Book review: Playing Dirty: Operation Trouser Snake by AR Williams.

Synopsis

Honey Pursamon has a brief - and the file of names is huge!

Set the honey trap! Lure the opposition into bed, get lurid photos and destroy them, one by one!

The Slash and Byrne Progressive Party want to take over the House of Commons, starting with a sleazy sex scandal code-named Operation Trouser Snake. One of the members also takes matters into his own hands; using his initiative, he sets the ball rolling for a terrorist attack - using deadly gas. Who will survive?

Using Ambronootrop to make their members more intelligent and to move along the evolution of the human race, S&B will stoop to new depths.

Michael Ventiquatro is the charismatic leader of the S & B Progressive Party and has ambitions to win a massive majority in the UK Parliament and gain total power.

As Ventiquatro is wealthy and funded by his multinational company, Slash & Byrne Enterprises, money is no object.

The power-hungry Ventiquatro is distributing Ambronootrop, a Superdrug banned in the USA, because of the side effects it caused. Undeterred, Ventiquatro convinces his followers they will reach Fulfilment  if they take Ambronootrop and tow the S & B Progressive Party line.

Fulfilment is when a Party follower is converted into a Superior (as opposed Homo Sapiens).

With S & B thugs intimidating the UK population, very few people are prepared to stick their heads above the parapet. Even the media and the police avoid confrontation with the S & B Progressive Party.

Ventiquatro instructs his second-in-command and loyal follower, Arthur Epistrone, to mastermind a series of underhand attacks on democracy. The objective is to ensure that the S & B Progressive Party Party triumphs at the next general election.

After organising a successful nerve gas attack on Parliament, many MPs die. Epistrone also engages Honey Pursamon. Her task is to “Honey Trap” surviving members of Parliament and discredit them. This is called Operation Trouser Snake.

John St.Saviour, the MP for Upper Penstock, is one of the first MPs to fall into Honey Pursamon’s trap. Photographed naked and engaged in sex with Honey Pursamon whilst under the influence of drugs, St.Saviour faces a dilemma.

As the UK population dislikes MPs and always believes in the worst-case scenarios,  does St.Saviour fight Ventiquatro’s machinations and risk his marriage and political career?

Or, do John St.Saviour and the other “trouser snakes” do as Michael Ventiquatro bids and nod through extremist measures in Parliament?

During Epistrone’s campaign of blackmail, the situation is reversed when Martin Moxstroma, Epistrone’s main rival, discovers a secret file implicating Epistrone with the gas attack on Parliament. The file was compiled by Alan Kerr and Keith Marrings, who suffered terrible deformities during the early Fulfilment trials.

Martin Moxstroma is assassinated, and everyone believes Epistrone ordered his death. At first, Epistrone adamantly denies being involved in the killing but then begins to enjoy the fear he instils in those around him and orders more criminal activity to cover his tracks.

Only Cranmore Huxley and Morgan Fletchley are trying to thwart  Michael Ventiquatro’s ambitions.

Who will win this unequal battle?

Important Links

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 Excerpt 1

The attack he’d orchestrated had only been intended to kill a few people. From what Maurine had just told him, it looked as if the terrorists, given the opportunity, had launched a full-scale attack. “Are you sure there were so many?” Maurine gave him a sharp look, “It was on the television, so it must be true.” As Epistrone disliked the media intensely, he would generally have challenged the statement. In his opinion, most media channels were highly biased and too left-wing. But, for once, he avoided jumping onto his favourite hobby horse. Instead, Epistrone continued to distance himself from the event by saying, “When did this attack take place?” “I’m not sure. A few hours ago,” Maurine replied, waving her arms around, “The reports have been non-stop ever since. All the normal programs aren’t being shown. Surely you must have heard about it before now. “I’ve been driving,” Epistrone said defensively. “Because of roadworks and traffic jams, I’ve been driving for nearly seven hours. I haven’t had the radio on. I’ve been listening to an audiobook most of the way. I rarely listen to the news while driving; it annoys me.” Although the comment was a partial truth, it wasn’t accurate. Epistrone hadn’t been driving for seven hours. Not only had he stopped at the White Hart, but he’d also deliberately stopped at two service stations on the way. As the service stations had facial recognition systems, what better way to continue building his alibi?

 

Excerpt 2

The S & B headquarters building had been nicknamed The Palace by its staff because it was so large and ornate, Epistrone mentally swore, “Raiding The Palace?” “Yep,” Ondomany said, “They turned up with search warrants a few hours back. I’m warning everyone.” A flash of cowardice ran through Epistrone’s system, and he toyed with the idea of going absent, but he changed his mind. Running away would be interpreted as a sign of guilt; Epistrone decided fronting it out would be the best option. Once he’d left the M1, he headed towards The Palace. Five miles from his destination, a message flashed on his dash, warning him not to use the main entrance. Shortly afterwards, he saw police cars and vans with flashing lights and realised that Ondomany wasn’t exaggerating. His fears increased when he noted one or two heavily armed police lurking around, Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifles on display.

Review

Creating a superior master race was harder than they thought…

When I saw the name of the book, I was immediately intrigued and apprehensive at the same time. Never less, I was hooked.

In the familiar writing style of the author, I was introduced to the most interesting characters. With names that already promised to put a smile on the lips.

“Hearing the outburst, Mike Ondomany glanced over. “Everything okay, sir?” “Mark my words, Mike,” Epistrone snapped, “One of these days, I’m going to have Martin Moxstroma neutered.” Epistrone immediately regretted the outburst because he realised that several other staff members had entered the temporary reception area while he’d been using the red phone. But instead of retracting his outburst, Epistrone glanced at Mike Ondomany and said, “I need to authorise some payments.”

The typical dry English humor we all love to hate… smile… simmers through as I continued with the unfolding plotline. The writing style is easy to follow, and all t’s crossed and I’s dotted, to make this an enjoyable read.

Two different plots with codenames Trouser Snake and Fulfilment ran alongside each other in this mysterious political drama where one opponent tries to out manoeuvre the other. Money is clearly not a problem as politicians begin to topple to make way for the new race. Their heightened senses superior to their counterparts.

The sweet trap of honey another dose of suspenseful indulgence caused for a few chuckles while you shake your head in astonishment of the entrapped.

“Realising that Ventiquatro was beginning to calm down, Epistrone smiled and said, “Trouser Snake was your choice, Michael. Very apt.”

“So, how did Trouser Snake go?”

“Honey Pursamon is all signed up,” Epistrone said, passing a copy of the contract to Ventiquatro. “We have agreed that Trouser Snake will be a slow burner, but I’m hoping we will have a lot of people on the hook before the next General Election.”

“Excellent,” Ventiquatro replied, “Anything else I should know about?””

A well thought out plot that entertains, with witty comebacks and disastrous results.