The Final Cut

This is the final instalment of the author's House of Cards trilogy of novels and TV series. In power for 11 years, Francis Urquhart's remaining ambition is to exceed the length of Margaret Thatcher's premiership. He attempts to secure his legacy by bringing peace between Greek and Turkish communities in Cyprus, needless to say with own his background motives. However, he has his own dark secrets from his time on the island as a young British army officer. When it unravels, he loses support from his colleagues. The resolution of the Cyprus crisis is handled dramatically and occupies a greater place in the narrative than it does in the TV series. Urquhart's own decline and fall unfold in a rather different way and herein lies my main show more concern with this book - Tom Makepeace's march on London and the scenes in Trafalgar Square are more reminiscent of an East European velvet revolution than being a credible outcome within the context of British politics. Though even in death, Urquhart has the last laugh. Urquhart and his wife (here renamed again) are much deeper characters than on TV - while still manipulative and appalling, they are much more three dimensional and, behind closed doors, much more uncertain and lacking in confidence than they are on screen. As a piece of drama, I would have to say the TV series is better, though as with its predecessors, this is a much better written political thriller than those by many other authors. show less

The last of Dobbs' "House of Cards" trilogy. Thank God it's over. The ending was well written, though. The best part of the series.

Francis Urquhart (FU) is about tO make history as the longest serving Prime Minister ever. However, things from his past are starting to catch up with him and the people of his country are starting to tire of his administration.

dobbs' "The Final Cut" was as good as the 1st, even better in places. The Machiavellian political manoeuvrings were still brilliant.