- Hardcover: 304 pages
- Publisher: Hutchinson; First Edition, First Impression edition (2 Aug 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0091797225
- ISBN-13: 978-0091797225
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.6 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 430,061 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Financial Times
Rimington's plot... bristles with subterfuge and splices in allusions to Litvinenko's poisoning to give Illegal Action a contemporary feel... Gripping
Observer
There is every sign of insider knowledge about this spying business as our hero Liz enters the world of mega-rich and mega-eccentric Russian `oligarchs' in London
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As `Illegal Action' begins, Liz Carlyle is being transferred to Counter-espionage within MI5 a move she views as a demotion. However, soon after she arrives, word leaks of a plot by the Russians to kill one of their influential oligarchs here in London. Intelligence leads Liz to carry out an undercover operation where she must pose as an art history student and spend time in the home of Brunovsky, a charismatic and incredibly wealthy man who could be under threat. It seems that none of the people in Brunovsky's intimate circle are who they say they are and it's up to Liz to get to the truth.
I have read and enjoyed Stella Rimington's other books, but for some reason i found this one slightly lack lustre. The plot was Ok, but fell apart towards the end and I didn't find myself engaged with the characters as much as I had been in previous books. This novel might be OK for the book and is an easy read, but it certainly isn't the best example of her writing.
I have read and enjoyed Stella Rimington's other books, but for some reason i found this one slightly lack lustre. The plot was Ok, but fell apart towards the end and I didn't find myself engaged with the characters as much as I had been in previous books. This novel might be OK for the book and is an easy read, but it certainly isn't the best example of her writing.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
No James Bond smoothie knocking off the baddies and knocking up the birds, Liz Carlyle's character is far more down to earth, far more credible. The women in the book don't fall about screaming when they see something iffy, but get on with the job. Mind you, the blokes in power are often represented as arrogant tossers--the male equivalent of the cardboard hysterical woman, the kind of people we all recognize from the workplace.
The pace of the story is good and fast, making the book something of a page-turner. Just don't compare Rimington with Le Carré, yet.
Some voyeurs might whinge at the lack of sex scenes in the story, but such scenes would only have delayed the important stuff, weakening the tale.
Rimington is certainly improving as an author and spinner of yarns. Good for her. Knowing the Service as thoroughly as she does, she must surely be at great pains not to tell too much, not to give away some "useful" information, lest she be branded "another Peter Wright". But within the limits of what she can safely divulge, she presents us with a credible view of some aspects of work in MI5. If anything's missing, it's the sheer drudgery of some of the analytical work. But who'd be interested in that?
Good on yer, Stella. Keep 'em coming.
The pace of the story is good and fast, making the book something of a page-turner. Just don't compare Rimington with Le Carré, yet.
Some voyeurs might whinge at the lack of sex scenes in the story, but such scenes would only have delayed the important stuff, weakening the tale.
Rimington is certainly improving as an author and spinner of yarns. Good for her. Knowing the Service as thoroughly as she does, she must surely be at great pains not to tell too much, not to give away some "useful" information, lest she be branded "another Peter Wright". But within the limits of what she can safely divulge, she presents us with a credible view of some aspects of work in MI5. If anything's missing, it's the sheer drudgery of some of the analytical work. But who'd be interested in that?
Good on yer, Stella. Keep 'em coming.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Just finished this book after reading all others by Stella Remington. Again there is much to enjoy, the good characterisation, the locations in London, the inner life of MI5 and MI6, and a very contemporary plot. But also, there is much to find a bit short-changed ( as in the other books_) mostly here this anti-climax ending, utterly unprobable, unconvincing endings that Remington seems to be so good at.
The story I found a bit far-fetched, and stretching belief. Still I would recommend it for a journey or a long airport delay.
The story I found a bit far-fetched, and stretching belief. Still I would recommend it for a journey or a long airport delay.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
shame, I hope the next is better.
I am working my way through the author's books in order so this is the third I have read. I really enjoyed the first two but this is not in the same league. Read more
Published 2 months ago by dixie dean
Illegal Action
The first time round I borrowed all five novels from the library. After reading they immediately went to the top of my "must have" list, so I bought the whole set plus the... Read more
Published on 7 Nov 2009 by I. Q. Lumsden
Good holiday read
I found some of the characters rather unrealistic and there were also inaccuracies in the material but I still found it a good holiday read.
Published on 14 Sep 2009 by Mrs. RM KLEPPMANN
Russian Oligarchs in new Rimington winner
Illegal Action
In her third Liz Carlyle novel Stella moves to modern Russia and the London based oligarchs, in this case billionaire Brunovsky on a mission to buy a... Read more
In her third Liz Carlyle novel Stella moves to modern Russia and the London based oligarchs, in this case billionaire Brunovsky on a mission to buy a... Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2009 by pointone
rather good
This book is good: it is cool, calm and somewhat detached, like the heroine, Liz Carlyle. The world of british spying portrayed is absorbing because it is authentic. Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2009 by bookhead
Readable, but very ordinary
I got this out as a 'Fastback' from the library and read it in 2 days. Says it all really, though not because I couldn't put it down. Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2008 by Jeff
Boring, never really takes off
Don't waste your money on this book, I won't be reading her other ones featuring Liz. One of the very rare books I've read which I skimmed read the end, it was just so boring. Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2008 by Fred
Dull - Dull
After a great start with "At Risk" I was really keen to read this book. It was a real slog to get to the end. Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2008 by J. Whitaker
Not her best book!
Stella Rimington is clearly an intelligent person (and she should be - given her former job!) - her language is brilliant. Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2008 by Kirsten Petersen
Disappointing ending. Starts well but plot is obvious from half way...
I had high hopes for this book, being a fan of crime and espionage thrillers, but don't be fooled by the reviews on the back. Read more
Published on 23 Dec 2007 by rayer
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