At Risk

In her first foray into fiction, former British MI5 Chief Stella Rimington has crafted a thriller about a possible Islamic terrorist attack in England. While the story has its ups and downs and the ending is a bit too pat, it succeeds because of the fine performance of Jennifer McMahon, whose British accent and timing are impeccable. In particular, McMahon captures the emotions of intelligence officer Liz Carlyle, illuminating her insights into both the world of terrorism and the male-dominated world of Britain's Security Services. McMahon realistically portrays the pangs of conscience that confront Lucy Wharmby, the British accomplice of terrorist Faraj Mansour. Not surprisingly, Wharmby learns quickly that murder is easier in theory than in practice. D.J.S. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

November 29, 2004
The first woman director general of Britain's MI5, Rimington speaks smartly about workplace issues while ratcheting the tension high in her authoritative debut thriller. Enter Liz Carlyle, an agent-runner with a taste for vintage clothes; her married lover, Mark Callendar, whom she doesn't love; and an appealing head of section, Charles Wetherby. You don't need Liz's deductive powers to figure out that Wetherby will eventually succeed Mark, who terminally annoys Liz by leaving his wife. Liz is married to her job. Small wonder: it doesn't get more exciting than this. The Islamic Terror Syndicate (ITS) may be about to deploy an "invisible"—"an ethnic native of the target country"—and only Liz can pull together all the threads. Rimington infuses the chase with moral complexity by making the invisible a real human being, no matter that she boasts a fake name and has "become a cipher, a selfless instrument of vengeance, a Child of Heaven." Most of the characters feel authentic, although Rimington occasionally goes on about strangers briefly glimpsed and introduces several wryly flirtatious male agents too many. She is open about having had an assist with the structure of the book, but the voice rings true, and she keeps faith with a genre she clearly venerates. 150,000 first printing; five-city author tour.

A story that unfolds as coolly and professionally as a British spy film serves as fine audio fodder. This audiobook carries us into the insider worlds of the British Home Office, MI5, and MI6 through the dealings of Liz Carlyle, a British double agent. One would think the Islamic terrorist card has been overplayed but not in this mature plot, which relies more on character and story than on trends and politics. Kate Reading is equal to the task, matching her pacing precisely to the needs of the story. Prepare to be surprised by this cynical contemporary fiction, written by a former director general of MI5. D.J.B. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine