Today (or tomorrow, depending on when you read this) is Guy Fawkes Day, which commemorates Robert Catesby’s failed plot to assassinate England’s King James I (Fawkes was one of Catesby’s fellow plotters). Of course, there’ve been lots of plots against governments since then, some of them more threatening than others. And that premise – a group of people plotting against a government or governments – has been popular in crime fiction, too. That’s not surprising, really; it can make for a tension-filled story. So I thought today might be a good day to take a quick look at the way this theme plays out in crime fiction.
For example, in Arthur Conan Doyle’s His Last Bow, Holmes and Watson take on the delicate and difficult case of Van Bork, a German émigré to England. As it turns out, Van Bork has been quietly collecting intelligence on the British government and its military capabilities for the past four years. He’s planning to pass that information on to his own government as World War I approaches. When Holmes discovers Van Bork’s real identity and intentions, he and Watson come up with an ingenious plan to stop Van Bork. I don’t want to give spoilers; this dénouement’s more effective if you don’t know what’s coming.
Agatha Christie mentions plots against governments in more than one of her stories and novels. And of course, her sleuths Tommy and Tuppence Beresford get involved in foiling several espionage plots. I’d like to focus on just one of Christie’s stories that mention this theme. In her short story The Kidnapped Prime Minister, Poirot and Hastings get an unexpected visit one night. The Leader of the House of Commons and a member of the War Cabinet secretly ask his help in finding Prime Minister David MacAdam, who’s apparently been kidnapped. MacAdam was scheduled to make a critical speech at a gathering in Paris. World War II is looming, and MacAdam’s plan is to make a “rally the troops” speech. MacAdam’s political enemies, though, want to bring down his government and move England towards an appeasement approach to the unfolding crisis. Poirot and Hastings are given one day to find the Prime Minister, since his speech is scheduled for the next day. They begin their investigation and in the end, find out what happened to MacAdam and who is responsible for the kidnapping.
Oh, and incidentally, Christie’s short story Murder in the Mews has nothing to do with political plots, but does take place on Guy Fawkes Day. So I felt compelled to mention it 
.
Ngaio Marsh’s Died in the Wool also has a theme of political plotting. New Zealand MP Flossie Rubrick goes to one of the sheep pens on her husband’s farm to prepare a speech she’ll soon be giving. She doesn’t return and the alarm’s raised, but her body can’t be found (Hmm… another case of a politician who disappears just before a major speech; seems these politicians risk more than just a drop in the polls ). Three weeks later, her body turns up encased in a bale of wool. This murder looks as though it might be politically-motivated, and even involve espionage. So Rubrick’s nephew contacts Inspector Roderick Alleyn, asking him to investigate. It turns out that several members of Rubrick’s family – including Rubrick herself – are hiding secrets. So Alleyn has to dig deeply to find out whose political interests were served by Flossie Rubrick’s death.
Vince Flynn has written several political thrillers that include this theme of plotting against governments. In Term Limits, for instance, three powerful Washington politicians are murdered in very quick succession. A group of rogue military commandos claims responsibility, saying that the murders will continue until power is restored to the people. This group believes that all politicians are corrupt and deserve to die. Former Marine Michael O’Rourke believes the killings bear the hallmarks of Special Forces operatives, and he teams up with the FBI to catch the killers. What’s interesting here is that although O’Rourke wants the killers caught (his brother Tim is a junior Congressman), he also sympathises with the group’s views. O’Rourke’s personal conflict adds a solid layer to his character and to the story.
Glen Peters’ Mrs. D’Silva’s Detective Instinct and the Saitan of Calcutta also has a theme of political plotting. In that novel, which takes place in 1960 Calcutta, Joan D’Silva is a teacher in a Catholic school. One day, D’Silva’s son Errol finds the body of former student Agnes Lal washed up on a riverbank. After the inquest, two other former pupils, Anil Sen and Philomena Thomas, tell D’Silva that Lal was murdered and ask for her help in finding the killer. Then Sen is arrested for stabbing factory manager Thomas James during a riot and forced to confess, although he says he is innocent. As D’Silva begins to look into the case, she discovers that all three former pupils were members of the Workers Revolutionary Movement of Bengal, which is a group dedicated to overthrowing the current Indian government. Led by a saitan called Dutta, It also has the goal of upsetting the privileged position that most Anglo-Indians have held in that society. So while D’Silva is trying to find out who killed Lal and clear Sen’s name if she can, she also has to contend with the machinations of Dutta and his followers, who’ve been encouraged to wreak as much havoc as they can.
