Secret Asset

By: Stella Rimington

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

With her debut novel, At Risk, Stella Rimington introduced us to Liz Carlyle–a smart, impassioned MI5 intelligence officer whose talents and ambitions are counterbalanced by an abiding awareness of her job’s moral complexities. In SECRET ASSET, we are plunged back into her high-stakes, high-tension world.

Liz has always been particularly skilled at “assessing people,” and trusts her instinct that a terrorist cell is at work at an Islamic bookshop. But when her boss, Charles Wetherby, suddenly takes her off the case, she’s shocked to hear why: Wetherby has received a tip-off that a mole is at work in one of the branches of British Intelligence.

As her colleagues work to avert an impending terrorist strike, Liz is charged with the momentous task of uncovering and exposing the mole before it’s too late.©2007 Stella Rimington; (P)2007 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

“Fast-moving . . . Rimington continues to deliver on the promise of spy fiction written not only by a former spy but also by the head of British intelligence. This is a smartly constructed, sharply written thriller that exudes realism and a professional’s eye for detail . . . Rimington also proves adept at building characters and constructing plots.”–David Pitt, Booklist“Those interested in old school British intelligence thrillers will find much to like in the smart, enterprising Carlyle . . . Much is made of the authenticity of Rimington’s tradecraft (she was the first female head of MI5 in real life), and rightly so.”–Publishers Weekly“[Secret Asset has] whiplash control of momentum that raises your pulse a heartbeat at a time until the climax.”–Kirkus Reviews“The author makes effective use of her professional knowledge . . . The ingenious plot entwines strands of Irish Republican Army leftovers, disaffected spies, and Islamic terrorists . . . Rimington’s sense of place is strong.”–Library JournalPraise for At Risk:“This is something very rare: the spy novel that prizes authenticity over fabrication.” –Mail on Sunday“Tense and terrifying.” –Cosmopolitan“A cracking good thriller” –Lynn Barber, Observer “Intelligent — Undeniably pacy” –Guardian “Rimington makes adroit use of her expertise as former MI5 chief” –Sunday Times “The Secret Service background is exceedingly convincing” –Evening Standard “First class” –Douglas Hurd, New StatesmanPraise for Stella Rimington’s autobiography Open Secret:“The story of MI5’s transformation is fascinating. So too is Rimington’s account of her rise in what was very definitely a man’s world.”—Guardian“She writes in a refreshingly self-deprecating style of juggling the roles of single parent and chief ‘spook’.”—Independent on Sunday“Open Secret is a fascinating account not only of Stella Rimington’s various roles in the evolving Security Services, but also of the strains on a single mother as she struggles to compartmentalize a life that is necessarily unpredictable, stressful and shrouded in secrecy.”—Time Out

Complex and riveting

I think I liked this book even better than the first book in the series. It has lots of plots and subplots that eventually, of course, intersect. Muslim extremists. Irish terrorists. A possible mole in MI5... so many plots!

Entertaining

I was and still am curious as to why this book is considered one of her best and one of the top offerings in the espionage genre. Her writing, dialogue, and scene setting are again great…but the payoff isn’t there. The whole second act premise doesn’t really make sense and is anticlimactic. Overall, entertaining , and I’m still a fan of the characters she has built over these first two books..looking forward to see where she takes this character over the next 7. The vocal performance was again fantastic, and makes even half baked endings enjoyable.

The Public Never Sees

Gripping story which held me all the way until the end. Thoroughly recommended for all those who enjoy a suspense thriller!

Timing Not an Asset

I really liked "At Risk," the first book in the series, but was disappointed in this one. The timing was off; the identity of the asset was plain almost from the beginning, and although some interesting ambiguities emerged, it was s slog to the end. Probably very much like real Intel work.