Date first published	Sept 1996
ISBN Number	0 7181 4243 8
Page Count	282 P/b
h/b= hardback : p/b= paperback

Storyline

Alexander Kinloch, artist, is content with the pattern of his life. His home is a small bothy on a remote fellside in Scotland: he paints on commission from which he derives both pleasure and a decent income: he lives alone and likes it. However, his peace is violently shattered when he returns home one day to find a bunch of thugs waiting for him. After a scuffle, he is left for dead with only the wind and the words 'Where is it' ringing in his ears.

The days that follow contain more risks to life and limb than he could ever have imagined.

Review

The hero, is dragged into this not by accident, but because two of his peers, have made plans for the cup to disappear and have decided Alex will be the perfect person to hide it. However the person behind the attack has been pre-emptive, and launched the attack before Alex knows he is to hide it. The cup is only a side story behind the real story.

The main thrust of the story is set in the family brewery, where the finance director has disappeared with all of the company money, and some that he had arranged for the company to borrow. The money looks to be lost somewhere in Panama.

Alex is brought in to help solve the matter of the money and is given Power of Attorney, to run his step fathers affairs, much against the advice of the family solicitor, and to the fury of his step sister, who believes that Alex is seeking to take her inheritance. So it is here that we learn the basics of company insolvency, and Company Voluntary Arrangements, and how a company can try and trade through serious cash flow problems. We also get a fairly comprehensive introduction on how an artist would paint a picture.

Problems for Alex intensify, when the missing finance director is found dead, and obviously tortured. it is then that everyone realises that there was an accomplice, and that accomplice will stop at nothing to get the missing millions.

This story apart from the amount of money involved could be written today. There is a hint of Scottish Nationalism, with an ancient historical sword from Bonny Prince Charley, being held as a family heirloom, but wanted but the local museum.

This is a really fast paced story from the outset, with hardly any introduction, before the 4 thugs have beaten our reluctant hero, as with some of the earlier novels we also get to meet an amusing side kick in the form of the private investigator. I won't say much more, as he is a true one off, and should make you smile.

Buy this one, and enjoy a fast paced novel, with just hint of violence.

Previous	Index	Next