Slayride (published in 1973) - By Dick Francis, investigating a disappearing English Jockey in Norway

Richard Stanley Francis or Dick Francis was born in Pembrokshire, Wales, England on October 20th 1920. His father was a renowned jockey and Francis was catapulted in to the world of Horses, Jockeys and racing. He dropped out of school to train as a Jockey and was a fighter pilot in the Royal Air-force during World War II. After the war Francis became a celebrity Champion Jockey winning over 350 races. He was the lead Jockey for the Queen Mother. But he had to drop out of Horse racing after a serious fall and became a racing correspondent for Sunday Express. Dick Francis churned out numerous best sellers and most of his books deal with the mysteries in the realm of Horse racing and Jockeys. He wrote more than 40 international best sellers and is the recipient of numerous awards. Being a three time recipient of Mystery writer of America's Edgar Award he was made the Grand master of MWA. He is also the recipient of Britain's Crime Writers Association's Gold Dagger Award for fiction in 1979 and the Cartier Diamond Dagger lifetime achievement award. He also has the Gumshoe award to his credit. He was accorded the CBE in 2000. Dick Francis died in his Caribbean home on February 10, 2010 bringing down the curtains to an illustrious life.
SlayRide is a racing novel amidst the Norwegian back drop. Dick Francis sets the whole cast in Norway where the racing community is very small and therefore invite British Jockeys to give a fillip for their fortunes. Bob Sherman is an English Jockey who disappears with a large sum of the earnings, like sixteen thousand kroner. Embarrassed by the turn of events, the British Jockey Clubs send in an investigator, David Cleveland who tries to understand the case. As he digs deeper he finds many clues where he finds the robbery and escape theory implausible. Bob Sherman leaves behind a pregnant wife and a good career which makes a case for his innocence.



As David goes through the case his life is also in peril. He survives a vicious boating accident and numerous attempts on his life. But slowly and steadily he keeps on the path of the killer and he is flushed out. This book is not one of the finest of Dick Francis books but still holds on its own. Sometimes you might feel a little unfulfilled as the thriller element takes a back seat as Francis rambles about the horse racing scenes in Norway. His prodigious knowledge about Jockeying and the racing scenes around the world with respect to the English racing is great, but its only for the racing fans. Well much of the English Gentlemen thing is also a tad over done especially in this day and age. David has lot of lady friends about whom he thinks polite amoral thoughts is a funny element.
I felt a little let down by this book when compared to his Smokescreen and Rat Race. This may not be a hard to put down kind of book but enjoyable all the same. It is a recommended read at-least a first time read.

The Ambassadors (published in 1903) - A dark comedy, written by Henry James

Henry James was one of the greatest literary figures of the 19th century and his works are considered mini masterpieces of the time. He was born in New York City into a wealthy and intellectual family. Young James was tutored in the many learning centers of Europe and also studied at the Harvard Law School for some time. But he liked his literary pursuits to the study of law. James preferred living in Europe than in America and even renounced his American Citizenship for its refusal to enter in to World War I. He was a regular contributor to literary magazines and started his first novel “Watch and Ward” in his early twenties. His masterpieces like “Daisy Miller” and “Portrait of a Lady” quickly followed. His protagonist are complex individuals battling personal and provincial prejudices and many a time bring about the complexities of American and European lives. Henry James died at the age of 65 and his ashes are interred at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The Ambassadors is one of most fulfilling book penned by Henry James and chronicles again the American and European way of life. Here Young America is portrayed as a puritan stiff culture which stifles the lives of its citizens, where as European Paris with its Joie de vivre, is completely satisfying.



Lambert Strether is a Puritan New England citizen who is engaged to a wealthy industrialist widow Mrs. Newsome. But his fiancée agrees to the wedding only if he can bring her wayward son, Chad from Paris. So Strether leaves for Paris and alights in London where he meets witty Maria Gostrey, whose opinions leave him shaken. He leaves for Paris and meets Chad who to his amazement is a young man with impeccable manners. Through Chad he meets Madame Marie de Vionnet whose beauty and sophistication allures him. Strether feels the air changing around him and the fun and beauty takes hold of his being. He enjoys the sights and actions in the new city accompanied by many of his friends. All the more his attraction for Marie, questions his commitment to return to New England to marry Chad's mother.
Strether drinking in the new experiences confides in Young Bilham, Chad's friend that he has missed many life defining moments and makes up his mind to be part of the Parisian scene. Mrs. Newsome dispatches a new set of Ambassadors who involve Chad's sister, Sarah and her husband. They are invulnerable to the charms of Paris and even behave like uncouth sailors upon their arrival.
Strether meanwhile comprehends that there is a amazing romantic relationship between Marie and Chad and is forced to check his feelings. He feels bad to break them up and make Chad return to the stifling atmosphere of New England. He advises Chad to stay loyal to Marie in Paris and plans his way home.
Ambassadors is again a typical Henry James novel, long, verbose and defining. Each situation and decisions are weighed through the pages and requires a lot of patience and dexterity to stay on course. But the story and prose is bound to hold your attention and you grow in to it. It is definitely not one of your slam bang novels which holds you at the first word. Love for Henry james comes at a leisurely pace and therefore is long lasting.

The American (published in 1877) - First published in serialized form, and then as a book, by Henry James

Henry James was one of the greatest literary figures of the 19th century and his works are considered mini masterpieces of the time. He was born in New York City in to a wealthy and intellectual family. Young James was tutored in the many learning centers of Europe and also studied at the Harvard Law School for some time. But he liked his literary pursuits to the study of law. James preferred living in Europe than in America and even renounced his American Citizenship for its refusal to enter in to World War I. He was a regular contributor to literary magazines and started his first novel “Watch and Ward” in his early twenties. His masterpieces like “Daisy Miller” and “Portrait of a Lady” quickly followed. His protagonist are complex individuals battling personal and provincial prejudices and many a time bring about the complexities of American and European lives. Henry James died at the age of 65 and his ashes are interred at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
This novel chronicles the travails of Christopher Newman, a gauche but rich American who travels through Europe. Newman is indeed the son of the new world, America, brash, hard working unlike the aristocrats in Europe who are very class conscious. Newman on his travel encounters many people, like Noemie Nioche, Tom Tristam and Lizzie Trisatam who give their perspective of Europe. He is introduced to beautiful Claire Clintre, a French noblewoman who has left her abusive husband. Newman falls in love with Claire and she also gives him his heart. But the Claire's mother,Madame de Bellegarde, and her older brother, Urbain de Bellegarde are against the match because of the working class origins of Newman. They never make it a secret that they are interested in his money.



