Date first published	1978
ISBN Number	0 586 04816 2
Page Count	494 p/b
h/b= hardback : p/b= paperback

Storyline

Noel Holcroft is an architect, not massively successful but getting there, when he is summoned to Geneva where he is to meet a banker, who has a letter from his biological father. His long dead father, part of the Nazi party leadership, a planner and banker.

Noel is told that his father at the end had repented, and in a move to absolve the wrongs that had been done a great deal of money (780 million dollars), was held in a Swiss bank account. The proceeds to be used in reparation to all those who had been cast off by the Third Reich. The covenant comes with a veiled threat, co-operate or die.

Following the meeting death seems to follow Noel wherever he goes, and no-one is safe, not friends or family. For Holcroft will fulfil his destiny, and there are men and women who will ensure that he does. The problem is there are a lot of other parties who seek to ensure that he doesn't.

Review

Unlike his earlier books this story, one man against the elements, does not involve an intelligence officer fighting a wrong. Instead we have an architect given the task of releasing funds in a Swiss bank account. The story is initially one of Holcroft finding the Von Tiebolt family who have disappeared of the face of the earth. In his search he is confronted with threats of violence and death. However all is not what it seems as some of the action has been orchestrated to make Holcroft panic.

From Brazil Holcroft travels to England where he meets the a sister from the Von Tiebolt family. Holcroft has an interesting meeting, and concludes that she is not suitable for the task ahead. He then travels to France where he meets and falls in love with the second Von Tiebolt sister Heldon, who agrees to help him in his quest, but first he must speak to the elder brother Johann Von Tiebolt.

Holcroft is taken in with the brother, who in reality is a brutal murderer, who will stop at nothing to ensure the Fourth Reich becomes a reality.

The action is virtually non stop, with the reader never quite sure if the attacks on Holcroft are part of Von Tiebolts plans, or whether it is one of the other parties trying to stop him, either the Odessa, or Rache. The trouble is there is another party involved, determined to stop Von Tiebolt, but who are they?

The book is unusual in that it doesn't have a conventional happy ending. Von Tiebolt succeeds in starting the revolution, and the attempt to counter the assassination attempt on Holcroft only partially succeeds, and he is left critically injured. In fact the story is set for a sequel, and it could have been interesting to have done a follow up story.

The book does have a sub plot, which was not totally necessary, and the stint in London where Von Tiebolt pretending to be John Tennyson is a bit of a diversion, it's only aim to enhance and clear any doubt about Von Tiebolts life.

Once again the hero meets up with and falls in love with a strong woman to help him through his trials, a trait which disappears in later books.

All in all another top notch book, very little time to take stock, with lots to think about. I enjoyed the story, liked the characters, you know who you're rooting for, you don't necessarily know who the bad guys are, but it's more fun when they are revealed.

Another great story. You can see why he became so popular.

By the way the photo which bears the inscription 'Neuaufbau oder Tod' means 'Reconstruct or die'.

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