when I nodded and said, ‘Number eighteen.’

It was three shades too pale. When I asked him about it, he said, ‘I forgot, and brought you number 18 off the drinks menu,’ and he pointed towards the board. “18. Medium Roast Flat White”.

I had to drink that quickly, and order a real Shade Eighteen....

You sure need a big bladder to be a spy nowadays; but just sit and wait, eyes all round...

Sip the rest of the brew in the Thirty Shades Cafe...

I spy with my little cup...