An interesting read with well drawn characters that's hard to pigeonhole. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I still can't decide what genre this ends up in. It's really quite strange - because it's very readable in a way, but sort of defies categorisation. What I can say though is that I don't particularly like any of the three main characters in this, and that it takes a bit of a turn at the halfway point. I'm reading it a couple of years after it came out, and the political situation in the UK has changed a little leaving one little section somewhat out of date, but as most of the action is backstage it doesn't actually make that much difference as all the key players are behind the scenes non-political types - although I will say reading it in the aftermath of a general election is fun as there is an election called in the book. Well written and clever, but odd.

This is a quirky inside look at the people who work in the backrooms of the House of Commons. The staff that keep everything running to time as accurately as Big Ben. It dips into their roles but it is more about them as people and their relationships with each other. The central character is Grace who has worked there for the past ten years.
Grace is a practical woman who has fallen into comfort rather than style as far as fashion goes so she is rather surprised to receive an e-mail from an admirer who says he is a musician called Reuben Swift. A new man has also started work in the office, an Australian called Brett, who is very much a yuppie, has big ideas to change how things are done and 'lets get to know each other' outings. Things are going to liven up alright!
This is a pretty strange story but one that I just couldn't put down. I felt like I was a fly on the wall watching some sort of reality show. Some of the humour is rather subtle with tongue in cheek remarks and thoughts made in all seriousness. I must admit that this is my favourite type of humour. The story takes on a rather darker tone as the book goes on, which sort of crept up on me, a little like when dusk all of a sudden becomes pitch black.
The author took me deep into the minds of the three main characters where I found out what they were really like. I really enjoyed this story as it is very unique with outcomes that I could never have guessed.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

I will not be reviewing this book. Thank you anyway for lending it to me.

THE THREAT LEVEL REMAINS SEVERE by Rowena MacDonald was for me a novel of two completely different parts.
In the first part of the story, we get to know Grace Ambrose who is working for the House of Commons. When the new boy arrives in her office, Grace instantly dislikes the arrogant and often condescending Brett, but somehow their dynamic subtly changes between them and their feelings change along the way. But there is the ever-present mystery man who keeps emailing Grace, adding a little bit more excitement to her day.
There are plenty of light-hearted and enjoyable moments in this section of the novel as the reader begins to understand the main characters and gets a feel for their quirks, hopes, and dreams.

In the second part of the book, Grace's online mystery man, Reuben Swift, takes a more prominent role, and it is with this action that the novel seems to take a darker, more serious edge. The mood switches from laid back to tense and I definitely found myself reading a little quicker so I could find out how it all would end.

THE THREAT LEVEL REMAINS SEVERE by Rowena MacDonald is an intriguing story and I definitely enjoyed it. The pace is unusual as it is slower in the first section and more energetic later on as the atmosphere and plot changed. While not all of the characters were likeable, they were all fascinating and overall, I found it an interesting read.

‘The Threat Level Remains Severe’ by Rowena Macdonald tells the story of Grace Ambrose, a Committee Assistant in her early thirties who has been working at the House of Commons for a decade. When she receives an email from mysterious stranger Reuben Swift, Grace thinks her love life might finally be heading somewhere while her new Australian colleague Brett Beamish continues to irritate her. However, it turns out that Grace’s admirer may not be all that he seems.

I am a civil servant in London and my role involves a lot of work with the House of Commons so the setting and weird parliamentary conventions are very familiar to me and the depiction of modern working life in the Westminster bubble in this book feels very authentic. The disillusionment of ambitious and not-so-ambitious graduates in their twenties when faced with the realities of living and working in London is also very convincing and often very funny.

The second half of the novel takes a much more sinister turn when Grace learns more about the identity of Reuben Swift. My only criticism with regards to the structure is that the revelations in the second part told from Gavin/Reuben’s perspective which recount the same events as the first part could easily have been incorporated into the trial scenes towards the end. However, this is only a minor quibble as overall, ‘The Threat Level Remains Severe’ is a highly entertaining and very amusing novel.

