Acts of Omission

Winner of the Paddy Power Political Novel of the Year.

1998: foreign minister Mark Lucas is in a dilemma. A disk containing the names of British informants to the Stasi has ended up in the hands of the government. Now he faces resistance from the diplomatic service who don't want him to return it to the Germans.

Alex Rutherford, a young man working for the intelligence services, wakes up one morning with a hangover and a frightening memory that his computer is lost and, with it, the only copy of that disk.

When the disk is delivered to the newspaper where journalist Anna Travers works, she finds herself unravelling not just a mystery, but many people's lives . . .

Based on the true story of Stasi files of agents in the UK, ACTS OF OMISSION is suspenseful, exquisitely constructed and thought-provokingly topical - it is a novel about the leak of state secrets, the responsibility of newspapers, and the human cost of all of those.

Winner of The Paddy Power Political Book Awards 2014 (UK)
Long-listed for Authors' Club Best First Novel Award 2014 (UK)

“An intriguing, compelling story that cuts across the decades and generations and brings the issues of the Cold War days right into present times - Simon MawerStiastny is an ex-BBC political reporter and she guides us around the newsroom, Whitehall and Parliament with an insider's eye and effortlessly clear, precise prose. She is particularly good on the great games of Westminster, and on the language of journalese . . . A beautifully crafted story - thedabbler.co.ukAn author to watch - BookbagA thriller of rare intelligence - SagaStiastny cleverly entwines historical fact with fiction . . . not simply a good work of fiction, but an ode to the history that inspired it - We Love This BookA must-read for lovers of political thrillers - shots.co.ukAn intriguing political spy thriller from a former BBC reporter . . . Stiastny brings all her experience to bear in this sinuous story . . . A spirited portrait of the murky skulduggery that inhabits modern politics - Daily MailA convincing picture of Westminster in the 1990s - Woman Magazine”

An intriguing, compelling story that cuts across the decades and generations and brings the issues of the Cold War days right into present times - Simon Mawer

Stiastny is an ex-BBC political reporter and she guides us around the newsroom, Whitehall and Parliament with an insider's eye and effortlessly clear, precise prose. She is particularly good on the great games of Westminster, and on the language of journalese . . . A beautifully crafted story - thedabbler.co.uk

An author to watch - Bookbag

A thriller of rare intelligence - Saga

Stiastny cleverly entwines historical fact with fiction . . . not simply a good work of fiction, but an ode to the history that inspired it - We Love This Book

A must-read for lovers of political thrillers - shots.co.uk

An intriguing political spy thriller from a former BBC reporter . . . Stiastny brings all her experience to bear in this sinuous story . . . A spirited portrait of the murky skulduggery that inhabits modern politics - Daily Mail

A convincing picture of Westminster in the 1990s - Woman Magazine

The majority of Terry Stiastny's journalistic career was spent reporting for BBC News, which she left in 2012. During her time at the BBC, she worked in Berlin and Brussels, covered politics in Westminster and spent many years on BBC Radio 4 news programmes. She was educated at Oxford University, studying PPE at Balliol College and International Relations (MPhil) at St Antony's College. She lives in London with her husband and two sons.

Winner of the Paddy Power Political Novel of the Year. 1998: foreign minister Mark Lucas is in a dilemma. A disk containing the names of British informants to the Stasi has ended up in the hands of the government. Now he faces resistance from the diplomatic service who don't want him to return it to the Germans.Alex Rutherford, a young man working for the intelligence services, wakes up one morning with a hangover and a frightening memory that his computer is lost and, with it, the only copy of that disk.When the disk is delivered to the newspaper where journalist Anna Travers works, she finds herself unravelling not just a mystery, but many people's lives . . .Based on the true story of Stasi files of agents in the UK, ACTS OF OMISSION is suspenseful, exquisitely constructed and thought-provokingly topical - it is a novel about the leak of state secrets, the responsibility of newspapers, and the human cost of all of those.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.