A Dying Breed: A gripping political thriller split between war-torn Kabul and the shadowy chambers of Whitehall

(Paperback)

---

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

'HANINGTON EXCELS... AN IMPRESSIVE DEBUT' The Sunday Times

'THOUGHTFUL, ATMOSPHERIC AND GRIPPINGLY PLOTTED' Guardian

'HANINGTON HAS TRUE TALENT' The Times

'TREMENDOUS' William Boyd

'ENTHRALLING' Michael Palin

'AMAZINGLY GRIPPING' Melvyn Bragg

'A BELTING GOOD READ' A.L. Kennedy

'I LOVED EVERY MINUTE IN THIS BOOK'S COMPANY' Fi Glover

'A NATURAL STORYTELLER' John Humphrys

'DEEPLY INTELLIGENT' Will Gompertz

Kabul, Afghanistan.

In a brilliantly plotted contemporary thriller with echoes of Graham Greene and John le Carre, William Carver, a veteran but unpredictable BBC hack, is thrown into the unknown when a bomb goes off killing a local official. Warned off the story from every direction, Carver won't give in until he finds the truth.

Patrick, a young producer, is sent out on his first foreign assignment to control the wayward Carver, but as the story unravels it looks like the real story lies between the shadowy corridors of the BBC, the perilous streets of Kabul and the dark chambers of Whitehall.

Set in a shadowy world of dubious morality and political treachery, A DYING BREED is a gripping novel about journalism in a time of war, about the struggle to tell the stories that need to be told - even if it is much easier not to.

Reviews

A tremendous novel - shot-through with great authenticity and insider knowledge - wholly compelling and shrewdly wise - William Boyd

A tremendously good debut with characters who leap to life. I was particularly struck by the vivid detail and intensity of it: I have not read anything that has taken me anywhere near as close to Afghanistan as a place. I look forward to more of Hanington's work with great expectations - Melvyn Bragg

'A Dying Breed is a deeply insightful, humane, funny and furious novel. This is both a timely reflection on how Britain does business and a belting good read - A.L. Kennedy, bestselling author of DAY

A compelling read, and a great insider's view of life in broadcast journalism. I'm disappointed I am not to feature in the book: it is a brilliant read - Evan Davis, Newsnight presenter

Buy this book. Find a quiet place. Switch off your phone and devour it. Hanington's ability to wrap a story around the ghosts of truth is superb. He spins his tale with a true writer's gift. I loved every minute in this book's company - Fi Glover, BBC Radio 4 presenter

Peter is that rare commodity in the journalistic fraternity... a natural storyteller. You really want to turn the pages. And that's what matters - John Humphrys, Today presenter

Urgent, compelling, new bright light on the dark dilemmas of broadcast news - Gillian Reynolds, Daily Telegraph journalist and broadcaster

a deeply intelligent, beautifully constructed story - Will Gompertz BBC Arts Editor

Author Bio

Peter Hanington has worked for BBC Radio 4's Today Programme for fourteen years and throughout the Iraqi and Afghanistan conflicts. He initiated and ran the special guest editor programmes and has also worked on various special projects including collaborations with the Manchester International Festival and Glastonbury. He lives in London with his wife and two children.