Shona MacLean’s The Redemption of Alexander Seaton, which takes place in 17th Century Scotland, also weaves in a theme of political plotting. Former candidate for the ministry Seaton is now undermaster at the local grammar school in Banff. Early one morning, Seaton is shocked to learn that the body of local apothecary’s assistant Patrick Davidson has been found in Seaton’s own classroom. Soon afterwards, Seaton’s friend Charles Thom is arrested for the murder. Thom was Davidson’s rival for Marion Arbuthnott, the apothecary’s daughter, so he is a logical suspect. But Thom claims he’s innocent and begs Seaton to clear his name. Seaton agrees and begins to ask questions. It’s not long before he discovers that several people might have wanted to murder Davidson. Some drawings Davidson left behind suggest that he might have been part of a Spanish plot to overthrow the British government and bring Catholicism back to Scotland. If that’s true, then Davidson could have been killed by someone who found out about that plot, or by one of his political compatriots. In the end, Seaton finds out who really killed Davidson and why, and as he does, we learn how the political intrigues of the time influence people’s attitudes.
There’s worldwide political intrigue in Lindy Cameron’s Redback. That’s the story of a crack Australian retrieval team led by Bryn Gideon. The team is called into action when a group of delegates to the Pacific Tourism and Enviro-Trade Conference is taken hostage by a group of rebels. The team rescues the hostages and soon learns of other seemingly random incidents in other parts of the world. There’s a devastating train-bombing in France, an explosion at a U.S. military base and a group of murders, including that of Australian Attorney-General Barnaby Cross. Journalist Scott Dreher begins to put the pieces of the puzzle together, and before long, it’s clear that these events are related. They’re the work of a shadowy terrorist group and Team Redback is soon drawn into the search for the group and its leaders. It’s a game of “cat and mouse” as Redback and the terrorist plotters square off against each other, and Redback proves itself more than a match for them.
Political plots and conspiracies can form the basis for a compelling and suspenseful novel. Or they can fall flat if the plot is too unbelievable and the characters too “flat.” But what’s your view? Do you enjoy novels with political plots as their theme? Penny for the Guy? (I know…outdated, but I couldn’t resist)
To answer your question – no, I don’t. I read mysteries to disappear into a world that is contained and solvable – when the writers take on a huge Machiavellian plot to overthrow the world, I put the book down and look for one crazed or justified killer story. I don’t like thrillers for the most part and even though I LOVED The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – it wasn’t the terrible conspiracy theory that held me – it was one young woman with a personality to watch.
There ya go…
Jan – You are far, far from alone. For millions of mystery lovers, it’s the personalities of the characters rather than an epic plot, that keeps them turning pages. And maybe you’ve put your finger on the reason that political plot-themed novels don’t resonate with everyone. Readers have many different reasons for reading. One important one is to escape to a place where there are answers and where, as you say, the crime is solved. That doesn’t mean they want glib, easy answers to life’s questions. But a lot of people simply aren’t interested in political machinations. And yet, they so often make the news headlines…
Oh yes, I love novels with political plots, twists and conspiracies. For one, they are racy, and two, they are about what might have been. I can think of a few of these books but I’ll pick the two most popular novels set in WWII (a personal favourite as far as film and fiction themes go; the other being Cold War) – THE DAY OF THE JACKAL (1971) by Frederick Forsyth and THE EAGLE HAS LANDED (1975) by Jack Higgins. While one is about a plot by a French terrorist group to kill Charles de Gaulle, the other is about an audacious plan by the Hitler-Himmler duo to kidnap Winston Churchill and whisk him away to Berlin. Sheer entertainment! The namesake movies were good too.
Prashant – No doubt about it – political plot-themed novels are action-packed. They can certainly get the adrenaline going. And you have a very well-taken point that they let the reader speculate about all sorts of possibilities. You’ve mentioned some very good examples, too, of well-written politically-themed novels. Both are really interesting explorations of what might happen if a group were able to pull off a major plot like that…
Great post, with some unusual examples – thanks, Margot! I do like political plotting in novels but not of the overblown, James-Bond style “bringing down the government” variety as they do get very same-y. And I have to say that am getting a bit bored with SAPO, the baddies du jour in Swedish crime fiction (I am expecting them to crop up as the bad guys in the upcoming James Bond movie, actually!). [Joke]. I read The Dying Light by Henry Porter at the start of the year, but that was a bit of a mixed bag. I’ve enjoyed some political thriller movies, eg The Candidate with Robert Redford (esp RR!) and The Parallax View – perhaps The Manchurian Candidate was the strongest of these? (the original, not the remake with Meryl Streep doing a sort of combined Hillary Clinton Maggie Thatcher impersonation).