Claire's younger brother Valentin de Bellegarde respects Newman for his ethics and becomes good friends with him. He also falls in love with Noemie and is challenged to a duel by another admirer. Valentin is mortally injured in the duel and in his dying moments reveals that his mother and brother had murdered his father. Meanwhile Newman tries his best to ingratiate with Claire's family and is constantly rebuffed.
When her mother and brother forbid her match with Newman, Claire takes the veil and joins a convent to become a nun. This is the last straw for Newman and he plans to take revenge against Madame de Bellegarde and her son, Urbain. He obtains written evidence of their complicity in the murder of Claire's father and plans to get them convicted. But Newman is torn in to two. One side he yearns for revenge and on the other side he sees the futility of such an action. But in the end he tears the evidence and still walks away with doubts about his actions.
The American epitomizes the new world of USA where men are honest and truthful compared to the deceit and discriminatory attitude of the Europeans. It is said that James wrote the Americans to counter the Alexander Dumas's novel L'Étrangère, which portrayed Americans as crude gold diggers. But I find the ending to be very confusing and not defined. It is a romantic novel with lot of philosophy about right and wrong and filial responsibility thrown in. In today's age, such pure virginal relationships may be non existent, but the Victorian consciousness of the Author cannot be contested. So I would still say the American is a good read.

Puck of Pooks Hill (published in 1906) - A fantasy book by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel laureate was born in India to a vivacious Alice Kipling and sculptor Painter, John Kipling. His works range from poems, to children's books. Rudyard was a English language writer whose prose is peppered with colloquial usage and languages mainly from India which opens a window to the prevailing culture and customs of the time. His children's stories are the most endured classics of the time and his short stories are the most sought after. Many of his works are deemed to be controversial as the time progressed. Rudyard Kipling was the product of an imperial India where imperialism under Queen Victoria was at its heights. His poems like 'White Mans Burden' are often sited as a clarion call for the imperialist and has been criticized by subsequent humanist. But as one of the youngest Nobel Prize recipient for English Language, the place for Kipling in human history cannot be discounted and his prose and poems enthuse millions even today. Kipling died in 1936 in London and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
These are series of stories which Kipling has taken from historical accounts and is basically about the Kings and Queens of yesteryears in Europe. So you have Queen Elizabeth, King henry, Roman Generals, Fairies, pirates and vikings striding across the pages in a glorious procession before your very own eyes.



The story starts with two children Dan and Una who stage their version of “The Midsummer Nights Dream” thus pulling the naughty fairy Puck in to their midst. Puck magically transports them across ages where they see a Norman Knight, a Renaissance artisan, Saxons, Picts, Norsemen (Vikings), a Chinese slave-master, Kings, Queens and many others, each of whom imparts his respective piece of England's history. The fantasy stories starts with:

Weland's Sword: It tells the account of the Norseman conquest where Weland the great smith forges the sword through which he conquers a country and a princess.

The Young man of the Manor continues the saga of the Norman conquest and introduces Sir Richard Dalyngridge who takes part in the conquest and wins a manor.

The Knight of the Joyous venture depicts the voyage by the Danes along with Richard Dalyngridge and other captured prisoners.

Old Men of Pevensy tells the story of intrigue in the court of Henry I when he is in Pevensy.

Centurion of the Thirtieth is the story of Parsimus who is a Roman soldier who goes to battle with the general Magnus Maximus. It tells the conquest of Gaul by the general.

On the great Wall tells us about the Hadrian Wall which was built by the Romans and it defense against the invaders.

The Winged Hats continues with the Hadrian Wall and the defense of general Magnus Maximus.

'Hal o' the Draft' is the tale of deception, mutiny and beheading involving the explores Sebastian Cabote and Privateer Andrew Barton

Dymchurch Flit is a fairy tale where Puck disguises himself as Tom Shoesmith and tells the story of widow Whitgift who loaned her sons to help others.

“The treasure and the Law” is about a Jewish money lender Kadmiel whose shrewdness is instrumental in signing of the Magna Carta ushering in peoples law in England.

All these tales are in the realm of historical fantasies and educate the children about the law and evolution of the land (England) they live in. beautiful and delightful and a must read for all ages.

Kim (Published in 1901) - Written by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel laureate was born in India to a vivacious Alice Kipling and sculptor Painter, John Kipling. His works range from poems, to children's books. Rudyard was a English language writer whose prose is peppered with colloquial usage and languages mainly from India which opens a window to the prevailing culture and customs of the time. His children's stories are the most endured classics of the time and his short stories are the most sought after. Many of his works are deemed to be controversial as the time progressed. Rudyard Kipling was the product of an imperial India where imperialism under Queen Victoria was at its heights. His poems like White Mans burden are often cited as a clarion call for the imperialist and has been criticized by subsequent humanist. But as the youngest Nobel Prize recipient for English Literature, the place for Kipling in human history cannot be discounted and his prose and poems enthuse millions even today. Kipling died in 1936 in London and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Kim is one of the classics of the twentieth century and all of Kipling's angst is thrown in to the story of an orphan who reaches self awareness. Kim is Kimball O'Hara, son of a Irish soldier and a poor white mother whose is destined to grow up as a vagabond on the streets of Lahore. He is the poorest of the poor, a waif fending for himself and Kipling himself writes that he looks like any other Indian urchin. All the sense of whiteness in him is obscured by the indian-ness of the environment.



