
The Hidden Hand
'Brings true authenticity' Irish Independent
Stella Rimington(Author)
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published on 14. August 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-1-5266-5271-3 (ISBN)
Description
'Stella Rimington was the first female director general of Britain's MI5 and brings true authenticity to her tale of intellectual thievery' Irish Independent
A historic institution is hiding a very modern threat.
The student
Li Min, a Chinese student, is forced by her government to transfer from Harvard to Oxford University, where she is recruited to an elite Chinese study centre based out of St Felix's College.
The scapegoat
Meanwhile, the centre's newly recruited head stumbles on its more sinister purpose: recruiting Chinese and sympathetic British students to steal high-value research and intellectual property. Unsure who at the university he can trust, he turns to CIA agent Manon Tyler for help.
The spy who might be their only hope...
But as Li and another Chinese-American student are drawn deeper into a deadly game, will Manon be able to penetrate the heart of St Felix's secrets in time to save them?
PRAISE FOR STELLA RIMINGTON:
'Intriguing and very cleverly-plotted' ALEX GERLIS
'Races along at breakneck speed. Packed with insider information, this is not one to miss' M. W. CRAVEN
'Damn good' Daily Telegraph
'A must-read for fans of contemporary spy fiction' Publishers Weekly
'This is something rare: the spy novel that prizes authenticity over fabrication, that is true to the character and spirit of intelligence work' Mail on Sunday
A historic institution is hiding a very modern threat.
The student
Li Min, a Chinese student, is forced by her government to transfer from Harvard to Oxford University, where she is recruited to an elite Chinese study centre based out of St Felix's College.
The scapegoat
Meanwhile, the centre's newly recruited head stumbles on its more sinister purpose: recruiting Chinese and sympathetic British students to steal high-value research and intellectual property. Unsure who at the university he can trust, he turns to CIA agent Manon Tyler for help.
The spy who might be their only hope...
But as Li and another Chinese-American student are drawn deeper into a deadly game, will Manon be able to penetrate the heart of St Felix's secrets in time to save them?
PRAISE FOR STELLA RIMINGTON:
'Intriguing and very cleverly-plotted' ALEX GERLIS
'Races along at breakneck speed. Packed with insider information, this is not one to miss' M. W. CRAVEN
'Damn good' Daily Telegraph
'A must-read for fans of contemporary spy fiction' Publishers Weekly
'This is something rare: the spy novel that prizes authenticity over fabrication, that is true to the character and spirit of intelligence work' Mail on Sunday
Reviews / Votes
Stella Rimington was the first female director general of Britain's MI5 and brings true authenticity to her tale of intellectual thievery * irish Independent * Dame Stella Rimington turns her laser focus to the ramifications of artificial intelligence * 'Notable Books' The Weekend Australian Review * PRAISE FOR STELLA RIMINGTON: Intriguing and very cleverly-plotted -- Alex Gerlis, author of Agent in Berlin PRAISE FOR STELLA RIMINGTON: Races along at breakneck speed. Packed with insider information, this is not one to miss -- M.W. Craven, author of The Puppet Show PRAISE FOR STELLA RIMINGTON: This is something rare: the spy novel that prizes authenticity over fabrication, that is true to the character and spirit of intelligence work * Mail on Sunday *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 199 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
222 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5266-5271-3 (9781526652713)
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
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
01/2025
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
€9.49
Available for download
Person
Dame Stella Rimington joined the Security Service (MI5) in 1968. During her career she worked in all the main fields of the Service: counter-subversion, counter-espionage and counter-terrorism. She was appointed Director General in 1992, the first woman to hold the post. Now the author of the bestselling Liz Carlyle series of espionage thrillers as well as two books in the Manon Tyler series, she lives in London and Norfolk.