Coming Clean

I had been looking forward to reading Andy Howden’s second novel and I wasn’t disappointed. Telling the story of a Bulgarian cleaner who works for senior British politician, the book is pacy and very engaging. The characters are well developed and face several moral dilemmas as the book progresses. I was definitely routing Veselina throughout. Her character made me think about the challenges which face someone coming to work in the UK. The political machinations were intriguing, and sadly believable. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

A wonderful read. Telling the story from the different perspectives of the four key characters brings a real freshness to the novel. And what an engrossing story it is - entirely believable in this age of politicians behaving badly. We experience how the lives of those not in the public glare can be impacted by thoughtlessness and greed. But Andy Howden has a light touch, and there is much to enjoy!

Coming Clean Review of a book by Andy Howden I thoroughly enjoyed this accessible and very readable book. It is a story of intrigue in high political places in which the central character, Gerard, conspires and manoeuvres to be elected by his party to succeed the retiring Prime Minister. But it quickly becomes apparent that, in order to secure his party’s endorsement, Gerard is prepared to adjust his principles and priorities around the conflicting views of his colleagues and challengers. He also emerges as a closet philanderer whose behaviour is observed with disgust and then anger by his wife, Alison - and also by the family’s Bulgarian maid, Veselina, who determines to smoke him out. The author skilfully interweaves these themes with engaging subplots involving Gerard’s wife, also an MP, from whom he is growing increasingly distant; his speechwriter, Olivia, to whom he is getting too close; and Veselina herself through her back story in Bulgaria and her accumulation of enough evidence to ruin Gerard’s career. Will she do so and how? The balance between these overlapping threads is skilfully handled, much helped by the author’s simple device of writing each chapter from the perspective of one or other of these four main characters. This allows the reader to maintain an all-round perspective on the unfolding interplay between them and keeps the story moving forward. In summary, I found that the plot is engagingly told; the pace of the novel retained my interest and enjoyment throughout; and the personalities around whom the story unfolds are convincing in all their flaws and foibles. The story flows easily, the dialogue is handled with a sure touch and the suspense maintained. The book ends, as all good stories of intrigue should do, with a couple of unexpected twists in the tail. This was a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding read. Richard Barber Kingston-on-Thames January 2025

I really enjoyed Coming Clean, a tale that begins at Sofia airport in Bulgaria and culminates 15 months later at 10 Downing Street. It’s great fun but at the same time makes a few trenchant points about the dishonourable impulses of some - but not all - politicians. And there are several excellent set pieces: a hilarious evening at the Ritz hotel and a political garden party in the shires, to name but two. Jonathan Coe meets David Lodge, with hints of Tom Sharpe. What’s not to like?!

Andy Howden's first novel Melting in the Middle was an engrossing story about the public and private lives of varied characters in the corporate world of marketing. This second novel is set in the world of Tory politics but with the same careful delinieation of both rogues and those trying to do good in a challenging environment. And at the heart of the story there is an empathetic account of the life of a Bulgarian immigrant struggling to make a living and keep her dignity. Memorable characters and a fast moving plot make this a great read.