But Kim is street smart, savvy and courageous with an inquisitive and intelligent mind. He works for Mahbub Ali who really is a British spy in Lahore. Kim befriends a Tibetan Monk, Teshoo Lama who reaches Lahore looking for Buddhist Relics. He is looking for the River of Arrow supposed to have sprung from the arrow of Buddha and can cleanse all the sins. Kim is fascinated by the Lama and agrees to become his Chela or disciple. So the wanderings of Kim begin and they reach Benares and the foothills of the Himalaya's in search of the river. Kim is captured by a group of British Soldiers whose flag depicts a Red Bull on a green field. This fulfills the prophesy ringing in Kim's mind about “nine-hundred first-class devils, whose God was a Red Bull on a green field”. Anyway, initially thought as spies the chaplains of the regiment ascertain his identity from his papers and tell him that they knew his father. They take it upon themselves to make a white man of him. But Kim hates the sense of superiority and the nastiness present in the British soldiers. His deliverance arrives in the form of Colonel Creighton who befriends him and takes him under his wings for training as a spy. Soon Kim is above all the soldiers and is inducted in to the secret service.
He goes with the Lama, but as an undercover agent to the Himalaya's ostensibly to look for the river of arrow. Here he finds the Russian and other enemy spies plotting against the empire. Here Kim is forced to fight as the Russians try to harm the Lama. In the melee he obtains the secret papers and with the help of the natives manage to rescue themselves to the plains. He and the Lama are nursed to health by a native woman and Kim delivers the papers. Teshoo Lama is aghast about the violent streak innate in him and leaves to seek the ultimate path of renunciation. Kim also ponders his life and becomes of aware of his existence. In the end we find Kim as Kim, not needing any father figure, or mother to stand on his own. He just says “I am Kim” nothing less or more a person.
Kim is Rudyard Kipling's stellar works. His views on Buddhism, imperialism and nuances of native culture come through in this book. He very stoically supports the British way of life and supports her claim of Indian territory. But I feel we see a Kipling who understands native culture and abhors the white man who considers “nine tenth of the earth heathen”. His dislike of strict discipline and intense religious pontification comes through in Kim. A good read anyways.

Plain tales from the hills (published in 1888) - Written by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel laureate was born in India to a vivacious Alice Kipling and sculptor Painter, John Kipling. His works range from poems, to children's books. Rudyard was a English language writer whose prose is peppered with colloquial usage and languages mainly from India which opens a window to the prevailing culture and customs of the time. His children's stories are the most endured classics of the time and his short stories are the most sought after. Many of his works are deemed to be controversial as the time progressed. Rudyard Kipling was the product of an imperial India where imperialism under Queen Victoria was at its heights. His poems like "White Mans Burden" are often sited as a clarion call for the imperialist and has been criticized by subsequent humanist. But as one of the youngest Nobel Prize recipient for English Language, the place for Kipling in human history cannot be discounted and his prose and poems enthuse millions even today.
Plain stories from the hills are a collection of short stories penned by Kipling during his stay in India as a journalist. Out of the 40 stories, about 15 to 20 of them were published in the Civil and Military gazette, the paper for which Kipling worked for and the rest were new ones. These stories depict the various facets of life in imperial India, the lives of the natives and the English Sahibs. He often puts up a satirical look on the ways and behavior of the English who treat the natives like untouchables.



Many of the stories are set in Shimla which used to be the summer capital of British India. Most of the Englishmen would shift to the hill station to escape from the heat of the plains. Here the traditions of British India along with the Indian elite produced a different world itself. The stories also are set up among the natives who are portrayed in a simple fashion and in the plains of India.
Here his recurring characters namely Mrs Hauksbee, Policeman Strickland and the Soldiers three appear. The most common refrain of Mrs Hauksbee who cannot suffer stupidity "What fools men are!" starts from this book. The tales include Lispeth,Three and - an Extra, Thrown Away, Miss Youghal's Sais, Yoked with an Unbeliever, False Dawn, The Rescue of Pluffles Cupid's Arrows, The Three Musketeers, "His Chance in Life", Watches of the Night, "The Other Man", Consequences, The Conversion of Aurelian McGoggin, The Taking of Lungtungpen, A Germ-Destroyer, Kidnapped, The Arrest of Lieutenant Golightly, In the House of Suddhoo, His Wedded Wife, The Broken-link Handicap, Beyond the Pale, In Error, A Bank Fraud, Tod's' Amendment, The Daughter of the Regiment, In the Pride of his Youth, Pig, The Rout of the White Hussars, The Bronckhorst Divorce-case, Venus Annodomini, The Bisra of Pooree, A Friend's Friend, The Gate of the Hundred Sorrows, The Madness of Private Ortheris, The Story of Muhammad Din, On the Strength of a Likeness, Wressley of the Foreign Office, By Word of Mouth, To be Filed for Reference
My personal favorite is Miss Youghal's Sais, which tells the story of the class divide. Strickland is a policeman of English Origin who has to mix with the locals and is looked down upon by the English Elite. He meets and falls in love with Youghal, a English girl whose mother forbids the relation. He disappears and disguises as a native and gains employment as her groom. As their love affair continues, a General who is smitten by Youghal's charm flirt with her. This is too much for Strickland who reprimands him. The good natured General forgives him and get them together. Good stories for the soul.

The Guest of Honor (published in 1989) - Written by Irving Wallace

Irving Wallace was born in Chicago, to Jewish parents,Bessie and Alexander Wallace Who had emigrated from Russia. He completed his studies in California and started out as a journalist at a tender age of 15. He studied creative writing at the Williams Institute in Berkley and from the mid-30s he worked as a free-lance correspondent. In 1941 he married Sylvia Kahn; they had two children. Irving Wallace served in the air force during world war two and later collaborated in several movies as a writer. His first book "Sins of Peter Fleming" did not attract much attention. But his second book influenced by the Kinsey report was a best seller. He has been a prolific churner of best sellers and his books have been adapted as major movies. He died on June 29, 1990.
Matt Underwood is the President of the United States of America who has a beautiful wife, a former Miss America, and everything a man can ask for. He has money, power and can do anything, so it seems because the world revolves around him. His wife, a charming young lady, albeit a shrew is not enough for him even though she seems to satisfy his urges initially.
In a far far south east Asian country, its president, Prem Lapang is assassinated by communists or some shifty elements and his beauteous wife Noy Sang ascends the throne, well the chair. Noy, if it helps, is an American Educated sophisticated young thing with a precocious genius of a son. About two thirds of her country is occupied by communist rebels and her Army chief who is ably assisted by the CIA favors military action to throw them out, but alas good Noy prefers to talk. This creates lot of friction which makes the defense establishment see red.



