There is a long tradition of those in the know writing spy thrillers, the most obvious being John Le Carre, who had to leave his post with MI6 on account of his spy books becoming too successful. (i wish i had seen that meeting).
Stella Rimington made it just a little higher up MI5 than being an agent runner, and for over two years ran our home security service. She was also the first openly named appointee to the post, and thusly one of he better known since. She broke the ultimate taboo by publishing her memoirs shortly after leaving the service.
At Risk has an authenticity from this that is missing from many standard thrillers, and a flat down to earth narrative style akin to Thomas Harris, and blissfully free of the Dan Brown JKK Rowling drivelist dramatic overly written swill, the drama is in what happens , not the words, which for a thriller is just how it should be.
When seeking summarise this book I was repeatedly being drawn to the phrase ‘nothing special’. Which is true, but it does not take away from this book being very good. The narrator holds clever cards close to her chest regarding plot, and add depth and surprise to most of her characters. The story moves with pace and beyond the main characters to involve many of those threatened by events of national security.
Like Le Carre’s early work it’s the events that dominate the text and rightly so, texture and depth come with experience and if forced to early are like wading through treacle.
As the end nears how much we know is carefully managed, the reader thinks questions moments before the answer is provided. In some ways a formulaic first work, but none the less exciting.
I heartily recommend this to anyone who enjoys a thriller, while nothing special, Rimington has staked her claim on the One-to-watch territory.
Stella Rimingtons next novel Secret Assett is published on August 3rd
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