A Very British Ending

Catesby #5

by Edward Wilson

A gripping espionage thriller about an establishment plot to take control of 1970s Britain, by a writer who is 'poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carre'

'The thinking person's John le Carré' Tribune

'Edward Wilson seems poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carré' Irish Independent

'More George Smiley than James Bond, Catesby will delight those readers looking for less blood and more intelligence in their spy thrillers' Publishers Weekly

An MI6 officer, haunted by the ghosts of an SS atrocity, kills a Nazi war criminal in the ruins of a U-boat bunker. The German turns out to be a CIA asset being rat-lined to South America.

As a hungry Britain freezes in the winter of 1947, a young cabinet minister negotiates a deal with Moscow trading Rolls-Royce jet engines for cattle fodder and wood. Both have made powerful enemies with long memories. The fates of the two men become entwined as one rises through MI6 and the other to Downing Street.

And as Britain stumbles into the mid-1970s, a coup d'etat is imminent.

A Very British Ending is the Wolf Hall of power games in modern Britain. Senior MI6 officers, Catesby and Bone, try to outwit a cabal of plotters trying to overthrow the Prime Minister. The author once again reveals the dark underside of the Secret State on both sides of the Atlantic.

' A fantastic read' Culture Matters

'The best espionage story you'll read this year or any other' Crime Review

Praise for Edward


'Stylistically sophisticated . . . Wilson knows how to hold the reader's attention' W.G. Sebald

'A reader is really privileged to come across something like this' Alan Sillitoe

'All too often, amid the glitzy gadgetry of the spy thriller, all the fast cars and sexual adventures, we lose sight of the essential seriousness of what is at stake. John le Carré reminds us, often, and so does Edward Wilson' Independent

Genres: Fiction, Espionage, Historical Fiction, Thriller, Politics, Mystery

368 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2015

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Edward Wilson served in Vietnam as an officer in the 5th Special Forces. His decorations include the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal for Valor. Soon after leaving the army, Wilson became a permanent expatriate in the UK in 1974. He formally lost US nationality in 1986. Edward Wilson is a British citizen, but has also lived and worked in Germany and France.

Reviews

[KOMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the BEST espionage novels I've read in quite some time. From start to finish - roughly spanning the years 1947 to 1995 - it captured my interest and held me in its grip.

William Catesby - a polyglot and university graduate with liberal leanings, his mentor at MI 6 (the Secret Intelligence Service - SIS) Henry Bone, Harold Wilson (a real historical figure who would later play a prominent role in British politics during the 1960s and 1970s), James Jesus Angleton (another real historical figure and the CIA's counter-intelligence chief utterly sure of the rightness of 'The Cause' as defined by the U.S. government and possessed of a massive paranoia that would have consequences for him and the CIA itself) and a number of other lesser, though no less intriguing, characters give "A VERY BRITISH ENDING" its thrust, excitement, and provide an insight into significant historical events of the Cold War Era that may make the reader question his/her own understanding of those events.


Catesby epitomizes the classic British civil servant who, having emerged from combat service in the Second World War, served the Crown and Country unselfishly as an intelligence officer in a peacetime world whose hazards could arise in the most unexpected places. And often did. In the process, he paid a heavy cost as the following passage will attest:

"Catesby was relieved when the door of Number 10 closed firmly behind him. He was glad to be outside - in the cool damp air and away from the funereal tones. In contrast to the gloom inside Downing Street, the street outside was party time, packed and pulsating with people. There were television vans all over the place and what seemed a hundred people snapping pictures or talking into microphones. A reporter lurched up to Catesby and put a microphone in his face. 'Can you tell us the latest, please?'

"Catesby waved the reporter away and turned to the policeman guarding the front door, 'What's happened?'

" 'The Prime Minister, sir, has just resigned.'

"Catesby understood why the meeting had been suspended. Compared to a prime minister, he was too small a prize to pluck and gut. They had got what they wanted - at least, for the moment."


A VERY BRITISH ENDING is a book I could return to again and again. It's that GOOD.

