I have come to the end of the list of books
by this author that I have reviewed. This was another book that I had not
read in a long long time, though I have seen the film a few times after reading
the book. It is right there with the other books by Alistair MacLean, in its
plot intricacy and suspense.
The prologue sets the sinister tone to the novel. There is a
young man being chased into the caves by knife welding men and murdered. The
novel starts with the hero Neil Bowman dining with a young lady Cecile. Cecile’s
friend Lila is dining at another table with Le Grand Duc, an impressive man in
more ways than one. They have watched
the gypsy caravans coming and setting up camp on the grounds outside. Just then
there is a disturbance in the camp and it appears that a young man has gone
missing and his mother is crying. Some men have been sent by the leader to
drive back on the route they have just travelled over. Indeed police is called
when they return without finding the young man. However, the area that has not
been searched in the caves and no one wants to go in there in the dark. It appears
that there is a close relationship between the Duc and the gypsies, as he
wanders over to find out what the matter is.
Neil also wanders over with Cecile trying to get details of
the event. All he can ascertain is that there are a few ladies with the missing
man’s mother and all look very worried and scared. Neil decides to go out later
in the night to gather information. He does overhear the leader talking about
some assignment but he is seen when trying to get to the caravan with the
ladies in it. Three of the gypsies including the leader’s son chase Neil who
tries to find refuge in the hotel. Then he races up into the hills with the men
armed with knives and a gun. What will he discover in the caves in the hills which
he is forced to run into? The way out of the caves is tricky and will he get
out of there alive? It is a touch and go but he thwarts his pursuers and goes
back to the hotel to collect Cecile and make his escape.
On the run but keeping with the groups of gypsies which
include the leader and the caravan with the ladies in it, Neil attempts to find
out what the gypsies are hiding. There is some sinister plot and to get to the
bottom of it Neil and Cecile change their appearance and get closer to the
various gypsies. What is one of the young ladies doing buying bandages and medicines?
Where is the other young lady Tina? The Duc is following the gypsies but is he
just a historian as he says or there is something ominous about his relationship
with them?
Since Neil and Cecile are strangers and buy change of
clothes from a local shop the gypsies find out and set a trap to catch them. They
mingle with the crowds at the local bullfighting ring before going to the
caravans again. Neil gets caught while trying to find out why 3 men are being
kept prisoners in one of the caravans. His punishment is to fight a bull to
death, one that has been specially prepared for the purpose of killing Neil.
They hold on to Cecile to make sure he does not try and escape.
Will Neil survive the bull fight? What is the mystery of the
prisoners? Is Duc directing the nefarious operations? The plot is good and it
is not easy to guess what the heart of the mystery is, unlike most of the other
novels. It is in the last few chapters that the whole picture emerges with the suspense
being maintained right up to the last page.
This novel has the usual mix of mystery, suspense, and humour
that Alistair MacLean is known for. A wonderful read at any time with the story
slowly emerging page at a time.
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