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The Inquiry
Knowledge of these files is classified.
You must not use police or intelligence services to carry out your investigation. Those channels are compromised.
A final warning: you must move fast.
Former MP Francis Morahan swore never to return to politics. But when he’s asked to chair a government inquiry into the intelligence agencies’ record against terror, it’s clear that it’s an order from the top not a request.
Sara Shah once teetered on the edge of a dangerous circle. Now a lawyer in a prestigious London firm, she’s put her past behind her. Until a letter delivered by hand summons her to join the Morahan Inquiry.
Duty-bound, Sara accepts. Armed only with a list of names, dodging her one-time connection to the networks she infiltrates, she finds herself led by an anonymous source into the darkest corners of post-9/11 Britain.
What, or who, was the weapon at the heart of British terror?
IT IS A SECRET SOME WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO KEEP HIDDEN.
Westminster’s best-kept secrets are hunted down in this edge-of-your-seat political thriller perfect for fans of Sam Bourne, Frank Gardner and Mick Herron.
You must not use police or intelligence services to carry out your investigation. Those channels are compromised.
A final warning: you must move fast.
Former MP Francis Morahan swore never to return to politics. But when he’s asked to chair a government inquiry into the intelligence agencies’ record against terror, it’s clear that it’s an order from the top not a request.
Sara Shah once teetered on the edge of a dangerous circle. Now a lawyer in a prestigious London firm, she’s put her past behind her. Until a letter delivered by hand summons her to join the Morahan Inquiry.
Duty-bound, Sara accepts. Armed only with a list of names, dodging her one-time connection to the networks she infiltrates, she finds herself led by an anonymous source into the darkest corners of post-9/11 Britain.
What, or who, was the weapon at the heart of British terror?
IT IS A SECRET SOME WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO KEEP HIDDEN.
Westminster’s best-kept secrets are hunted down in this edge-of-your-seat political thriller perfect for fans of Sam Bourne, Frank Gardner and Mick Herron.
400 pages, Hardcover
Published March 21, 2019
3 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 16, 2019
I don’t know too much about Will Caine other than that he has worked as an investigative journalist and film maker. He has used this background to good effect in writing The Inquiry, his first published novel.
Using well known terrorist events he has woven together a complex yet plausible storyline of jihadist threats and the UK’s counter terrorist activities. On the face of it, the intelligence agencies had been extremely successful for a number of years until a series of attacks in recent years. The Morahan Inquiry’s brief was to find out why.
In my opinion Caine has created a great lead character in Sara Shah. Young, professional and a devout Muslim she is very different the stereo-typical protagonists one finds in so many UK
espionage thrillers. I will not go into detail but as expected her activities take her well beyond the skill set desired of a lead counsel in a government inquiry. She is supported at times by Patrick, a fellow lawyer well equipped to provide some useful muscle when required. He contrasts and complements Sara by being what the author describes as “… tall and thin. And black. Unequivocally black.” Like most of the other inquiry team members he appears to have his own motivations and secrets.
Considering how dry government inquiries generally are Will Caine has found a lot of lively action within his plot which rattles along at a pace. This is all helped by a simple to read writing style and fairly short chapters.
The Inquiry covers a number of concerns that most Western residents have about terrorist actions by jihadists groups and Caine provides detail which has helped me to understand what lies behind this activity.
The book left me with two questions: should Sara be getting so involved and are all the twists and turns totally credible? The answers to both questions are probably not but it all makes for a good story which certainly keeps the pages turning. Will we hear more about Sara Shah? I hope so. I have awarded The Inquiry four stars.
Using well known terrorist events he has woven together a complex yet plausible storyline of jihadist threats and the UK’s counter terrorist activities. On the face of it, the intelligence agencies had been extremely successful for a number of years until a series of attacks in recent years. The Morahan Inquiry’s brief was to find out why.
In my opinion Caine has created a great lead character in Sara Shah. Young, professional and a devout Muslim she is very different the stereo-typical protagonists one finds in so many UK
espionage thrillers. I will not go into detail but as expected her activities take her well beyond the skill set desired of a lead counsel in a government inquiry. She is supported at times by Patrick, a fellow lawyer well equipped to provide some useful muscle when required. He contrasts and complements Sara by being what the author describes as “… tall and thin. And black. Unequivocally black.” Like most of the other inquiry team members he appears to have his own motivations and secrets.
Considering how dry government inquiries generally are Will Caine has found a lot of lively action within his plot which rattles along at a pace. This is all helped by a simple to read writing style and fairly short chapters.
The Inquiry covers a number of concerns that most Western residents have about terrorist actions by jihadists groups and Caine provides detail which has helped me to understand what lies behind this activity.
