Ace Atkins’s latest novel, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, is a delightful and chaotic mash-up of genres, blending sharp, witty dialogue with a pulse-pounding, high-stakes espionage plot. Set squarely in the iconic year of 1985—a period dubbed “The Year of the Spy”—Atkins delivers a humorous spy thriller that proves that sometimes, the fate of the world rests not in the hands of seasoned spies, but a suspicious teenager and his unlikely crew of allies.
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The story hinges on Peter Bennett, a fourteen-year-old BMX enthusiast and MTV devotee, who is convinced his mother’s mysterious new boyfriend, “Gary,” is a KGB agent. Gary’s European accent, lacking a phone book listing, and the Porsche he keeps that has a gun inside are all red flags in Peter’s suburban world. Peter’s primary fear is that Gary is targeting his mother only for her job at Scientific Atlanta, which is a lab holding sensitive government contracts.
Misfits and Muckrakers: The Unconventional Allies
What elevates this novel from a simple coming-of-age espionage story is the wonderfully unconventional supporting cast. When Peter is dismissed by adults, he recruits pulp writer Dennis Hotchner and Dennis’s drag performer friend, Jackie Demure. This mismatched trio provides much of the novel’s comedic energy, acting as amateur sleuths trying to stay one step ahead of an unhinged Russian hit man with a serious obsession for Phil Collins.
The collaboration between Peter, the resourceful but naive teen, and his adult co-conspirators is where the novel truly shines. Dennis Hotchner, a perpetually disgruntled pulp writer, brings a world-weary cynicism and a knack for digging up dirt, while Jackie Demure, his strong and theatrical friend, provides the necessary muscle and flair. Their involvement transforms a serious spy thriller plot into an absurd road trip, especially when they become the targets of the comically unhinged Russian killer whose musical preferences are as menacing as his methods. This juxtaposition of high-camp characters with high-stakes espionage is the book’s signature strength, proving that the most effective heroes are often the ones the establishment overlooks.
The FBI Ground Game
Meanwhile, Atkins grounds the high-flying antics with a sharp, professional investigation led by FBI Agent Sylvia Weaver. As Weaver probes a murder at Scientific Atlanta, she uncovers a genuine nest of Russian operatives embedded in Atlanta. Her efforts are constantly thwarted by a compromised colleague in Washington, adding a layer of bureaucratic betrayal and deep state intrigue that ratchets up the tension considerably.
When Comedy Meets the Cold War
The narrative perfectly balances these two tracks: the laugh-out-loud, slightly ridiculous attempts by Peter’s group to uncover the truth, and Agent Weaver’s deadly serious pursuit of actual, tangible threats. As all these threads that include the teen’s suspicion, the FBI’s investigation, and the machinations of a hypochondriac KGB defector converge, the stakes become truly monumental. The action culminates just as Reagan and Gorbachev prepare for a historic nuclear summit, meaning the events in Atlanta genuinely threaten to change the course of the Cold War itself.
Final Verdict
Everybody Wants to Rule the World is a nostalgic trip with a surprisingly sharp plot. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy thrillers that don’t take themselves too seriously, offering compelling characters, pitch-perfect 80s details, and a genuinely suspenseful finale.
Recommendation: Highly recommended for fans of crime fiction that leans into humor and readers looking for a fast-paced spy thriller novel with a refreshing, unconventional perspective. Check it out!
Thanks to HarperCollins for this #gifted book for this review.