I was sent quotes about how good this book was rather than the book itself. So I can't provide a review as I wasn't given the material to do so.

I liked the amusing style of this book. Unfortunately I didn't grow to like the characters, they seemed rather shallow.

I liked the clever way famous politicians and political commentators were not named yet seemed rather familiar.

The story gives an interesting insight into aspects of life in Parliament about which we see little.

However, I found the ending disappointing.

My thanks to Netgalley and Aardvark bureau for a copy in exchange for this review.

Interesting premise, but poorly executed. The story had unlikable characters, and the plot tended to drag.

great read and easy to follow story line. look forward to reading more from this author.

A story exposing the soul of the House of Commons.
Grace Ambrose loses her pass for entry to the House of Commons. Surely someone will find it and hand it in at security? On the same day, Brett Beamish, the new committee specialist starts work at the Economic Scrutiny Committee where Grace works. First impressions are not good and Grace does not think much of him. Also, that day she receives an anonymous email telling her that someone thinks she has ‘great beauty’.
So starts the chronicle of daily life at the House of Commons and those that work there. Look at the people you pass in the corridors. Do you know what they are thinking? Do you know anything about their lives? Do they know anything about yours? How do you know that a stranger who looks at you and smiles is not actually obsessing about a future with you or a future without you?
The first part of the book feels like it was going nowhere slowly. It depicts the humdrum existence of a government job. Predictably Grace and Brett get together (law of nature - opposites do attract), then break up, and when Grace accepts a meeting with her email friend, the unthinkable happens. Shocking events at the House of Commons that break the tedium of working there. The House will never be the same!
Saphira
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

The Threat Level Remains Severe – by Rowena Macdonald, is an astute and acutely observed contemporary drama, which starts spectacularly on a flashy note. House of Commons secretary Grace crosses the lushly carpeted corridor to see the white on green words – ‘The Threat Level Remains Severe’ – flash intermittently from the annunciator televisions, hooked high-up on the wall, busily annunciating the business of the House and the bustling activity in the Chamber.

The estimated terror threat to the House always disturbs Grace, although she is well aware that no severe threat can penetrate the multiple layers of protection, the Palace being guarded round the clock by heavily-armed policemen, ready at a moment’s notice to fight the faceless conspirators plotting against Britain.

Elsewhere, faceless state servants, hunched over computers, decode these electronic plots for Scotland Yard to send to the House of Commons, to feed them at regular intervals into the annunciators, to terrify Grace that an unknown faceless person wants to kill her.

A brand new colleague, newly recruited Brett, on an unusual mission to shake up the dusty corridors of power, brightens up mundane office routines for Grace, when she receives an intriguing email from a mysterious admirer, endued with musical and poetic talents. There is only one problem. Is soulful, enigmatic Reuben really who he claims to be? Is everything really as it appears on the exterior?

Grace, Brett and Reuben, with little in common between them, negotiate the mysteries of metropolitan life, to find their fates inexplicably intertwined in rare moments of illumination.

The novel ends with a cream envelope appearing on Grace’s office desk, her name handwritten on it. Her heart always misses a beat when confronted with private correspondence at the office. Slicing it open, she sees a cream sheet of paper, embossed with a green crest and a note written in a smooth, fluidly flowing handwriting. Grace smiles. Handwriting is far more meaningful than seemingly faceless texts and strange, business-like emails.

Outside, as Big Ben agitatingly strikes the last hour of the working day, Grace, reflective of her office secretary status, feels as warm as freshly photocopied paper, adding a poignant end to an insightful, confident, honest and reassuringly humane tale set in the House of Commons in all its vainglorious reality, exquisitely designed to draw readers in irresistibly.

While I did enjoy this book there was something that I just didn't connect with fully. The characters were good but I wasn't really hooked by them.