Noy Sang comes to America on a state visit, also holding begging bowl for a large loan. Now the handsome former TV anchor President is very much smitten by her and falls desperately in love. He gives a larger than anticipated loan from the American coffers. As far as I know, the American President needs congressional support to give loan to other countries. Noy also reciprocates his feelings and soon they make love everywhere. President ditches the secret service to cavort in Noy's island paradise and other places. Nobody has a clue even the CIA except for an investigative journalist who tries to make it front page news.
Soon Noy is kidnapped by her own defense chief and good old Matt Underwood does a James Bondish rescue by shooting down her assailants. He had asked the secret service earlier not to cover him but to give him a gun which is put to good use to save his lady love. Anyways he saves her and soon the scandal concerning the heads of state tends to erupt so badly that even world peace is unhinged. Matt even tries to abdicate and does not want to run for the second term, but to retire with Noy to a tropical paradise. But soon things are solved magically with help of trusted lieutenants and Underwood remains president. And Good heavens he even has Noy on the sides along with wife and the world peace.
An inane plot and premise has this book doomed from page one. If you are a starter with Wallace's books, please do not get discouraged for he has written superb books which are page turners. Start with “The man”. This one is a page turner for sure, only think you would want to turn the page so fast to reach the end and bury the book.

The Second Lady (published in 1981) - Written by Irving Wallace

Irving Wallace was born in Chicago, to Jewish parents,Bessie and Alexander Wallace Who had emigrated from Russia. He completed his studies in California and started out as a journalist at a tender age of 15. He studied creative writing at the Williams Institute in Berkley and from the mid-30s he worked as a free-lance correspondent. In 1941 he married Sylvia Kahn; they had two children. Irving Wallace served in the air force during world war two and later collaborated in several movies as a writer. His first book "Sins of Peter Fleming" did not attract much attention. But his second book influenced by the Kinsey report was a best seller. He has been a prolific churner of best sellers and his books have been adapted as major movies. He died on June 29, 1990.
The best spy is the one who is the most closest to the center of power. In this story the most powerful man in the world, the president of the United States has to be manipulated and who better to do this than his own wife. So how easy can an enemy nation have if they can supplant the first lady with their own stooge. Thats the premise of "The Second Lady".
Billie Bradshaw is the wife of Andrew Bradshaw, the president of the United States who is one of the most popular women in the world. He beauty and poise makes her the most sought after and photographed lady. So the Soviets hatch a plan to put a look alike in her place. So Vera Vavilova, a small time actress gets a role of her life time to play the first lady due to her uncanny resemblance to Billie.



But there are many hurdles for Vera to pass which includes extensive tutoring and training. She has to understand every nuances and behavior of the first lady, her likes, dislikes, friends, enemies and even sex life. She is coached by Alex Razin, a Soviet agent who slowly develops an intimacy due to close proximity. Every physical feature including a scar due to appendectomy is replicated by plastic surgeons in Vera's body. Wallace describes the training process very well in the book and bulk of the early material is devoted for this.
Anyways Billie is abducted and Vera is supplanted in the White House. She gets in to the skin of the character very soon except for small hurdles like when Billie's pet dog does not recognize her, or when she mistakes an old friend for another. But all in all Vera starts enjoying the power and plans to stay on.
Billie on the other hand is drugged and kept in a secret place. Soon she starts to develop a plan to escape and is aided by Alex Razin. After a lot of intrigue they manage to outwit the KGB and escape to America. They confront Vera and plan to thwart the Soviet plan. But Soviets are one step ahead of them and detonate bomb which kills Razin and one of them. Who survives to take the place next to the President is the million dollar question that the reader asks? This book is not one of Wallace's best works and has lot of loopholes and ambiguity around it. It is difficult to accept an ability of an actress to fool an entire security apparatus and a husband. But still, it is good enough for for a one time read.

The R Document (published in 1979) - Written by Irving Wallace

Irving Wallace was born in Chicago, to Jewish parents,Bessie and Alexander Wallace Who had emigrated from Russia. He completed his studies in California and started out as a journalist at a tender age of 15. He studied creative writing at the Williams Institute in Berkley and from the mid-30s he worked as a free-lance correspondent. In 1941 he married Sylvia Kahn; they had two children. Irving Wallace served in the air force during world war two and later collaborated in several movies as a writer. His first book "Sins of Peter Fleming" did not attract much attention. But his second book influenced by the Kinsey report was a best seller. He has been a prolific churner of best sellers and his books have been adapted as major movies. He died on June 29, 1990.
Is a great working democracy an Utopian idea? As democracy promises freedom of speech, does it allow the right to circumvent the duties as a citizen or the freedom which causes law and order should be curbed. These are the uncomfortable questions which are addressed by Irving Wallace in the R document.
Rampant corruption, racial tension, drug abuse and other law and order problem prompts the President of the United states to bring about an 35 th amendment of the constitution. This law if enacted will enable the President to suspend the Bill of Rights in case of emergency. The FBI director Vernon Tyson is pushing for this amendment which ostensibly will curb the law and order problem prevalent in the United States. He threatens, Blackmails and kills to enable the passage of the bill.



Christopher Collins, an upright attorney general is uncomfortable with such a draconian provision and giving sweeping absolute powers to the FBI. But he feels that the provisions are not so bad for the critics to shout from the rooftops and has made peace with the passage of the bill.
But Noah Baxter his dying predecessor warns him about the controversial provisions of the bill and encourages him to look for the R document. Chris has very less time to unveil the conspiracies as state after state ratifies the amendment making it a law. As he finds out the R document or the regeneration document is a cassette player recorded by Rick Baxter, Noah Baxter's son. Does Chris unearth the conspiracies and protect millions of Americans from living in a police state? Has Rick's innocent recording throw up some startling answer's?
Irving Wallace's novel published in 1979 is very pertinent even today. Yes the realities have changed with law and order problems taking a back seat to terrorism especially after 9/11. After reading the novel the reader is forced to think about such a scenario where civil liberties he has taken for granted are taken away. How would life be if you cannot say what you like, do what you like, write or read your choice's, follow your heart and even blog your mind off? Will life be worth living under a black shadow, a big brother watching you?

