Jamie Smith and his debut novel A former Bangor University student has released his debut novel. Jamie Smith, 36, who at various times lived in Bangor, Llandegfan and Caernarfon, received his break in journalism when spending several months at The Chronicle in 2007. He went on to report for other titles in Gwynedd and Anglesey from 2007-2009 and has now released his much-anticipated debut novel, The Soviet Comeback; a spy-thriller packed full of suspense and set during the tail end of the Cold War. The book touches on subjects such as novichok poison, endemic racism and Russian spies, which have all reappeared on the news agenda in recent times, and has been hailed as a ‘page turner’ and an ‘exceptional read’.