The fact that Michael Dobbs used to be Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party isn't directly relevant to this book, or this review, except that he brings his knowledge of a politician's mind to bear throughout this good read!

This is the first time I have come across Tom Goodfellowe, one of the key characters in this story; and I will no doubt look out for him again.

Goodfellowe is a man of around the same age as me: he is a Member of Parliament and has been a Minister … with the accent on the has been! His wife is seriously ill but he has a lady friend. He also has a daughter who flits in and out of the story.

Goodfellowe's greatest asset is his brain and its analytical prowess; his greatest liability is that his mouth runs away from his brain and gets him into trouble at all the wrong times.

The basic plot is that a former Army Officer, Guardsman no less, is disgruntled; and he passes on his disgruntlement to like minded former Army officers: three male and one female.

By way of turning the Prime Minister's wife's bath water bright green, bringing central London to a grinding halt, and causing three out of the four huge white chimneys at Battersea Power Station to come tumbling down (Grade II listed, so that was very naughty!), we are treated to the cut and thrust of political life and military disgruntlement.

These officers want change in the military: they want to turn back the clock and make the British Army great again. They use their skills and training to carry their message to the Government: they are very direct.

Although the Prime Minister isn't modelled on Tony Blair, I kept seeing Tony Blair in him. Some of the senior ministers in the Cabinet were dreadful: I hope and pray that our real life Secretaries of State are not in the least like these people. May the Saints preserve us if they are!

The sub plot is Goodfellowe's private life: more accurately his life with his mistress. With the best will in the world, I would say that Goodfellowe's private life is a mess: he's uncertain of himself and his relationships, he's become an outcast from the centre of his Party and his relationship with his daughter is of the hand shake on meeting rather than big hug on meeting variety.

I won't reveal the outcome of all of this but I will say that the plot takes twists and turns, as it should. There are several snippets of revenge and self indulgence interwoven into the plots and sub plots and they all work very well.

The only bit of the book I didn't like was how Goodfellowe brought the saga to … well, I can't reveal that; but you might agree with me when you get there.

Well worth a read if you're into politico/intrigue/action novels.

Duncan Williamson
9 December 2001