[Gram · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his latest book, Edward Wilson continues the story of William Catesby, the British spy with a conscience, and the machinations of spies in Britain, the USA and the Soviet Union. In the opening pages, MI6 officer Catesby commits a murder which will return to haunt him. (MI6 is also known as the Secret Intelligence Service or SIS for short). As the story unfolds, it circles round the Cambridge Spies who included Guy Burgess & Donald Maclean, Kim Philby and Anthony Blunt. The latter was an art historian who became Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures, and was responsible for the care and maintenance of the royal collection of pictures owned by the Sovereign in an official capacity. In this story, Blunt is a close friend of Catesby's boss and mentor, Henry Bone. In the USA, the paranoid James Jesus Angleton - who was chief of the Central Intelligence Agency's Counterintelligence Staff for almost 20 years - sees Reds under every bed throughout the "Free World", but especially in Great Britain (The fact that Angleton was a friend of Kim Philby during the latter's time in the USA and was completely fooled by that particular Soviet agent, goes some way to explain his hatred of the British Left). Angleton helps out a secret cabal of British military, disaffected MI5 agents (MI5 and MI6 are portrayed as bitter rivals) and at least one newspaper owner, to smear left wing politicians, including Harold Wilson, who became Prime Minister of Britain from 1964 to 1970 and again from 1974 to 1976, winning 4 general elections in the process. Conservative Prime Minister Ted Heath - who served between Wilson's 2 terms as Prime Minister - is also the subject of a smear campaign orchestrated by MI5 agents. Wilson was indeed the subject of many claims he was a Soviet agent and bids to destabilise Britain were made when he was in power. Catesby & Bone see all this happening and take steps to prevent the worst excesses of the military and right wing MI5 agents both in mainland Britain and in Northern Ireland. Although much of this had previously been dismissed as Harold Wilson's unfounded conspiracy theories, it is a fact that, in 2010, British newspaper reports made detailed allegations that the bugging of 10 Downing Street (official home of British prime ministers) during Harold Wilson's time in office had taken place but had been omitted from the official history of MI5 for "wider public interest reasons". No denial of these allegations has ever been made by a British Government. In "A Very British Ending", Edward Wilson points out that, sometimes, a novelist - when confronted by "[t]he Secret State and the machinations of power" - is in a position to "make better sense of things than a historian". Senior MI6 officers, Catesby & Bone, risk their careers - and possibly their lives - in another wonderful spy thriller which effortlessly mixes real and supposed events of British history in the 1950's, 60's and 70's. Another great read from Edward Wilson.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weaving historical fact with fiction, Edward Wilson has written a set of thrillers in the Catesby Series that (IMHO) surpasses anything Le Carré has ever written.

[Doubledf99.99 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good read about the cold war, the damage of conspiracy theories, smear campaigns, and the fear and paranoia that can infect an intelligence organization and a govt. office.

[cool breeze · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t know it when I picked up the book, but the very first blurb inside quotes the Tribune saying that that the author is “the left’s answer to Frederick Forsyth”. I suppose you could say that is true, if you meant that left’s answers are unappealing, hypocritical, treacherous, destructive and banally evil. Otherwise, it is as bad as Forsyth's books are good.

I read over 120 pages before abandoning it. The leftism and anti-Americanism kept getting worse and worse. The author, an American who renounced his citizenship in 1983, is outraged at Americans pursuing their own interests and Brits who are sympathetic to them, yet he excuses the treason of the Cambridge spies in favor of the Soviet Union. He is a big trade union and Labour Party supporter, but not any Labour politicians will do, they have to be the most extreme of Labour’s leftists. Politics aside, the book was befuddling and boring. I am definitely never reading anything more by this author and recommend that others do likewise.

[Carlos Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Edward Wilson obviously has a comprehensive understanding of 20th century history: World War 2, the Popular Unity government and Pinochet's coup in Chile, the overthrow of the Whitlam government in Australia, the Cold War, the CIA's involvement in moving Nazi officers to safety in South America, and British parliamentary politics all receive extensive coverage.

The author's historical knowledge is combined with impressive storytelling skill to describe a fictional coup attempt against Harold Wilson's Labour government. Although the story is fictional, it contains a kernel of truth in terms of US concerns about Wilson being a secret commie, and the fury of much of British capital at having a moderately progressive government. With a Jeremy Corbyn-led left Labour government - far more radical than that of Harold Wilson - potentially around the corner, 'A Very British Ending' paints an all-too-realistic picture of how the US and the British deep state will react.

An exciting and interesting read.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting spy thriller running through 45 plus years of British history through the jaundiced eye of a British spy. I suspect ones enjoyment of each of the conspiracy theories will be directly linked to ones political views.

