A bird in winter by Louise Doughty

I listened to a podcast of this author speaking at Sydney Writer’s Festival, and was so intrigued I checked that it was on Audible to listen to. Bird is on the run. And while avoiding the places where others may be looking for her, she uses burner phones and leaves cold trails for others to follow. She is always on the lookout. Bird has been transferred to Birmingham to work in an outpost of the Secret Service set up to check others within the organisation, with hints she may be tapped on the shoulder for the top job. Initially I felt disheartened at her introspection, but with hints along the way of a stronger theme, I kept listening.

Bird is running presumably for her life, from the clutches of the Secret Service where she worked. Her father had been a spy, and in her 30’s after being discharged from the army she was tapped on the shoulder and offered this post. But in debt, with her chief of staff complicit in withholding information about this breach of conditions, she runs to a small town in Scotland’s north, when her situation is exposed. This is a place where she has happy memories spending time with her friend Flavia and her daughter. It is a strange relationship, intriguing and almost self combusting. Bird goes there for refuge after escaping Birmingham, but finds since their time it has become a rental. All the while she recalls moments of their friendship, and Bird questions her romantic interest in Flavia.

But spine tingling episodes invade the introspection, as she must plan her route carefully, watching those who might be looking for her, using a burner phone and giving little away at her infrequent stops, sometimes sleeping rough.

I wanted to know what happened so kept on listening, all the while asking myself how I would cope having to step away from my house and its comforts to avoid disclosure.

Bird is the single figure in the plot, the others almost shadows to the central figure, but important to the succession of events. There are some with clout, and many whose loyalty she must question.

I was surprised when the end of the story came somewhat abruptly, and seemed to leave a few threads unresolved, which may lead to a sequel.

Themes: Spying, Thriller, Iceland, Norway, Secret service (London).

Fran Knight