The Viper of Kerman

A powerful cleric with massive commercial and military influence, Ayatollah Ali Baharvand has stepped down as one of Tehran's nuclear negotiators. Sickened by the stagnation of a revolution that never elevated his country to the heights it deserved, he plans to seize power and strike his own deal with the West. But can he be trusted? And what does he really want? Christian Oliver's vivid debut novel charts Baharvand's plot through the eyes of MI6 officers, diplomats and journalists. It gives a rare insight into the culture, social life and psychology of this much misunderstood nation.