There's no bad time to read a new book from Peter Hanington, the Radio 4 producer turned thriller writer who forced his way into the top tier of British spy novelists with his first William Carver novel in 2016.
But the searing heat of a brutal Spanish summer is the perfect moment for Today journalist Carver to be on the trail of a climate change conspiracy. The brutal oppressive heat of the plain helped to give a pacey tight narrative a sense of urgency and importance.
Carver is tipped off by a source in Downing Street that he should look into Clive Winner, an Australian climate scientist and entrepreneur close to the Prime Minister. Carver, working with a new, young producer, quickly establishes a pattern of young climate scientists disappearing or dying all over the world.
There are three great strengths to Hanington's novels: character, plot and topicality. They are all on display in The Burning Time, which is a thrilling addition to a terrific series.
It's character that I found most interesting here. This fourth novel brings an important change for Carver, a man for whom change doesn't come easily. But with usual producer Patrick unavailable as he convalesces from the events detailed in the previous novel, The Cursed Place, change is forced upon him. His new, young and ambitious producer Naz brings energy and renewal to the series and exposes a different side to Carver. Here he steps into the role of mentor and teacher, reluctantly forced to train Naz on the job, testing her to his own exacting standards and eventually accepting her work ethic and new perspective, as well as acknolwedging her talent.
The plot fizzes around the globe with ease - from London to Cadiz and Sydney and byeond - as Carver and Naz seek to nail down links between seemingly unconnected events. Carver's old-fashioned dogged journalism combined with Naz's energy and facility with technology eventually start to give shape to a story: that there are those out there who would seek to influence the climate debate in favour of the status quo. In favour of the power and financial success of the fossil fuel industry. Shocking, I know...
Once again Hanington has hit important an important theme and with Carver as his agent seeks to expose the dark arts, denialism and danger of the carbon lobby and adds another fine and important thriller to an exceptional series.