The Enemy (Bagley novel)

The Enemy
First edition
Author Desmond Bagley
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Genre Thriller novel
Publisher Collins
Publication date
 1977
Media type Print (hardcover and paperback)
Pages 322
ISBN 1-84232-005-X
OCLC 59567001
Preceded by The Snow Tiger
Followed by Flyaway

The Enemy is a first person narrative espionage thriller novel by English author Desmond Bagley, first published in 1977. In 2001 it was made into a movie, starring Roger Moore, Luke Perry and Olivia d'Abo.

Plot introduction

Malcolm Jaggard calls himself an economist, but is really working for British Intelligence. He is engaged to Penelope Ashton and was spending a weekend at her parent's home when her sister was viciously attacked by a stranger who threw acid on her face. Malcolm uses his position to investigate the Ashtons and finds to his surprise that the identity of her father, George Ashton, is classified to the highest levels. He is also surprised when his superiors order him to guard the Ashtons against further attacks at all costs. George Ashton suddenly disappears. Unable to take any further action without knowing who George Ashton really is, Malcolm illegally circumvents security and discovers to his shock that George Ashton is really an ex-Soviet geneticist. Following a lead that Ashton had been spotted in Stockholm, Malcolm travels to Sweden. He finds Ashton, but so do the Russians, and Ashton is killed by his own butler, Benson. Returning to London, Malcolm is threatened with dismissal for incompetence. Soon afterwards, Penelope also disappears, and Malcolm traces her to a secret germ warfare laboratory on a remote island in Scotland run by the British government. She is sick with a new mutant bacteria and is being denied medical treatment as it would be a security risk. Malcolm escapes with her to the United States, where she recovers; however, Malcolm discovers that he was also infected with a new disease and has less than a year remaining to live.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.