[Mal Warwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edward Wilson’s tale of collaboration and treachery among the British, American, and Russian intelligence services spans a series of five novels. A Very British Ending is, fittingly, the fifth. Though a large cast of characters comes into play in the series, including many prominent historical figures, just three men hold starring roles: the CIA’s Kit Fournier, and William Catesby and Henry Bone of MI6.

British intelligence under scrutiny

Edward Wilson is an American transplant who has lived in England since he served in the Vietnam War as a Special Forces officer. Clearly, he was unhappy with American policy there. He does not paint a pretty picture of the CIA. His novels reveal an equally jaundiced opinion of British intelligence. The parade of familiar English turncoats appears again and again in the stories he writes. Double-dealing and treachery are standard fare in these stories. The series also brings into high relief the tension between Catesby, who grew up poor, and his boss, Henry Bone, whose distinguished family reaches centuries into the past. Class conflict is another staple in Wilson’s work.

A journey through the post-war years

A Very British Ending spans the years from the war through 1976. Much of the action takes place in the early 1950s, when the extent of Soviet penetration of British intelligence was beginning to surface. Famous English, American, and German characters enter into the tale as well: Prime Ministers Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, and Margaret Thatcher, CIA Director Allen Dulles, and SS General Reinhard Gehlen as well as the spies known as the Cambridge Five.

The book shifts rapidly through the years, in no apparent order. Though the plot is complex, the story centers on the relationship between Catesby and Bone — and follows them through to the end of their careers. A Very British Ending is a satisfying tale of espionage reminiscent of the early works of John le Carre.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very, very readable - I hardly put it down before finishing it. Like all the Catesby series it interweaves fact and fiction, using real characters, in this instance Harold Wilson particularly, as the centrepiece around which William Catesby, Henry Bone and others move. The story moves from the immediate post war period to the rise of Thatcher and deals largely with the interference of the CIA in British affairs, and the underlying threat to British democracy of the far right. It is written in such a way that it is all too believable, especially to those of us to the left of centre. As such it is frightening.

[Luis Gouveia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my third reading of the book, and my views have shifted slightly compared to my first reading many years ago, especially now that I have reread the first four books in the series and which correspond to nearly a short part in the middle of this novel.

On my first reading, I felt strongly, and still do, that the book is like a hymn to Harold Wilson. It spans the period from Hugh Gaitskell’s leadership through to the beginning of Margaret Thatcher’s government, including Wilson’s two terms as Prime Minister.

Rather than reading like a conventional spy novel, it feels more like a documentary-style account of the conspiracy to unseat Wilson, wembedded within the Catesby series. Much of the narrative centers on this conspiracy, with figures from the British services, such as Catesby and Bone, surveilling colleagues and individuals across various institutions to understand its scope. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the plot is strongly supported by influential American figures driven by anti-communist paranoia.

The attention given to Catesby’s past, explored in greater depth in the two most recent books, was only briefly hinted at in the earlier four. Some of these details are particularly interesting, as they resurface later in his life. We see the treatment of Catesby’s wife and her significance in his career as a spy. Her role, which had only been vaguely mentioned in earlier novels, is brought to the forefront here, adding emotional depth and complexity to Catesby’s character. The portrayal of their relationship, particularly as both are involved with “sister services”, is one of the book’s most compelling elements.


Despite his left-wing views, Catesby is becoming increasingly relevant within MI6, perhaps with the support of Henry Bone. He is financially comfortable, yet he continues to feel vulnerable because his political views are strongly disliked by both the Americans and certain factions at home.

This part also highlights a climate of American paranoia. When a British prime minister dies, we see some attempt to portray the death, actually accidental, as a crime, in order to justify moves against a left-wing Labour leader (and future prime minister). Catesby’s investigation exposes the absurdity of this narrative, though it remains unclear whether he succeeds in convincing the more right-wing figures involved.

In between, we encounter several shady events, such as Philby’s defection, and the story presents different interpretations of the reasons behind it. The assassination of Kennedy is also mentioned, again accompanied by ambiguous or speculative interpretations about who might really have been involved. As the narrative progresses, we begin to see meetings between right-wing characters from several British institutions, where they start plotting against Wilson’s government, and not only his. These scenes show attempts to construct “untruths” or fabricated narratives in order to frame politicians and undermine political opponents. One also sees, Catesby and Bone attempts on spying on these meetings.

