The Counterplot

by Hope Mirrlees

"The Counterplot" unfolds a gripping tale of espionage and intrigue set against the backdrop of Cold War tensions. In the corridors of power and secrecy, CIA agent Alex Kane is thrust into a web of conspiracy when a routine surveillance operation turns deadly. As he unravels a plot that threatens global stability, Kane must navigate treacherous alliances and betrayals that span continents. From the murky streets of Berlin to the opulent halls of Washington, D.C., the novel explores the moral dilemmas faced by Kane as he races against time to uncover the truth and protect those he loves. With twists and turns that keep readers on edge, "The Counterplot" delves into the shadowy world of intelligence operations and the human cost of loyalty and betrayal.

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1924

About the author

Hope Mirrlees (1887-1978) was a British translator, poet and novelist. She published three novels in her lifetime, Madeleine: One of Love’s Jansenists (1919), The Counterplot (1924) and the fantasy novel Lud-in-the-Mist (1926); three volumes of poetry, including Paris: A Poem (1919), described by the critic Julia Briggs as "modernism's lost masterpiece"; and A Fly in Amber (1962), a biography of the British antiquarian Sir Robert Bruce Cotton.

Reviews

[Jordan]

that's right! i passed my exam and am living it up by reading TWO BOOKS AT ONCE. WHOOO-HOOOOO!!!!!

***

ohhhh dearrrrr. i returned this to the library after only 2 pages.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mirrlees is best known for Lud in the Mist, an early fantasy novel. This one is almost completely different, but also beautifully written and against all odds, gripping.
It’s best described as a British Catholic country house novel in the tragic vein, with foreshadowings of Brideshead Revisited and a hint of Frost in May (including a reference to Madeleine Sophie Barat. Of course the girls went to the Sacred Heart. Of course they did). Three sisters: Pepa (not the pig), deceased leaving two children; Concha, lovely and conventional; and Teresa, torn up by her faith and her family. Teresa tries to understand the world and her place in it by writing a play about her family set in 14th century Castile. Available to read for free on Project Gutenberg. If anything I’ve written here makes it sound appealing, give it a try. It’s worth it.