The Whistleblower is Robert Peston's first novel but, perhaps due to his previous non-fiction writing, he writes with confidence about a subject he knows so well, the machinations of governments. The main character, Gil Peck, is the political editor of a prominent newspaper which is part of a group owned by a ruthless businessman. When Gil's sister, Clare, is killed, ostensibly in a road accident, he is filled with guilt as he and Clare hadn't spoken for some time after Gil used information she had given him in the course of a private conversation for a story. There are a few factors that lead Gil to think that Clare's death might not have been the straightforward, unfortunate accident that everyone was led to believe. He starts to make enquiries, helped by Jess his trusted assistant, and discovers his sister has recommended a policy to the current government for raising revenue. The government initially welcomes the policy then suddenly and surprisingly decides against introducing it, to Clare's fury then shortly afterwards she is killed in an accident. All this is set in 1997 in the run-up to a general election and the action flows throughout the book. Quite simply, a great read.