by John Gardner
First published 1980
Boysie Oakes enjoys his freedom from Special Security, running the private firm GRIMOBO with his former boss Mostyn and Charlie Griffin. Their first case brings them to New York, where Boysie takes a well-deserved break at Cape Kennedy. His vacation takes a sharp turn when thieves steal a Saturn V rocket and Boysie vanishes along with it. The same criminals who made off with the massive spacecraft have specific plans for the suave British agent. Unlike his usual predicaments, they need him breathing and in working order. Boysie finds himself traveling much farther than any holiday itinerary would suggest, accompanied by a beautiful woman who shares his unexpected journey. What begins as a simple theft escalates into the most dangerous mission of his career. The rocket heist pulls Boysie into a web of international intrigue that tests every skill he learned as a special agent.
Genres: adventure, action, mystery-thriller, espionage
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, unexpected-journey
Setting: Cape Kennedy, New York
Period: 20th-century
192 pages · Paperback · Star