The Plot (published in 1967) - Written by Irving Wallace

Irving Wallace was born in Chicago, to Jewish parents, Bessie and Alexander Wallace who had emigrated from Russia. He completed his studies in California and started out as a journalist at a tender age of 15. He studied creative writing at the Williams Institute in Berkley and from the mid-30s he worked as a free-lance correspondent. In 1941 he married Sylvia Kahn; they had two children. Irving Wallace served in the air force during world war two and later collaborated in several movies as a writer. His first book "Sins of Peter Fleming" did not attract much attention. But his second book influenced by the Kinsey report was a best seller. He has been a prolific churner of best sellers and his books have been adapted as major movies. He died on June 29, 1990.
The plot is an action packed thriller which brings the five characters together in the shadow of a nuclear disarmament summit. Th summit has the nuclear powers America, China and Russia coming together for talks on containing nuclear weapons and proliferation in Paris. So you have the protagonist traveling to Paris, each having an agenda of his own.



They are, Matt, a disgraced diplomat who has been exiled for leaking nuclear secrets to China and is languishing in obscurity. He has been framed and plans to meet a soviet diplomat who knows the truth about his innocence regarding the defection of an American Nuclear scientist to Red China. Jay, a yesteryear super journalist who has lost favor with the readers and publishers alike and is languishing in the lower end of the writing spectrum, authoring cook books. He plans to test out a story which was pointed out by his pupil long time ago, to write a story which will set him on the glory road again.
Hazel, Jay's pupil who has surpassed the master and is the current flavor of the journalism industry. She cannot forget the debt and love for Jay and must meet him to get her story straight. Emmet, the ex-President who had a murky past and a grimy hand in the nuclear defection saga needs to meet the ex-arms manufacturer who plans to expose him through his memoirs. He needs to stop the slimy details from tumbling out or his part in history will be tainted for ever Medora who has lost her British passport for having an affair with a high ranking diplomat which culminated in a scandal. She means to confront the diplomat who tricked her in leaving England forfeiting her passport.
All of them converge in Paris, where sinister forces are at work against the summit. There is an under current of tension between USA and Russia with a Sino-Soviet under ground deal. So the protagonist come together through sheer luck and work together to bring the sinister plot to the ground. They battle murderers, Russian spies, and Chinese conspiracies to unearth the Sino-Soviet plot.
Though sometimes the book seems too contrived, it has a tight narration. It is heartening to see the bunch of losers, who piece together the puzzle just as the readers do to unearth the obvious. Just go ahead and enjoy a nice drama.

The Man (published in 1964) - the turmoil when a Black Man becomes President of the United States

Irving Wallace was born in Chicago, to Jewish parents,Bessie and Alexander Wallace Who had Emigrated from Russia. He completed his studies in California and started out as a journalist at a tender age of 15. He studied creative writing at the Williams Institute in Berkley and from the mid-30s he worked as a free-lance correspondent. In 1941 he married Sylvia Kahn; they had two children. Irving Wallace served in the air force during world war two and later collaborated in several movies as a writer. His first book “Sins of Peter Fleming" did not attract much attention. But his second book influenced by the Kinsey report was a best seller. He has been a prolific churner of best sellers and his books have been adapted as major movies.
As you read The man, you just feel that Wallace is holding a mirror to the society which has to prove itself in accepting people who we ourself prove to be different. Today the Barack Obama presidency rolls on you just cant be amazed by the events of the 60's where a racially charged America forced to accept a black president comes up to our expectation to truly prove its secular and equality credentials.



A quirky accident, kills the American president, vice president and the pro term speaker which throws up the question of succession. Douglas Dilman, the President Pro Tempore, largely a ceremonial position, is thrust in to the limelight to succeed the slain president. The ultimate question remains in the book lingering, will America boiling in the race cauldron accept a black president. The book follows the ethical and moral questions about race discrimination which emotionally scars and almost overwhelms a capable man.
Douglas has to maintains a distance with everybody. He cannot encourage any black friends for the fear of alienating white constituents. His family itself is torn between his son who enjoys being the beacon of black power to the daughter who has given up on her race. His relationship with his secretary, Edna Foster is very cautious one which involves a no close door policy. The other senators and right wing newspapers pillory his every stance right on domestic policies and international relations. The author portrays each cruel barb with such force that the reader feels enraged by the tactics of the villains. The portrayal of Eaton and Zeke Miller as ambitious upwardly mobile whites in a racially vitiated atmosphere is real.
But Douglas Dilman is no remote controlled mannequin. He slowly comes on his own confident in his abilities and truth which makes his opponents desperate. So the motion is set in to remove the president, the motion of impeachment. Soon character assassinations, threats and bogus impediments are laid down which actually befuddle the public. But will the truth survive, will the senate be blinded by color believe the lies of Miller and Co or uphold the constitution which says “ All Men Are Equal” and will Douglas Dilman win the trust of his children, lady love and the public to be true inspiration and commander in chief?
These burning questions remain and shades of Harper Lee's “try to kill a mocking bird also emerges”. A true inspirational story which will resonate through generations.

Floodgate (1983) - Authored by Alistair Maclean - Irish terrorists threatening the Netherlands with water

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. MacLean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Floodgate is the second book of Alistair MacLean to be set in Holland. The first was puppet on the chain which dealt with the Netherlands underground drug mafia. He brings in the familiar detective Peter van Effen who continues his sleuthing in this book.
Schipol airport in Amsterdam is flooded and the planes are floating around aimlessly. The dykes which kept the north sea out has been breached and the sea has devoured Schipol completely and the authorities are completely baffled. Peter Van Effen, the detective par excellence is brought in by the authorities. Soon FFF, an Irish Liberation force calls in claiming responsibility and threatens to carry on more strikes against the dykes. This pours in the panic as a breach through the dykes would submerge Holland completely under water.



