Collateral Damage

by Steve Howell

It’s 1987. Ayesha has made a life for herself in London after being traumatised by events in Beirut a few years earlier. She’s a postgraduate at LSE and lives with fellow peace activist and journalist Tom.

But her world is ripped apart when he’s found dead while attending a conference in Tripoli. The Libyan authorities and the Foreign Office decide it was an accident, but Ayesha isn’t convinced. Aided by her friends, she embarks on a search for the truth that reveals a shocking abuse of power and puts her own life at risk.

Collateral Damage is a story where friendship meets deception and power faces resistance.

Genres: Fiction

Kindle Edition

Published April 12, 2021

About the author

Steve Howell was born in Wallasey, brought up in London and now lives in Wales.
A graduate of Sheffield University, he worked as a campaigner, journalist and media consultant before focusing on writing.
His first novel, Over The Line, was published by Quaero in 2015 and republished by Accent Press in 2018.
In 2018, Accent Press also published Game Changer: Eight Weeks That Transformed British Politics, which tells the story of Labour’s 2017 election campaign from his perspective as a senior adviser to Jeremy Corbyn.
Collateral Damage, which was published in 2021, is his second novel. A political thriller, it draws from his experience of visiting Libya in 1987 and his discovery that his US-born father had been under FBI surveillance for 30 years for his political activities, without ever being charged of any offence.
Steve is a US-UK dual national. He has family, including five grandchildren, in both countries and lives in mid-Wales with his wife, Kim.

Reviews

[Bruce Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this fast moving thriller. Once started I could not put it down. The storyline is strong and the characters extremely credible. During lockdown I have read a number of novels by highly successful British authors, but Steve Howell’s narrative compares very favourably. Add it to your Summer reading list and prepare yourself for a treat.

[Andy Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been meaning to read this book for a while after ordering it soon after publication. Once I started it, I read it in less that two days. It’s a well-written and pacy political thriller that pieces together a number of strands that will be familiar to many politically aware people - state deception and subterfuge, the conflict in the Middle East and spy cops to name but a few. Written by Steve Howell, who is better known for his factual political writing, communications consultancy and authoring the definitive book on Labour’s 2017 general election campaign, Collateral Damage is a very readable novel that packs a punch while weaving together the personal and political. The book centres on the story of Ayesha, a half Palestinian and half Lebanese LSE postgraduate and peace activist and her journalist boyfriend Tom, who has been found dead on a Tripoli beach while attending a conference. Despite the authorities in Libya and the UK deciding that Tom’s death was a tragic accident, Ayesha is having none of it and helped by her friends she is determined to uncover the truth. Saying any more would give away the plot but suffice to say, Howell’s book is well worth reading and I think it would make an excellent TV drama too. Hopefully a production company will show an interest. It’s a five-star review from me.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about Palestinian woman trying to get the real story behind her lover's sudden death in Libya with help from people outside of the system.

Just finished the book, really enjoyed it. I liked Jed as a character - him and O'Brien could be a really good double act for a series!! That would be really interesting!

It dealt with some really difficult political issues in an incredibly accessible manner, making you think how political decisions impact now and in the future on our lives. I am going to recommend it as my book for my book club when it is my turn!

Very topical at the moment so if you want a book with real characters, with plot and strong political issues dealt with lightly but significantly I recommend this book.

[Alison Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this. Couldn’t put it down. From page one, I was drawn in and had to keep reading to uncover the story. Just why was Jed at his first funeral? The characters are so believable. Although a work of fiction, set back in the 1980’s, there are elements of real events which I recognised. Although the book goes back in time and then forwards, it flows easily and doesn’t fall into that irritating trap of confusing the reader as to the time line. There are so many elements of the book which resonate with events today. Great read .

[Art Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshingly good read. It's refreshing to read a well written book with a fast moving yet realistic plot and believable characters, rather than the usual caricaturised misogynistic, gun toting 'heroes'. The story comes from a realistic political slant shining a light on an establishment cover up. It's one of those books that's hard to put down when you know one should be switching off the light and getting some sleep! Thoroughly recommended.

[Pat Nalder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was quickly drawn in to this intriguing and fast paced thriller, set in the 1980s. The story moves between Britain and Libya as Ayesha and her new friend, Ged, try to find the truth about the death of Ayesha's partner, Tom. Set against the backdrop of the real historical events of the 1986 U.S. air strikes on Libya, the book explores the issues of regime change, democracy and state intervention through its story and its characters.
A great read!

