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At Risk A Novel Stella Rimington Books

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At Risk A Novel Stella Rimington Books

Ex-spooks with a modicum of writing ability sometimes turn to writing spy thrillers once they’ve left the world of espionage. Rarely, though, do we see fictional treatments of the game come from anyone who retired at the very top of the game. Dame Stella Rimington is one of what must be only a handful of examples. She retired in 1996 as Director General of MI5, Britain’s counter-intelligence service, the only woman ever to have served in the post. Her first novel, At Risk, appeared in 2004, introducing her alter ego, MI5 officer Liz Carlyle. That first book has been followed to date by nine others, one every year or two. It turns out that not only does Rimington know how the counterespionage business works, she’s able to describe it with great skill — and create a great deal of suspense in the process. At Risk is an espionage thriller that fulfills its promise.

Liz Carlyle, now 34 years of age, is a ten-year veteran of MI5. She is in a relationship with a married man whom she’s on the verge of dumping, as she has so many of his predecessors. Her mother wants her to move home and find a marriageable man, settle down, and give her grandchildren. Predictably, Liz has no intention of complying.

At MI5, Carlyle “runs agents” and serves on the Joint Counter-Terrorist group along with representatives of MI6, the police Special Branch, GCHQ (Britain’s NSA), and, sometimes, the Home Office and the Foreign Office. At a meeting of this inter-agency group, MI6 discloses that a terrorist is about to enter the country — an “invisible” capable of blending perfectly into English society. The terrorist’s identity, and his or her intentions, are unknown.

No sooner has Liz begun work on the case than she hears disturbing news from an informant who had reported to her when she was involved in investigating organized crime. Apparently, a crime boss engaged in smuggling drugs and illegal immigrants into the country is expecting a very big shipment; the boss is nervous, and the informant is terrified. Is there a connection to the terrorist on the way? This being fiction, we surmise that that is the case. But how the connection is revealed is fascinating.

At Risk is a superior example of espionage fiction. It’s tense almost from the very beginning, the suspense builds steadily throughout, and the ending is shocking in more ways than one. Highly recommended.


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At Risk A Novel Stella Rimington Books Reviews

I bought this book after reading Defense of the Realm-The Authorized History of MI5, by Christopher Andrew. Stella Rimington was head of MI5 from 1992 to 1996, and when I googled her I found she's turned spy novelist. Naturally I had to buy this book, her first.
It's an interesting book in that it's a view of Intelligence work as seen by an insider. The book's protagonist, Liz Carlyle, is well drawn, quirky, realistic, and while not completely engaging, is likable enough to hold the reader's interest. This is an inside view of Intelligence work, and counter-terrorism. Forget the popular novels and movies. Here is a former counter-spy writing about how it's really done. The characters are believable, human, and operate in the real world. They are highly trained and specialized (tailing is done by pros, and the MI5 agents call on cops, and break in and entry specialists for the dirty work). We get a look at the political in-fighting and turf battles that go on, as well as a look at the cooperation between agencies that is required for a successful operation. (The two can occur simultaneously.) The picture that emerges slowly of the terrorists is realistic, if sketchy in parts, and the details of a terrorist operation, and the counter-terrorist reaction, is realistic. The gritty realism of the action is the best part of the story. There is no James Bond glamor, car chases and shootouts. The romance if off-stage and messy (Liz Carlyle has a married lover, and she is thinking of ending it since it could end her career). Silenced weapons and ammunition such as are used by the terrorists actually exist and have been used, although I have not heard of the particular model used by the killers in this story.
My quibble is with the ending. While realistic it is unsatisfying, and could have been better. Still it is a good first novel and an excellent look into real world spy craft.
I admit it. The primary reason why I purchased this book was because it is written by Stella Rimington, former Director General of MI5. I thought that it would be realistic, and interesting - well, I wasn't wrong! Admittedly, it is a little slow to start off with, but that's probably because I'm used to reading spy novels/thrillers that depend on big guns and explosions for excitement. This story does have those elements, but Rimington focuses more attention on the chase and the thought processes of the characters.
I found the protagonist, Liz Carlyle, to an authentic person that you can see bits of yourself in. She's ballsy, but not reckless, intelligent, but not domineering, and possesses just enough emotion to make her human, but not dramatic.
If you are looking for an intelligent, realistic, and more subtle spy novel, then I highly recommend this one. I shall certainly be picking up the next book in the series.
You can keep James Bond and Smiley's people. This is MI5 in modern times, with the ultimate authority.

Apart from a preoccupation with clothes, class and claret, which suggests a certain shallowness, this gives an authentic seeming view into keeping Britain safe from dedicated loonies, principally mad Muslims and MI6. We watch as our heroine pieces together the information to defend our people from the bad guys by understanding them.

Great fun.
I was recommended this series by an acquaintance who likes the same sort of espionage thrillers that I do. I was underwhelmed by this book and the main character.

I couldn't see Liz in my head - I couldn't decide if she was she fashionable or frumpy, confident or awkward, intelligent or intuitive. And I realize I'm reading this 11 years after it was first published, but the plot is completely predictable.

I'm not sure that I'll continue the series, which is a bit disappointing. I wanted to find the answer to an aging Gabriel Allon. Oh well. The search continues.
Ex-spooks with a modicum of writing ability sometimes turn to writing spy thrillers once they’ve left the world of espionage. Rarely, though, do we see fictional treatments of the game come from anyone who retired at the very top of the game. Dame Stella Rimington is one of what must be only a handful of examples. She retired in 1996 as Director General of MI5, Britain’s counter-intelligence service, the only woman ever to have served in the post. Her first novel, At Risk, appeared in 2004, introducing her alter ego, MI5 officer Liz Carlyle. That first book has been followed to date by nine others, one every year or two. It turns out that not only does Rimington know how the counterespionage business works, she’s able to describe it with great skill — and create a great deal of suspense in the process. At Risk is an espionage thriller that fulfills its promise.

Liz Carlyle, now 34 years of age, is a ten-year veteran of MI5. She is in a relationship with a married man whom she’s on the verge of dumping, as she has so many of his predecessors. Her mother wants her to move home and find a marriageable man, settle down, and give her grandchildren. Predictably, Liz has no intention of complying.

At MI5, Carlyle “runs agents” and serves on the Joint Counter-Terrorist group along with representatives of MI6, the police Special Branch, GCHQ (Britain’s NSA), and, sometimes, the Home Office and the Foreign Office. At a meeting of this inter-agency group, MI6 discloses that a terrorist is about to enter the country — an “invisible” capable of blending perfectly into English society. The terrorist’s identity, and his or her intentions, are unknown.

No sooner has Liz begun work on the case than she hears disturbing news from an informant who had reported to her when she was involved in investigating organized crime. Apparently, a crime boss engaged in smuggling drugs and illegal immigrants into the country is expecting a very big shipment; the boss is nervous, and the informant is terrified. Is there a connection to the terrorist on the way? This being fiction, we surmise that that is the case. But how the connection is revealed is fascinating.

At Risk is a superior example of espionage fiction. It’s tense almost from the very beginning, the suspense builds steadily throughout, and the ending is shocking in more ways than one. Highly recommended.