by Eric Ambler
Part of Arthur Simpson
First published 2004
Arthur Abdel Simpson thinks he has found easy prey when he spots Harper at the Athens airport. The tourist looks lost and wealthy, perfect for Simpson's petty scams. But Harper turns the tables when he catches Simpson stealing from his wallet. Harper blackmails Simpson into driving a car across the Turkish border, no questions asked. Turkish police arrest Simpson at the crossing and offer him a brutal choice. He can spy on Harper's crew and report back, or spend years rotting in a Turkish prison. The authorities believe they are stopping a political coup. Simpson discovers the truth is different. Harper leads a team of international jewel thieves planning a heist that dwarfs any government overthrow. Simpson must navigate between his blackmailer and his new handlers while both sides threaten his freedom. His survival depends on playing all angles in a game where the stakes keep rising.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, thriller, action, espionage
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Athens, Turkey
Period: 20th-century
224 pages · Paperback · Vintage Crime/Black Lizard