by Jo Walton
First published 2007
Inspector Carmichael arrives at a bomb site in a London suburb. The explosion opens his investigation into something far larger than random violence. England in 1949 operates under fascist rule, and Carmichael discovers the blast connects to a conspiracy targeting the Prime Minister and his political partner, Adolf Hitler. Communists and patriots have joined forces in this unlikely alliance, planning assassination as their weapon against tyranny. Carmichael navigates competing allegiances and hidden betrayals as he pieces together the plot. Time works against him as the conspiracy advances toward its deadly goal. The detective must choose between duty to the state and loyalty to conscience. Walton examines what people sacrifice when they accommodate evil, and how much compromise a society can bear before losing its soul.
Genres: historical-fiction, mystery, political-thriller, alternate-history
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: duty-vs-conscience, enemies-to-lovers
Setting: England, Great Britain, London
Period: 1949
Hardcover · Charnwood
Content warnings: violence