But when a terror attack threatens her family, her world is turned upside down. When the government she has served targets her Muslim husband and sons, her loyalties are tested. And when her family is about to be torn apart, she must take drastic action to protect them.
A House Divided is a tense and timely thriller about political extremism and divided loyalties, and their impact on one woman.
The review...
When I read the synopsis and author bio, I knew immediately that this was a book I wanted to read. A political thriller touching on some very current issues of terrorism, Islamophobia and political intrigue, focusing on a woman MP? Sounded right up my street.
In the first of a trilogy, Jennifer Sinclair, a junior minister in a future Labour government, finds herself at odds with the party leadership as increasingly repressive measures are imposed in the name of security... and has difficult and far-reaching decisions to make as a result. But neither she nor anyone else could have predicted quite where things are headed, as the political climate takes on a definitely dystopian flavour. While the likes of Trump and Brexit aren't directly referenced, their shadow definitely looms large.
Amid an atmosphere of escalating terror threats, far-right activity and increasingly toxic political rhetoric, Jennifer finds danger coming terrifyingly close to home.
I liked Jennifer’s voice which felt original and compelling, with her roles as a Government minister, Birmingham constituency MP and wife to Yusuf (and mother to Samir and Hassan) providing her with a unique perspective as matters unfold, and also a perfect way of illustrating the very real impact of government policies on people’s lives.
Rachel McLean has drawn an alarming - and in many ways alarmingly plausible - picture of a near future with some disturbingly Orwellian overtones. At the same time I found this a very enjoyable read, particularly the scenes in Parliament which had a definite ring of truth about them, and I was desperate to know how it would all end up. (Spoiler: it’s a massive cliffhanger! The second book promises to be a cracker!) While I don't think the politician characters were necessarily based on real current figures (let's face it, some of the real ones are far too unlikely to ever be believable as fiction...), they were always easy to visualise and I felt I was getting a real insight into behind the scenes at Westminster.
An intriguing - and often alarming read - which links personal and political in a compelling way. Many thanks for the opportunity to be part of the blog tour!
An intriguing - and often alarming read - which links personal and political in a compelling way. Many thanks for the opportunity to be part of the blog tour!
The author...
I’m told that the world wants upbeat, cheerful stories - well, I’m sorry but I can’t help. My stories have an uncanny habit of predicting future events (and not the good ones). They’re inspired by my work at the Environment Agency and the Labour Party and explore issues like climate change, Islamophobia, the refugee crisis and sexism in high places. All with a focus on how these impact individual people and families.
You can find out more about my writing, get access to deals and exclusive stories or become part of my advance reader team by joining my book club at www.rachelmclean.com/bookclub.
Social media links...
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