Marc Stuart Connolly, The News A Geopolitical Thriller, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, January 2026.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

This is a fascinating read. It combines a structure that tells part of the story – the way in which people involved in politics and intelligence services construct their lives around their work, compartmentalising behaviour, understandings and personal feelings to accommodate the parallel lives they must live – the personal and the political. Before the content becomes the fundamental agency in the storyline, the writing has introduced a world in which a staccato analysis of events, thoughts and even relationships are commonplace, recognisable, and compelling.

The title, The News, and cover depicting the recognisable faces of Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbechev suggest the commonplace understanding of what ‘the news’ and political figures represent and how the story is likely to unfold. However, this is no commonplace novel and has no readily understood cliched themes. Rather, it demands attention to detail, a preparedness to look for cues and involved theories, as well as willingness to also seek the ordinary as a possible explanation for seemingly complex events. Marc Stuart Connolly blends personal and political themes, creating poignant moments made even more vivid because there is no doubting the emphasis on the characters' ultimate responsibility to the world.

The explanation and information at the end of the book provides background, bringing home the importance of the decisions made in the fictional account and the weight the characters carry. As well as the story and explanation, I am left with images of a wayward car accident and a photo of a schoolgirl. That personal images resonate as part of the creation of a successful thriller is a notable achievement.