Whispers of Betrayal [Paperback]

Michael Dobbs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2001

In the third outing for Tom Goodfellowe, following Goodfellowe MP and The Buddha of Brewer Street, he is caught up in a national crisis as the capital is held to ransom by one angry man. In the world of power-hungry politicians, Thomas Goodfellowe is an unlikely hero, an MP (Member of Parliament) whose obstinate refusal to compromise has cost him a place in the Cabinet and left his private life in ruins. Now, for the first time in many years, Goodfellowe can see happiness within his grasp. He is with the woman he loves and has a chance to return to the top ranks of politics. But he reckons without his old schoolfriend Colonel Peter Amadeus, a disgruntled former Paratrooper who feels betrayed by the Government that has thrown him and countless other soldiers on the scrapheap. All Amadeus wants is an apology, but when his request is dismissed it becomes a matter of honor, and he and a team of former soldiers embark on a campaign of wholesale retribution. London becomes a city under siege, its lifelines cut, and the government is presented with a stark choice. Either the Prime Minister resigns, or the city will be destroyed. As the capital is gripped by growing panic and the deadline approaches, Goodfellowe must face the ultimate test: torn between ambition, honor, and love—with the fate of London in his hands.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Terrific! as good as anything Dobbs has done! superb.' Sunday Telegraph 'Dobbs has given us a splendid diversion, one that makes it worth chucking the TV set out of the window and settling down with a book.' Sunday Express 'A cracking good read -- Goodfellowe is the most affectionately drawn crumpled anti-hero since Jim Hacker.' The Big Issue 'Brilliant! full of magnificently dark political characters.' Daily Mail

About the Author

Michael Dobbs’ first novel, House of Cards, launched the career of the villainous Francis Urquhart, one of the most memorable fictional characters of recent years, who was immortalized by Ian Richardson in three award-winning BBC TV series. His books have foretold the downfall of Prime Ministers and the growing turmoil within the Royal Family. His recent novels, featuring Tom Goodfellowe, are Goodfellowe MP, The Buddha of Brewer Street, and Whispers of Betrayal, which with eerie prescience ahead of September 11th told of how a small group of trained and motivated people could hold an entire city to ransom.

For more than two decades Michael Dobbs has been at the right hand of political controversy. He was at Mrs Thatcher’s side as she took her first step into Downing Street as Prime Minister, and was a key aide to John Major when he was voted out. His experiences have led him to be described as ‘Westminster’s baby-faced hit man’ and ‘a man who, in Latin America, would have been shot’.

His highly acclaimed recent book, Winston’s War, was a novel about the extraordinary relationship between Winston Churchill, Neville Chamberlain and the young Soviet spy, Guy Burgess. It was shortlisted for the Channel 4 Political Book of the Year Award and is to be made into a feature film.

He was both Chief of Staff and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party and has a doctorate in defence studies. He has also been Deputy Chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi and a regular presenter of BBC TV’s ‘Despatch Box’.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007805020
• ISBN-13: 978-0007805020
• ASIN: 0006497993
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,278,853 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good British Political Thriller, June 3, 2001

By 

L. Rahfeldt-Thomas "VegChick" (Three Rivers, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Acts of Betrayal (Hardcover)

I picked up this book during a recent trip to London, after seeing the adverts promoting the book in the London Underground. I read the British version, entitled 'Whispers of Betrayal' but I assume that this is the re-titled American version of the same book.

The book is about the consequences of political actions and involves a disgruntled military man that disrupts life in London, through causing traffic congestion and taunting the Prime Minister, to make his point

This was my first introduction to Tom Goodfellow, the books protagonist, but I was impressed with the character and may read some of the earlier books in the series now that I've completed this one. The book provides an interesting look at the British political system and how it runs but wasn't as fast paced as some of the American books that I've read in the same genre (i.e. Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware books). I'd give the book big points for how seriously it takes it's characters and how it doesn't take the simplistic black and white moral position that American books of this type seem to take.

If you're looking for a political thriller about England that respects your intelligence, and teachs you a little bit about the British system of government, I'd recommend this book to you.