This was a good introduction to this world and characters, it had that element that I was looking for from the description. Douglas Roberts has a strong writing style and enjoyed how good everything worked together. I thought the characters were well written and enjoyed the way it was written.

You would be forgiven if you thought fishing might be integral to this book. Whilst it is not traditional fishing, there is a lot of it going on at a very high level. Cabinet member Hamilton is a sleazy piece of work who seldom gets his hands soiled, except back when he was a serving soldier in Ireland. He knows no constraints when he wants something and that makes him unpopular wherever he goes. And that includes the people who have to protect him. Justin is one of those people. He is asked to find someone circumspect to uncover the mole in Hamilton’s office. He enlists a decorated policewoman, Patricia, who is not only very good at what she does but she is also his fiancée.

What she discovers is a plot to kill Hamilton at Christmas. Little by little, she discovered the IRA are behind this but has no idea who, why or how. It is an intricate story with lots of twists and turns. Unexpected things fit into place and Patricia must fight off the misogynistic predator while maintaining her reputation against his machinations to ruin her for having the temerity to defend herself. Being an unscrupulous character, he is also determined to destroy Justin too.

In spite of his efforts to bring the two of them down and in spite of the temptations put in their way to take the “easy” out, they still toil relentlessly to discover the threat and save his worthless life. It was an exciting story with great characters. The end was not as satisfying as it might have been but probably more realistic. Sadly men like Hamilton seldom get their comeuppance except in the most painful ways. Cheers to that final one and cheers to the book. Five purrs and two paws up.

Fun spy novel where an IRA plot to murder a loathsome British PM is launched, and a pair of detectives work to foil it. The mechanisms of the plot were really interesting, although the foiling of the scheme was a little more pedestrian. Moved quickly and was fully entertaining.