Maxine – Thank you
You know, I agree completely about SAPO. I’m just a little tired of them myself (very funny comment you made about the new Bond move, too – thanks 
). You’ve got a point, too, about overblown political plotting. Some novels do it well; I really did like the way Cameron handled it in Redback. She brought solid characterisation and some humour to the story. It definitely wasn’t “same-y.” But it’s not easy to do it effectivelyl. Oh, and I absolutely loved The Candidate. I thought it was a brilliant, biting look at the way the political process can eat one alive – and yeah, RR didn’t hurt a bit 
. And oh, how right you are about the first v the second The Manchurian Candidate! That earlier version is a very strong film – folks, do rent it and see it if you haven’t. You’re on your game, too, with your wit about that movie 
.
Stories with political plots and conspiracies are so fun! I’m reading the Big Four right now and although it’s not quite like Tommy & Tuppence’s case, it’s got a touch of a political plot. There is a lot of danger involved and often it takes a novel from a mystery to thriller.
Clarissa – I’ll be really interested to know what you think of The Big Four when you’ve finished it. And you have a point about the danger element in novels with political plots and themes. It’s that danger that can add to the suspense and pace so that a story becomes a thriller. That faster pace can certainly get the adrenaline going if it’s done well.
Margot: A generation ago Robert Ludlum mastered the art of the credible secret, often political, conspiracy. The Bourne novels were true thrillers.
In Gail Bowen’s first mystery, Deadly Appearances, the Premier of Saskatchewan is poisoned in the opening scene.
At the start of Jon Stuck’s book Dead Spy Running, there is a remarakable sequence involving a runner in the London Marathon being discovered wearing an explosive vest and nearing the American ambassador.
I found Porter’s Dying Light too political. The preaching was too strong for me.
Bill – Oh, yes, Robert Ludlum! I really should have mentioned his works; since I didn’t, I’m glad you did.And you’ve put your finger on the keys to his skill: credibility. One can really imagine the kinds of conspiracies featured in Ludlum’s novels. Thanks also for mentioning Gail Bowen and John Stuck. I’ve admit I’ve not yet read Dead Spy Running, but your fine review of it put it on my TBR list. And Gail Bowen’s got quite a lot of talent, I think.
You bring up an interesting point with your mention of the Porter book. Sometimes, political novels cross the line and become preachy. That really can be off-putting, especially if there’s not a good story to keep the reader engaged.
I like minor plots within a story but like Maxine I don’t like large scale political thrillers to overthrow governemnents etc. That said I really like the political thrillers of the 1970s usually involving some political conspiracy – The Day of the Jackal, The Ipcress File, the Oddess File etc. I think it’s a nostalgia thing.
Sarah – It very well could be a nostalgia thing, but there were some very well-done politically-themed movies of the 1970′s. The three films you mention are very good examples. So is All the President’s Men, although it’s political in quite a different way. I wonder whether there’s a sort of fashion in movies, so that certain kinds of movies are popular at certain times….
And sometimes, minor political plots can add suspense, too, sometimes more effectively than an epic politically-based plot.
My father loved John Le Carre’s books, which I must try.
I like political issues to be raised as Sara Paretsky does and Donna Leon — and, of course, Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo. And I enjoyed these themes in the Dragon Tattoo series, and the points raised by Jo Nesbo in Nemesis. I did like Malla Nunn’s books about apartheid South Africa, very well-done, very brutal as life was then for the majority.
However, in general, I don’t like to read about war, espionage, international arms trading and swindles. I like to be entertained, diverted, distracted, learn something, perhaps be sent on a virtual vacation to a beautiful country. Political and social issues are good in my reading, but the crimes should be solveable or at least the culprit(s) named. They don’t have to be convicted as often is the case in Leon’s books, but I do want to know who is responsible — barring an international conspiracy.
Kathy – You’ve got a really well-taken point that many fine crime writers involve politics and social commentary in their novels. And that can be quite effective if it doesn’t come across as preachy. It’s a matter, I think, of showing how the political issues the author is discussing affect individual people. That can really absorb the reader, because it brings those issues down to the human level.
