Nine Elms Books

TheDay They Ate The Zoo is James Ellery’s record of his senior military UN appointmentsin two of Africa’s most volatile and violent countries – written with insight,honesty and a light touch. In1999, after a successful career in the Army, Ellery was chosen to establish anew UN mission in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo. With nations fromacross the continent fighting for a share in the country’s vast mineral wealth,it required all of James’s diplomatic and military skills to ensure the missionwas a success – in spite of the machinations of the Congolese authorities. Lessthan two years later, Ellery was selected for another demanding appointment inAfrica – this time in Sierra Leone. His candid despatches document his time as Chiefof Staff of the 17,500 strong UN peacekeeping force. As the country strove toright itself after a decade of civil war, James played a pivotal role in ensuringfree and fair democratic elections and bringing the major players to book inthe Special Court for Sierra Leone.

Parliamentary lobbyist Damian Beaufortis a professional manipulator – clever, charming, ruthless – but when Labourwins power his Tory-heavy agency spirals towards bankruptcy. And the rest ofhis life looks like going the same way. Salvation comes not from booze or sex – despite his bestefforts – but a far less likely quarter: the UK’s Secret IntelligenceService.  It also comes at a cost. Beaufort finds himself entangled in a lethal web ofconflicts: an internecine turf war between MI5 and MI6; underhand Westminstermanoeuvrings; Eurocrats bent on reversing Brexit; and, seemingly pulling allthe strings, the sinister head of Russia’s FSB. Soon the lobbyist-turned-spy isn’t just fighting to save hisagency, his reputation and his country. He’s fighting for his life, and he’sfighting for revenge.  First-time author Lionel Zetter brings dazzling insiderknowledge to bear in this fast-moving contemporary thriller with a totallyunexpected denouement in the Chamber of the House of Commons.