I was looking forward to a fast paced thrilling read involving some mystery and romance. Unfortunately I don't feel like this book delivered. At the time a stranger emailing you was uncommon and cause for concern nowadays that is Tinder. The entire premise feels like it is on shaky ground and the pace of the story moves glacially slow.

The characters were interesting and unique but I found myself constantly questioning parts of the story that I never got answers for. Why is an Australian in the British House of Commons? Why doesn't even make attempts to find another more fulfilling job?

Overall, I don't think I was the target audience for this book. With the cultural and time barrier to my own life I found it difficult to root for or understand any of the main characters which made it difficult to follow the story to the end.

Thank you Net galley. An excellent novel.. It surprises you and keeps you hooked to the last page. Never having read MacDonald before, I read the book with no expectations and not quite sure of the genre. I loved the book and will definitely read more of the author.

With thanks to Aardvark/Gallic Books for the opportunity to read this.

I didn’t think I fitted into the target audience for this book at first but I had a job rather like Grace’s in the 1980s, way before the age of the internet, and much of her experience rang true with me even at that distance. I found it entertaining, particularly the office dynamic of Grace, Rosemary and Hugo with the intrusion of Brett, and as for the birthday lunches at ‘the club’ - some things never change! Realistic characters and when the narrative changed from one to another in the second half I began to feel more sympathy with the less likeable ones so the ending was bitter-sweet. A terrific debut novel and I look forward to more.

This was a fast read because I wanted to know very badly what was going to happen. It takes a while to establish central characters but I can see something of that longeur was required to make the stalking credible by an unknown of Grace, the central figure of the novel. The new guy in the office is not her type but they fall into bed and despite the distraction of her beginning to find the unknown emailer attractive, she overcomes initial distastes to bed the new colleague - it leads to a confrontation when the deluded stalker and the indifferent lover meet up on a roof - but I won't give away more. Once things are established - and despite some misgivings about consistency of the characters! The plot speeds up through a court trial to a possibly happy ending. It's all entertaining and convincing only if read fast - which you are compelled to do anyway. Great fun

Grace works for the Economic Scrutiny Committee in the UK House of Commons. Originally a temporary job, it has turned into a permanent position. Things take a interesting turn when the committee gets a new recruit, Brett from Australia. He is everything Grace detests in the newcomers, set on making a name and career for themselves. Grace isn't exactly Brett's dream girl either but at some point they fall into a relationship, albeit a slightly complex one. When things don't work out for them, Grace turns to a secret email admirer. Unfortunately he isn't the antidote to Brett. In fact, the man who passes himself of as Reuben Swift, a struggling poet and musician is a lot more troubled then he lets on. By the time Grace meets him she has to ask Brett for help. All three end up in a downward spiraling trajectory after their encounter. The results of which will challenge them all.

The beginning of this book is very funny. I just loved the descriptions of Grace and Brett, especially
Brett as the overly-pleased-with-himself Australian. In the second part, it takes a turn into a darker area with the introduction of Reuben, and becomes a bit more serious, although certainly not less interesting.

What I really enjoyed about this story is the authors ability to capture the atmosphere around each character. I really felt like I knew these characters by the end of the story. Overall, it was skillfully written and I enjoyed being able to see the story from each characters perspective. This was such an entertaining read, I found it hard to put down. This is my first book by Ms. MacDonald but I hope there will be more to come.

Grace Ambrose has a junior and fairly tedious job at the House of Commons. The daily grind is made slightly more lively with the arrival of the ambitious Australian, Brett Beamish and a secret admirer who contacts Grace by email.

I have to admit that this isn't the type of book that I would typically read; I had imagined that it was going to be a love-interest story. I'd been attracted by the backdrop and the possibility that it might have a little more depth than what was suggested by the blurb. I wasn't disappointed! The first half of the book rattles along in much the way you'd expect but then a sudden change in perspective and a different narrative voice takes things in a completely unexpected direction.

Don't expect a great deal of politics or insight into government; but for an involving and well-written story with relatable characters you could do a lot worse.