**NOW A NATIONAL BESTSELLER**

A nailbiting and unputdownable read, The Peak is a powerfully taut, gripping and fast-moving international thriller that weaves a story of friendship, love and betrayal together with the ruthless geopolitics of China's rise, set in the last 24 hours of the world as we know it.

Shortlisted for the John Creasey First Novel Dagger 2026

Shortlisted for Best Debut Fiction, Ned Kelly Awards 2026

'Now I'll tell you what happened, as best I can. No spin. No agenda. If I get something wrong, it's not because I'm being evasive. It's simply because I'm still trying to understand what happened today ... It's to explain, as best I can, what Sebastian has done, and why tomorrow when you wake up, it will be the end of the world.'

Political hatchet man Charlie will do anything to protect Sebastian, government minister and his best friend since their brutal private school days. Rising to power and prominence through international diplomatic postings and then the rough and tumble of Australian politics, they are as close as brothers - or so Charlie thinks - while both keep the secret that lies at the very heart of their relationship - a secret that in one way or another will change the world.

But then a single phrase in Mandarin is spoken in Sebastian's ear and he does the unthinkable. As Charlie tries to piece it all together - from their youth spent in Hong Kong to the recent past in Beijing and Washington - things in the outside world start to fall apart too. Planes can't land, the phone lines go down and the power is out. Then the secret intelligence services comes knocking. Charlie wonders, what the hell did Sebastian do?

From the jostling streets of Hong Kong to Beijing's shadowy halls of power and the backstabbing Machiavellian workings of Parliament House in Canberra, The Peak is a powerful, propulsive and nailbitingly tense international thriller. Written with an extraordinary insider knowledge of China, the realities of global power and the inner dealings of the Australian Government, The Peak has the authenticity and moral complexity of a Le Carre novel and the narrative power of an Australian Robert Harris.

'Rewrites the script for spy fiction in the 21st century' Nigel Inkster, former director for operations and intelligence for MI6

PRAISE FOR THE PEAK

'Sam Guthrie is a born writer - this is a cracking thriller' Dervla McTiernan, What Happened to Nina?

'In this biting Australian political thriller, a scruffy political operative has his Scheherazade moment - weaving together past and present, trying to make sense of what looks a bit like the end of the world - and a cracking yarn unfolds. Guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.' Hayley Scrivenor, Girl Falling

'The Peak is a classy and very clever contemporary thriller. There's an intriguing global dimension to the plot, which feels particularly apposite and accurate in these troubled and unsettling times.' Alex Gerlis, The Best of Our Spies

'A fast-moving thriller, weaving a story of friendship and betrayal with ruthless geopolitics.' Adele Parks

'Hands down the best debut of the year, this is a hugely propulsive Australian politico-spy thriller which blends the plot mechanics of a great mystery with interesting and deep characters, snappy dialogue and an espionage conspiracy ... It positively crackles and the pages turn themselves. It would make a sensational Netflix series.' spybary.com

'Unputdownable, propulsive, and explosive' Readings

'Will there be a showdown between China and the west? The answer thrills - and chills - in Sam Guthrie's addictive tale of how human passion and geopolitical intrigue might bring doomsday closer.' Professor Rana Mitter, Harvard Kennedy School

'A twisty political thriller that asks if it's possible to really ever know your friends ... taut and fast' Alma Katsu, Red London

'Gripping and original, a portrait of a friendship, an insight into contemporary espionage and geopolitics, with a tremendous sense of place and a central mystery that kept me turning the pages. A rare combination.' Oliver Harris, A Shadow Intelligence

'[An] impressive first novel ... illuminating and extremely alarming.' Literary Review Magazine

'Packed with lies, sex and betrayal, a compelling debut' Daily Mail

'Fast, furious and original' The Sun

'True to life ... Sam Guthrie's own diplomatic experience adds a bit of heft to the novel's ominous undertow' The Times

'A confident, explosive debut from an author sure to be the next big thing in the Australian thriller landscape.' Laura McCluskey, The Wolf Tree

'Wow! A superb novel ... gripping from the get-go and chillingly real; a must read for fans of Le Carre and a terrifying glimpse into the very near future.' Steve Lewis, Secret City

Readers love The Peak:

'A taught and compelling tale recommended for fans of Tom Fletcher and Frederick Forsyth' real reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This was everything I love in a book and I just wish there were more books like this out there' real reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I absolutely couldn't put it down - even reading well through one night' real reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'An excellent political thriller and one heck of a debut' real reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A fast-paced and edge-of-the-seat political thriller' real reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This is one cracking, outstanding, excellent political thriller debut and if that's a genre you like, this is a MUST read' real reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