Tony writes again…

Posted: May 9th, 2020

FORMER Sunday People journalist TONY BASSETT has had his second book published – the spy thriller The Lazarus Charter. The new book is a sequel to Tony’s previous crime novel Smile of the Stowaway (see earlier post), and features the same Kent couple Bob and Anne Shaw.

Tony said: “The novel partly focuses on the new dangers posed in Britain by the activities of Russian intelligence agents, so I dedicated it to two people who have lost their lives as a result of two major poisoning cases.”

In March 2018, former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia fell ill in Salisbury after being exposed to novichok. Four months later, mother-of-three Dawn Sturgess died in the city’s hospital, eight days after coming into contact with the same nerve agent. Tony has dedicated his book to Dawn and also to Alexander Litvinenko, who was poisoned in a separate incident in London in 2006. Tony is pictured with Alexander’s widow Marina.

Stan Sturgess, father of Dawn, said: “I’ve been impressed by what I’ve read.” His wife Caroline said: “It was a lovely gesture dedicating the book to Dawn.” Marina Litvinenko said: “I am very pleased Tony has dedicated the book to my husband, and it was poignant to read the dedication.”

The Lazarus Charter is available in paperback or eBook from Amazon UK and other outlets.