THE DAY THE THAMES CAUGHT FIRE

by Peter Chambers ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 18, 1990

Chambers, whose most recent novel, The Hunting of Mr. Gloves (under the pseudonym Philip Daniels), also featured a converging-threads storyline, now draws Bad Baxter, a soldier of fortune, into a scheme to rob a Thames-side bullion repository. At the same time, the government's Department G, utilizing the wily Jennifer Fiske and the devil-may-care Ben Hardcastle, track him down, as do several double-dealing, double-crossing henchmen--including the men who originated the scheme; a mysterious lady; a Marseilles contingent; and an oriental gang of bootleggers. Meanwhile, in order to effect an entry into the respository, three diversions are needed: fire and smoke wafting in from a boat fire; gas leaking from a hole in the ground on neighboring Chandlers Way; and a traffic ""accident"" on abutting Rope Street. Dressed as fireman and ambulance drivers, Baxter and his hand-picked bad guys enter from the roof, load the bullion, and take off--but not before the mysterious lady kills Mr. Big, and the remarkable Miss Fiske devises a scheme to snare Baxter and foil the holdup. A deftly executed caper, with an undercurrent of humor (all those doublecrossers).

Pub Date: April 18, 1990

ISBN: 0708972705

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1990

Categories: FICTION