'Tom Fletcher was the ultimate Downing Street operator' David Cameron

A global conspiracy. A man on the run. What happens when diplomacy fails?

In the aftermath of a global pandemic, a beautiful and charismatic human rights activist is murdered, live on the internet, at the British Embassy in Paris. It is a mystery that no one wants solved.

But, when governments refuse to investigate, Ambassador Ed Barnes is determined to find out the truth himself.

The quest for answers plunges Barnes into a world of cyber terrorists and warlords, taking him to Oxford, Copenhagen, the mountains of Snowdonia and Lebanon, where he picks up the trail of a shocking conspiracy.

This is an international crisis – but also a personal one. Only Barnes can save his family, his diplomatic service and even his country.

But can he save himself?

Perfect for readers of Robert Peston's The Whistleblower, Tom Bradby or Frank Gardner. 

Praise for The Ambassador

'As one long convinced the truth is very often stranger than fiction I enjoyed Tom Fletcher’s debut novel The Ambassador. The author can draw authenticity from a career spent at the coal face of diplomacy and intelligence, which is why it is a page turner’ Frederick Forsyth

'A terrific read that blends fact, fiction and fantasy. And a call for all of us to reflect on friendship, family and trust. What do we stand for, and what will we do to defend it?' Sir Graeme Lamb, former Commander of the SAS

'A week is a long time in diplomacy: intrigue, betrayal, comradeship and reconciliation! A great read!' Mark Sedwill, Former National Security Adviser

'A compelling tale of cyber-crime, terrorism and assassination... A real page-turner' Tortoise

‘Original and thought provoking’ Gordon Brown

‘Challenging and hopeful: a groundbreaking guide to the future’ Valerie Amos

To thrive in the twenty-first century, we all need to understand the challenges coming our way. And start adapting, now.

We all know there are major, overlapping, global crises ahead of humanity: climate change, mass migration, new warfare, big tech, further pandemics, authoritarian capitalism. Rather than be daunted, this book charts a way that we can respond. With expertise from his work at the highest levels of international politics, education, activism and business, Tom Fletcher offers a practical manifesto that can help us transform the way we learn, live, and work together.

Amongst its key survival skills, this book offers ideas on how we renew education, restore society and reimagine the future. It helps us chart a course to take back control, to find purpose, and to become better ancestors. It helps us to learn the language of technology – without thinking like computers. It offers 39 steps that each of us can start to take today to boost our survivability.

Vital, practical and accessible, this is a book about how we can anticipate the threats and opportunities of tomorrow and be ready for them – individually and collectively.

Who will be in power in the 21st century? Governments? Big business? Internet titans? And how do we influence the future?

Digital technology is changing power at a faster rate than any time in history. Distrust and inequality are fuelling political and economic uncertainty. The scaffolding built around the global order is fragile, and the checks and balances created over centuries to protect liberty are being tested, maybe to destruction. Tom Fletcher, the youngest senior British ambassador for two hundred years, considers how we – as governments, businesses, individuals – can survive and thrive in the twenty first century. And how we can ensure that technology can make it easier of citizens truly to take back control.