A collection of short stories that examines the intersection of private lives and public history, often centering on the titular narrative of a potential political assassination. The protagonist of the title story navigates a tense, claustrophobic encounter within a domestic space, where the proximity of a high-profile political figure triggers a shift in reality. Across the collection, Mantel employs a sharp, observational lens to dissect the psychological burdens of her characters. The narrative framework shifts between intimate, character-driven realism and unsettling, speculative scenarios that challenge the boundaries of historical memory.

This collection is widely recognized for its stylistic precision and its ability to unsettle the reader through the juxtaposition of the mundane and the political. Critics have noted Mantel's capacity to inhabit diverse perspectives with equal intensity, rendering even the most controversial subjects with a detached, clinical clarity. The title story, in particular, has been the subject of significant discussion regarding its provocative premise and its reflection of the polarized atmosphere of 1980s Britain. The stories are frequently praised for their structural discipline and the way they avoid sentimentality in favor of a more rigorous, often uncomfortable, examination of human behavior.