House of Cards was authored by Michael Dobbs.
The book follows the fictional character Francis Urquhart.
The book would a year later be made into a TV series and would later inspire the US adaption.
Plot
After Margaret Thatcher's resignation in 1990, Urquhart hopes to be promoted to become Foreign Secretary by her successor, Henry Collingridge. However, Collingridge believes a reshuffle would worsen the party's popularity, and eschews Urquhart's hopes of high office. A furious Urquhart conspires to bring down Collingridge and replace him as Prime Minister.