Exit Day: Brexit; An Assassin Stalks the Prime Minister

by David Laws

An out-of-favour journalist tracks down a ring of spies bent on sabotaging Britain’s ‘Exit Day’. A senior Minister leaks Cabinet secrets to Brussels. An assassin stalks the Prime Minister. When an old lover turns up on Harry Topp’s doorstep, she brings with her an explosive ‘gift’: a list of deeply buried secret agents in Britain. And top of the list is the Cabinet Minister. Harry is shocked to discover that a friend is also one of the spies and soon finds himself caught up in a covert war between rival sets of spooks. Worse still, he’s up against a conspiracy by a group of fanatics, led by a shadowy figure called the Wolf, intent on corrupting the European Union from within. While determinedly chasing his scoop, what Harry doesn’t realise is that he’s been hatching a cuckoo in the nest... Of all the undercurrents in the Brexit controversy, this is the one scenario readers would never expect.

473 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 26, 2018

Reviews

[Mike Scialom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and fun take on the process of Brexit as a spy thriller with a journalist as a sort of detective unravelling a plot which goes back to the much-feared Stasi secret police in East Germany whose influence spreads into the political system, disruptive and malevolent, to weaken Western democracy.
It's a neat plot and is well thought through, in fact it's so well thought through that it's uncanny. Laws describes the Brexit end-game - where we are today, with a twisted Cabinet, a captive prime minister, an all-consuming focus on the etiquette/symbolism of Brexit Day rather than its substance, the UK's wretched negotiating position unravelling until the road gives way... Did Laws work out the logic of the withdrawal timetable all by himself? If so, why can't the UK's political class? Or have they worked it out, and are just bluffing their way though on the basis that even if the UK public realises they're been deliberately led down a nation-wrecking path by hostile powers with actors including leading Cabinet members, it'll be too late to stop the train careering over the cliff-edge?
I think we should be told. A slick and assured potboiler with an amusing twist or five.

[Elite Group · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alternative Brexit Day

Harry Topp was the freelanced journalist who investigated a network of espionage trolls who wanted to sabotage Brexit. His old lover, Erika, used to be the Stasi spy. One of the Cabinet ministers was also the spy for East Germany in the 80s.

Harry was horrified to learn that Erika was a spook and was searching the conspiracy by a group of the agents called the Wolf. He did not know about Erika's primary task.

Although this is an exciting story, it has some historical mistakes. For example, Anthony Eden resigned in 1963, and Harold MacMillan took over as the Prime Minister. Eden was the PM between 1955 and 1957 before MacMillan replaced him. Alec Douglas-Home succeeded MacMillan in 1963 after the Keeler Scandal. The Tories lost the election in the following year to Harold Wilson's Labour Party.

Tony Blair's government didn't feature in this novel. Blair was the PM for ten years until 2007.

I gave three stars as this book is well written, but David Laws needed to do more research about the facts.

Columbpoirot

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

[John Mccormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and impartially review.
This is a very entertaining read, cleverly written, weaving together a tale of a sinister underground spy ring infiltrating government at the highest levels, and attempting to stop Brexit, culminating in an exciting climax at Chequers, country house retreat of the Prime Minister. This story is a tangled web of deceit and intrigue involving former East German Stasi agents, but they had not taken into account our 'Boys Own Hero' Harry Topp a fearless journalist, and seeker of truth and justice while travelling around the country on his vintage Triumph Bonneville, and piloting an ancient Tiger Moth.
Gripping sinister with an array of well observed characters who bring this story to life.
Recommended.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story got better as it went along. Harry Topp is a journalist who works free lance. Erica who lived with him some time ago shows up on his door step with her son. Erica brings nothing but trouble with Harry having to move out of his place and stay at a friend's to be safe. Erica and her son move in with him. The days are counting down to Brexit and which direction will Britain go with the possible change. Are there other factors involved to influence what the outcome will be in the end. Erica brings with her a list of old spies who might be in the present administration in Britain. How will it all turn out?

[Jamad · Rating 1 out of 5]

Perhaps a bit harsh but it didn’t quite live up to “just okay” which is two stars.

Interesting concept but the writing style was too clunky and signposted to location. Much is set around Bury St Edmunds, a place I know relatively well. The writing didn’t evoke the place for me, it evoked a street map and reading of Tripadvisor. I was also annoyed by three uses of “momentarily” in the first, quite large font, six pages. I hope they change the word if the book is to be issued in the US as the meaning is different.

[Simon Rowberry-Saskia Lijnzaad · Rating 1 out of 5]

Probably the worst book I’ve read in years

If I could give zero stars, I would. A totally incredible plot. Factually inaccurate. Let alone the ludicrous and inaccurate representation of the roles of the security services, and a total misunderstanding of Parliamentary procedures, the author even has Arsenal playing at Highbury in 2019.
Very, very poor, and clearly a self-published vanity project. In fairness, I stuck with it to the end. The author can’t even get the geography of Bury St E right....
Please - for your own sake, don’t give up your day job.

[Marek Mackiewicz · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is perhaps not the worst book that I've ever read, however, it is pretty bad. It purports to be about a plot to stop Brexit, yet a surprisingly substantial part of the action is based in eastern Germany. The idea that a network of Stasi spies would still be active 30 years on AND take extraordinary measures to stop Brexit is preposterous.
The idea that MI-6 would work towards the same end offers a much-needed twist but is equally unbelievable

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.

There are once again old school flavours to this author's thrillers. It will date quicker than those Millennium Bug warning leaflets, but for now it's quite commendable.

Please feel free to see the full review at:-http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/i...

[Richard Pierson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very topical

An interesting and enjoyable book to read rather in the mould of a John Buchan novel. Some very credible caricatures of current politicians who will doubtless go down in history as the scoundrels and wasters feature in this book.

[Mr P T Dapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read quite amusing in some places