Excellency
Published on 20. June 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
258 pages
978-1-4472-4359-5 (ISBN)
Description
Caught in the crossfire of a successful military coup in an emerging African state, Bill Rutherford finds a political stowaway on board his charter aircraft. The stowaway is discovered and Rutherford thrown into jail to await a hideous death for `treachery' to the new regime. General Gawaka, the new dictator, graciously receives the British High Commissioner when he comes to plead for Rutherford's life. Infinitely cunning, he tricks him into recognising the new regime. When oil and gold and discovered, the High Commissioner is delighted to see bright new vistas opening up for British trade.
But the reality is starker and infinitely more terrifying. Two American journalists are killed. Rutherford witnesses hideous scenes of genocide. And when a Starjet, gift of the British government, explodes in mid-air killing all on board, the terror that stalks the night walks boldly through the day. Rutherford is caught up in the ultimate blackmail threat and the tension mounts towards a shattering final climax.
But the reality is starker and infinitely more terrifying. Two American journalists are killed. Rutherford witnesses hideous scenes of genocide. And when a Starjet, gift of the British government, explodes in mid-air killing all on board, the terror that stalks the night walks boldly through the day. Rutherford is caught up in the ultimate blackmail threat and the tension mounts towards a shattering final climax.
Reviews / Votes
`Top rate . . . a novel of no little flair, style and authority . . . a smashing story, richly drawn and well-sustained' Newsagent and Bookshop`The British thriller at its best' Daily Telegraph
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pan Macmillan
Target group
Interest Age: From 18 years
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
404 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4472-4359-5 (9781447243595)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Arthur David Beaty was a former RAF pilot, novelist and non-fiction writer whose books about flying earned him a worldwide reputation.
Born in Ceylon, Beaty was educated at Kingswood, Bath and Merton College, Oxford, where he edited The Cherwell with Iris Murdoch. He became an RAF pilot during WWII, where he excelled, but gave up a life in the Air Force to write full-time. However, his experiences informed his many novels, thrillers originally written under the pseudonym Paul Stanton. In 1960, Cone of Silence was made into a film starring Peter Cushing and George Sanders, and Alfred Hitchcock bought the rights to Village of Stars, although the film was never made.
In the late 1960s Beaty turned his hand to writing non-fiction: his book about safety and aviation The Human Factor in Aircraft Accidents, caused wide controversy on its publication in 1969, but was later accepted and remains very influential.
Born in Ceylon, Beaty was educated at Kingswood, Bath and Merton College, Oxford, where he edited The Cherwell with Iris Murdoch. He became an RAF pilot during WWII, where he excelled, but gave up a life in the Air Force to write full-time. However, his experiences informed his many novels, thrillers originally written under the pseudonym Paul Stanton. In 1960, Cone of Silence was made into a film starring Peter Cushing and George Sanders, and Alfred Hitchcock bought the rights to Village of Stars, although the film was never made.
In the late 1960s Beaty turned his hand to writing non-fiction: his book about safety and aviation The Human Factor in Aircraft Accidents, caused wide controversy on its publication in 1969, but was later accepted and remains very influential.