William Haggard

The Arena is rooted in the City of London, where a run-down firm of City merchant bankers, Bonavias, have a hold on Radarmic: and Radarmic is top secret. When an upstart firm presses for a merger, there is more than money at stake; and Colonel Charles Russell, head of Security Executive, uncovers a cesspool of violence and intrigue.

For British spymaster, Colonel Russell, the Cold War is about to get hotter. When plans for a new form of nuclear energy are stolen, it falls to Russell’s Security Executive to retrieve them before the secrets of Slow Burner are leaked to Britain’s enemies. But as Russell discovers, the enemy within can be more dangerous than any foreign adversary.

Designer drugs are nothing new in the Sixties, but when a new tranquillizer proves to be dangerously addictive and a risk to national security, then it falls to Colonel Russel?l to investigate. As his Security Executive follows the drug trail from the black market to the Houses of Parliament, Russell uncovers a ruthless enemy determined to use any means – political and violent – to protect its market. It will take all Russell's experience to navigate the corridors of power and break the drug’s hold on the country.

For the British government, Negative Gravity is a showcase example of public and private sector partnership, but when a security leak is discovered, the Government fears embarrassing revelations and calls in Colonel Russell of the Security Executive to find the source and plug it… permanently. The trail leads from London to Venice, and from impassive civil servants to passionate heiresses.