To Kill a Man – Sam Bourne

BOURNE'S latest thriller set amongst the cut-throat political intrigues of Washington is just as page-turningly exciting as its predecessors To Kill the President and to Kill the Truth.

Bourne made his mark with a clutch of conspiracy thrillers in the vein of The Da Vinci Code, expertly blending history and religion, and he was far better than the majority of writers riding the coat-tails of Dan Brown.

Bourne then transported his series heroine – feisty international mediator Maggie Costello, skilled at ending wars and defusing diplomatic rows – to the smaller but just as deadly world of American politics.

In each book Bourne creates a high-concept premise at the limits of believability, but in his plotting and storytelling makes it chillingly credible. He then throws in Maggie to sort things out.

To Kill A Man begins with a high-flying female lawyer shooting dead a man who invaded her apartment intending to rape her.

The incident brings Natasha Winthrop global adulation and condemnation, depending on people's standpoints, and the furore either help or hinder her chances of becoming the next US president.

Maggie looks into Natasha's mysterious past and uncovers layers of mystery, and she becomes the target of powerful people with secrets to hide.

And even when Maggie thinks she solve the riddle of Natasha, there are still twists to come.

To Kill a Man is up-to-the-minute with its exploration of #MeToo, and is believable and gripping throughout.

David Knights