As you point out, though, a novel with a political plot very often doesn’t have a neat ending. So you’re quite right that they don’t always provide the escape we’d like from everyday life, where things aren’t always neat and solvable.
Going slightly off-topic as per usual, but I was grumbling about our country to my Honey and I said to him ‘maybe it would have been better if Guy Fawkes had succeeded’ and he turned to me in all seriousness and said ‘oh no, that building is beautiful’. For an old cynic, he’s quite romantic
Sarah – Awww, I like that comment! I know all too well what you mean about grumbling about things; I’ve done the same. But sometimes it is nice to be reminded of those rose-coloured specs.
I don’t read many political books. Living with a political scientist and working in the P.S. dept. I have usually had enough of that. My one exception is Daughter of Time.
Patti – Yes I can well imagine that you do get your fill of politics and political issues in real life. And thanks for mentioning Josephine Tey’s The Daughter of Time. A wonderful novel and yes, it’s got a terrific political theme.
I’ve been a political junkie all my life, political science was nearly my second major in college. I immediately thought of The Manchurian Candidate, but I also like wonderful stories where politics is a side issue. I think of The Poisonwood Bible for instance. Thank you for this post that leads me to many other political thrillers besides those of Ludlum and Forsythe.
Barbara – I didn’t know that you studied political science! That’s really interesting! I should have asked you to guest blog… And I agree with you that there’s so much more out there in terms of well-written political thrillers than Forsythe and Ludlum. Both very talented authors; no doubt about that. But as you say, there’s lots more available. And I agree; political themes can also make a very solid sub-plot even when the main plot is about something else.
Well, Guy Fawkes did not succeed but the Stuarts did not last all that long afterwards in any event, so we ended up with the Germans after the deaths of Mary (William&Mary) and Anne. If GF had succeeded I suppose it would only have hastened that outcome.
Agreed on Le Carre, he is very good. Actually, I’d recommend The Little Drummer Girl which nobody believed at the time but has proved to be all too prescient. Or the great trilogy of Tinker Tailor, The Honourable Schoolboy and Smiley’s People. The Spy Who Came In From the Cold, an earlier era, is quite good, too. Off topic for this particular post, Le Carre wrote a couple of earlier books in which Smiley is quite a conventional detective.
Len Deighton has written many good books along similar lines (as well as others eg SS GB which is worth a read if you like alternative history books).
I also meant to write in my earlier comment that although the Laurence Harvey/Frank Sinatra Mancurian Candidate is very good, I think the book is even better, by Richard Condon, who like Ludlum wrote or should I write churned out many a similar novel! I think the M C was the best of the ones I read, though.
Maxine – Good point about the Stuarts, actually. Thanks. And yes, le Carré really is so talented. Thanks for mentioning The Little Drummer Girl, too. Interesting that that was so ahead of its time as you might say. I’m also glad you reminded us of George Smiley; what a memorable character.
I have to admit I need to be in the mood if I’m to enjoy an alternative history book, but yes, SS-GB counts as good one when I am in that mood. And about The Manchurian Candidate? Books are nearly always better than the movies, so you’ve got a well-taken point about that…
Yes, I love novels that have political plots, and unrealistic doesn’t bother me as long as there is an appealing main character (a Dirk Pitt or James Bond type) and edge-of-my-seat suspense. I do want the good guys to win in the end.
Pat – I like politically-themed novels to have a healthy dose of suspense, too. Extra suspense fits with those plots. And definitely the main character has to be appealing. If we don’t care about the main character, there’s a lot less suspense in a novel.
I wasn’t even thinking of non-mystery fiction. I loved The Poisonwood Bible, and before that, Beloved, The Color Purple, The Grapes of Wrath, The Jungle, the muckraking novels I read in my adolescent reading days.
And I liked The Man from Beijing quite a lot.
I do perk up when a political or social issue or theme is brought up, but I think that I draw the line at war, spies, arms deals, global trade scams or international conspiracies.
I avoid books set in wartime, including WWII, just too gruesome for my entertainment; it’s not a diversion at all — although I know there are several excellent series.
And I read and watch news all day long, so fiction is an escape. It can be thought-provoking as is The Man from Beijing. That I enjoyed.
Kathy – There is a difference isn’t there between a novel that brings up a political or social issue and a novel that is based on a political plot or a conspiracy plot. And as you say, a lot depends on why one reads. A lot also depends on what one considers entertainment. Political plots as themes of a novel aren’t everyone’s idea of escape and entertainment.