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A Dying Breed

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

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A Dying Breed

By: Peter Hanington
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
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About this listen

 A SUNDAY TIMES THRILLER OF THE MONTH

'HANINGTON EXCELS... THERE ARE NODS TO LE CARRE' BUT HIS IMPRESSIVE DEBUT IS HIS OWN THING' The Sunday Times
'THOUGHTFUL, ATMOSPHERIC AND GRIPPINGLY PLOTTED' Guardian
'IMPRESSIVE... 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 Carré, 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.

And William Carver returns in Peter Hanington's new novel, A Single Source - available to pre-order now!

(P) 2016 John Murray Press©2016 Peter Hanington Espionage Political Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense Exciting

Critic reviews

Thoughtful, atmospheric and grippingly plotted
A former stalwart on the Today programme, Hanington is as good on BBC politics as he is on the UK's ambiguous role east of Suez, and excels, too, at character portraits of figures such as the British ambassador. There are nods to John le Carré, but his impressive debut is its own thing, with three radio men (including the Radio 4 breakfast show's dissolute editor) at its centre, not spooks or civil servants
It is a pleasure to welcome A Dying Breed, an impressive debut by Peter Hanington, with many years on Radio 4's Today programme behind him. The multilayered plot, set in Afghanistan and BBC headquarters, moves excitingly and entertainingly but also raises serious current issues about dodgy political and commercial interference with the search for truth by journalists...The subplots and secondary characters are admirable. Hanington has true talent
Graham Greene-lite but rings true, like an episode of Homeland spiked with a bit of Spooks
A powerful and compelling story. His characters are vivid and interestingly unpredictable... These are real people in real places and it is impossible not to become too deeply involved in a plot that is intriguing without becoming over-complicated, and which builds to a gripping climax
A tremendous novel - shot-through with great authenticity and insider knowledge - wholly compelling and shrewdly wise
A Dying Breed is an enthralling page-turner, and, as befits an author steeped in newsgathering, there's a real sense of authority and authenticity at work in this quality thriller.
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
'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 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
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
Peter is that rare commodity in the journalistic fraternity... a natural storyteller. You really want to turn the pages. And that's what matters
Urgent, compelling, new bright light on the dark dilemmas of broadcast news
a deeply intelligent, beautifully constructed story
All stars
Most relevant
Suspense, Sensitivity - gulped it down in one sitting. Sort of confirms how the real world of political journalism works.

GREAT - s squared within a web of reality

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Thought the book ended rather abruptly would have liked more into the aftermath. Well worth a listen though

Great but cut short

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Found this book very enjoyable. The characters are believable and the situation surrounding the subject well described. Jonathan Keble reads it well and helps the story come alive. In style it reminded me in some ways of John Le Carre, especially the "Honourable Schoolboy"

Really enjoyed this book

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Not my normal choice of reading material but have to say that this was really good - varied, exciting, and nail biting chapters, historical
facts and an insight into the world today and the dangers of reporting events -

A dying breed

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I spent a very pleasant few hours listening to this book. Very reminiscent of le Care but an easier read / listen. The characters are fully formed and engaging, with strengths and weaknesses, behaving well and badly. The story concluded leaving questions unanswered and loose ends, which initially I thought was unsatisfactory, but actually it supports the premise that it's the process which matters almost more than the outcome. Well worth a listen.

An excellent story, excellently read.

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