The Threat Level Remains Severe

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.