Thriller set around Westminster

6th September 2022

Opera by Julie Anderson, thriller set around Westminster.

It’s nice to meet up once again with Cassie Fortune, a brave, sensible and determined woman who cleaves her way through the messy business of politics and adventure in London.

She is due out of town to meet her ex boss, Dame Angela Kayser, at her home in Battle, but upon arrival, she discovers Angela’s body, slain by her own talwar (a curved sword/sabre), removed from its ornamental position on the wall. Angela has also lost her right hand, and rather than a simple burglary gone wrong, Cassie knows that this is a much bigger deal than the junior police officer, assigned to investigate the forced entry, originally surmises. But then PC Johns is not aware that the two women know each other from their days at GCHQ (Government Communication Headquarters).

Interestingly I read the book over a few days and, simultaneously, I was watching The Undeclared War on TV, which is set in GCHQ, set around a cyber attack from Russia (worth a watch), as opposed to terrorism linked to the death of a British couple in Pakistan in the novel – so it was interesting to experience the workings of politics and GCHQ in both mediums.

Cassie is also due to escort some high ranking Greek politicians to various functions, including characters to whom were introduced in Oracle, which is set on Delphi. One of their outings is to Covent Garden and the opera (they stage Tosca, if you want to know). It is up to Cassie to juggle all kinds plates and follow the threads of her discoveries, as she once again battles to keep the good people safe.

To add to the escalating situation, she begins to believe that a nemesis from her past is back in her life. There are nods to  plots in the two previous books – Plague and Oracle – but this novel can be read as a stand alone. Tension is kept taut, condensed into a few short days before Christmas.

Julie wrote a piece about points of interest that are free to visit in London – featured in this novel – so if you are heading to the capital, then check out her recommendations here.

Tina for the TripFiction Team

Catch Julie on Twitter @jjulieanderson

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