A Secret Worth Killing For

A Secret Worth Killing For
Simon Berthon

‘A stunning debut novel…It could not be more timely.’ – Gavin EslerSomebody knows where the bodies are buried…Newly-appointed Minister of State Anne-Marie Gallagher appears to have an unblemished record. Only she knows the truth. In the early 1990s, she was embroiled in the IRA’s violent past, and integral to a mission which went disastrously wrong.So far, skeletons have remained in their closets. But, unknown to Anne-Marie, DCI Jon Carne has just received an anonymous tip-off. The co-ordinates lead Carne to a body – badly decomposed after twenty-five years underground.When news of the discovery reaches Westminster, Anne-Marie knows that she is at risk of being exposed. And with Carne closing in, there’s not much time for the new minister to decide how far she’ll go to keep her past where it belongs…Power comes at a price in this sharp, smart political thriller – perfect for fans of Charles Cumming and Mick Herron.‘A stunning debut novel from a top TV producer, A Secret Worth Killing For takes us from the back streets of Belfast during the Troubles to power and parliament in London. It could not be more timely.’ – Gavin EslerPreviously published as Woman of State

A Secret Worth Killing For

Simon Berthon

Copyright (#ulink_85886ce5-68e6-5b2c-bb04-14a3cd5e0bf5)

An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

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London SE1 9GF

First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2017

Copyright © Simon Berthon 2017

Simon Berthon asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

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Ebook Edition © July 2017 ISBN: 9780008214388

Version: 2018-02-06

As a journalist, historian and documentary maker, SIMON BERTHON has long been fascinated by the secrecies, deceits and ambitions of the state. His previous books are Allies at War and Warlords (with Joanna Potts). A Secret Worth Killing For is his first novel.

For Penelope,

and for Helena and Olivia

Contents

Cover (#ub633ffe6-f8f8-5e1c-a6c6-56a8f06e3fa4)

Title (#u9586d245-a455-51cd-a54f-f301e666a8d0)

Copyright (#ulink_1a257612-2705-5afb-9d44-a853bd9f77c6)

About the Author (#u353afa41-77a8-56ae-956f-dbf574964756)

Dedication (#ue9d88975-a19b-5439-b376-adde65b25953)

CHAPTER 1 (#ulink_074ac322-9792-5426-adb7-de6c69ada544)

CHAPTER 2 (#ulink_90f678c4-84d8-5029-bc46-e793cc9dab10)

CHAPTER 3 (#ulink_c90041f6-648a-591c-930f-213bdc3146c4)

CHAPTER 4 (#ulink_89d2d596-d89c-588c-ae16-cf3a2a18cdf1)

CHAPTER 5 (#ulink_a984c5f1-b4bf-55f1-bf8f-5657dd24bc56)

CHAPTER 6 (#ulink_f3085439-751b-5140-a5b5-ac7f6c9ccca3)

CHAPTER 7 (#ulink_01d2da84-fa7f-52a7-bf51-3ee3bdbda10b)

CHAPTER 8 (#ulink_9058ad59-78e5-531c-a02f-e861c4490fa5)

CHAPTER 9 (#ulink_eb696f72-0a36-5d57-95f3-7b0c075b13d3)

CHAPTER 10 (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER 11 (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER 12 (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER 13 (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER 14 (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER 15 (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER 16 (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER 17 (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER 18 (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER 19 (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER 20 (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER 21 (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER 22 (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER 23 (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER 24 (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER 25 (#litres_trial_promo)