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Product Description
Review
"A cracking good thriller." Lynn Barber,
-"Observer
""Intelligent... Undeniably pacey."
-"Guardian
""This is something rare: the spy novel that prizes authenticity over fabrication"
-"Mail on Sunday
""Tense and terrifying."
-"Cosmopolitan
""The Secret Service background is exceedingly convincing."
-"Evening Standard"
Praise for "At Risk":
"This is something very rare: the spy novel that prizes authenticity over fabrication."
-"Mail on Sunday"
"Tense and terrifying."
-"Cosmopolitan"
"A cracking good thriller"
-Lynn Barber, "Observer"
"Intelligent -- Undeniably pacy"
-"Guardian"
"Rimington makes adroit use of her expertise as former MI5 chief"
-"Sunday Times"
"The Secret Service background is exceedingly convincing"
-"Evening Standard"
"First class"
-Douglas Hurd," New Statesman"
Praise for Stella Rimington's autobiography "Open Secret":
"The story of MI5's transformation is fascinating. So too is Rimington's account of her rise in what was very definitely a man's world."
--"Guardian"
"She writes in a refreshingly self-deprecating style of juggling the roles of single parent and chief 'spook'."
--"Independent on Sunday"
"Open Secret is a fascinating account not only of Stella Rimington's various roles in the evolving Security Services, but also of the strains on a single mother as she struggles to compartmentalize a life that is necessarily unpredictable, stressful and shrouded in secrecy."
--"Time Out"
-"Observer
""Intelligent... Undeniably pacey."
-"Guardian
""This is something rare: the spy novel that prizes authenticity over fabrication"
-"Mail on Sunday
""Tense and terrifying."
-"Cosmopolitan
""The Secret Service background is exceedingly convincing."
-"Evening Standard"
Praise for "At Risk":
"This is something very rare: the spy novel that prizes authenticity over fabrication."
-"Mail on Sunday"
"Tense and terrifying."
-"Cosmopolitan"
"A cracking good thriller"
-Lynn Barber, "Observer"
"Intelligent -- Undeniably pacy"
-"Guardian"
"Rimington makes adroit use of her expertise as former MI5 chief"
-"Sunday Times"
"The Secret Service background is exceedingly convincing"
-"Evening Standard"
"First class"
-Douglas Hurd," New Statesman"
Praise for Stella Rimington's autobiography "Open Secret":
"The story of MI5's transformation is fascinating. So too is Rimington's account of her rise in what was very definitely a man's world."
--"Guardian"
"She writes in a refreshingly self-deprecating style of juggling the roles of single parent and chief 'spook'."
--"Independent on Sunday"
"Open Secret is a fascinating account not only of Stella Rimington's various roles in the evolving Security Services, but also of the strains on a single mother as she struggles to compartmentalize a life that is necessarily unpredictable, stressful and shrouded in secrecy."
--"Time Out"
Book Description
From the former head of MI5 and author of the bestselling At Risk comes a heart-stopping new thriller that returns us to the high stakes world of MI5 Intelligence Officer Liz Carlyle.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
At the very least it would be impossible to fault the authenticity of this novel. Rimington's former life as the head of MI5 gives this the pedigree of someone who clearly knows what she's talking about.
The day to day details of the UK's Security Services are deftly written: all the interview and investigative procedures ring true and Rimington also has a good eye for character and motivation.
The plot twist is quite novel but the denouement leaves a lot to be desired- it's as if a kind of real-life reticence kicks in: what is reqired is the unbuttoned fantasy of a hollywood plot to create the kind of climax most readers have come to expect. No doubt the author knows what is real and is unwilling to suspend disbelief.
I enjoyed this book, and would not discourage the interested reader from giving it a go. My advice to Ms Rimington on writing the next one would be: keep the authentic detail, stick with your characterisations, but don't be afraid to spice up the action.
The day to day details of the UK's Security Services are deftly written: all the interview and investigative procedures ring true and Rimington also has a good eye for character and motivation.
The plot twist is quite novel but the denouement leaves a lot to be desired- it's as if a kind of real-life reticence kicks in: what is reqired is the unbuttoned fantasy of a hollywood plot to create the kind of climax most readers have come to expect. No doubt the author knows what is real and is unwilling to suspend disbelief.
I enjoyed this book, and would not discourage the interested reader from giving it a go. My advice to Ms Rimington on writing the next one would be: keep the authentic detail, stick with your characterisations, but don't be afraid to spice up the action.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the second of Stella Rimington books I have read, and on the whole I have enjoyed them both. The heroine is Liz Carlyle, who works for MI5 and has to foil various terrorist plots - in this case a supposed Islamic act of terrorism and also she tackles the flushing out of an internal mole.
