A former finance minister will invite readers next week to delve back into a world of espionage and intrigue with the release of his latest novel.

Bob Richards is set to launch Triangle of Blood, the second book in his Bermuda historical fiction trilogy, Triangle of Treason, at an event next week at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

The thriller, set during the Cold War, focuses on Bermuda’s role in Nato’s anti-submarine strategy as Russian spies work to unravel the plans.

The book cover states: “The intricate conflict of spy versus counter spy, stretching from California to London and Moscow, pivots around a Bermuda emerging from its own era of segregation.

“The story ultimately intersects with the most terrifying chapter of the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis.”

Mr Richards said: “I was inspired to write these novels to showcase Bermuda's incredibly rich but relatively unknown history, as well as to entertain.

“I hope that Bermudians pick up a copy of this latest novel, which explores the island's involvement in the Cold War during the Fifties and Sixties.

“They’ll discover a thrilling story about the development of a technology called Sofar, used to passively detect and track submerged Russian submarines, and get swept up in a tale about a local family during those turbulent times.”

The book launch will take place at 6.30pm on July 11 at BUEI with a 30-minute talk from Mr Richards about the history behind the novel followed by a question-and-answer session.

There will be a cash bar from Harbourfront offering theme cocktails, such as the Bloody Mary and Black Russians, while the Bermuda Bookstore will be on hand to sell the first copies of the book with an opportunity to have them signed by the author.

In addition to Triangle of Treason, his fiction debut, Mr Richards has published a non-fiction book on Bermuda economics, Bermuda Back from the Brink.

To RSVP for the event, e-mail TriangleOfTreason@gmail.com with the names of attendees and a phone number.

Those interested in buying a copy of the book to be signed are urged to reserve a copy with the Bermuda Bookstore on 295-3698 or sales@bookstore.bm.

Triangle of Blood will be available for $25 at the event and in local stores, while digital copies can be purchased online through Amazon.