The Scarlet Papers: The Times Thriller of the Year 2023

Nothing went in print for a politician unless it was iron-clad.

‘Check the statute book, Professor. The Coroners and Justice Act 2009.’ ‘Refresh my memory.’ ‘Clearly prohibits any monetary gain by the description of a crime. Little thing called an “exploitative proceeds order”. Mainly ex-cons looking to cash in. But it comes in handy for us spooks now and then.’

All of us shapeshifters, eternally mutating.

But it was immaterial now. She would say nice things and mean them, too, and he wasn’t sure he could face that sort of kindness.

According to the papers, he had unwittingly committed the cardinal sin of being pale, male and stale. None of the above seemed likely to change in the immediate future.

The first twenty years of life, he was starting to realize, were all external. Spots, grease, hormones – the bumpy ride to adulthood. The next twenty were all internal, far more difficult to catch.

‘A hot war’s better than a cold one. At least everyone knows the score.’

‘Oh, Dr Archer, people rarely say what they truly mean. It’s one of the first lessons of spycraft.’

the days in captivity seemed to lengthen every time he dreamed of freedom.