Ross Howard

Shadow of Swords Ross Howard

The assassination of a Russian investigative journalist, triggers an investigation that leads through a labyrinth of corruption involving senior members of several Russian government ministries. The investigation by the Moscow police seeks to identify the killer, the paymaster and the secret. Unrelated to events in Moscow and unbeknown to the British authorities, a small Islamist group was planning a terrorist act against an unknown facility in London. That such an event was being planned only emerged when the group approached the IRA to access a cache of explosives. The Moscow investigation identifies the assassin and the British authorities identify a key member of the terrorist group. They are the same person, Imran Sardalov, although both groups remain oblivious to the other's investigation. Sardalov is a professional assassin. If the money is right he will carry out a killing, regardless of the target. Unknown to the Islamists, he has been using them as a cover for some years and the real purpose of his accompanying them to London is to fulfil a contract to assassinate a Russian dissident who has sought protection from the British. The British track Sardalov through Chechnya and over the Caucasus Mountains into Georgia. He eludes them and arrives in London. Moscow, unaware of Sardalov's whereabouts turn their attention to those who paid the assassin and the nature of the corruption. They also find corruption within their own organization, placing themselves at risk of retribution from the corrupters. London focuses on frustrating the terrorist act before it occurs. They have the terrorist group under close surveillance, however, they suddenly lose contact. The group had become suspicious and moved without warning. On arriving in London, Sardalov ignores the ambitions of the terrorist group and focuses on the elimination of the Russian dissident, who is under government protection. Each of the separate strands in Moscow and London slowly come together with dire consequences and it is only when these strands come to finality does it become known that the assassin and link to the Islamist group are the same person.