scooby: clue (from rhyme with Scooby-Doo)
schtum: silent (German or Yiddish)
shandy: ale or lager mixed with a soft drink
shitbag: jerk (derogatory)
so’s: so as
spiel: unconvincing or formulaic speech
squaddie: an army private
Strabane: town in Northern Ireland (rhymes with 'van')
surveil: to perform surveillance on (verb)
suss out: figure out
telly: TV
tenner: a ten pound note (currency)
tod: own (as in on her tod)
twat: jerk (derogatory)
Volks: Volkswagen
wanna: want to
yer: you or your
Characters and Notes
(contains spoilers if you haven’t read the other books)
The UK's Surveillance Support Unit loans out specialist and support teams to other government departments, including law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Those other departments refer to SSU staff as 'floaters' — it's not a term of endearment.
The Shadow State is a pan-European organisation that operates outside of the legal and political process. The alliance of corporations, politicians, the military and business leaders functions as a clandestine United States of Europe. It is also known as 'the cartel' and trades in various commodities, including: technology, information, weapons, and drugs.
Main Characters
Thomas Bladen is a Yorkshire-born photographer, who brought runaway Miranda back to her family in London when they met in their teens. He has been with the SSU for nearly three years. None of the people closest to him bear the Bladen name.
While always at peace on his native and elemental Yorkshire moors, Thomas's home is now London, where the East End and the north-east of the capital are inextricably linked with Miranda.
His London is a city of contrasts and cultures. As a photographer he sees the hidden beauty in the ancient streets of a modern, thriving city; as a surveillance officer he sees everything other people don't want him to.
Karl McNeill left Northern Ireland in his teens and joined the SSU after leaving the British army in circumstances he has never revealed. He is part of the intelligence war against the Shadow State. His closest SSU ally is Thomas, but he is not above using him if the ends justify the means.
Miranda Wright is Thomas's lover and his Achilles heel. She owns Caliban's, a bar in London's East End. She also has secrets to hide, even from Thomas. She has two brothers.
Sir Peter Carroll is the Director General of the SSU. He is also beholden to Karl's people, following his exposure as a member the Shadow State.
Jack Langton is a drug dealer and crook with aspirations, looking to expand his business across continental Europe.
Stephen Heick is a US government representative in European affairs, with a special interest in Thomas Bladen and Karl McNeill.
Arlo Moretti is an import/exporter who makes his own rules.
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Author’s Note
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
THE THOMAS BLADEN SERIES
Glossary of British Slang Terms
Characters and Notes