The House
The most utterly gripping, must-read political thriller of the twenty-first century
Published on 22. October 2020
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-0-7515-7877-5 (ISBN)
Description
In their remarkable debut political thriller, Tom Watson, former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, and Imogen Robertson open the doors to The House, a place of ambition, hope, friendship . . . and betrayal.
Once allies, Labour MP Owen McKenna and Conservative Minister Philip Bickford now face each other across the House of Commons as bitter enemies. Then the reappearance of a figure from their past forces them to confront the choices that led to the tragic downfall of their former housemate, Jay.
Late one night, Owen receives a visit from a lobbyist who promises to protect him from the consequences of his actions in exchange for one, small favour - or to have his reputation and career utterly destroyed if he refuses. But that favour will sell out everything Owen believes in.
As rivals gather and whispers of wrongdoing fill the corridors of Westminster, it's clear that someone knows the truth about Jay's Icarus-like fall from grace. Now, the former friends must face one terrible truth...
Someone is responsible, and a reckoning is overdue.
Once allies, Labour MP Owen McKenna and Conservative Minister Philip Bickford now face each other across the House of Commons as bitter enemies. Then the reappearance of a figure from their past forces them to confront the choices that led to the tragic downfall of their former housemate, Jay.
Late one night, Owen receives a visit from a lobbyist who promises to protect him from the consequences of his actions in exchange for one, small favour - or to have his reputation and career utterly destroyed if he refuses. But that favour will sell out everything Owen believes in.
As rivals gather and whispers of wrongdoing fill the corridors of Westminster, it's clear that someone knows the truth about Jay's Icarus-like fall from grace. Now, the former friends must face one terrible truth...
Someone is responsible, and a reckoning is overdue.
Reviews / Votes
A prescient page-turner about secrets, lies, ruthless ambition and betrayal * Sarah Vaughan (author of Anatomy of a Scandal) * A rare view from the inside of the Machiavellian machinations for power ... Fascinating * Harriet Tyce (author of Blood Orange) * Intelligent and disturbing, both for its insights into the way politics works and for its glimpses of a post-virus future * Observer * The depiction of the sacrifices and betrayals required by politics benefit from an insider's knowledge, and the plot driver of bullying allegations is topical and commendably unexpected * The Times * The novel is good on Westminster's hinterland of wonks and wannabes, and what it's like to be the prey of a media feeding frenzy * The Sunday Times * Politics red in tooth and claw. Watson and Robertson capture, with scalpel precision, the neurotic allure of the Westminster power game * Luke Jennings (author of Killing Eve) * Few people know more about what goes on behind the political scenes than Watson, and it is all unveiled here, in a snappy, twisty page-turner * Holly Watt (author of To the Lions) *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Little, Brown Book Group
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 232 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
500 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7515-7877-5 (9780751578775)
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
Persons
Tom Watson (Author)
Tom Watson first folded Labour Party leaflets in the family kitchen in Kidderminster at the age of seven and has been involved in every single General Election since then. Tom served as a Minister for Tony Blair and worked at the very heart of Downing Street with Gordon Brown. He was the MP for West Bromwich East between 2001-2019 and was Labour's deputy leader between 2015-2019. Tom is well known as a campaigning politician. He took on the tabloid newspaper industry during the phone hacking scandal and more recently has campaigned against exploitative and addictive practises in the gambling industry. After changing his diet and getting fit, Tom now has the sugar industry in his sights and is committed to raising awareness about the dangers of excess and hidden sugars, and improving public understanding about conditions like type 2 diabetes.
Imogen Robertson (Author)
Imogen Robertson is a writer of historical fiction. Now based in London, she was born and brought up in Darlington and read Russian and German at Cambridge. Before becoming a writer, she directed for TV, film, and radio. She is the author several novels, including the Crowther and Westerman series. Imogen has been shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger three times (2011, 2013 and 2014), as well as for the prestigious Dagger in the Library. She has also written King of Kings, a collaboration with the legendary international bestseller Wilbur Smith, and Liberation, a wartime thriller with Darby Kealey.
Tom Watson first folded Labour Party leaflets in the family kitchen in Kidderminster at the age of seven and has been involved in every single General Election since then. Tom served as a Minister for Tony Blair and worked at the very heart of Downing Street with Gordon Brown. He was the MP for West Bromwich East between 2001-2019 and was Labour's deputy leader between 2015-2019. Tom is well known as a campaigning politician. He took on the tabloid newspaper industry during the phone hacking scandal and more recently has campaigned against exploitative and addictive practises in the gambling industry. After changing his diet and getting fit, Tom now has the sugar industry in his sights and is committed to raising awareness about the dangers of excess and hidden sugars, and improving public understanding about conditions like type 2 diabetes.
Imogen Robertson (Author)
Imogen Robertson is a writer of historical fiction. Now based in London, she was born and brought up in Darlington and read Russian and German at Cambridge. Before becoming a writer, she directed for TV, film, and radio. She is the author several novels, including the Crowther and Westerman series. Imogen has been shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger three times (2011, 2013 and 2014), as well as for the prestigious Dagger in the Library. She has also written King of Kings, a collaboration with the legendary international bestseller Wilbur Smith, and Liberation, a wartime thriller with Darby Kealey.