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The Prime Minister's Affair
A compelling story of power, passion and intrigue based on real events, The Prime Minister's Affair is a terrific read - Nick Robinson, Presenter, BBC Today programme
Andrew Williams has fashioned a wickedly entertaining tale of political chicanery - Daily Telegraph
London 1929. Very much not a land fit for heroes. Frenchie knows his occasional work for MI5 serves only the ruling classes. But he needs to feed his children. Scruples died in the trenches.
When Ramsay MacDonald, Britain's first Labour Prime Minister, is blackmailed by a former lover, Frenchie must go to Paris to buy her silence.
It is clear there are many people who would see MacDonald fall - the Conservatives, their friends in the press, even some of his own colleagues. But his own secret service? When Frenchie hears the other side of the story, everything changes.
The Prime Minister's Affair is another brilliant historical thriller from the author of Witchfinder, based on a real blackmail plot, hidden in the shadows.
'If le Carre needs a successor, Williams has all the equipment for the role' Times Literary Supplement Books of the Year
'Spy tradecraft of the old school, with no computers, fast cars or mobile phones, but not a whit less exciting for that. Highly recommended as both a spy story and a piece of social and political history' Shots Magazine
Andrew Williams has fashioned a wickedly entertaining tale of political chicanery - Daily Telegraph
London 1929. Very much not a land fit for heroes. Frenchie knows his occasional work for MI5 serves only the ruling classes. But he needs to feed his children. Scruples died in the trenches.
When Ramsay MacDonald, Britain's first Labour Prime Minister, is blackmailed by a former lover, Frenchie must go to Paris to buy her silence.
It is clear there are many people who would see MacDonald fall - the Conservatives, their friends in the press, even some of his own colleagues. But his own secret service? When Frenchie hears the other side of the story, everything changes.
The Prime Minister's Affair is another brilliant historical thriller from the author of Witchfinder, based on a real blackmail plot, hidden in the shadows.
'If le Carre needs a successor, Williams has all the equipment for the role' Times Literary Supplement Books of the Year
'Spy tradecraft of the old school, with no computers, fast cars or mobile phones, but not a whit less exciting for that. Highly recommended as both a spy story and a piece of social and political history' Shots Magazine
368 pages, Hardcover
Published November 15, 2022
17 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Williams
9 books34 followersAndrew worked as a senior producer on BBC Television's flagship current affairs programmes, Panorama and Newsnight, covering the major stories of the day. In 1997 he moved to BBC Documentaries and spent the next eleven years writing and directing television documentaries and drama documentaries for the BBC and international co-producers, including the award winning series, 'The Battle of the Atlantic'. He has written two best selling histories of the Second World War; 'The Battle of the Atlantic', and 'D-Day to Berlin'. His first novel, 'The Interrogator', was shortlisted for the CWA Ian Fleming Thriller of the Year Award and the Ellis Peters Historical Fiction Award, and it was the Daily Mail's debut thriller of 2009. His second, 'To Kill A Tsar', was one of the Daily Mail's thrillers of 2010 and was shortlisted for The Scott Prize for Historical Fiction and the Ellis Peters Award. HIs 1960's espionage thriller, Witchfinder, was one of The Times Literary Supplement Books of the Year. Set inside the British intelligence services in the weeks following the defection of master spy, Kim Philby to the Soviet Union, it tells the story of an MI5 and CIA mole hunt that spirals dangerously out of control. Andrew's latest novel, The Prime Minister's Affair, is the story of a plot to blackmail a Labour Prime Minister and bring down the British Government. The Daily Mail described Andrew 'as one of Britain's most accomplished thriller writers', and the Times Literary Supplement noted that 'if le Carré needs a successor, Williams has all the equipment for the role.'
For background to his books and more on the author, visit: http://www.andrewwilliams.tv You can follow and discuss the books with Andrew on Facebook at AndrewWilliamsbooks or follow on twitter @AWilliamswriter.
For background to his books and more on the author, visit: http://www.andrewwilliams.tv You can follow and discuss the books with Andrew on Facebook at AndrewWilliamsbooks or follow on twitter @AWilliamswriter.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 4, 2022
Andrew William's historical blend of fact and fiction focuses on the issue of the British intelligence services through time, refusing to distinguish between socialism and communism, working against the Labour Party to ensure it loses general elections, such as with the publication of the forged Zinoviev letter in 1924, published by the Daily Mail, and to undermine the party when it is in government. The story is set in the midst of the global crisis of 1929, the Labour Party's Ramsay MacDonald is Prime Minister, a widowed man unable to address the starvation, poverty and high unemployment blighting the nation, now its all about the 'politics of the possible'. His problems grow when a Austrian lover he had taken to assuage his loneliness but had discarded upon becoming PM, Kristina Forster, turns up at Downing Street claiming to have lost everything and demanding he give her £6000.
