This story is about the middle life of Michael Mostyne, a thirty-something property developer and dealer, who has fallen foul of Great Britains 1970s economic recession, and the weak ineffectual government of Edward Heath. A property crash like no other, it seemed the inevitable end to a promising career for Mike, but it is also the end of his unhappy marriage to Lavender Mostyne. An account of the painful struggle to get back on his feet, whilst dealing with the past and acrimonious divorce from Lavender, Mike Mostyne finally leaves Newbury; his place of birth, and moves to London. Away from the chaos and in need of a fresh start, he initially takes temporary work, but then he finally lands a managerial job, running the branch office of a West London real estate agency in Hammersmith. West London is practically unknown to him, but he soon finds his way around, and finally, success turns to success and his life begins to change. But it is not that easy, because he also has to manoeuvre around the company bosses, their narrow self-interest, and his own objectives. Because, Mike is looking for big money, and ultimately to start his own business. London is not short of girls, and Mike Mostyne is rarely on his own. Anne was his rescuer from his Newbury past, but Christine - a West End PA and a good time girl - who looks at him through a cloud of cannabis smoke - only sees him as her weekend treat. Sofie is a minor Dutch diplomat and although a bit more serious, she lets him down when his son Mark is kidnapped by the IRA. And finally, there is Nadezhda Antova, who friends say is a honey trap, but who Mike marries despite their warnings. From rags to riches and back again, is Margaret Thatchers 1989 property crash going to finish off Mike Mostyne, as Ted Heath and the Conservative Party had in the 1970s? And, will he find personal happiness with Nadezhda?

Sitting in a Lloyd Loom chair on a Narrow Boat, moored on the Kennet and Avon Canal, a dead man stares into oblivion. Who is he and what is his name? Chief Inspector Michael Lambert from Thames Valley Police Authority unravels a murder case which stretches from Reading to Bulgaria, South Africa to Belorussia, and finally Taiwan to Peru. What at first appears to be a straightforward murder is revealed to be part of an international manhunt, the result of a major arms deal which has gone horribly wrong. The story begins with the discovery of a small mobile phone on the narrow boat and ends with the murder of a Chinese shipping magnate in the streets of London. Will anyone's life be the same again and how will our provincial policeman cope with these different layers of intrigue?

Against a backdrop of political change in South Eastern Europe, the story embraces disgruntled communists, cold war warriors, intrigue, deception and finally murder. Sir Arthur Cumberpot has an unspectacular career which is swiftly drawn to a close when he is appointed British Ambassador to Bulgaria. Due to some unforeseen mishaps his wife Annabel is accused of being a spy and sent home to their house in Watlington while her background is checked by MI5. Annabel is guilty of nothing, other than being the biological daughter of Jim Kilbey, Britain's most famous spy. It seems that a jealous god has sought to visit the sins of the father upon her, but so has everyone else. She is the victim of serendipity, but also of cover ups, the duplication of thin evidence and exaggeration. But she is also heartless, treacherous, self indulgent and without shame.