Deadly Secrecy

by Andrew Scott

Overview

"Riveting... rewarding and satisfying... tension-filled from start to finish" DUNDEE COURIER

"Real page turner... keeps up the tension throughout" LESLEY RIDDOCH

"Loosely based on the Willie McRae killing, a fast-moving novel... keeps you involved right to the end... a very good read" SCOTS INDEPENDENT

Cross-border relations between Westminster and Holyrood are tense over nuclear policy as journalist Willie Morton investigates the death of anti-nuclear activist Angus McBain and begins to suspect he was killed for what he knew.

Was there UK Government collusion in the murder of McBain and conspiracy over illegal radioactive convoys heading to Dounreay? And can Morton keep clear of the sinister, deadly forces in headlong pursuit from Loch Ness to Arisaig and Oban, and across the treacherous Sound of Kerrera in the dark...? Trapped in a remote distillery at Bridge of Orchy, as bullets dent the copper stills, surely Morton's time is up...?

Andrew Scott's pacy political thrillers explore the uncertain and ambiguous terrain between a declining Britain and an emerging Scotland, in fast-moving novels that combine an insider's insight with all-too-believable scenarios set in beautiful locations in contemporary Scotland, England and Europe.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780993384028
Publisher:	TWA Corbies Publishing
Publication date:	01/18/2019
Series:	Willie Morton Investigations , #1
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	5.06(w) x 7.81(h) x 0.67(d)

About the Author

Andrew Scott is the author of seventeen books, most under his full name of Andrew Murray Scott, including biographies of Alex Trocchi and Graham of Claverhouse. Graduating with first class honours in English and History, he worked as freelance journalist, media lecturer, and for ten years as a parliamentary press officer, returning in 2016 to full-time writing. His novel, Tumulus, won the Dundee International Book Prize in 1999. He is a member of the Society of Authors and Scottish PEN, and registered in the Scottish Book Trust's Live Literature scheme. The Willie Morton Scottish political thriller series now includes titles Deadly Secrecy, Scotched Nation and Oblivion's Ghost.

Table of Contents

Edinburgh journalist Willie Morton suspects the death of a veteran anti-nuclear activist Angus McBain was murder but is abducted by the sinister Daniel McGinley and scared into suspending his investigations. Later he finds McBain’s missing briefcase and a secret compartment stitched into the lining. There’s been an illegal deal to bring radioactive material across Europe for reprocessing at Atom Tech in Dounreay in northern Scotland and Morton wants to know if the UK Government is involved and if the Scottish Government is aware.

But he is being pursued across the beautiful landscape of the Highlands, having to hitch-hike by the shores of Loch Ness, cross wild boggy landscape on foot, make a passage across the treacherous Firth of Lorn in an inflatable raft. Meanwhile the convoy of nuclear juggernauts from the Czech Republic has rumbled under cover of darkness from Dover and is coming ever nearer. In a remote distillery, Morton escapes bullets which dent the copper stills: He is trapped as McGinley closes in. But a distillery worker cops the bullet – and Morton pushes McGinley into the boiling mash tun.

The authorities strike a deal with Morton and McBain’s niece Elizabeth, a Cambidge Univefsity student. As Scottish field supervisor of the Nuclear Installations Protection Squad, McGinley was “acting entirely without sanction”. There will be an internal inquiry but the existence of any convoy on UK roads or photographs or any nuclear incident in Europe is firmly denied. Morton leaves the meeting with nothing but apologies for the harassment he has suffered and revisits McBain’s grave on the hill above Arisaig. As sea-mist rolls in from the Atlantic, he feels only gratitude at having survived.

Editorial Reviews

Moves along enjoyably and at a brisk pace

The Herald

Enjoying this story of intrigue... topical!

Billy Kay

Riveting... rewarding and satisfying... tension-filled from start to finish... a complex, multi-layered novel that demands the reader's undivided attention to keep up with the fast pace... a gritty read that leaves you reeling... very impressive.

Dundee Courier

Entertaining conspiracy fiction with the Brits as the baddies.

David Clegg, Daily Record

A fast-moving novel... keeps you involved right to the end... a very good read.

Scots Independent

This former press officer's debut mystery is a page-turner.

Evening Telegraph

Scott cleverly weaves together this nuclear-charged thriller across the Highlands.

Scottish Field

Complex, interactive web of characters skilfully presented... enjoyable and satisfying thriller which I recommend to all who enjoy spy action stories.

Norma Miles, Vine Voice

Real page-turner... keeps up the tension throughout ...beautiful descriptions of Scottish landscapes and the theme is very relevant.

Lesley Riddoch

Readers will like it and Scott's point is well-made: on much that matters, we're too often told that we're not told for our own good.

Press & Journal

From the Publisher