The book left me with two questions: should Sara be getting so involved and are all the twists and turns totally credible? The answers to both questions are probably not but it all makes for a good story which certainly keeps the pages turning. Will we hear more about Sara Shah? I hope so. I have awarded The Inquiry four stars.
March 22, 2019
How does 9/11 affect your average idealistic millennial? Why should we be selective with our entourage and what's the best bet when trusting our gut? A story of insight, suspicion and suspense, at the hands of...whoever happens to be behind the wheel, by their own will (or not).
February 11, 2019
An excellent first book by a writer who knows his stuff.
This is a detailed if slightly complex and convoluted thriller about a government inquiry into my young Moslems become terrorists and fight for ISIS.
Sara Shsh is a young Moslem lawyer fast tracked for success and she is recruited as counsel for the inquiry.
But nobody and nothing is quite what it seems. Who is working for whom?
Has the inquiry been compromised and who is the deep throat feeding it information?
I won’t write any spoilers but this is a tense and exciting thriller with a massive twist at the end.
Highly recommended.
This is a detailed if slightly complex and convoluted thriller about a government inquiry into my young Moslems become terrorists and fight for ISIS.
Sara Shsh is a young Moslem lawyer fast tracked for success and she is recruited as counsel for the inquiry.
But nobody and nothing is quite what it seems. Who is working for whom?
Has the inquiry been compromised and who is the deep throat feeding it information?
I won’t write any spoilers but this is a tense and exciting thriller with a massive twist at the end.
Highly recommended.
January 14, 2020
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
'The Inquiry', by Will Caine is one of those novels that requires a little patience... but persevere my dear readers, because if you do the pay-off is immense. If you love a twisty, multi-layered, intelligently written thriller that captures the zeitgeist of the post-9/11 worldview, then this is the book for you. Though a topic that has seemingly infinite possibilities for the talented author, few writers have done this grossly, complex subject credit. Will Cain does. Without resorting either to a latent Islamophobia, or, as perplexing, a disavowal of the true threat of Islamic fundamentalism, Caine's narrative, like Goldilocks' porridge, strikes the right note. Make no mistake, however, this is not the narrative equivalent of some dry minutes from a COBRA meeting, no. 'The Inquiry' is a thought-provoking, at times, nightmarish read that combines the adrenaline-rush of a Ludlum or Fleming, with the spymaster's ingenuity of a le Carre or Cumming. A literal page-turner - fantastic.
'The Inquiry', by Will Caine is one of those novels that requires a little patience... but persevere my dear readers, because if you do the pay-off is immense. If you love a twisty, multi-layered, intelligently written thriller that captures the zeitgeist of the post-9/11 worldview, then this is the book for you. Though a topic that has seemingly infinite possibilities for the talented author, few writers have done this grossly, complex subject credit. Will Cain does. Without resorting either to a latent Islamophobia, or, as perplexing, a disavowal of the true threat of Islamic fundamentalism, Caine's narrative, like Goldilocks' porridge, strikes the right note. Make no mistake, however, this is not the narrative equivalent of some dry minutes from a COBRA meeting, no. 'The Inquiry' is a thought-provoking, at times, nightmarish read that combines the adrenaline-rush of a Ludlum or Fleming, with the spymaster's ingenuity of a le Carre or Cumming. A literal page-turner - fantastic.
May 7, 2022
The book showed a lot of promise in its first few pages. Edge of the seat suspense based in London, the 7 July 2005 bombings and the preceding and subsequent Muslim terror.
Sara Shah is a lawyer, Muslim with a hijaab who is chosen to be part of an inquiry headed by judge Morahan to look into the MI5's record against terror, mainly Muslim British population.
The book just goes on and on with conspiracy, plot scenarios, bodies, spy vs spy.
Even a diehard reader like me found it difficult to complete the book.
Avoidable.
Sara Shah is a lawyer, Muslim with a hijaab who is chosen to be part of an inquiry headed by judge Morahan to look into the MI5's record against terror, mainly Muslim British population.
The book just goes on and on with conspiracy, plot scenarios, bodies, spy vs spy.
Even a diehard reader like me found it difficult to complete the book.
Avoidable.
May 17, 2019
Rather overly complicated but the main character just annoyed me so much - she was so naive for a clever woman. And so many loose ends ...
January 27, 2022
Rounded up from 3.5 stars.
September 12, 2024
It seems so fitting to have finished a novel partially about 9/11 on 9/11.
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this novel. It took too long to get started, and it didn't hold my attention.
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this novel. It took too long to get started, and it didn't hold my attention.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews