Secret Asset
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4.1 • 37 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
Liz Carlyle, the quick, passionate intelligence officer of Britain's MI5, returns to defuse a terrorist plot in this high-stakes, high-tension tale of international espionage. When it appears a “secret asset”—a sleeper spy—has infiltrated British Intelligence, the Director of Counter-Terrorism assigns Liz Carlyle to dig up the mole. The spy, possibly a former IRA operative now working with British-born Al Qaeda sympathizers, has one thing on his (or her?) mind: total devastation. With a major attack looming, Liz must trust her instincts and move fast. But this assignment is deadly, and suddenly she feels like she has wandered into a wilderness of mirrors, where nothing is what is seems and no-one can be trusted.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
After four months' convalescent leave, MI5 spy Liz Carlyle, returning from her debut in Rimington's At Risk, confers with her agent Marzipan, an Islamic bookshop clerk who has discovered a probable terror plot in the making. Soon after, Liz is charged with finding an IRA mole within the ranks of MI5. With the aid of fresh-faced co-worker Peggy Kinsolving, Liz goes about the task of ferreting out the mole, despite disappointment at being taken off the terror case, which she can't quite let go with, it turns out, good reason. Much is made of the authenticity of Rimington's tradecraft (she was the first female head of MI5 in real life), and rightly so. But lots of writers get the details right, and for many readers, Rimington's ratio of action to personal detail will seem skewed: every character, no matter how minor, gets heavily profiled, and it slows things down. Still, those interested in old school British intelligence thrillers will find much to like in the smart, enterprising Carlyle.
Customer Reviews
Clues are not enough.
I like Liz and her intelligent insights which lead her, whatever and whoever she’s investigating. What I like about Liz, is the combination of smarts, and emotional intelligence she brings to the job at hand. In this case she must investigate her fellow colleagues and in at least one case a friend to find the traitor before it’s too late.
Riveting plot
A very intelligently told tale of betrayal keeps the reader totally engaged in a not farfetched terrorist plot. The author introduces and develops credible characters, some who we despise and others we identify with and admire. I enjoyed the journey.