- Hardcover: 384 pages
- Publisher: Quercus (2 Oct 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 184724310X
- ISBN-13: 978-1847243102
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.6 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 297,464 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Dead Line
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Product Description
Review
Undeniably pacey - Guardian
A wealth of persuasive detail, obviously drawn from first hand experience - Marie Claire
A tense terrifying read we couldn't put down - Cosmopolitan
This book has one of those marvellous opening chapters that mean once started you cannot put it down … Stella keeps me guessing until the end - I love that. There are many different strands to the story, all of which do make sense eventually, and are cleverly pulled together, but not before one's heart has been in one's mouth - Mystery Woman Magazine.
A wealth of persuasive detail, obviously drawn from first hand experience - Marie Claire
A tense terrifying read we couldn't put down - Cosmopolitan
This book has one of those marvellous opening chapters that mean once started you cannot put it down … Stella keeps me guessing until the end - I love that. There are many different strands to the story, all of which do make sense eventually, and are cleverly pulled together, but not before one's heart has been in one's mouth - Mystery Woman Magazine.
Review
Undeniably pacey - Guardian. A wealth of persuasive detail, obviously drawn from first hand experience - Marie Claire. A tense terrifying read we couldn't put down - Cosmopolitan. This book has one of those marvellous opening chapters that mean once started you cannot put it down - Stella keeps me guessing until the end - I love that. There are many different strands to the story, all of which do make sense eventually, and are cleverly pulled together, but not before one's heart has been in one's mouth - Mystery Woman Magazine. This is something rare: the spy novel that prizes authenticity over fabrication, that is true to the character and spirit of intelligence work - Mail on Sunday. First class - Douglas Hurd, New Statesman. Liz Carlyle is an MI5 agent with the traditional thriller-heroine mix of dysfunctional personal life and steely ambition - Daily Telegraph. Readers can expect authenticity, and that's what she delivers - Times.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
43 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Dead Line is the fourth Stella Rimington novel centred on MI5 intelligence officer Liz Carlyle. However it can also be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel. I was somewhat disappointed by Rimington's last novel, Illegal Action, but with Dead Line she's back on form. This is a fast and enjoyable read.
The story centres on a plot to disrupt an upcoming Middle Eastern peace conference to be held at Gleneagles. It's an immediately intriguing storyline that quickly becomes complex, with many disparate threads and red herrings. Rimington juggles them all masterfully and keeps ratcheting up the tension.
A good thriller is made even better by Stella Rimington's first hand experience in the Secret Service, which gives the book a highly authentic feel. When she writes about an agent arranging a clandestine meeting with a contact, how MI5 conduct a surveillance operation or even the relationships between MI5, MI6 and the CIA, you know this is as close to reality as a novel is going to get. Indeed, these are some of the most fascinating parts of the book.
In the second half, Rimington's limitations as a writer become more evident. While her characters are well thought through, she has no ear for dialogue in casual conversations. (On the other hand, Carlyle does a beautiful job of very rationally putting a harassed and chauvinistic constable in his place, which made me see why Rimington was so successful in her own career). The ending is anti-climatic, with the villain being apprehended almost as an after-thought. It seems that Rimington is more interested in the process of investigation than the hands-on business of saving the day.
If you enjoy Stella Rimington's books, I highly recommend Restless by William Boyd. It's also a spy novel with a female protagonist and it's beautifully written.
The story centres on a plot to disrupt an upcoming Middle Eastern peace conference to be held at Gleneagles. It's an immediately intriguing storyline that quickly becomes complex, with many disparate threads and red herrings. Rimington juggles them all masterfully and keeps ratcheting up the tension.
A good thriller is made even better by Stella Rimington's first hand experience in the Secret Service, which gives the book a highly authentic feel. When she writes about an agent arranging a clandestine meeting with a contact, how MI5 conduct a surveillance operation or even the relationships between MI5, MI6 and the CIA, you know this is as close to reality as a novel is going to get. Indeed, these are some of the most fascinating parts of the book.
In the second half, Rimington's limitations as a writer become more evident. While her characters are well thought through, she has no ear for dialogue in casual conversations. (On the other hand, Carlyle does a beautiful job of very rationally putting a harassed and chauvinistic constable in his place, which made me see why Rimington was so successful in her own career). The ending is anti-climatic, with the villain being apprehended almost as an after-thought. It seems that Rimington is more interested in the process of investigation than the hands-on business of saving the day.
If you enjoy Stella Rimington's books, I highly recommend Restless by William Boyd. It's also a spy novel with a female protagonist and it's beautifully written.
23 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having now read all four of Stella Rimington's books, I think this is far and away the best. It is very well written, pacey, and with a strong plot that had me racing through to the end -- there is lots of action.The characters are well drawn and Liz, the protagonist, has become an increasingly alluring heroine -- resolute yet human, clever but intuitive as well. The repeat appearances of Liz's sidekick Peggy and Liz's boss Charles Wetherby are starting to give an ensemble feel to the cast which I like, but there are some new figures -- an embittered CIA officer named Bokus; a Mossad veteran who's seen it all -- who are equally intriguing.
All in all, I thought this was a great read.
All in all, I thought this was a great read.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Contemporary spy mystery. MI5's Liz Carlyle plays a pivotal role in security service efforts to foil a threat to a Middle East peace conference. Complicated plotline with lots of characters (possibly too many) and a slight air of implausibility around the conference incident. A satisfying read, nevertheless.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Disappointing
With her MI5 (6?!) background I expected Ms Rimmington to provide a much greater feeling of authenticity. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Charles Jones
Dead Line Stella Rimington
Very well written and exciting. Couldnt put the book down. Would have liked the story to have continued.
Published 2 months ago by florence
Disappointing
This was the first Stella Rimington novel that I have read and with her background in the security services I had expected something a little more gripping. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Scooby
Plausible read
I read the book to the end, it was a bit "padded out in places - golf course et al)An interesting look at what Stella Rimmington is writing following her interesting career. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ms. Madeline Hackett
Dead Line
An obvious first attempt at writing. It was amaturish and very "boys own". I almost expected the classic line "and with one mighty bound he was free"!
Published 14 months ago by nacnud
What a let down !!!!!!
This is based on the audio version of the book. The reader's voice is ok, ethnic accents are rather poor especially when it comes to the Israelis, Syrian, Lebanese, Easter-European... Read more
Published 21 months ago by E. EL-ATTRACHE
Strange Bedfellow
In the newest entry in one of the better contemporary spy series, highlighting the activities of Liz Carlyle and her co-workers at Britain's MI5, "Dead Line" focuses on the Mideast... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Ted Feit
rimington
its like the first one you read a good page turner and you feel you no the characters cant wait for the next book
Published on 28 Dec 2009 by Ms. Glynis Mcdougall
Stella gets her groove back!
Much better than SR's former book, Illegal Action (see my review of that one).
This one has more punch, more power. Read more
This one has more punch, more power. Read more
Published on 25 Sep 2009 by Kirsten Petersen
great writing continues.
Stella Rimington has been noted for her service to England, but I prefer to compliment her on her writing. Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2009 by E. A. Quam
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