The Secret Agent

Set in 1886 London, the story follows Adolf Verloc, a spy posing as a shop owner while secretly working for a foreign embassy. He is tasked with orchestrating a bombing of the Greenwich Observatory to incite fear of anarchism. The narrative intertwines the police investigation with the turmoil within Verloc's family, particularly highlighting his mentally disabled brother-in-law, Stevie, whose involvement in the bombing leads to tragic consequences. This gripping tale explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the complexities of family dynamics against a backdrop of espionage.