Whilst he refuses to pay and has her thrown out, he is concerned about the love letters he had written that are in her possession, they could destroy the Labour Party, his position as PM, and his reputation. MacDonald is aware of the powerful enemies ready to do anything to ensure the demise of the Labour government, from the secret services packed with Conservatives and Fascists, the landed gentry, big business and the press barons, all lined up against him. He needs to get those letters back from Forster, now living and working in Paris and he turns to a ambitous Labour man in the security services, retired Lieutenant Commander Reginald Fletcher, desperate for a safe seat, to negotiate and retrieve the letters from the Austrian Vamp. Accompanying Fletcher is the ex-military intelligence and old soldier, Richard 'Frenchie' Stewart, ashamed of having to take Judas money from the intelligence service for assignments working against the poor and the working class wanting greater equality by challenging the existing power structures. Will the unlikely Frenchie turn out to be MacDonald's saviour?
Williams's research into this period of political history is impeccable, he paints the unedifying murky picture of the ruthless 'undemocratic' measures and machinations undertaken by the intelligence services, getting protestors imprisoned, break-ins, stealing Labour Party papers, allying themselves with fascists and utilising the blackshirts with their reputation for brutal violence. MacDonald is an interesting figure, so many had put their trust and faith in him as a man of principle and integrity, but can he live up to his public rhetoric? Politics can be the dirtiest of games where today's enemies can become tomorrow's 'friends'. The author vibrantly brings alive a turbulent period of British political history and culture and the establishment's all too real antipathy towards the Labour party, and a scandal that threatened to bring down a PM and his government. This will appeal to fans of historical fiction, particularly those with an interest in politics and the intelligence agencies. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Whilst he refuses to pay and has her thrown out, he is concerned about the love letters he had written that are in her possession, they could destroy the Labour Party, his position as PM, and his reputation. MacDonald is aware of the powerful enemies ready to do anything to ensure the demise of the Labour government, from the secret services packed with Conservatives and Fascists, the landed gentry, big business and the press barons, all lined up against him. He needs to get those letters back from Forster, now living and working in Paris and he turns to a ambitous Labour man in the security services, retired Lieutenant Commander Reginald Fletcher, desperate for a safe seat, to negotiate and retrieve the letters from the Austrian Vamp. Accompanying Fletcher is the ex-military intelligence and old soldier, Richard 'Frenchie' Stewart, ashamed of having to take Judas money from the intelligence service for assignments working against the poor and the working class wanting greater equality by challenging the existing power structures. Will the unlikely Frenchie turn out to be MacDonald's saviour?
Williams's research into this period of political history is impeccable, he paints the unedifying murky picture of the ruthless 'undemocratic' measures and machinations undertaken by the intelligence services, getting protestors imprisoned, break-ins, stealing Labour Party papers, allying themselves with fascists and utilising the blackshirts with their reputation for brutal violence. MacDonald is an interesting figure, so many had put their trust and faith in him as a man of principle and integrity, but can he live up to his public rhetoric? Politics can be the dirtiest of games where today's enemies can become tomorrow's 'friends'. The author vibrantly brings alive a turbulent period of British political history and culture and the establishment's all too real antipathy towards the Labour party, and a scandal that threatened to bring down a PM and his government. This will appeal to fans of historical fiction, particularly those with an interest in politics and the intelligence agencies. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
December 15, 2022
Anyone who has read Andrew Williams’ non-fiction will be aware of his ability to thoroughly research a subject; and this is also one of the strengths of his historical fiction. But the research never gets in the way of the storytelling; and his latest book, like the others I’ve read so far (Witchfinder and The Interrogator) is a cracking good read.
The plot concerns an affair allegedly conducted by Ramsay Macdonald, the first Labour Prime Minister, in the interwar years, and the ambiguous role of the Secret Services in covering it up. As Williams acknowledges in the Author’s Note at the end, our only source for this story is Sir Oswald Mosley, who – perhaps surprisingly for those who know him as the leader of the British Union of Fascists – was, at this time (1929-31), a junior minister in the government and a rising star of the Labour Left. He counters the timidity of the party leaders with plans to tackle “the challenge of mass unemployment” through “a bold and imaginative programme of public works” including “nationalisation of key industries, and a new organisation with the personal authority of the prime minister … to make things happen quickly.” In other words, a Duce.
As a fan of the late novels of Henry Williamson (of Tarka the Otter fame), I was interested to contrast the very different portrayal of Mosley at this juncture in his 1965 novel The Phoenix Generation. Williamson, an unrepentant Mosleyite (leading him to be dubbed ‘Tarka the Rotter’!), presented him as the lost leader who alone had the vision to save the country through ‘imperial socialism.’ By contrast, Williams’ characters describe Mosley as handsome “like a second-rate matinee idol,” an ill-mannered, supercilious philanderer, a “puffed-up popinjay”; his enemies are less kind.
But if the pre-Fascist Mosley can be seen as ‘repulsive but right,’ Williams’ Macdonald is ‘romantic but wrong.’ He ends up fronting a Tory-dominated coalition government which deals with the financial crisis by trying to balance the books and implementing a policy of cuts and austerity, with disastrous consequences for the poorest in society. Surely no-one would make that mistake again!
The political backdrop, however, is only the setting for the drama. In the end, at the heart of this novel are flawed human beings trying to do their best for themselves, their family, their friends and their country.
