‘Five Rites’ by Leigh David

Published by The Book Guild,
28 March 2018.
ISBN: 978-1-91236229-5

We learn an organisation exists which was originally called “The New Brotherhood” but is now known just as the Organisation. The “Chair” reigning supreme over it is a Margaret Rotheram.

One evening in her Mayfair mansion, Margaret is watching the television and learns of five captives being held by the so-called ISBJ. The pictures show them all blindfolded and tied together. The threat is that they will all be beheaded in the week leading up to Ramadan.

To Margaret's horror one of the captives is a high-ranking member of the Organisation, Mikhail Morozov, real name Michael Frost. She gives urgent instructions to look into the ISBJ and to find Michael, they need him alive. But who can she trust, she knows she has “doubters” in her midst, wanting to bring the Organisation down?

We then go back in time and learn that as a child Margaret (real name Alice Newman) was taken from her family to be brought up by a Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Rotheram. She grew up in Reigate and attended all the right schools. She had a determined mind of her own and when she joined a Pony Club, she attracted the attention of a secretive member of the Organisation. He put her name forward as good material to join them and when she went to Cambridge they decided it was time to “trap” her.

The story then turns to how Michael was recruited. He was born into a poor Irish family and never seemed “quite right”, he always had nightmares and even during the day he saw scaly creatures and used to believe them real. He learned to manage these “images” and took up boxing which helped focus his mind. He also became an expert in Japanese sword play which he loved.

Later Michael passed his eleven plus and at a young age joined the Tank Corporation where a member of the Organisation recognised that Michael was quite exceptional. He put in a report that he would make good recruit material.

So, begins the story of how two of the most influential members are brought into the Organisation and how they go on to achieve success in making it a power to be reckoned with while all the time remaining elusive. Its tentacles reach all over the world and manage to manipulate even the greatest and most powerful countries.

A rather interesting book, revealing how large organisations manage to persuade people to believe they are serving a worthy cause. The hold they have on members makes sure they remain loyal and everything is conducted in secret, with sometimes devastating results.

------

Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

Leigh David lives in Wembley and works as a programme manager, implementing new technology and new operating models in global financial institutions.  Leigh previously lived and worked in New Zealand and Australia including working for the Royal Australian Navy where he ran teams servicing weapon systems on warships. Leigh started writing when he left work to look after his mother.

Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.