Illegal Action

by Stella Rimington

Book Overview

The fiercely intelligent, ambitious MI5 officer Liz Carlyle returns in a spy novel of arresting psychological complexity and unflagging suspense. In the most recent installment in the Liz Carlyle series, Liz has been transferred to counter-espionage--the hub of MI5 operations during the Cold War. Her mission: protect Nikita Brunovsky, an increasingly vocal opponent of Vladimir Putin, who has been targeted for assassination and is seeking refuge in...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307389065
• ISBN13: 9780307389060
• Release Date: June 2009
• Publisher: Vintage Crime/Black Lizard
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Stella Rimington lets you look over her shoulder!

I started with Stella Rimington's autobiography, OPEN SECRET, and learned all about how she was the first woman to hold the post of Director General of Britain's MI-5. OPEN SECRET was eminently readable. I have now read all of her fiction: AT RISK, SECRET ASSET, ILLEGAL ACTION, and DEAD LINE (a UK edition). Even though Liz Carlyle is the wonderful protagonist of all of these titles, it's quite obvious that you've actually joined Stella Rimington inside the inner sanctum of MI-5 and that you're really looking over her shoulder. She's an excellent thriller writer - and a wonderful host. It was also fun living in London again! I can't wait to return!

A page ripper

I saved this for when I went on a cruise, and was not disappointed. Her characters have depth, are not perfect, and are not experts at every aspect of spycraft. Her novels remind me of the Frederick Forsythe thrillers, such as "The Fourth Protocol." That is, they really make me want to read them, having pulled me in. I can't call it a page turner as that's not fast enough. It's more that I want to rip through it, so I call it a page ripper.

I'm sure glad I discovered this writer

I still need to read her first book in this series and also her autobiography. However, she's certainly carving a niche for herself and I noticed that she's even obliquely referred to by another outstanding lady author, P.D. James, in her recent book, THE LIGHTHOUSE.I found ILLEGAL ACTION even more engrossing than SECRET ASSET which I previously read. I suspect familiarity with the continuing characters helped and so one probably should start their reading of this author with her first book, AT RISK.However, this is an outstanding espionage/mystery on its own. Again, there's the sheer authenticity and feeling that all this could actually be happening. I did appreciate the added mystery puzzle and suspense in this. Liz Carlyle goes undercover in this one and so the added suspense is a key factor in reading the book. The background of today's Russia is also much of a plus.The mystery element is another important factor here. One part of the puzzle, that of identifying a mysterious character, is reaqsonably easy, but the bigger picture is more difficult to foresee than it was in the previous Liz Carlyle novel I've read. I haven't really detailed the plot, but have given the key elements which are well detasiled on the book's flyleafs. The strength of this series is in the characterization and the authenticity. Highly recommended, but do try to read the earlier two books first for maximum enjoyment of this one.

Excellent modern day espionage thriller

MI5 officer Liz Carlyle is unhappy with the management directed reassignment from the counterterrorism department to the backwater counterespionage dept., but vows to excel in her new office. Her first major project involves surveillance of an affluent Russian expatriate residing in London. Apparently a drunken Stakhov mentioned a nebulous plot that worries the M16 leadership as the war on terrorism supersedes the counter espionage so much so that a caught spy is not expelled from the country out of fear of harming the partnership with the Russians. The assignment is to monitor Stakhov and the other oligarchs in order to learn what their plot is. Liz concludes that someone has targeted the wealthy oligarch for assassination. She follows up on clues and begins to believe the hit was called by someone powerful in Russia; perhaps a person connected to the Putin government. However, unbeknownst to Liz is that some is watching her sleuthing and is considering her as a potential threat worth eliminating. This modern day espionage thriller is excellent from the onset as a disappointed Liz realizes in spite of the pay being the same she was demoted when the brass transferred her from the top gun department to yesterday's new department. The story line is fast-paced as Liz begins to unravel the complex truth, which makes her a strong secondary target. Spy thriller fans will fully relish Stella Rimington's terrific tale as ILLEGAL ACTION may mean nothing in the current counterespionage world. Harriet Klausner

The DG just keeps getting better

The author, a former MI5 Director General, is at the top of her form in this third Liz Carlyle novel. Unlike so many fictional spies, Carlyle lives in a real world, with paperwork and budget cuts and manpower shortages. It's so refreshing to read about characters who could actually be human. The plot is intricate as well as educational regarding the extent of Russian espionage in the post-Yeltsin era. The Russians may not exactly be our enemies, but they're not allies either.