The Bell Ringers
A corrupt prime minister uses current anti-terror laws to Orwellian extremes in this "sophisticated, engrossing, and important political thriller" (The Washington Post).
In a near-future England, there are still concerns about terrorism, the press is still feisty, and the prime minister is about to call a general election. But unknown even to most government officials, new technology and anti-terror laws have been used to establish unprecedented control over the lives of ordinary citizens. A top-secret data-mining system known as Deep Truth combs through personal records, identifying law violators as well as anyone disposed to "antigovernment" beliefs.
David Eyam was once the prime minister's head of intelligence, but after a mysterious fall from grace, he was killed by a terrorist bomb while on vacation in Colombia. Now his former lover, Kate Lockhart, has been named the benefactor of his estate. But Eyam has left her more than just wealth; Lockhart is also heir to his dangerous secrets.
"North by Northwest meets House of Cards . . . Porter claims that the novel is set in the near future. Don't be fooled." —Cullen Murphy, Vanity Fair
"Scary, informative, and, alas, eminently believable." —The Economist
"Superb." —Anna Mundow, The Boston Globe
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Henry Porter
Henry Porter was a regular columnist for the Observer and now writes about European power and politics for The Hive website in the US. In 2009 he was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize. He has written six bestselling thrillers, including Brandenburg, which won the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, A Spy's Life and Empire State, which were both nominated for the same award. His most recent thriller was the universally praised Firefly. Henry Porter is frequently described as the heir to John le Carré. Aside from his writing, Henry is a dedicated champion of civil liberties. He lives in London.
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