Radio Times

Episode 1/6

A British suicide bomber brings down a plane over America, sparking a diplomatic crisis. Meanwhile, surveillance material points to a connection between a British businessman and the bomb; a lawyer is sent to help a former soldier now on Death Row; a secret military exercise has a puzzling and violent outcome; and a young British Muslim couple fall foul of the Governor of Virginia's repressive response to the national emergency.

RT Choice (David Butcher, 2 November 2006)

There's no point starting out with this gripping new serial unless you've got your head screwed on. We're talking densely plotted conspiracy thriller here, a cat's cradle of plotlines. Who knows how [the multiple] story strands will all plait together in the end, but when a thriller is this slickly written and lavishly mounted, who cares? Let's all enjoy the ride.

Episode 2/6

Ambassador Mark Brydon takes a risk to get the Governor of Virginia's policy revoked. FBI agent George Blake enlists MI6 officer Nicholas Brocklehurst's help when the body of a British soldier is found in Virginia. Later, after receiving new information, Brocklehurst rifles through dead businessman Anthony Hanley's London home. Disgraced diplomat James Sinclair pushes Mark to support regime change in Tyrgyztan, and the FBI arrest British mercenaries transporting toxic chemicals.

RT Choice (David Butcher, 9 November 2006)

The taut storylines that the first episode of this conspiracy thriller strung up so cleverly start to droop a bit tonight. It's fair to say that until the last few minutes, the plot doesn't thicken tonight; it mostly thins. But when the drama is so chillingly topical, it's difficult not to get caught up in the intrigue.

Episode 3/6

Mark persuades the US authorities to allow him to invite Tyrgyztan opposition leader Eshan Borisvitch to America for talks. The mother of Death Row inmate Luke Gardner recognises one of the arrested mercenaries as a former colleague of her son's. Meanwhile, private military contractor Charles Macintyre puts the frighteners on James Sinclair, but is unprepared to be threatened himself in a telephone call from Luke.

RT Choice (David Butcher, 16 November 2006)

The darkest, nastiest episode so far. At times you wish the writers had worked in a bit of light and shade, the odd joke, even, but if it's all dauntingly grim, it's certainly gripping, too.

Episode 4/6

Following the death of Luke Gardner, lawyer Jane uncovers information that challenges the credibility of Western administration. The news breaks that Borisvitch is in Washington for talks, causing international political upheaval. When the opposition leader sneaks out of the British embassy to meet his brother-in-law and nephew, a sniper strikes. Mark now finds his career is at risk, but his lover Jane faces even greater danger.

Episode 5/6

Jane tells Mark about Luke's incendiary tapes, and the pair flee a hired killer. Mark confronts Nicholas who, it turns out, shares the ambassador's suspicions that Warner has orchestrated events to start a war in Tyrgyztan. Terrified fugitive James Sinclair entrusts his son to Brydon's care before fleeing. Caroline is puzzled by news relating to her father's business, and Jane finds herself in peril once more.

RT Choice (David Butcher, 30 November 2006)

Ambassador Mark Brydon is reeling from the latest catastrophic events, and at this point in the story, so are we. The way the writers of this tangled thriller pile on crisis after crisis has inevitably meant diminishing dramatic returns. They're like teenagers at an all-you-can-eat buffet, stacking every option on the plate just in case. But there's no standout flavour - what's it all about? And why do we care, again?

With luck, the latest twists will grab us by the lapels as the opening episode did.

Episode 6/6

Mark tries to arrange security for the hospitalised Jane, as journalist Matthew Weiss heads to Florida to find out more about the circumstances surrounding her car crash. Warner pushes for an immediate invasion of Tyrgyztan, while George Blake finds evidence which could unveil the conspiracy. But Mark suspects the facts they've uncovered could be deliberately misleading and, with Nicholas's help, sets a trap for the guilty parties.

RT Choice (David Butcher, 7 December 2006)

Lock the doors and take the phone off the hook. If you've come this far with the world's most densely plotted conspiracy thriller, you won't want to be interrupted now [as] the many chickens come home to roost. Or are they avenging angels?

There's a darkly satisfying conclusion to what has been a handsomely mounted, brave and deeply political thriller.