Facing enemies at every turn, private spy Simon Riske dashes across
Europe to find the truth behind a mysterious investor in this
high-stakes international espionage series: "comparison to the Bond
novels is apt in many ways." (Booklist)
Simon Riske sits in sun-dappled Napa Valley, toasting the record
hundred-million-dollar sale of a rare 1963 Ferrari which he restored
himself. The buyer, a sophisticated French woman, Sylvie Bettencourt,
has purchased the car for an unnamed client whose anonymity she will
guard at all costs. Riske enjoys her company and the flowing champagne
until Sylvie's formidable Russian bodyguard storms in, claiming the
vehicle is a fake. Riske is given an ultimatum. Prove the car is the
real thing...or else.
Meanwhile, in Lugano, Switzerland, Carl Bildt, banker to the rich and
nefarious, is killed by a powerful car bomb, moments before he can
deliver evidence to the authorities and disappear into witness
protection. His beautiful and headstrong daughter, Anna, rushes to
Switzerland to investigate her father's violent death.
As Simon Riske strives to prove the Ferraris' authenticity and look
deeper into Sylvie's past-and the identity of her client--he crosses
paths with Anna Bildt and discovers they have an enemy in common. From
the bustling streets of London to a secret outpost high in the French
Alps, from the freeports of Corsica to the glittering beaches of the
Costa Smeralda, the Emerald Coast, of Sardinia, Riske and Anna find
themselves players in a deadly game, where billions of dollars change
hands and knowledge is paid for with your life.
Told with Reich's signature stylish prose, clever plotting, and
pulse-pounding action sequences, Once a Thief, is sure to appeal to
longtime fans of the series and newcomers alike. Riske may be a bit
older, showing a little wear and tear, but his desire to get the job
done at any cost is stronger than ever.
