A Time to Lie
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.
”'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