Van Effen goes in to action and checks in all the employees of the airport. He suspects informants among the staff would have helped the terrorist. In the mean time the terrorist have acquired nuclear weapons and threaten to detonate them in the sea triggering a tsunami to submerge Holland.
He is ably assisted by beautiful assistant Annemarie Meijer, an heiress to a large fortune and other beautiful women. Van Effen is very close with to the dreaded underground gang the Krakers and enlist their help to combat the terrorist. Soon the game starts to outwit the terrorists. The FFF has to be stopped for the interest of Holland.
Soon the action hottens up with Agnelli the head of the Krakers gang along with his brothers infiltrate the gang and pass on information to Van Effen. Soon many operatives like Anne Marie and Marie are captured and held for ransom. The leader of the terrorist Samuelson is supposedly an earl who is motivated by revenge for the killing of his sons. Sometimes you feel that MacLean just awakens sympathies for his character even when he planning in human ways to kill.
But the ultimate action is ingenious, although a little tame for such a grand operation. Van Effen successfully gases all the terrorist unconscious and arrest all of them and rescue the hostages. Anne Marie and he predictably fall in love with each other and walk in to the sunset.
This may not be MacLean's best books of the time but the plot is the winner. A very cleverly thought out action plan with with a tame ending is Floodgate. Still I would recommend it for its sheer clever storyline from MacLean.

Goodbye California (published in 1977) - By Author Alistair Maclean - the story of attempts to exploit a earthquake fault

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Published in 1971, this book deals with the current flavor of terror, Islamic terrorism. MacLean describes the future terrorist and their methodologies, like nuclear destruction of the Earth. This shows that his thinking was much ahead of his time and today after 4 decades the world is fighting the same war.
MacLean has taken the theme from the Earthquake which shook California in 1906 resulting in wide spread damage to the tune of sixty million dollars and large number of deaths. The citizens of California still live under the threat of another earthquake because of the San Andreas fault line passing through the city. This ring of fire in the Pacific has been the cause of earthquakes in Japan and South America in the later decades. What if some man made activity result in the destabilization of the San Andreas fault line? This novel is taken from this premise.



Sergeant Ryder is the honest police detective who has little regard for his superiors as most of them are corrupt and not talented. He undertakes an investigation in to the corruption in the higher offices of the police department. Some Islamic terrorist steal nuclear weapons and take multiple hostages which include Ryder's wife.
So Ryder has to battle corruption, bureaucracy and pig headed superiors who try to stone wall his investigations. Ryder after a wild goose chase conclude that the Russian connection is not for real and the origin of terrorists are different. Then the game begins.
After a few twists and turns Ryder gets to turn the table on the terrorist with help of unlikely allies and manages to save the world. This book is not considered the good books of MacLean. There are so many plots and subplots which are weak and will not stand the scrutiny of the reader.
The only redeeming feature of this book is the nuggets of information that MacLean throws our way about he earth quakes and its aftermath. Maybe in the 1970's it may have seemed very far fetched, but somehow it seems all too plausible. For action buffs this too results in disappointment as there is lot of sermonizing about governments and corruption. This book is about the angst of one man in this case Ryder against the nepotism prevalent around the world. For the first time reader the advice is not to be disheartened by this book because the story teller has given us great pieces earlier.

The Golden Gate (published in 1976) - Authored by Alistair Maclean - a threat to the Golden Gate Bridge

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
The egomaniac criminal Branson and his henchmen kidnap the president and threaten to blow up the golden gate bridge if their ransom demand is not met with. The criminal master min Peter Branson along with his comrades kidnap the president, his army chief, a oil sheikh and A Prince of a Middle eastern country. The spectacular action unfolds in the middle of the Golden gate Bridge in San Francisco. He also capture Mount Tamalpious which hosts the radar station to control the aircraft activity over the bridge.
So the investigating agencies are crippled by air and land and sea. Branson demands one billion dollars in ransom and a pardon for all criminal activities. He professes to be non violent criminal and executes the action with a smooth hand. His main henchmen are, Van Effen, Chrysler, Bradley and Giscard. Branson is portrayed to be a very able leader and a good friend who takes care all of them.



But Branson had a major flaw, he is fame crazy. When he cripples the law enforcers, he allows news media to cover this event. He invites everybody to witness the kidnappings provided if they have a camera and pen with them, only fire arms not allowed.
So the FBI exploits this major loop hole. Its devious head Haggenbach picks up his finest agent, Paul Revson to check mate Branson. So enter Revson who is a cool cynical MacLean hero armed with a camera and a pen. He flatters Branson and gains entry in to the inner circle close to the kidnappers. Here he meets Dr. O'Hare, a medic and April Wednesday, a journalist who prove to be his unlikely allies.
Revson's ingenious plans start to take shape. He with the help of Dr. O'Hare bring in small guns, cyanide revolvers, smoke bombs and medicines. The villains start disappearing with Revson catching and drugging them to smuggle them out aboard a submarine under the bridge. In this mission he is ably assisted by April Wednesday and Revson soon falls in love with her. The game of cat and mouse continue with the FBI playing with the emotions of the henchmen.
After emotionally wrecking the kidnappers, Revson in the final bout of action with the help of Cartland, the army chief, rescues the President and his guests outwitting the villains. He also wins the lady whom MacLean has not given much of a thought. A simple thriller worth a read.

