The LOBBYIST
A contemporary political thriller by Lionel Zetter
Parliamentary lobbyist Damian Beaufort is a professional manipulator – clever, charming, ruthless – but when Labour wins power his Tory-heavy agency spirals towards bankruptcy. And the rest of his life looks like going the same way.
Salvation comes not from booze or sex – despite his best efforts – but a far less likely quarter: the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service. It also comes at a cost.
Beaufort finds himself entangled in a lethal web of conflicts: an internecine turf war between MI5 and MI6; underhand Westminster manoeuvrings; Eurocrats bent on reversing Brexit; and, seemingly pulling all the strings, the sinister head of Russia’s FSB.
Soon the lobbyist-turned-spy isn’t just fighting to save his agency, his reputation and his country. He’s fighting for his life, and he’s fighting for revenge.
‘He may be a bastard. But he’s our bastard.’
First-time author Lionel Zetter brings dazzling insider knowledge to bear in this fast-moving contemporary thriller with a totally unexpected denouement in the Chamber of the House of Commons.
- ‘He knows what he is writing about, and this is a cracking good read!’ Iain Dale ‘Does for political lobbying what Hannibal Lecter did for a quiet night’s sleep.’ Michael Dobbs
- ‘Lobbying is the underbelly of politics: a twilight world... It was made for the novelist, but the novelist needs to understand it. Zetter does.’ Matthew Parris
- ‘Too close to the truth for the comfort of some.’ Paul Staines
- ‘Great stuff, highly recommended.’ Edwina Currie
- ‘This is his first work of fiction but I guarantee it won’t be his last.’ Steve Norris
About the author
Lionel Zetter has been involved in politics and lobbying for more than forty years. As the son of a diplomat, his childhood was spent travelling the world. He read History and then Strategic Studies at Sussex University, where, like many before and since, he was approached to join MI6.
Lionel has been a special adviser and a policy fellow at the Cabinet Office. His political life has included being an election agent, an elected local councillor, and, as a parliamentary candidate in the 2005 general election, he fought Edmonton, but Edmonton fought back..
He has won multiple professional awards and has headed up three communications trade bodies. He has written books on political campaigning and lobbying. He is a martial artist, and a failed restaurateur. Lionel is married with three children and lives in north London. The Lobbyist is his first novel.
Publisher Nine Elms Books are offering PubAffairs Members free UK postage for a signed copy. Click on the link to visit their website and when prompted in the checkout process, apply the coupon code TheLobbyistPAN to automatically deduct the UK postage charge.