Books: ‘Precipice’ by Robert Harris

I recently finished reading Precipice by Robert Harris.

I have read several of Harris’ novels, including The Fear Index, Second Sleep, An Officer and a Spy, and Conclave, which was recently made into an Oscar-nominated movie.

Like An Officer and a Spy, which was about the Dreyfus Affair, Precipice is a work of fiction based on actual historical events.

It is the summer of 1914 and Europe is on the verge of war. British Prime Minister H. H. Asquith has developed a very close relationship with 26-year-old socialite Venetia Stanley. As political tensions escalate into military strategies — and, ultimately, into World War I — Asquith increasingly leans on Venetia as the one person he can confide in.

But is the lovestruck Prime Minister sharing too much, putting national security at risk? Scotland Yard detective Paul Deemer has been assigned to investigate leaks of highly confidential government and military information. And, of course, the trail leads to the Prime Minister and the young woman he has fallen in love with.

Goodreads gives Precipice a 3.99 average rating, and I would agree with that. I enjoyed it, as I have the other Harris novels I have read.