ADVENTURE OF STATE

by Patrick Cosgrave ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 24, 1986

Though a sequel to two previous spy-novels not published in the US (Cheyney's Law, The Three Colonels), this short tale of internal investigation at British Intelligence--very much in the slow, quietly absorbing le CarrÉ manner--stands on its own quite nicely, with enough character-interest to compensate for the slenderest of plots. The questions begin when Sir Harry Richmond dies of heart disease--just after asking to speak to Allen Cheyney, recently retired head of the Security branch of British Intelligence. What did Sir Harry want from Cheyney--whom he barely knew? Could it have been about Sir Harry's san, an Intelligence agent who died (in super-hush-hush circumstances) on a mission for Cheyney? Or could it be that Sir Harry, once an important government official, wanted to make some sort of deathbed confession? Cheyney has no idea--but he's convinced that an investigation is warranted, especially when Sir Harry's house is desperately burglarized. So he emerges from Scottish retirement, teams up with a bright young policeman, and starts digging into Sir Harry's past. Undeterred by a near-fatal assault (the work of KGB-hired thugs, it seems), Cheyney eventually tracks down the mystery-woman in Sir Harry's life. And she does indeed know the secret that Sir Harry knew, a secret that leads to a highly-placed traitor. . .though, as Cheyney acknowledges, the denouement is ""just a great anticlimax, and an emptiness armoured against all feeling, even sadness, even curiosity."" The action here is fitful; the mystery turns out to be a small (if elegantly simple) one. But Cosgrave endows each vignette with somber, ironic atmosphere. He does a fine job of sketching in the in-fighting among the Intelligence chiefs, Cheyney's warm yet edgy relationships with his old colleagues, and--above all--the shifting feelings (excitement, admiration, disenchantment) of the young cop who's new to the ruthless spy-craft scene. And the result is a solid, credible entertainment for the more thoughtful fans of UK-style espionage--without the headache-inducing labyrinths that afflict many le CarrÉ imitators.

Pub Date: Feb. 24, 1986

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1986

Categories: FICTION