The 1960s saw great upheaval in the West, with social change giving rise to civil disobedience, no more so than in the student movement. By 1968 the government has become concerned that communism may be a factor and calls on Polly Bottomley for advice. Mrs Bottomley, a retired MP, has unrivalled experience of Soviet conspiracies, having been involved on two occasions with their attempts to conspire, both in Britain and in Europe.

However, her life will be put in grave danger and an emotional and romantic attachment will become a distraction over which she has no control and will change her life forever.

The Phoenix Project paints a vivid picture of how political ambition can be exploited for personal reasons and can soon spiral out of control.