An explosive, fast-paced espionage thriller for fans of Frank Gardner and Mick Herron.

'Dark and twisted, A Time to Lie is a tense and timely novel' Adam Hamdy

A divisive prime minister. A long-buried body. A plot to bring him down...

The bigger the secret the more dangerous it is to lie...

On the morning of the Tory Party conference, the bones of a young woman's hand are discovered in a London building site.

Jed Fowkes, Special Adviser at the Treasury, confronts Prime Minister Robin Sandford with a terrible accusation. He claims the hand belongs to someone they once knew well: a young woman whom Sandford murdered years ago.

With his career on the brink of ruin, the Prime Minister's only hope is to enlist the unofficial help of MI5. A decision which leads him into a new world of espionage, illegal trafficking and murder.

And the deeper he goes, the more treacherous the game becomes. Because now it's not just his life on the line; it's the future of the state itself...

'A pulse-pounding thrill-ride that hooked me from the chilling opening, A Time To Lie delivers on every, explosive level' Chris Whitaker

'Dark and twisted, A Time To Lie is a tense and timely novel' Adam Hamdy

Perfect for fans of TM Logan, Ruth Ware and Matthew Hart.

The new political action and adventure crime thriller you need to read

About the Author

Simon Berthon is a BAFTA award-winning and highly acclaimed investigative film-maker and journalist who lives in London.

He has spent much of his life delving into the secrets of state, and has written non-fiction books under another name.

Reviews

'Classy novel. Simon Berthon is a deft guide to the darker recesses of a fictional British state. A well-crafted, informed thriller' Financial Times

'For those seeking a light break from real political intrigue, I recommend new political thriller A Time to Lie by distinguished TV producer Simon Berthon. A light summer read, it's an amusingly accurate portrayal of modern politics and journalism' Michael Crick

'Entertaining and shocking. Full of good characters and interesting relationships, this is not only a clever thriller but also an indictment of the way the UK's political system works' Literary Review

'A pleasantly thrilling read ... the scene setting and tension building is masterful ... I was completely absorbed' Daily Record

'With deception at every turn, Berthon delivers masterful character development amid a tangle of sub-plots that both disguise and enrich the main story arc. Cleverly paced and meticulously planned, A Time To Lie will have you racing toward the ending, where politics and journalism collide in a bid to uncover the truth' Press Association

'Brims with tension . . . Masterful characterisation and a maze of sub-plots enrich this cleverly paced thriller' Sunday Post

"A brilliant book . . . wonderful, indulgent, devilishly entertaining . . . there's a truthfulness, an authenticity . . . a rip-roaring read, it's going to cause much sleep deprivation" Mark Dolan, Talk Radio.

'One of five big releases ... A political thriller about a corrupt prime minister embroiled in a murder scandal' Independent

'An insightful journey through corridors of power walked by those with terrible secrets. Dark and twisted, A Time to Lie is a tense and timely novel' Adam Hamdy

'A pulse-pounding thrill-ride that hooked me from the chilling opening, A Time To Lie delivers on every, explosive level' Chris Whitaker

'Utterly gripping from the first chapter to the unexpected ending' Gavin Esler

Book Information
ISBN 9780008214463
Author Simon Berthon
Format Hardback
Page Count 384
Imprint HQ
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 620g
Dimensions(mm) 240mm * 159mm * 38mm