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THE EDGE OF MADNESS
by Michael Dodds
Simon & Schuster, October 2008
391 pages
17.99 GBP
ISBN: 1847372848


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

This is a political thriller and I have to admit that, at times, the political aspects were way over my head. Nonetheless, I did my best to make sense of it all and trust I succeeded-- to my best ability, at any rate.

The book opens with Arnie, husband of the President of the United States, having a roll in the hay - or several. Unfortunately, of course, politicians, even those as powerful as the President of the USA, are unable to wipe their minds clean of momentous events in their private lives so that Arnie's infidelities together with the recent death of her mother leave Blythe Edwards in a fairly delicate position.

Mao Yanming never lets emotion get in the way of what he feels is due to his position as Leader of China. He is not at all averse to making love (or what passes for it) with his favourite concubine then executing her immediately afterward for her perceived betrayal of him. No questions, no excuses.

Something strange is occurring in Cyberworld, something which has enormous effects in the Real World. Inexplicable power failures proliferate and there is a sudden increase in the number of hackers attacking the Pentagon's secret files as well as other key departments' records.

Britain is not spared the cyber attacks and, astonishingly, neither are Russian states. And in China, the British ambassador finds himself imprisoned for what, elsewhere, might be considered merely a peccadillo.

Political super hero, Englishman (but there's lots of Welsh there) Harry Jones is introduced early to the reader. Just in case there is any doubt as to his abilities, the occasion is one where he physically bests another man who tries to steal his taxi. Then Jones travels on to Downing Street.

The news is grim. Harry is to accompany the Prime Minister to a select little gathering in Scotland - in order to prevent a war, or rather, to prevent the spread of the war in which the opening blows have been struck.

This is an interesting book, to say the least. The implied possibilities are terrifying. I don't know if it is intended as a roman a clef - who could the real life Blythe Edwards possibly be? - but, if so, world politics are certainly in a parlous condition.

The characterisation isn't too bad. Harry is probably the only fully fleshed character, the world leaders tending more toward caricature, but their actions are rather gulp making.

Despite he makes just a cameo appearance, I must say the only truly appealing person in the book, to me, at least, was the child, Nipper.

Reviewed by Denise Pickles, November 2008

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