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Title details for At Risk by Stella Rimington - Available

At Risk

A Novel

by Stella Rimington
Jennifer McMahon
Audiobook
3 of 3 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
3 of 3 copies available
An announcement is made at a meeting of the British Intelligence Joint Counter-Terrorist group: “The opposition may be about to deploy an invisible.” An “invisible” is CIA-speak for the ultimate intelligence nightmare: a terrorist who is an ethnic native of the target country and who can therefore cross its borders unchecked, move around the country unquestioned, and go unnoticed while setting up the foundation for monstrous harm.
Intelligence officer Liz Carlyle has had to prove herself in countless ways as she’s come up through the ranks of the traditionally all-male world of Britain’s Security Service, MI5. But this announcement marks the start of an operation that will test all her hard-won knowledge and experience–and her intelligence and courage–as nothing has before. Having analyzed information from her agents, she realizes that there is indeed an imminent terrorist threat. She may even have the invisible’s point of entry. But what she cannot draw out of all the “chatter” is the invisible’s identity and intended target.
With each passing hour, the danger increases. As the desperate hunt continues, it becomes clear that Liz’s intuitive skills, her ability to get deep inside her enemy’s head, are her best hope for tracking down the terrorist. But will that be enough? And can she succeed in time to avert a disaster?
Drawing from her experience as the first woman director general of MI5, Stella Rimington gives us a story that is smart, tautly drawn, and suspenseful from first to last. At Risk is a stunning debut novel that plunges us headlong into today’s shadowy and fever-pitched battle between terrorism and Intelligence.

  • Creators

  • Series

    Liz Carlyle

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    January 11, 2005

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781415945285
      • File size: 324922 KB
      • Duration: 11:16:55

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      In her first foray into fiction, former British MI5 Chief Stella Rimington has crafted a thriller about a possible Islamic terrorist attack in England. While the story has its ups and downs and the ending is a bit too pat, it succeeds because of the fine performance of Jennifer McMahon, whose British accent and timing are impeccable. In particular, McMahon captures the emotions of intelligence officer Liz Carlyle, illuminating her insights into both the world of terrorism and the male-dominated world of Britain's Security Services. McMahon realistically portrays the pangs of conscience that confront Lucy Wharmby, the British accomplice of terrorist Faraj Mansour. Not surprisingly, Wharmby learns quickly that murder is easier in theory than in practice. D.J.S. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      November 29, 2004
      The first woman director general of Britain's MI5, Rimington speaks smartly about workplace issues while ratcheting the tension high in her authoritative debut thriller. Enter Liz Carlyle, an agent-runner with a taste for vintage clothes; her married lover, Mark Callendar, whom she doesn't love; and an appealing head of section, Charles Wetherby. You don't need Liz's deductive powers to figure out that Wetherby will eventually succeed Mark, who terminally annoys Liz by leaving his wife. Liz is married to her job. Small wonder: it doesn't get more exciting than this. The Islamic Terror Syndicate (ITS) may be about to deploy an "invisible"—"an ethnic native of the target country"—and only Liz can pull together all the threads. Rimington infuses the chase with moral complexity by making the invisible a real human being, no matter that she boasts a fake name and has "become a cipher, a selfless instrument of vengeance, a Child of Heaven." Most of the characters feel authentic, although Rimington occasionally goes on about strangers briefly glimpsed and introduces several wryly flirtatious male agents too many. She is open about having had an assist with the structure of the book, but the voice rings true, and she keeps faith with a genre she clearly venerates. 150,000 first printing; five-city author tour.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      A story that unfolds as coolly and professionally as a British spy film serves as fine audio fodder. This audiobook carries us into the insider worlds of the British Home Office, MI5, and MI6 through the dealings of Liz Carlyle, a British double agent. One would think the Islamic terrorist card has been overplayed but not in this mature plot, which relies more on character and story than on trends and politics. Kate Reading is equal to the task, matching her pacing precisely to the needs of the story. Prepare to be surprised by this cynical contemporary fiction, written by a former director general of MI5. D.J.B. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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