Force 10 from Navarone (published in 1968) - Authored by Alistair Maclean - Mallory and Miller sent to Yugoslavia to fight along with the partisans

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war that he was part of, and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Force 10 from Navarone is the sequel to the highly successful Guns Of Navarone. Guns of Navarone had featured the doughty heroes of MacLean, Mallory, the resourceful mountaineer, Miller, the the explosives expert, Andrea Stavros, the brooding cool Greek resistance fighter, Brown, the engineer and radio expert and Stevens the medic. Brown and Stevens were martyred in their last mission to silence the German guns in Navarone. After the Aegean war Andrea stays over to marry the Greek resistance fighter,Maria and Mallory and Miller return to the war in Europe.
Force 10 picks up the threads right after the war. Miller and Mallory are ordered to return to Navarone and fetch Stavros for a mission in Yugoslavia. Stavros after much resistance comes with them. They are joined by Royal Marine Commando's who fill up the vacancies of Brown and Steven's. But one of them, Reynolds is less than pleased to be a reserve. But a team they must be, to fight the Germans in eastern Europe. They are briefed by Colonel Jensen about the mission. They are supposed to go to the Neretva region in Bosnia and check out why all allied agents have been kidnapped and if possible undertake a rescue mission.



They meet general Vuckovic the commander of the partisan forces supporting the allies in Yugoslavia. He informs them that the partisan forces are trapped against the river with German Panzer forces moving in on them. He indicates that if the partisans are defeated the German Army will control all of Yugoslavia and asks for help from the allies to prevent the slaughtering.
The mission starts as soon as they are air dropped down to Neretva and are captured by Drozhny, a huge partisan Bosnian. They tell him that they are allied deserters who are being tried by the army for selling Penicillin. Drozhny produces them before a German captain Neufeld who informs a stunned Miller that Drozhny and group are German collaborators called the Chetniks. Thus the mystery of the continuous capture of allied agents become clear.
Now in the hands of the enemy they have to engage them with lies and deception. They meet the singing blind minstrel Peter and his sister Maria who have secrets of their own. After a series of twists and action the heroes manage to rescue the captured Allied Prisoners and outwit the Germans. The ending is phenomenal with a dam burst and washing away of the Panzer divisions.
This book was also adapted to become a movie, directed by Guy Hamilton and starring Robert Shaw, Harrison Ford, Barbara Bach, Edward Fox and Franco Nero and was a moderate success. But the movie has little in common with the book apart from the principle characters and the title. So grab your copy and enjoy the action packed thriller.

Bear Island (published in 1971) - Written by Alistair Maclean - story of murders on a lone cold island

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Bear island is a detective thriller which is set up in the Norwegian seas. This is one of the later Alistair MacLean books where the who done it plot kept the action going. Typical of all MacLean Books the elements play an important part. In fact MacLean describes the cold Arctic so well that the reader gets the goose bumps.
A film crew sets sail to the Bear island, across the Barents sea ostensibly to shoot a feature film on a trawler which is renovated as a luxury sail boat called the Morning Rose. Most of the crew who are part of the film hardly know the script except for the director and the scriptwriter. Aboard the ship there is a medic Dr. Marlowe and couple of Mary's.



Soon the mystery starts as the crew members are killed one by one by a murderer. Marlowe is puzzled by this and starts his investigation. The murders continue even as the crew is deposited on the Bear Island and are beyond the help of any law enforcing agencies. Marlowe is not what he professes to be. He is an agent with the US treasury and is shadowing the boat along with the police. The mysterious director Otto jergan is after the gold ingots and securities which was buried by a Nazi Admiral under the sea after the world war two. There are several sub plots which involves a Romanian count, hit mans, Admirals daughter etc which ultimately converges to the main plot. So after a lot of twist in the plot Marlowe uncovers their sinister designs and foils the murders.
Some times the book is a drag because of the multiple designs and activities. The past and the present collide rapidly that the reader keeps getting confused. As for ever MacLean does not give the women any credit or scenes for the women. Only thing which stands out in the book is the description of Bear Island. It is presented so very beautifully by MacLean that it can be copied by any tourist operator.
Bear Island was adapted to film in the 1980 movie directed by Don Sharp and starring Donald Sutherland, Richard Widmark, Vanessa Redgrave, and Christopher Lee. The film was shot in Canada and Alaska. The film bears little resemblance to the book and even the hero's name is Lansing instead of Marlowe. The scenery described by Alistair Maclean is also absent from the movie. So go ahead pick up the book. Its worth a first time look.

The Last Frontier (by Alistair MacLean) - Published in 1959 - Set with the backdrop of the Hungarian revolution and the struggle against Communism

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Because of his war experiences, his novels are also high on the action content. The emotional and the romantic angle is not very much touched upon by Maclean. His characters are highly cynical men who are always part of the high octane action and push themselves against all odds with out any thought for their safety. The elements also play a very important in MacLean's writings. Most of the time his men are pitted against harsh unforgiving surroundings which brings out the innate nature hidden inside, be it a devil or a hero.
This book is inspired by the Hungarian revolution and its aftermath. This marks MacLean's foray in to the genre of Espionage thrillers.



Micheal Reynolds, the hero is a British under cover agent who is cool and calculative. He unlike James Bond does not have any fancy gadgets to defend himself but relies mainly upon the power of his gray matter. He is sent to communist Hungary to rescue British ballistic expert Professor Jenkins. He meets a wide array of people and secure unlikely allies, like Jansci, alias erstwhile major General Alexis Illyurin who is a revolutionary leader, a master of disguise “the Count” and the strong and loyal Sandor.
Each of these characters are wanted by the Russians and hunted by the secret police of Hungary, AVO. Jansci is disillusioned with communism but has not lost his feelings of empathy with the fellow Russians. He has a sad past in which his wife was arrested and sent to a concentration camp which makes it impossible for her to be traced. His daughter Julia would not escape without him and his wife. The Count acts as a double agent but is working for the revolution and has only one love in his life, his child.
One thing about this book is the high dose of philosophical dialogues between the principal characters, Jansci and Reynolds. For Reynolds all the ills plaguing the world is because of communism , but Jansci is a non violent apostle talks about communism as - “remains only as a myth, an empty lip-service catchword in the name of which the cynical, ruthless realists of the Kremlin find sufficient excuse and justification for whatever barbarities their policies demands.”He feels that the fear of the traitors for their downfall is the cause of all pogroms.
Apart from these highly thoughtful dialogues, the book is just another MacLean adventure. Reynolds is captured, tortured and is helped by others to escape with the Professor with Julia in his arms. All the ingredients of brutality, torture, chemical warfare, nuclear arsenals and a feeble love story make up this story.
Now that communism has faded you can find the echoes of these dialogues in other “isms” like terrorism and fanaticism. A good book which makes you wonder at the world.

