The Ghost by Robert Harris 2007

The Iraq war is a plot driver in the book and just like in that war, shock and awe tactics have been used in the book to gasp inducing effect! It is a wonder how the author was able to avoid any slander charges.

The thinly veiled fantastical plot based in reality:
The book is narrated by a unnamed ghostwriter known for his services to rock & football stars. He is hired to replace a dead ghostwriter who was writing the memoirs of Adam Lang, the charismatic but empty (I can't think of any other description) ex british prime minister. The Ex PM has a huge contract from a publishing house for his memoirs. He is also facing some flak for his role in the Iraq war. Things hot up by the time our ghostwriter reaches Martha's Vineyard where the Lang's are staying during a US speaking tour and questions are raised about the previous ghostwriters seemingly 'accidental' death.
[ spoiler]
It is a thinly veiled description of Tony Blair and the "secret role" attributed to Cherie Blair is preposterous. Lang is charged with war crimes on evidence given by a former foreign secretary. (again thinly based on reality) Mr. Ghostwriter meanwhile sleeps with Mrs. Lang, then investigates a bit and stumbles upon a CIA operative (guess guess) with clues from Lang's Cambridge past. Unfortunately Lang is murdered/bombed and the shock tactics come into play in the final paragraph which reveals that the manuscript we are reading was to be published after the ghostwriters death. An ending used before but not for such a contemporary plot.

PS: Robert Harris was a political editor so the book reads right. He has contributed to and supported the Blair government.

PPS: It has been made into a movie by none other than Roman Polanski starring Ewan McGregor. Mr. Harris seems to love controversial figures.