The Secret Servant

By Gavin Lyall

Book Overview

Major Harry Maxim, formerly of the SAS, is a mysterious man who lost his wife to a horrific plane accident. He is as surprised as anyone when he is hired by 10 Downing Street to assist in matters of defence and security. Using all the knowledge from his days in military intelligence, he tries to understand and counter a number of suspect events: a suicide at the ministry of defence, a hand grenade thrown through the door of number ten and a Czech defector with a file worth killing for. They all seem to point towards Professor John Tyler, a nuclear strategist who will state Britain's case when Europe's think tank on Armageddon gathers in Luxembourg. First published in 1980, The Secret Servant begins Gavin Lyall's Harry Maxim series.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 034529744X
• ISBN13: 9780345297440
• Release Date: October 1981
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 236 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

I Can't Believe This Author Isn't More Popular

If you like intelligent thrillers, Gavin Lyall is the man for you. His earlier books tended to depict somewhat down-on-their-luck ex-RAF pilots, struggling to keep their small-plane business afloat. These were all (without exception) excellent thrillers with wonderful, unexpected plot twists. Mr. Lyall in mid-career then wrote a series of four books featuring his most appealing protagonist, Major Maxim of the SAS. The last of this series, "Uncle Target", was merely good, but the first three ("The Secret Servant", "The Conduct of Major Maxim", and "The Crocus List") are some of the finest novels (let alone books in the thriller genre) I have ever read. These are right up there with the best of John Le Carre and Graham Greene! Actually, my favorite of all Gavin Lyall's books is "Blame the Dead", but you owe it to yourself to read "The Secret Servant". Do it now!!