There is more on Henry Williamson and Oswald Mosley on my Goodreads blog, starting here: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
The plot concerns an affair allegedly conducted by Ramsay Macdonald, the first Labour Prime Minister, in the interwar years, and the ambiguous role of the Secret Services in covering it up. As Williams acknowledges in the Author’s Note at the end, our only source for this story is Sir Oswald Mosley, who – perhaps surprisingly for those who know him as the leader of the British Union of Fascists – was, at this time (1929-31), a junior minister in the government and a rising star of the Labour Left. He counters the timidity of the party leaders with plans to tackle “the challenge of mass unemployment” through “a bold and imaginative programme of public works” including “nationalisation of key industries, and a new organisation with the personal authority of the prime minister … to make things happen quickly.” In other words, a Duce.
As a fan of the late novels of Henry Williamson (of Tarka the Otter fame), I was interested to contrast the very different portrayal of Mosley at this juncture in his 1965 novel The Phoenix Generation. Williamson, an unrepentant Mosleyite (leading him to be dubbed ‘Tarka the Rotter’!), presented him as the lost leader who alone had the vision to save the country through ‘imperial socialism.’ By contrast, Williams’ characters describe Mosley as handsome “like a second-rate matinee idol,” an ill-mannered, supercilious philanderer, a “puffed-up popinjay”; his enemies are less kind.
But if the pre-Fascist Mosley can be seen as ‘repulsive but right,’ Williams’ Macdonald is ‘romantic but wrong.’ He ends up fronting a Tory-dominated coalition government which deals with the financial crisis by trying to balance the books and implementing a policy of cuts and austerity, with disastrous consequences for the poorest in society. Surely no-one would make that mistake again!
The political backdrop, however, is only the setting for the drama. In the end, at the heart of this novel are flawed human beings trying to do their best for themselves, their family, their friends and their country.
There is more on Henry Williamson and Oswald Mosley on my Goodreads blog, starting here: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
November 26, 2022
Fascinating, well written historical novel about the efforts by several factions with conflicting motives to retrieve embarrassing letters written by British Prime Minister Ramsey MacDonald to his Austrian lover. Andrew Williams’ book provides substantial support for the proposition that the three great motivations for human misbehavior are money, power and sex.
July 3, 2022
This is an interesting historical fiction that mixes facts and fiction. There's a thriller side but it's the depiction of an age when fascism was seen as the barrier to stop bolshevism.
A violent age and this book talks about what happened, how the secret services used violence and fascist.
it's well written and interesting even if a bit disturbing at times.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
A violent age and this book talks about what happened, how the secret services used violence and fascist.
it's well written and interesting even if a bit disturbing at times.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
March 25, 2025
An enthralling read in the spirit of Ben Macintyre. A mix of historical research and imaginative dialogue. It was truly fascinating.
August 7, 2022
As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot (there are reviews like that out there already if that's what you are looking for).
This is a book based on real events - so a blend of reality and fiction, which makes for an interesting read. I had no idea of the purported affair before reading this novel - nor indeed any of the real events behind the "Red Menace" plot, so it was a very interesting read.
The pace was - to me - a little slow to begin with, in the style of the traditional political/spy thriller genre - but soon picked up.
There were some interesting fictional (I assume) characters - such as Frenchie - and (from what I've read elsewhere) extremely good representations of Ramsay Macdonal and Sir Oswald Mosely et al.
An enjoyable read if you are interested in history and like political thrillers. I will happily read more by this author.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.
This is a book based on real events - so a blend of reality and fiction, which makes for an interesting read. I had no idea of the purported affair before reading this novel - nor indeed any of the real events behind the "Red Menace" plot, so it was a very interesting read.
The pace was - to me - a little slow to begin with, in the style of the traditional political/spy thriller genre - but soon picked up.
There were some interesting fictional (I assume) characters - such as Frenchie - and (from what I've read elsewhere) extremely good representations of Ramsay Macdonal and Sir Oswald Mosely et al.
An enjoyable read if you are interested in history and like political thrillers. I will happily read more by this author.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.
July 3, 2024
I enjoyed this book. Well written, and with a substance of truth, the intrigue of the first Labour Government on the Establishment, the individuals of Oswald Mosley and William Joyce and their to be notoriety during WW2, and the ascendancy of a certain Adolf Hitler.
The political intrigue of a widowed chap then having an affair with a foreign lady but it all changes when he becomes Prime Minister.
The consequences then involve Europe and some of the unsavoury characters before they reach their infamy.
A good read
The political intrigue of a widowed chap then having an affair with a foreign lady but it all changes when he becomes Prime Minister.
The consequences then involve Europe and some of the unsavoury characters before they reach their infamy.
A good read
December 23, 2023
This book should have captured me more but for some reason it didn’t. That may have been more about when I was reading it rather than the book itself. I also found the characters hard to get to know. However it was well written with a solid storyline.
January 24, 2023
SLOW, boring
January 26, 2024
Struggled with this. Didn’t find it enjoyable and not well written.
August 6, 2025
Excellent political thriller with some basis in fact.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews