Invasion

Tensions are mounting around the globe as China's military activities suggest preparations for potential conflict, with Taiwan in close proximity. The potential for an invasion by the People’s Republic of China is causing alarm. Embedded deep within the Chinese Communist Party is a mole working for Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, possessing crucial information that could alleviate the escalating crisis. A 'collector' is dispatched to retrieve this intelligence in Hong Kong, but before the data can reach MI6, the collector is incapacitated and kidnapped. The perpetrators remain unidentified; it could be China's formidable state security service, the MSS, or perhaps an unexpected faction.As geopolitical tensions heighten, MI6 agents Luke Carlton and Jenny Li are tasked with finding the abducted collector and recovering the invaluable information. Their pursuit leads them through dubious Macau casinos and seedy nightclubs, encountering numerous dead-ends that suggest deliberate misdirection. Just in time, a breakthrough directs their attention to Taiwan, amid frantic preparations against a looming invasion threat. It is there that Luke and Jenny uncover the truth about the unfolding situation.Frank Gardner draws on his extensive experience in covering global security issues to craft this intense, authentic, and explosive thriller. Adam LeBor from the Financial Times describes "Outbreak" as a high-caliber thriller that grips the reader from the start, lauding Gardner's ability to build tension and weave in insightful expertise for an engaging and intelligent narrative.