Thriller writer David Goodman, who won the annual McDermid Debut Award for A Reluctant Spy, has revealed how he was inspired by the scale of data collection by Western intelligence agencies as revealed by US whistleblower/traitor Edward Snowden.

“It made me wonder how difficult that kind of digital data trail would be to fake, and how that problem was being solved for covert cover identities,” he explains. “Then I combined that with a trip I made in my early twenties to Zanzibar, and my own experience of being a slightly out-of-place Scotsman in London. It all came together to give me the idea for the Legends Programme in the novel and Jamie, my protagonist.”

The book features tech executive Jamie Tulloch, a young man from a tough background who gets into Cambridge where he is approached by MI6 to join the 'Legends Programme' – which uses real people as cover for spies, in return for a helping hand through life.

“When he shows up to hand over his identity to the spy who will be using it, he finds his handler dead,” David, 43, who lives in East Lothian, explained at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate as his book won the second annual award named in recognition of Crime Queen Val McDermid.

“Through various misadventures, he ends up in the private Zanzibar compound of a Russian oligarch and warlord, trying to play himself and work out how to carry out a mission he's definitely not trained for!”

It’s a brilliant premise and a gripping romp of a story. One critic described it as "a thoroughly enjoyable cat-and-mouse caper", while another wrote: "A gripping debut, perfect for fans of Mick Herron and David McCloskey."

McDermid, Chair of Judges, said:”If you think you’ve read every twist in every area of the genre, think again. Our winner has found a new take and delivers it with pace and propulsive storytelling.”

Edinburgh-born David, who worked as a barista and a copywriter before becoming a software designer, paid tribute to his wife of 18 years, US-born Valerie, for supporting him in the writing of his book. “I'm lucky enough to work from home, so I spend a lot of time walking in the woods and on the beach, muttering about spy stuff into my voice recorder.”

He added of his McDermid prize gong: “I think all of us writers have done our best to not get our hopes up, either in general for nominations or specifically for winning something like this. Actually winning was an incredible shock and I'm honestly still a bit thunderstruck. You never dare to dream something like this might happen – but occasionally the stars align. There's so many amazing books that even being nominated was an incredible honour.”

A sequel is currently with his editor, also featuring the fictional Legends Programme. 

He adds: “I want to thank the organisers of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival and Val McDermid especially – they do so much to champion new writers and it's made an incredible difference to all of us.” 

• A Reluctant Spy by David Goodman (Headline, £10.99) is out now