In Wilson’s books, there are occasional brief references to earlier events in the chronology that sometimes go on to inspire new novels, for example, the two novels set in France. In this case, a conversation between Catesby and a member of the British establishment alludes to a joint operation connected to the South Africa’s disruption of the oil embargo on Rhodesia. It would be interesting to see this episode explored more fully in a future book, particularly since Britain’s involvement with Ian Smith’s Rhodesian regime has received little attention in espionage fiction, aside from a few isolated references.

We also encounter a curious detail: a suggested explanation for Harold Wilson’s loss in a prime ministerial vote, which includes England’s defeat to Germany at the 1970 FIFA World Cup. This defeat is also given an intriguing (fictional?) explanation, one that later reappears in a conversation among CIA operatives, a conversation that reflects a distinctly paranoid world view of American thinking at the time, perhaps not entirely unfamiliar even today.

Near the end, there is a brief section explaining why Catesby left the Secret Service, serving as an introduction to the next book in the series, which focuses on British intervention in the Falklands.

As noted earlier, the book reads more like a documentary, making it most rewarding for readers who are well informed about the historical contex. and already familiar with the earlier novels. Additional background detail might have helped smooth the several discontinuities in the narrative. Moreover, the distinction between fact and fiction remains uncertain, leaving it open to debate, and likely impossible to determine with complete certainty.

Perhaps not the best of Wilson's books. At the same time, it works both as a political reflection on Harlod Wilson and as a deeper, more personal exploration of Catesby than the earlier books have previously provided.

[David Garner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Edward Wilson's espionage novel is a hybrid of fact and fiction, story telling and political polemic.

The book is ambitious, but execution falls short.

The characters are sharply divided between the good (those who share the author's Corbynista opinions) and bad (Americans and the British upper classes). The latter are almost comically wicked and unhinged. And depicted in a way that lapses into caricature.

Linking the plot to real-time events gives the novel its tight narrative structure. But the author gets it wrong when linking the purchase of the Polaris defence system, with The Beatles topping of the American charts. These events didn't coincide.

Former Prime Minister Harold Wilson receives a fictional makeover and emerges as a benign, forthright, principled character. Which might come as a shock to those who knew and worked with him!

Throughout the book, The United States is the main threat to world peace, as secret agent William Catesby battles to preserve the UK's democratic system. Russian invasions of Hungary and Czechoslovakia don't rate a mention. Nor do the many transgressions of the Chinese Communist Party.

So it's a selective and skewed view of history, that unbalances this novel. Proving a point (over and over again) puts a strain on the fiction and the reader's patience. In the end, the book fails to deliver on the visceral suspense that's a vital part of the spy genre.

[David Klynkramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read, easier to read than some spy thrillers. Based on British PM Harold Wilson actions that upset the Americans with sales of Rolls Royce jet engines to the Russians, for which they labeled him a communist supporter through his political career.

Catsby, the primary actor in this thriller tries to help Wilson with advice and insights which we are led through the gathering of. Many different characters come and go, primarily from the American, Russian and British camps but many others become involved at times, providing their bits of insights that need to be assessed as truth or lie or somewhat in between.

All through this novel we are kept informed of world events and how they apply to the course of affairs in the British parliament, and especially Harold Wilson as he moves up to PM. Mr. Wilson, against wishes of the U.S. would not support the War in Vietnam, further upsetting that camp.

I very much enjoyed this book, which ends with the death of Wilson, I am not really sure how that relates to the title, something that has puzzled me for a couple of days.

[Darius Ostrowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic entry from Edward Wilson featuring William Catesby, his agent from MI6.

This time the action takes place mostly at home, meaning the UK, as we see Catesby deal with the changing post-war world. Germany is no longer the enemy, we have the USSR to worry about, and old wounds from the war are quickly forgotten as the new enemy takes center stage. Along with a new enemy comes a bigger, stronger friend - the US with their CIA, determined to fight the Soviets at every turn. Whoever isn't with the US must obviously be a Soviet spy, and with the English already being exposed by Philby and his crowd the CIA needs to play hardball.

Catesby and his mentor Henry Bone don't necessarily like the fact that the US is bullying their way into British politics, fearful that they're falling under another type of occupation. Mr. Wilson uses the real life story of Harold Wilson as the crux of Catesby's fight for what he believes is right.

A strong intelligent story spanning decades, more relevant today than ever. A wonderful read.