South by Java head (published in 1957) - Author: Alistair Maclean - story of the fight against the Japanese in the Second World War (to get some papers)

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Because of his war experiences, his novels are also high on the action content. The emotional and the romantic angle is not very much touched upon by Maclean. His characters are highly cynical men who are always part of the high octane action and push themselves against all odds with out any thought for their safety. The elements also play a very important in MacLean's writings. Most of the time his men are pitted against harsh unforgiving surroundings which brings out the innate nature hidden inside, be it a devil or a hero.
South By Java head, a innate Alistair Maclean novel is about the war in the pacific, more specifically about the war of Singapore. Singapore, British colony is over run by the Japanese and the assurances about its defense by the British authorities proves to be hollow. So a large scale exodus of British and other foreign nationals take place to escape from the cruel clutches of the Japanese.



The survivors try to flee aboard the Kerry Dancer which is crippled by the Japanese. A group of survivors slip into the south china Sea by boat. This disparate groups of people include, an Englishman, Farnholme, A dutch planter Van Effen, a beautiful Eurasian Girl Gudrun Drachman, a slave trader Siran and a mysterious Johnny Nicholson. Soon this small flotilla of theirs is bombarded and dogged by the Japanese who are hell bent in getting some secret papers.
There is a large dose of adventure in the story with spies, secret papers, battle plans and real war. But all this pale in presence of the crews fight for survival. As all men in a MacLean adventure, they are pitted against the unsympathetic elements. If in HMS Ulysses the cold was the overriding element, here the heroes are up against the extreme heat and humidity. They weather tropical storms, insects coupled with the ferocious and cruel Japanese.
Johnny Nicholson is a typical MacLean lead character who is cynical, cool and well versed in the technique of war fare. There is an underlying factor of masochism in all this brave men. But a surprise element for all women is the presence of Gudrun Drachman, a nurse who ultimately is the love interest of Nicholson. MacLean attempts of portraying the the romance is almost laughable.
Another problem with this novel is the under current of racism or the political correctness. The Japanese are the villains, but is it necessary to attribute inhuman cruelty to all of them. All Japanese soldiers, especially officers are presented as blood thirsty fiends and rapist. Alistair MacLean attributes the Japanese as inherently cruel and all the Englishmen as upright citizens. Well, Maclean would be forgiven by a public in the 50's but in this era such unbridled violence and masochism may be discouraged. Apart from these sore points this book gives you an adrenaline rush and a feeling of triumph.

The Golden Rendezvous (published in 1962) - by Alistair Maclean - an action packed ocean thriller on a cruise ship

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Because of his war experiences, his novels are also high on the action content. The emotional and the romantic angle is not very much touched upon by Maclean. His characters are highly cynical men who are always part of the high octane action and push themselves against all odds with out any thought for their safety. The elements also play a very important in MacLean's writings.
The golden rendezvous is an action packed ocean thriller. It takes place aboard SS Campari which is a ex-freight ship which has been turned in to a luxury cruise ship. It is weighing anchor in the exotic Caribbean. The ship is fitted with all the luxury accessories that a man can think off and is patronized by the who's who of the society. It is captained by the mercurial and moody Captain Bullen.



A series of events sabotage the voyage of the Campari. The island where the Campari is weighing anchor is enveloped in a coup. Soon certain passengers are recalled back because of family emergencies and their place is taken by sinister new ones. Apart from this a rumor floats around that a nuclear bomb has been stolen from a nearby naval base.
All this bothers the hero, chief officer John Carter. He has to contend with the temper of Captain Bullen and is distracted by the attentions of the millionaire heiress Susan Beresford. During the shooting he is severely injured and embarks on a mission to find out the truth. He finds to his dismay that the criminal mastermind, Carreras has smuggled in a Nuclear device. Soon the action unfolds with all the passengers being held as hostages with a ransom call of million dollars gold in bullion.
Now carter with his injured leg has to foil the kidnappers and disarm the device. He does in-spite of the death defying activities in which he is ably assisted by Beresford and the doctor. They with the help of a scientist neutralize the nuclear bomb and prevent the escape of the culprits. Carter also finds time to melt into the green eyes of Susan Beresford.
Alistair MacLean has cleverly put in his navy experiences within the book. His knowledge of the navy, the ships, nautical terminology and the ocean is impeccable. You just fall in love with the brave soldier whose death defying stunts are described so vividly.
This book was made in to a movie staring Richard Harris and the lovely Ann Turkel. A good read for action buff's.

The Secret of Chimneys (published in 1925) - A book by celebrated detective author Agatha Christie

'The Secret of Chimneys' is one of the early works of Agatha Christie, with the word Chimneys referring to a mansion, used in more works by Agatha Christie. Like some of the other books written by Christie, it incorporates political intrigue of that time, with assassinations, spying, monarchies, double identities, and so on. If you read the plot in one go, it can seem somewhat outlandish and out of this world, but if you get into some pleasure book reading and watch the plot twist and turn, then the book can be very interesting. In this case, the book deals with a monarchy of the fictional country of Herzoslovakia located in the Balkans, which had overthrown the king some time back and setup a Republic, but now wanted to restore the monarchy and had identified a relative of the murdered king, and had extended him an invitation to come back and take the throne (although in modern times it is difficult to find a country which would do something like this, unless it is setting a king for ceremonial purposes).



The cause of the uprising in the country was primarily due to the queen, who was a dancer, was of common stock, and was propped by a revolutionary organization to trap the king, but she double-crossed the organization and instead married the king. She was the primary cause of the uprising in which both the king and queen were killed by a mob. But, in a turnabout, the people want a distant cousin, Prince Michael Obolovitch, to take over, and the British are broking this deal (and since no one does something for free, they are looking for oil concessions in the country). However, this entire situation is mixed with some memoirs that could prove embarrassing, and which are being sent for publication. Mix this with some lady's letter up for blackmail, and political discussion in the mansion of Chimneys, and you have a very interesting tale.