A novel set in the 1990s can sometimes feel disturbingly current. In Ruthless Power by Pia Stangier, it's about corruption, cover-ups, and the question of how much trust political institutions deserve when power controls itself.
At first glance, the novel takes us back to a specific political past: Brussels, late 1990s, EU Parliament, EU Commission, a dead MEP, a vanished secretary. But the deeper Marla Richter is drawn into this case, the clearer it becomes why this subject matter is not a thing of the past. Abuse of power, political isolation, and loss of trust are issues that burn as brightly today as they did then.
Why old scandals never get old
Political scandals rarely truly disappear. They merely change their form. What used to be paper files, internal reports, and locked office doors are now digital data rooms, lobbying contacts, consulting contracts, and communication strategies. But the basic pattern remains: where influence, money, and responsibility meet, the temptation to circumvent control arises.
This is precisely where the contemporary relevance of Ruthless Power lies. The novel not only tells of a historical EU scandal but of a systemic problem. Who controls those who make decisions? Who protects whistleblowers? Who ensures that political responsibility does not disappear in a fog of responsibilities?
Trust is not a given
Readers today are very adept at sensing when political language is trying to appease, where clarification would actually be needed. They have a keen ear for formulations that obscure responsibility. This is precisely why a political thriller about corruption in Brussels and abuse of power in European institutions feels so immediate. It illustrates what is at stake when transparency is merely claimed but not practiced.
In an author interview with the publisher, Pia Stangier formulates a sentence that sharply highlights the novel's contemporary relevance: "Manipulation, political hypocrisy, and breach of trust are the aspects that will fuel my next novels." This is not a casual remark. It is a program. Because these very terms also describe why the subject matter of Ruthless Power continues to resonate today.
The longing for clarification
Marla Richter in this novel is no politician, no civil servant, no journalist with institutional backing. She is a woman who accidentally stumbles upon a dangerous secret and then can no longer look away. This character fulfills a strong contemporary need: the desire for someone to ask questions when others remain silent.
Therefore, the novel is also interesting for readers who do not deal with European politics daily. It tells of something fundamental: the relationship between citizens and power. Those who want to learn more about the historical core of this subject can find our article The real scandal behind the novel: When the EU Commission resigned.
What the novel means today
A good political thriller does not provide simple answers. It sharpens perception. Ruthless Power reminds us that democracy lives not only from elections but also from control, public scrutiny, independent research, and the courage to speak uncomfortable truths. Where these forces weaken, the scope for abuse grows.
Precisely for this reason, this novel is more than a thrilling criminal case. It asks what happens when institutions protect themselves instead of serving the truth. It shows how quickly silence can become complicity. And it makes it clear why transparency, political accountability, and the fight against corruption are not historical topics, but contemporary issues. With Ruthless Power, Pia Stangier has written a political thriller that comes from the past and speaks directly to our present.
The book is available as in German language a printed, i.e., paperback edition (ISBN 978-3-910347-13-7) and as an EPUB (ISBN 978-3-910347-14-4) in bookstores or here in the publisher's shop.