[Hans Ostrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Treason usually, but not always, comes from the right wing. It happened in Italy in 1922. We saw the Beer Hall Putsch in 1923; it happened in Lisbon in 1926; in Spain in 1936."

It's by no means a farce, but it is Wilson's most droll novel, and there's more than a little Nick and Nora about Catesby and estranged (sort of) wife. Dulles of CIA comes off as a shrewd buffoon --" interesting hybrid. The Brits are coming in the early 1950s to the conclusion that they lost the war--to the U.S. A genial, intriguing post-war spy book, with alliances fraying.

In the 1960s PM Harold Wilson, though neither a socialist nor a communist, worries the CIA and British right-wingers because he wants to spend less on the military and more on British citizens. A plot emerges to topple him, and our protagonist Catesby must do something about it. A working class immigrant whose gift for languages got him to and through Oxford, Catesby liked Wilson because he's provincial, smart, and practical. The Queen happens to like him too.

"We are an odd lot, thought Catesby. What other country could have produced Magna Carta, the Industrial Revolution, Das Kapital, and the Beatles?"

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A disturbing, absorbing read.

How much is fact based and how much is just fiction and supposition is always going to be debatable and ultimately, probably unknowable; what is not in doubt is the quality of the writing. Once again Edward Wilson has written another absorbing glimpse into the secret state of post war Britain.
Having lived through the period and remembering the events, it's fascinating to wondered "did it or didn't" happen as the author portrays it.
An awful of lot rings true, but I think the way Mr Wilson wears his heart on his sleeve and the almost caricature way in which his plotters are portrayed, just stopped me giving it a 5 star rating.

[Stewart Cotterill · Rating 1 out of 5]

To say that the characters within this book are only just one dimensional and that the book itself serves as nothing more than an apology piece for a former PM would be to overstate it’s importance.

I could say it is sub standard John le Carre but that would be so a disservice to the sub standard John le Carre authors out there.

[AVid_D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't rate this as highly as the first three in the series, but better than number 4 (which I found a bit bonkers). The book is not really in the traditional spy thriller mould - much of the second half of the book consists of brief episodes giving small insights into a developing coup plot.

I do feel books 1-3 should be read before coming to this one.

[Hannah Dee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed some of the earlier Catesby books but this one didn't do it for me. Too many threads and characters, too disparate, too broad in scope. Usually I like a massive complex plot but this one lacked the cohesion to stay in my head. I was pleased to be reading on Kindle, as it let me use the search function to look up characters when I got confused.

[Robert Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very British ending

This is an excellent work that combines the life of a spy with his humble roots.
Although a novel and difficult to read at times, , it draws on historical events to keep the reader wanting to turn the next page.

[Steve Tabler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. I’ve read all your books except the last and intend to read it next.

I like reading things that happened while I was a young man and seeing the other side of history. A history I saw before was written by the victors.

[A. GOODENOUGH · Rating 5 out of 5]

They get better and better

I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series and this, the 5th is the best so far
The story is totally believable, the fiction interspersed with interesting facts
Other reviews have compared Wilson to Le care I think he is better

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good ‘history’ novel

one of my favourite genres mixed with recent and well known history and geography, Edward Wilson’s novel chuffed along without high drama but indulged us all with the lovingly human character’s closeted life of intrigue.

[Dirk · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not a spy novel but a pamphlet by an extreme leftwing writer, where every rightwing person is an evil cliche and every leftwinger a holy saint, Americans are the devil incarnate and the murderous Communist regimes are benevolent . Stupid book of tiresome Corbynista

[Stephen Hanchey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterful tale of espionage and betrayal

Wilson's fictional account of U.S. meddling in UK politics is neither fanciful nor far-fetched. A gripping read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably 3.5 stars, was a bit over the top, still a good reminder of the Cold War and whether the USA were really interested in peace or were COMPLETELY swept up in Reds Under The BED.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating re the politics of the time and although at first I found characters lacking depth I ended up really enjoying it.

[John Daly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like the character but the plot is week. You would be better reading a history book

[David Highton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about the ‘Secret State’ and cIA conspiracy against Harold Wilson, tracing the parallel careers of MI6 officer William Catesby and Wilson himself from 1947 through 1976.

[Braekeveldt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stupid book
Book stupid
Bopid Okstu

[Paul Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. Wilson weaves fact and fiction so skillfully. I found myself reaching for Google so many times to see if “that really happened “ and it did, every time. An engrossing read.