At Risk is a fast-paced thriller hitting on every global hot topic. Written by Stella Rimington, the former head of UK’s MI5 (the internal security force), the story takes us from the desolate borders of Pakistan and Afghanistan to the desolate marsh lands of Norfolk, England as we follow two terrorists as they execute their plan to blow up a target in England.
MI5 Agent Liz Carlyle is in charge of the counter-terrorism investigation. She’s smart, devoted, and strong. She is able to collate disparate chatter into a firm conclusion that the terrorists have made their way into the country. With each new piece of information, it is fascinating to see how the security forces work together (and at times against each other) in order to stop a terrorist attack. Rimington admits that Liz is mostly autobiographical. As a reader, it is nice to know that what we are reading is (most likely) what really happens – mistakes and all.
The story is filled with many great characters including the slimy MI6 Agent Mackay, the Englishwoman turned Islamic Jihadist, and Wetherby, Liz’s surprisingly kindly boss. Even smaller characters are well developed. Particularly Denzil Parrish, a quiet, shy college kid who hates to admit he likes birdwatching because he thinks it might hurt his chances with the ladies.
In Secret Asset, after recovering from her last case (you have to read At Risk to find out what I mean), Liz gets information from her informant that there is a new terror attack in the works. But before she gets involved in following up on the info, she is given a new assignment and a new partner. The partner is a young go-getter named Peggy Kinsolver and the assignment is to find an IRA mole working for MI5. While working the case, Liz realizes that she has to uncover the mole fast because what she really needs to be doing is stopping the terror threat that is spiralling out of control.
This book is more polished than the first which is good. Fascinating tidbits about spycraft and memorable characters are also plusses. On the downside, it is also a little too much “inside baseball” which is bad.
Illegal Action Liz is given a simple assignment: infiltrate a Russian billionaire’s household and make sure he isn’t assassinated by the Russian government. This plot is based on a true “ripped from the headlines” story: Alexander Litvinenko, an real ex-Russian agent and a fierce critic of Putin was poisoned in London. Once Liz gets into the house, she soon finds that her job isn’t going to be that simple. Everyone, it seems, in the house isn’t who they say they are. So Liz along with her team do lots of intelligence gathering. Liz finds the assignment sort of boring and lets her guard down, which almost gets her killed.
But in the end, Liz and her team (well, almost all of her team) are successful in keeping their Russian alive. But was that the real assignment? Or was it all a ruse (pun intended) for something even more villainous? You’ll have to read it to see.
Stella gives us lots of interesting insights into the sometimes monotonous assignments that MI5 agents must contend with. But she has a way of making the most boring surveillance or information gathering seem so fascinating and suspenseful. Much improved writing and plotting in her third outing.
Liz Carlyle MI5 Spy Novels
- At Risk (2004)
- Secret Asset (2007)
- Illegal Action (2008)
- Dead Line (2008/UK, 2010/US)
- Present Danger (2009/UK, ????/US)
Publishers:
- Hutchinson, Random House UK, London. (2004-2008)
- Quercus, London. (Current)
- Knopf, Random House, New York.