[Jane Heybroek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Great story-line, fast-paced and riveting. Stayed up far too late to finish it because I was desperate to know how it all played out. The characters are very well-developed, and very believable. I remember the politics of that era well, and so much of it chimed with my own memories. Would thoroughly recommend.

[David Nalder]

Set in the 1980's, the book fully encapsulates the politics of the time. In an era when Thatcherism and Reganomics dominated, certain regimes could not and would not be tolerated. Regime change in Libya caused instability which the book portrays perfectly.
It is an excellent read. Fully recommended.

[Darran Scully · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Reading Steve Howell's excellent book "Game Changer" about Jeremy Corbyn's Labour 2017 Election Campaign, I thought I'd give this a go. I wasn't disappointed.

Obviously calling on personal experiences Steve takes us on a trip through 1980's London, via Tripoli.
We can see the human costs of events in the Middle East and that of secret Government agencies. The action builds and I couldn't put it down, with much of what he writes about in the news now.

A definite page turner and I thoroughly recommend it.

[Kathy Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exposing the more sinister workings of ethically bankrupt state power, this is also a story of individuals who are determined to seek out and expose the truth. But do they succeed? Read this fascinating and page turning thriller to find out.

[Rebecca Shtasel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a proper page-turner. I haven't read one for ages and I remembered how much fun it is, not being able to put a book down! I enjoyed too that it was set in London in the 80s and the fact that the protagonists were lefties. My sort of book :)

[Tariq Al-Saadoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It really is so refreshing to read a book of fiction which has Arab characters that are portrayed as human beings, rather than the stereotypes, you usually get in the mainstream media. The story is gripping too, and I highly recommend it!

[Marianne Hitchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A savvy political thriller with a touch of American noir. Well worth reading.

[Jackie Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a real page turner. I loved the characters. If you are looking for an intelligent thriller, without the all too ofter sexism or racism, then this is for you. Highly recommend. Would be a great choice for a bookclub as there is lots to unpick.

[Dr Donna Peach · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was much more than I expected from the cover. It's a great story with a variety of good characters whose personal lives are interwoven with the impact of political decisions across time and place. The interrogation of both the fragility and strength of humanity is cleverly done. The pace of the story makes it a real page turner; I completed it in three sittings, over two days.

[Gill Knowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly good read from start to finish, intriguing as the story unfolds and the characters develop and interact. Loved and sympathised with Jed and Ayesha from the start, drawn into a world of deception and secret power. Couldn't put it down once I started to read. Now passed it on to husband; not his usual choice but he's hooked too and really enjoying it. Read this book, it won't disappoint

[CHRIS KEEPER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished today.Definitely a page turner.Had me rooting for the characters at the end and on topic in terms of political climate.Gives a truer perspective of Palestinian/Lebanese characters than the mainstream narrative

[Tommy Zulu · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Good I Read It Twice!
This is an excellent read. A thrilling tale which cleverly unravels. There are several threads, all coherently inter-twined.
Very believable. Set in 1987, the book deals with crime, politics, race and... no, I mustn't spoil it for you. Just get a copy and read it.Steve Howell

[Liz Chamberlain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. The plotting is brisk and deft and the characters are authentic and generally likeable. I felt that Steve Howell had an insightful understanding of the themes and motives within the narrative and it was interesting to read about the events of the times from a non-European viewpoint.

[Clive Haswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collateral Damage has more than a ring of truth to it. It is a sympathetically told story of young politically aware people making their way in a world where powerful secret state organisations conspire to hide the truth and commit crimes on behalf of the rich and privileged. Set in the 80s but resonating with today's realities, where the London - Middle East axis is as toxic as ever.

[Keith Jahans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a political thriller set mostly in London and partly in Libya just after the aerial bombing of President Gaddafi's residence by the USA. A young journalist dies mysteriously while attending a conference in Tripoli. A junior solicitor is persuaded by the dead man's girlfriend and his own ex-girlfriend to fly to Libya to find out exactly what had happened so she can gain closure. The solicitor's ex-girlfriend's current boyfriend, who was at the conference with the deceased, is unable to travel with them because of a family illness so the solicitor and the decease's girlfriend travel to Libya together.

