The Devil's Bargain

I suppose that it would be difficult to think of a stronger provenance for a writer of spy thrillers than to have been Director General of MI5, as Stella Rimington was. Indeed, she was the first woman in that role, and the first holder of it to be publicly acknowledged as such. After publishing a volume of memoirs (extensively filleted to avoid releasing material too sensitive for the public conscience, although no less interesting for all that), she wrote a highly entertaining series of novels featuring Liz Carlyle, an empathetic and capable (although reassuringly far from infallible) Intelligence Officer. These clearly benefitted from Dame Stella’s inside knowledge (although I am sure that MI5 will have evolved significantly since show more her day), but avoided becoming bogged down in procedural verisimilitude. Her latest novel introduces a new protagonist, Manon Tyler, who is an analyst working for the CIA, about to be posted to the London Embassy.

The novel opens ack in the throes of the Cold War when a Bulgarian ship docks at Heysham in Lancashire. One of the crew disembarks, ostensibly to spend a night ashore, but he never returns. His departure is witnessed by Harry Bristow, a detective sergeant assigned to Special Branch. He should have followed up the young man’s disappearance, but for reasons of his own he failed to do so at the time.

Bristow encounters the fugitive many years later and finds that he has done well, establishing himself in business with a chain of kitchen design outlets throughout the North West of England, and, after a stint as a local councillor, is newly returned to Parliament as MP for Liverpool North.

Stella Rimington weaves the plot sinuously, but deftly, and the action moves quickly. As always, her characters are very plausible and empathetic. Manon in particular is very engaging, and is reminiscent in her way of Liz Carlyle in the early phases of her career. I was intrigued by Rimington’s decision to focus the novel on a CIA officer, which should lend an intriguing perspective to any further novels in what I hope is to become another series. show less

As a young policeman Harry Bristow fell into a trap, now he is blackmailed to keep his secret. Peter Robinson, rising political star, has a secret that he doesn't want revealing. With the old Soviet regime in disarray, both the West and East still play power games and spy relentlessly but what if one side had a hidden asset?
This is an assured novel from one who knows! OK, it is formulaic at times and the dialogue can be a bit creaky but the plot is tight and clever. It's just a quick bit of light entertainment and sometimes that's no bad thing