Covert Lies, the second book in the trilogy, continues from the end of Overt Lies, and follows Harry Baxter, an MI6 officer, in thwarting a terrorist attack at the heart of the UK Government in London.
He is then posted to the British High Commission in Islamabad, Pakistan, attempting to determine the link of terrorist activity in the UK with Pakistani interests, the country itself riven with political and terrorist intrigue, creating further destabilisation in the region. His close contact in the CIA Jack DeCosta, is also based in Pakistan at the same time, whilst his relationship with Anna Harrison, a Mossad agent is put on hold, as she returns to Tel Aviv for retraining and redeployment.
Various other country diplomats in Islamabad, such as the Russian Embassy, create a febrile atmosphere of suspicion and activity. Harry on instructions from London is sent to Beirut Lebanon, which coincides with the start of the Lebanon War, involving Hezbollah and Israeli forces, leading to the difficult extraction of UK Embassy staff to Syria. Anna had also been deployed to Beirut.
Rogue Pakistani interests are funding the supply lines of armaments to various terrorist groups, including Hezbollah with links to Iran, thus adding further complicated dimensions to the Gulf region. Within this maelstrom, working relations are vital between MI6, the American CIA, French DGSE, and Israeli Mossad.
In London a new Director General is appointed to SIS(MI6), bringing new political considerations to bear on operations and structure, this in turn creating additional stress on the fundamental requirement, Defence of the Realm.
The picture drawn is of the continuing battle to contain the world-wide activities of related terrorist groups.
