n 1940, eighteen-year old Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly recruited into the world of espionage. Sent to an obscure department of MI5 tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathizers, she discovers the work to be by turns both tedious and terrifying. But after the war has ended, she presumes the events of those years have been relegated to the past for ever.

Ten years later, now a producer at the BBC, Juliet is unexpectedly confronted by figures from her past. A different war is being fought now, on a different battleground, but Juliet finds herself once more under threat. A bill of reckoning is due, and she finally begins to realize that there is no action without consequence.

Transcription is a work of rare depth and texture, a bravura modern novel of extraordinary power, wit and empathy. It is a triumphant work of fiction from one of this country’s most exceptional writers.

As always, beautifully written. Kate always seems to be playing with the reader to keep us on our toes and remind us that we are reading a novel. The narration here is third person but seems to have access to Juliet's thoughts and observations but do we really know everything about her? Who do we trust in this world of intrigue?

At times very funny and at times tragic, the tone of this novel is slightly unnerving. Great characters and observations about life in Britain both in 1940 and 1950. Maybe not as completely enjoyable for me personally as KA's previous work but still highly readable and fascinating. It certainly generated a lot of discussion for my book club!