The Statesman's Game (Tulloch at War Book 5)

A War Worth Fighting: Tulloch and the Lothian Rifles Return

In The Statesman’s Game, the fifth gripping novel in Malcolm Archibald’s Tulloch at War series, Major Tulloch and the battle-hardened Lothian Rifles face their most testing campaign yet. From the training grounds of southern England to the chaos of the D-Day landings and the brutal advance through France and the Netherlands, Tulloch is forced to confront not just the enemy, but the war’s deeper cost — and the men shaping its darkest moments.

A shadowy Intelligence officer, Ruthven, brings secrets, schemes, and dangerous missions that threaten the fragile trust within Tulloch’s unit. As the Lothians are drawn into a high-stakes raid to capture a German scientist behind a terrifying new weapon, loyalty, leadership, and morality are put to the ultimate test.

Spanning February to October 1944, The Statesman’s Game explores the emotional toll of war, the cracks in military command, and the moments of courage that can still shine through. With vivid historical detail and raw realism, this is a powerful account of soldiers on the edge — of battle, of conscience, and of history.

Available now — step into the heart of WWII with The Statesman’s Game.

Excerpt from the book

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

FEBRUARY 1944

“Home again,” Major Neil Muirhead of the Lothian Rifles said quietly. “It’s over three years since I walked on Scottish soil.”

“A lot has happened since then,” newly promoted Major Douglas Tulloch replied. He looked over the rail of the ship as it eased up the Firth of Clyde, part of a convoy escorted by the busy and always efficient Royal Navy frigates.

It was the quality of the Scottish air that struck Tulloch most. It was pure, crisp, and moist, with a freshness that Tulloch had taken for granted before he left Scotland. Now, he took deep breaths and savoured every lungful as he watched the Jocks. The battalion had fought through North Africa, from Eritrea and Egypt across Libya and Tunisia. They had carried their bayonets against Italians and Germans at El Alamein, Medinine, and the Mareth Line, and taken part in Operation Husky in Sicily and the vicious battles on the Catania Plain. Only when the Allies had secured Sicily did the War Office withdraw the Lothians and send them home.

Tulloch listened to D Company discussing the future as they lined the rail and watched the green Scottish coast slide past.

“They think we’ve had enough,” Elliot said. “It’s an easy life for us now, boys, garrisoning Glasgow to ensure the Celtic fans don’t riot.”

“More likely they’ll send us to Shetland to count the penguins, Shuggy,” Innes said, rubbing his leg where a German bullet had passed right through.

“There are no penguins in Shetland. The polar bears ate them all,” Elliot replied, stony-faced. He grinned. “I’ll see Wee Alice again. I wonder if she’ll remember me.”

“Nae chance,” cynical Hogg replied. “She’ll have run off with some Yank with a big mouth and a deep wallet, or a Pole who pretends he was a nobleman back home.”

Tulloch shared the Jocks’ feelings of relief and trepidation but not their optimism. The war was far from finished, and the War Office would not allow the Lothians to stagnate while there was an enemy to defeat.

“What do you think, Douglas?” Muirhead asked. “Whither are we bound?”

“One of two places,” Tulloch replied. “Either the Far East to push the Japs out of Burma, or more likely, Monty wants us to take part in the Second Front in Europe.”

Muirhead was silent for a few moments, leaning over the rail to watch the grey sea breaking white against the ship’s hull. “Aye. The Second Front, I think. They’ll need a few veteran battalions like ours to add steel to the assault. Newly trained troops might have all the enthusiasm and equipment in the world, but they’ll lack guile and battle sense.”

A larger wave than usual hit the ship, spreading spindrift across the crowded deck. Few of the Lothians reacted. After enduring German and Italian shellfire, they hardly noticed a dousing in cold water.

“The entire 50th Northumbrian Division and the 51st Highland have been withdrawn from Italy,” Muirhead said thoughtfully. “They are two of the best.”