The Bell Ringers

When New York lawyer Kate Lockhart travels to England to attend the funeral of her estranged friend, the UK prime minister's former head of intelligence, her role as benefactor of his estate leads to a complex, Orwellian tale of political intrigue, devastating power, and unprecedented conspiracy. Porter (www.henry-porter.com), a political columnist for the UK Observer and author of the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award-winning novel Brandenburg (2005), contributes to the growing genre of political thrillers bent on bringing to light the more disturbing practices of today's democratic governments. Indeed, many of this title's most frightening details are based on legal fact. Multiple Audie Award winner John Lee's homegrown British accent lends further believability to the story, and he reads with the appropriate degree of intensity. A worthy selection recommended for fans of the genre and those liking Michael Crichton's State of Fear or Daniel Suarez's Daemon. [The Atlantic Monthly hc received a starred review, LJ 11/15/09.—Ed.]—Lisa Anderson, Metropolitan Community Coll. Lib., Omaha