This is a breathlessly written, compelling page turner of a spy thriller by Stella Rimington, ex head of MI5. The latest in a number of books she has written, this is the first in a series about Manon Tyler. It has a prologue and is divided into forty three short chapters. Readers are informed of the nuts and bolts of MI5 and the CIA, and this book contains fascinating core details and exclusive data.
There are three main characters (Harry , Manon and ‘Peter Robinson’) and their interwoven stories are excellently portrayed, with unexpected twists and turns .
In THE DEVIL’S BARGAIN we are introduced to Harry Bristow, who in some ways is leading a double life. He is a loving father, a policeman who ends up being blackmailed into becoming the chauffeur for the man he knew years ago.
The book begins in 1988, Cold War days , when Harry Winslow is a junior Special Branch officer , at Heysham Port, verifying that foreign merchant seamen did not overstay their visas allowing short leave ashore in Britain.
We see how a situation slowly somehow led to Harry taking a bribe, letting a man he knew as ‘Igor’ into Britain – and he’s regretted it ever since. A Bulgarian flag for Harry’s young son, to impress his school friends was first, a seemingly small and insignificant incident. Next it was earrings for his wife Gina. And then ‘Igor’ concealed a wad of money in some newspapers that he said might interest Harry, and then walked away and vanished.
So when he recognises Igor many years later in a bank queue as his newly-elected MP, now known as ‘ Peter Robinson’, who runs a thriving kitchen installation business, Harry , now Deputy Head of Special Branch in Liverpool, knows he must reveal all. However ‘Robinson’ also recognises Bristow – and Harry fears what he might do next.
It was relatively easy to slip into Britain in 1988 as an illegal, working deep undercover, (his real name is Pyotr Romanov) but the break-up of the Soviet Union cut ‘Robinson’ off from Russia and those he collected information for. He was a hidden solo operative and had the perfect background as an MP ‘ Robinson’ is slowly infiltrating Britain’s top echelons of jurisdiction – but now the one man who knows his secret has reappeared. With no way to contact Moscow, he must act quickly to stabilise his position.He begins by sending Harry photographs taken when the ‘gifts’ had been handed over and demands a meeting.
Meanwhile, American and British security services start to take an interest in ‘Peter Robinson ‘and two young women become deeply involved. We are introduced to Manon Tyler, who has been working in the CIA agency in New York, and has just been posted to the American Embassy in London. Before she leaves for London she attends a talk by a former KGB controller, Dimitri Kazov, who unexpectedly reveals that there might still be a solo “illegal” in the UK from a program he ran back in the Cold War.
Once in London, Manon catches up with her British friend, Louise Donovan. Louise has recently become disenchanted with her work as a solicitor and taken a job as a campaign organiser – for ‘ Peter Robinson’. After winning his seat in Parliament ‘ Robinson’ come to thank Louise and treats her to dinner , which develops into a relationship .Louise is at first thrilled , but then begins to query it , especially once she has talked to Harry , who is now working as ‘Robinson’s ‘ chauffeur.
‘Robinson’ progresses in his career while balancing meetings with Harry – when Harry resigns from the police, Robinson gives him the chauffeur job to ensure his continued silence. Readers also meet ‘ Robinson’s’ daughter Tatiana, who Manon befriends undercover and in some ways uses for her job. Louise and Manon become heavily involved in the investigation of ‘Peter Robinson’ by both the British and American security services. At the same time, Moscow suddenly decides to re-activate Peter Robinson as a spy, but much interdepartmental bickering causes problems.
This is a tight, tensely written spy thriller, where Rimington analyses the relationship between MI5 and the CIA as well as the environment of spying in Russia since the Cold War and the predicament of a solo operator who possibly has lost both his purpose. Readers follow how assorted agents tentatively edge towards circumstances where no one has a complete overview.
A captivating read .
ISBN: 9781526612946
ISBN-10: 1526612941
Audience: BAU
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number Of Pages: 272
Published: 29th March 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Dimensions (cm): 23.3 x 15.3 x 2.6
Weight (kg): 0.37
https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/devils-bargain-9781526612939/