The Ghost by Robert Harris

The Ghost by Robert Harris

Guessed which one is the ridiculous one yet? If not, let me put you out of your misery. This is it. Harris’s barely veiled attack on the Blair regime borders on the hysterical at the end. (SPOILER ALERT) Adam Lang is the former prime minster that needs his memoirs written due to the fact his first ghostwriter bitten the dust. The ghostwriter (number two) isn’t given a name so lets just called him Ewan McGregor. There is a lot more surrounding the novel, to do with the Blair regime that perhaps we know but for Cherie Blair to be a CIA operative? Really? I was never a particular fan of the former prime minster or his wife but this implication harks back to the cold war days. Robert Harris seems to be attempting what John le Carre accomplished. Harsh? Perhaps. 

Harris isn’t the only one who took advantage of the political situation. In recent years we have seen the rise of suspicions that (according to Philip Schofield) the British Government are harboring high profile members of society that are actually sex offenders. Anyone remember that car crash moment on This Morning show? It was the only time I have ever sympathised with the current PM. Schofield spent “only three minutes” on the Internet finding names and accusing them of sex offenses. This was at the height of the Jimmy Savile controversy. Ridiculous. I think Schofield took it upon himself to act like an investigative journalist, promptly failing and effectively accusing the PM of a cover up.
Again, I think the success of The Ghost was all down to timing. Tony Blair resigns so lets write a book accusing him of great cover ups, thinly referencing Blair’s ghostwriting for Bush’s speeches and THEN accuse his manipulative wife of being a CIA operative? Sells books but did it actually have any repercussions? Did the secret services on both sides of the Atlantic suddenly go, “damn it! Harris has figured it all out!” I highly doubt it. So, in conclusion, a good (quick) read and slightly ludicrous. Borrow or buy second hand but for heaven’s sake, do not buy new.