Two ambitious women, Bank of England Deputy Governor Penny Scrope and Bank MPC member Jane Coeur, are running for the Square Mile’s top job - Governor of the Bank of England.  They fell out at school years ago over the same man. By an apparent twist of fate, they play ferociously competitive bridge together at the same ultra-chic West London club, Savage’s.

Mysterious cadres, partly Washington based, have taken a keen interest.  The outcome to the Scrope/Coeur power struggle is important for murkier espionage reasons.  In secret, Moscow has controlled the Bank of England for generations.  Chancellor Snowden, always Stalin’s man, is making his lunge towards No 10; Blair is on his way out as PM.  Moscow has a master plan to buy up the old British Empire. The plan goes live the moment Chancellor Snowden gets through the front door of No.10.

But what will happen if Jane Coeur makes it to the top, after destroying her rival. Will the Bank of England change direction - and loyalties?

The spooks gather. The elusive GAMMA sets up his watching brief at Savage’s through ANNIE, former spy maestro.  Meanwhile the powerful women at Savage’s play their cards carefully. Whose side are they on?

Countries are in play and the stakes are high in TALENTS, nail-biting instalment no 9 in the 12 part CONTANGO spy thriller series.