I love the insider view of MI5 procedures ; I assume these are fairly realistic - either way they appeal to my curiosity. Its quite a page turner - I look forward to coming back to the book when I can.
The things that irritate are firstly the sometimes pedestrian language - it occasionally appears quite amateurish, though this happens infrequently enough not to spoil the story. What I hate most is that Liz Carlyle is portrayed as being completely omniscient. Every hunch she has, every deduction she makes, any inferences she makes from questioning people - they're always right! This feeling that MI5 could function effectively with only one member of staff - superwoman Liz - spoils it for me. She's the one who could tell you what the train driver had for lunch just knowing his shoe size. Shame - because otherwise a good read.
I love the insider view of MI5 procedures ; I assume these are fairly realistic - either way they appeal to my curiosity. Its quite a page turner - I look forward to coming back to the book when I can.
The things that irritate are firstly the sometimes pedestrian language - it occasionally appears quite amateurish, though this happens infrequently enough not to spoil the story. What I hate most is that Liz Carlyle is portrayed as being completely omniscient. Every hunch she has, every deduction she makes, any inferences she makes from questioning people - they're always right! This feeling that MI5 could function effectively with only one member of staff - superwoman Liz - spoils it for me. She's the one who could tell you what the train driver had for lunch just knowing his shoe size. Shame - because otherwise a good read.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you like spy thrillers you will almost certainaly love this book. As well as trying to stop a terrorist attack, Liz Carlyle must find an IRA mole (who infiltrated MI5, but was never activated.)
The characters are great and the story cracks along at a terrific pace. There are the usual twists and turns, and although I did guess who the mole was about half way through, there was always the chance that I was wrong (!) and it did nothing to spoil my enjoyment of the book.
Rimington also adds in some nice touches. Even characters who are only bit part players are well drawn and we find out small details about their lives and why they were in that place at that time.
If this is the kind of thing you usually enjoy then buy it! Safe houses, surveillance techniques, the inner workings of the terrorist mind, IRA informers.....this book has it all.
The characters are great and the story cracks along at a terrific pace. There are the usual twists and turns, and although I did guess who the mole was about half way through, there was always the chance that I was wrong (!) and it did nothing to spoil my enjoyment of the book.
Rimington also adds in some nice touches. Even characters who are only bit part players are well drawn and we find out small details about their lives and why they were in that place at that time.
If this is the kind of thing you usually enjoy then buy it! Safe houses, surveillance techniques, the inner workings of the terrorist mind, IRA informers.....this book has it all.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Rivetting Rimington
What a superb writer Stella Rimington is! Undoubtedly her stay with MI5 has helped her enormously but that said, what a rivetting read! Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2010 by Michael Reeves
Excellent thriller !
I started reading Rimington with her first book 'At risk', where I found the conclusion a real let down. Read more
Published on 1 Nov 2008 by Josephine Huys
Slightly muted Liz Carlyle novel
Secret Asset
Second in the series of Liz Carlyle novels this has dual converging plots of a sleeper within MI5 and a shadowy Islamist threat. Read more
Second in the series of Liz Carlyle novels this has dual converging plots of a sleeper within MI5 and a shadowy Islamist threat. Read more
Published on 21 Oct 2008 by pointone
Not very secret and not much of an asset
I hadn't expected great writing but, given that Stella Rimington once headed MI5, I did imagine that her experience would enable her to construct an original plot and, most... Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2007 by Tarasque
Good, But Not Great
Stella Rimington joined the Security Service (MI5) in 1965 and during her career she worked in all the main fields of the Service's responsibilities - counter-subversion,... Read more
Published on 9 Oct 2007 by J. Chippindale
Bit of a let down
I can usually tell by simply reading the first page of a book as to whether or not it's going to be my cup of tea and this showed promise. Read more
Published on 17 July 2007 by Hippy chick
Lacks Punch
Stella Rimington obviously knows her stuff when it comes to the inner workings of the security services; there can be no doubt about that. Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2007 by C. Green
Good, But Not Great
Stella Rimington joined the Security Service (MI5) in 1965 and during her career she worked in all the main fields of the Service's responsibilities - counter-subversion,... Read more
Published on 24 May 2007 by J. Chippindale
Reasonable read
I was intrigued - because it was Stella Rimington. I had not realised that this was her second novel. Read more
Published on 15 May 2007 by Cat28
Absolutely Her Best Yet
I absolutely loved this book. In many ways it's like an old-fashioned spy thriller - what with slightly off-colour dons being interviewed in their dark and musty colleges, making... Read more
Published on 11 April 2007 by helen
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