Plots and Prayers

Malcolm Turnbull’s demise and Scott Morrison’s ascension
Niki Savva

‘How good is this book! So much intrigue. So many revelations. Such a brilliant read.’

Laurie Oakes

‘A forensic and gripping account of Turnbull’s departure and Scott Morrison’s arrival ... Savva has written an account that moves at the velocity of an express train without brakes.’

Stephen Loosely, Weekend Australian

View all reviews

‘Explosive.’

Aidan Wondracz, Daily Mail Australia

‘Books about politicians are not for everyone. Nor are horror stories. This absorbing and very well-researched book is both.’

Erich Mayer, ArtsHub

‘Plots and Prayers provides a detailed and fascinating look at one of the craziest weeks in Australian politics. It’s part documentary, part thriller. You’ll not want to put it down, but also throw it across the room because of frustrations with the central characters ... this book is a must read.’

Tobi Lotus, Chronicle

‘Canberra insider Niki Savva’s new book burrows deep inside the ousting of former PM Malcolm Turnbull ... accurate and an important historical record.’

Ellen Whinnett, The Observer

‘Niki Savva’s Plots and Prayers is heroin for political junkies. It is a fast-paced, funny and detailed chronicle of the events that led to the ousting of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the rise of Scott Morrison as Australia’s latest prime minister.’

Neos Kosmos

Praise for The Road to Ruin:

‘This is what you have to remember about Savva’s controversial book, The Road to Ruin: she was onto this story early and she ran with it in her weekly column … her account of the coup is both suspenseful and full of fascinating, granular detail.’

Sydney Morning Herald

Praise for The Road to Ruin:

‘Savva's inside knowledge and contacts within the Liberal Party (especially the party's moderate centre) means the planning leading up to the spill is a fascinating real-life political thriller … a cracking political read.’

Adelaide Review

Praise for So Greek:

‘Intelligent, well-written and incredibly knowledgeable.’

West Australian

‘The result is a forensically researched and brutally revealing chronicle of the days and weeks before and after the August coup — one told with the precision of an investigative journalist but in the elegant narrative style that always makes Savva a great read.’

Paul Williams, Australian Book Review

In an enthralling sequel to her bestselling The Road to Ruin, Niki Savva reveals the inside story of a bungled coup that overthrew the Liberal prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and installed a surprise successor, Scott Morrison, who went on to take the party to a miraculous electoral victory.

On 21 August 2018, 35 Liberal MPs cast their vote against Malcolm Turnbull, effectively signalling the end of his leadership. Three days later, the deed was done, and Scott Morrison was anointed prime minister.

Tony Abbott’s relentless campaign of destabilisation, helped along by his acolytes in the parliament and by his powerful media mates, the betrayals of colleagues, and the rise of the religious right — climaxing in Peter Dutton's challenge — all played a part in Turnbull’s downfall.

But so did Turnbull’s own poor political judgement. He was a good prime minister and a terrible politician. The good bits of Malcolm were not enough to make up for the bad Malcolm.

Nevertheless, the sheer brutality of his removal left many Liberals aghast. MPs were traumatised or humiliated by eight days of madness. Men and women cried from sheer anguish. They went through hell, and feared when it was over that they would not make it back — and nor would the Liberal Party. As it turned out, redemption came with Morrison’s unexpected single-handed 2019 election victory.

Turnbull’s road ended in ruins, as it was always bound to and as he always knew it would, as he predicted to Niki Savva less than three years before it happened.

But when his end was imminent, he could not bear to let go. And when it was over, he was defiant, fragile — and, yes — vengeful.

This is the inside story of what happened — and what happened next.

‘How good is this book! So much intrigue. So many revelations. Such a brilliant read.’

Laurie Oakes

‘A forensic and gripping account of Turnbull’s departure and Scott Morrison’s arrival ... Savva has written an account that moves at the velocity of an express train without brakes.’

Stephen Loosely, Weekend Australian

View all reviews

‘Explosive.’

Aidan Wondracz, Daily Mail Australia

‘Books about politicians are not for everyone. Nor are horror stories. This absorbing and very well-researched book is both.’

Erich Mayer, ArtsHub

Tobi Lotus, Chronicle

‘Canberra insider Niki Savva’s new book burrows deep inside the ousting of former PM Malcolm Turnbull ... accurate and an important historical record.’

Ellen Whinnett, The Observer

Neos Kosmos

Praise for The Road to Ruin:

Sydney Morning Herald

Praise for The Road to Ruin:

Adelaide Review

Praise for So Greek:

‘Intelligent, well-written and incredibly knowledgeable.’

West Australian

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Details

Format:Paperback

Size: 234mm × 153mm

Extent:408pp with 1 x 8pp b&w pic section

ISBN (13):9781925849189

RRP:$37.99

Pub date:2 Jul 2019

Rights Held: World

High-res cover:Download Image

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AUTHOR

Niki Savva

Niki Savva is one of the most senior correspondents in the Canberra Press Gallery. She was twice political correspondent for The Australian, and headed up the Canberra bureaus of both The Herald Sun and The Age. When family tragedy forced a career change, she became Peter Costello’s press secretary for six years and was then on John Howard’s staff for three. Her work has brought her into intimate contact with Australia’s major political players for more than 40 years. She is a regular columnist for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, and often appears on ABC TV’s Insiders.

Her first book, So Greek, a memoir, provided rare insights into the relationship between Howard and Costello, and the workings of their government. The Road to Ruin, the first volume in what became her trilogy about Australia’s Coalition governments that ruled from 2013 to 2022, was a major bestseller, and won the 2016 General Nonfiction Book of the Year Award at the Australian Book Industry Awards. The second volume, Plots and Prayers, which dealt with the government led by Malcolm Turnbull and the ascension of Scott Morrison, was also a bestseller. The third volume, Bulldozed, which dealt with the demise of the government led by Scott Morrison Turnbull and the ascension of Anthony Albanese, was also a major bestseller and won the 2023 General Nonfiction Book of the Year Award at the Australian Book Industry Awards.

In March 2017, the Melbourne Press Club presented Niki with a lifetime achievement award for ‘outstanding coverage of Australian politics as a reporter, columnist and author’.