The Hidden Hand

The Hidden Hand is a fast paced spy thriller by the former head of MI5, Stella Rimington. It is the second book in the Manon Tyler series.

Li Min is a Chinese student studying at Harvard University in America. Before she completes the course she is instructed to transfer to Oxford University in England. Li Min is reluctant to relocate but it is made clear that she has no choice. While at Harvard she had been collecting and passing on information to a Chinese official. In England the Chinese want Li Min to use her experience in AI to make a film they can use for blackmail.

In Oxford Li Min befriends a fellow student, Sally, who agrees to be part of her academic project. CIA agent, Manon Tyler, who is working under a different name, works to gain Li Min's trust with the assistance of Charles Abbott. Assistance is also readily available from London as every effort is made to protect the women and also avoid a diplomatic disaster.

The Devil's Bargain

Harry Bristow made a mistake when as a young policeman he inadvertently accepted a bribe. He later discovered that the man that he knew as Igor entered the country illegally and changed his identity. Harry knew that if he reported what he knew he would he would not only lose his position in the police force but might also end up in prison. He therefore decided to do nothing about this information.

Some years later he recognised the man in Liverpool and set out to discover more about him. The man now called himself Peter Robinson and had just become a member of parliament. Harry is sure that Peter is a Russian spy but he is still unsure what he should do with this knowledge. Then Robinson recognised Harry and threatened him.

The Devil's Bargain by Stella Rimington is a fast moving spy thriller involving American and British intelligence services as well as members of the Russian Embassy. Manon Bradley, an analyst with the CIA, finds herself undertaking fieldwork during the investigation. Manon is just one of an interesting collection of characters who find themselves involved as Peter Robinson's story is investigated.

The Geneva Trap

An agent's car is run off the road in Switzerland. In Geneva a Russian spy approaches MI6 officers about a planned cyber attack. He only wants to speak to Liz Carlyle who works for MI5 in London. Thus begins a sequence of events that occur in Switzerland, England and France as attempts are made to uncover the threat to a British - American joint project and also to foil an attempt to disrupt a G20 meeting in France. Stella Rimington worked for MI5 and was appointed Director General in 1992. This is the seventh book in her Liz Carlyle series. The plot is fast moving with plenty of suspense as the reader follows the work of Liz and her colleagues as they locate the source of the invasion of a supposedly secure computer network resulting in a threat to a major defence initiative. Liz's resources are also involved in helping the daughter of a friend who is in danger. A great read.

Illegal action

Liz Carlyle and Peggy Kinsolving are transferred to the Counter-Espionage Unit of MI5 when Charles Wetherby takes leave to look after his sick wife. Liz works undercover as an art student in the home of Nikita Brunovsky, a Russian oligarch now living in London, whose life is thought to be under threat. When the secret services discover that there is possibly an Illegal Russian agent in London the race is on to discover who this threat is and if there is a connection with the threat to kill a prominent Russian in the UK. Who attacked Liz near the 'safe' house where she is staying and who murdered Brunovsky's art dealer? Stella Rimington writes another easy to read account of intrigue in the secret services of the UK.

Dead line

 

Stella Rimington, former Director General of MI5, has written a series of books about MI5 agent, Liz Carlyle, the most recent being Dead line. 

When a conference to discuss peace in the Middle East is to be held at Gleneagles in Scotland all the security services are called in to ensure that nothing disrupts the proceedings. MI6 are alerted to a plan to cause trouble and have the Syrians blamed. A former employee of MI5 contacts Liz as she is concerned about a staff member from the Israeli Embassy who has shown interest in her mother - in - law. Shortly afterwards an attempt is made on the life of Liz Carlyle causing her to spend time in hospital. As investigations continue questions are raised as to possible under handed methods occurring in security services of other countries.

The action centres in London, Scotland, Cyprus, USA and the Middle East as Liz and her colleagues strive to find out what the possible danger is, who is responsible and how to stop it from happening.