Illegal Action - (Agent Liz Carlyle) by Stella Rimington (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The fiercely intelligent, ambitious MI5 officer Liz Carlyle returns in a spy novel of arresting psychological complexity and unflagging suspense.

In the most recent installment in the Liz Carlyle series, Liz has been transferred to counter-espionage--the hub of MI5 operations during the Cold War. Her mission: protect Nikita Brunovsky, an increasingly vocal opponent of Vladimir Putin, who has been targeted for assassination and is seeking refuge in the UK. The Foreign Office is adamant about forestalling a crime that could become a full-blown international incident. So Liz goes undercover, attaching herself to Brunovsky's retinue: racing against the clock to determine who betrayed him and suddenly facing a wholly unexpected second task--unmasking a Russian operative working undercover alongside her.

Review Quotes

"Rimington's plot, as one should expect from a former head of MI5, bristles with subterfuge and splices in allusions to Litvinenko's poisoning to give Illegal Action a contemporary feel. . . . Carlyle, in her third outing, has depth and tenacity."--The Financial Times"A former director general of MI5 in the '90s, Rimington fills her brainy page-turner with authentic details." --Entertainment Weekly"Rimington fashions an exciting final confrontation to her story." --The Washington Post"The psychological curiosity and attention to detail that has made Rimington a top spy also distinguishes her as an author."--People"An ideal beach read for the upcoming vacation season. . . . Elements of the old-fashioned spy novel-sudden twists and characters with hidden agendas-combine with James Patterson's secret to success."--Booklist

About the Author

Stella Rimington joined MI5 in 1965 and during her thirty-year career she worked in all the main fields of the Service's responsibilities -counter-subversion, counter-espionage, and counter-terrorism-and successively became Director of all three branches. Appointed Director-General of MI5 in 1992, she was the first woman to hold the post and the first Director-General whose name was publicly announced on appointment. Following her retirement from MI5 in 1996, she became a Non-Executive Director of Marks and Spencer and published her autobiography, Open Secret, in the UK. She is the author of Secret Asset and At Risk.