Sam Guthrie was in conversation with Mark Kenny on his gripping new espionage thriller and debut novel, The Peak. Written with an extraordinary insider knowledge of China, the realities of global power and the inner dealings of the Australian Government, The Peak weaves an intriguing story of friendship, love and betrayal.

Political hatchet man Charlie will do anything to protect Sebastian, Australian 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 combines the authenticity and moral complexity of a Le Carre novel and the narrative power of an Australian Robert Harris.

'Sam Guthrie is a born writer - this is a cracking thriller' Dervla McTiernan

Prior to publishing his first novel, The Peak, Sam Guthrie had a 25 year career in international relations serving as a trade envoy to China, an Asia Pacific corporate affairs adviser and political lobbyist and a senior government official. He has worked extensively across Europe, the US and Asia, and has spent close to a decade living and working in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Prague. He has a master's degree in international relations. He splits his time between Canberra and Sydney.

Professor Mark Kenny is Director of the Australian Studies Institute at ANU, where he hosts the popular podcast series 'Democracy Sausage'. Mark is the Canberra Times political analyst and a regular on the ABC's Insiders, and countless broadcast programs across the country.

The vote of thanks wasThePeak given by Allan Behm, Senior Advisor, International & Security Affairs Program. The Australia Institute