The Phoenix Project

The 1960's saw great changes in the West, and in Britain the ravages of the war were finally being put aside as everyone began to enjoy better lifestyles. But the social changes that the freedom offered, gave rise to protest and civil disobedience, especially within the student movement. By 1968, the government has become concerned that communism may be to blame, fearing that the violent demonstrations in Europe may come to Britain, and so calls on Polly Bottomley for advice. Mrs Bottomley, a retired MP, has unrivaled experience of Soviet conspiracies, having been involved on two occasions with their attempts both in Britain and Europe, to destabilize and overthrow democratically elected governments. Previously, their aim was to infiltrate government departments and so influence policy making. However on this occasion, her investigations uncover a different kind of conspiracy which will set her on a dangerous path, uncovering a plot to overthrow the government, but nothing at all to do with the Soviets or communism. Her life will be put in jeopardy as she uncovers something sinister and far reaching for the government. There is indeed a conspiracy, this time by a group of right wing politicians and businessmen, to overthrow the liberal minded socialist government, and set up a draconian alternative with a return to their old ways of discipline and order. The conspirators hope to use the events of Europe to convince the electorate that the government needs to be replaced because of it inactivity against what they say is alleged Soviet interference. But Mrs Bottomley can find no link between events in Europe or any Soviet interference in the student unrest in Britain. What she does discover is something far more sinister and a threat to our democratic way of life, something we had spent five years of war protecting. It is an attempt to overthrow the government, by creating artificial unrest and confusion. However, her investigations are complicated by an emotional and romantic attachment, which will become a distraction over which she has no control and will change her life forever. She becomes embroiled with someone who will surely cause her whole life to implode and wreck both her career and her marriage. She can do nothing to stop herself becoming involved with this elderly man who shows her a life she has never experienced and which she grasps and enjoys despite the obvious disastrous consequences that will surely occur. The conspirators threaten and bully her and her family with intimidation, abductions and attempts on her life. And she is brutally sexually assaulted by one of them who wants her for himself no matter the consequences. Ironically the man who becomes her passionate lover is befriended by her family and this only complicated matters further as Polly begins to have strong feelings for him. The Phoenix Project paints a vivid picture of how political ambition can be exploited for personal reasons and can spiral out of control. How the promise of absolute power can corrupt and destroy everything around it. The story goes on to show vividly and in detail how emotions can overtake logic and common sense and lead down a path of self destruction. How a respected member of society throws all caution to the wind and becomes embroiled in an intense sexual relationship with someone older than her Father but who she finds she cannot live without. Unfortunately, we cannot always have what we want. Fast paced gritty action and strong adult content make the authentic story line an exciting read. Could this really happen and how would the nation react to a conspiracy to overthrow our elected government? Could our democracy really survive if liberal attitudes became too much for many people who saw them as inappropriate and improper. And would this be enough to cause those in positions of authority to seize the opportunity to grab power before it was too late?