They arrive in Libya where they are met by the deceased's father and a Foreign Office official whose attitude towards them is decidedly frosty bordering on hostile. They return to England with the cause of death unresolved and subsequently discover that the circumstances surrounding the death are not what they were at first led to believe.

It is an intriguing story which keeps the reader turning the pages as further disturbing revelations come to light and I thoroughly recommend this book to all those who enjoy tales of political deception.

[David Osland · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happened in Libya in the 1980s didn't stay in Libya. The PC Yvonne Fletcher shooting, airstrikes on the country from US planes based in Britain and ultimately the Lockerbie tragedy all saw developments there find their echo in developments here.

The denouement we see before us today; another failed state, which appears at the time of writing to be heading for failure once more after a brief interlude of peace.

Steve Howell's second novel Collateral Damage perfectly evokes a time and a place, when we were young and fighting Thatcherism, and finding our way round the complexities of Middle East politics.

As someone who lived in London, in which much of it is set, and who visited Tripoli, where most of the rest of the action takes place, I easily identified with both the locations and the key characters, activists from the 1980s student left milieu of which I was part.

But don't worry if you weren't there, or weren't even born at the time. This murder mystery it's still worth a read for the excitement of the plot alone. Recommended.

[Paul Oxley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a supporter of the Corbyn project I had read Game Changer and found it an excellent behind the scenes look at the 2017 General Ellection campaign..This book by the same author is in contrast a fictional political thriller but is equally enjoyable..The story starts at a funeral but the pace of the action is anything but funerial as it moves effortlessly between Libya and the UK as likeable young English legal eagle Jed juggles family and relationship issues with searching for the truth and utimately trying to get justice for the exotic superfit beauty whose lovers mysterious death was the funeral that began the book and who captivates Jed ..Is she captivating enough for him to throw off his usual caution and get in over his head to try and help her?.Read it and find out for yourself..Highly recommended

[Avesta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent storyline, and I certainly enjoyed the read. But - the way it was written made it more of a sloppy mess than a thriller - the constant grammatical errors, jumping to pages of speech without stating who said what... makes it quite hard to read. You could probably guess the ending correctly as well... which defeats the purpose of 'thrillers'.

And also - if you're not a Londoner... you will probably have quite a hard time getting through the book (but I guess that's dependent on how sure you want to be when attempting to understand the text).

I can see why the book club I'm in chose this as the book for this month though, it does have some great parts that made me want to continue reading... but I don't think I'd read it again. I look forward to reading Howell's other books though :)

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Palestinian woman's struggle to discover how her lover died in Tripoli. It's 1987. Ayesha lives in London having left Beirut traumatised by events in 1982. When Tom's found dead, the Libyan police say it was an accident and the Foreign Office agrees. But Ayesha won't be deterred - and she soon finds herself in a battle with the British state.

Just read this book again and it seems even stronger, more pertinent and relevant on second reading. Strong characters who definitely could have a series.

[Peter Bone · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good read, particularly if you are interested in poitical thrillers with a leftish edge! Set in 1987, a year after the US bombing of Libya, it centres on the unexplained death of a peace activist, found apparently drowned on a beach after a conference in Tripoli. A young lawyer is persuaded to help find some answers which the authorities seem very reluctant to provide, and soon finds himself dealing with forces prepared to act beyond the law in order to protect the status quo......

It's well-written, very evocative of the late 1980's but still relevant. A proper page-turner.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually like the historical present, but this book sustains it really well. Much more important is the way in which the author concentrates on telling the story - the politics emerge through the narrative, no propagandising. By the end we sense the overwhelming entitlement of the ruling class and their operatives, but also the enduring tenacity and quiet courage of those who’ve rumbled them.

[Hamza · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really gripping and absorbing read. The plot moves at a rapid speed but you remain engrossed the entire time. The author expertly combines fiction with a razor sharp and intelligently woven in political theme to shed light on the machinations of the establishment, in a way that provides an astute indication of contemporary society.

[Andy Vines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not one who usually reads historical fiction, I was really impressed with how gripping it was. I enjoyed reading this book and found the characters to be believable, as well as the plot.

Set in the turbulent 80's, it brought back a lot of memories of the time and used those to good effect.

I would recommend this book!

[Pete Challands · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-plotted story, with a gripping narrative flow from the first page. The characters are plausible, and there is strong sense of realism. All of the political issues raised are handled lightly but confidently and there is an authentic feel to the emotions experienced as the plot develops.