Summer 1914. A world on the brink of catastrophe. In London, twenty-six-year-old Venetia Stanley—aristocratic, clever, bored, reckless—is part of a fast group of upper-crust bohemians and socialites known as “The Coterie.” She’s also engaged in a clandestine love affair with the Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith, a man more than twice her age. He writes to her obsessively, sharing the most sensitive matters of state. As Asquith reluctantly leads the country into war with Germany, a young intelligence officer with Scotland Yard is assigned to investigate a leak of top-secret documents. Suddenly, what was a sexual intrigue becomes a matter of national security that could topple the British government—and will alter the course of political history.

Robert Harris
Robert Harris is a bestselling British author known for his historical fiction and thrillers. Born on March 7, 1957, in Nottingham, England, Harris began his career as a journalist before turning to fiction. His acclaimed works include Fatherland, Pompeii, and the Cicero Trilogy, blending meticulous research with gripping storytelling. Many of his novels explore political intrigue, history, and power dynamics. Harris’s books have been translated into multiple languages and adapted for film and television, establishing him as a master of historical and political fiction.