I suspect that Robert Goddard is a fan of John Le Carre as the plot lends itself to that genre. Rather hapless civil servant , Timothy Cranmer, gets caught up in a scenario trying to track down a previous acquaintance, Larry Pettifer - a double agent he used to control, and Tim's former girlfriend, Emma, who has run off with Larry. Tim is being accused of stealing millions from the Russian Government working with Larry and Larry's Russian controller, Checheyev. The action moves from the UK via France and ends up in Russia but all ends with unanswered questions. Will Tim try and become Larry? What will he use for funds - all his money is in 2 trackable accounts? Does Zorin, Checheyev's handler, get killed? Quite fast paced and lots of information regarding Russia, Ossetia, Chechyn and Ingushetia and the politics of these areas but I think I prefer Robert Goddard!

On the bookcase at the Hirst household in Fairlands.