Killing the Messenger

This parliamentary thriller from Wallace (The Pied Piper’s Poison) provides a wry examination of ambition and willful blindness. In the Britain of tomorrow, an unpopular government nervously faces the impending election. In desperation, the party turns to ad exec Calum Begg, whose PR firm, Harlequin, has developed a powerful but morally dubious new technology for mass persuasion. Meanwhile, politicos seize on the nation’s collective mental health as their newest bugbear, with media darling psychologist Dr. Greig Hynd angling to secure a government post in this new program. What Begg and Hynd discover is that in the world of politics, good intentions are no match for ambition. First published in 2011, Wallace’s novel is informed by then-recent memories of Prime Minister Tony Blair and his hapless replacement, Gordon Brown. While details of Westminster procedure may seem obscure to American readers, the larger issues raised here are universal. The result is an amusing and thought-provoking work of satirical suspense. (Aug.)