The 14th Jonas Forbes Thriller
1968. A British hitman is rumoured to have been hired to assassinate Robert Kennedy, then a favourite to be the Democratic candidate in the Presidential Election. Reluctantly the UK Foreign Office hire Jonas Forbes to investigate the rumour. He homes in on the Carter gang and narrowly escapes with his life, killing Charlie Carter, the boss’s son, in the process. Joe Carter is out for revenge and, as the hitman, Lennie Denton, has already left for the USA, pays Ernest Jones to eliminate Forbes. However, by mistake he kills Simon Holmes, husband of Jonas’s factotum, Vanessa. That provides Jonas with a more personal motivation as he flies to the USA, leaving Scotland Yard to track down Simon’s killer.
San Francisco is not a welcoming place for British imports: Lennie Denton is resented by ‘The Team’(a branch of the Mafia), especially its leader, Clint McAdam; Jonas is resented by the SFPD, especially Inspector Harry Callaghan. However, both quickly overcome such early rejection. Lennie finds himself a lover in Mandy Faber, McAdam’s ‘Girl Friday’ and Jonas partners ‘Dirty Harry’ in busting up McAdam’s base. But before that Jonas has caught up with Lennie Denton. Has he saved Bobby Kennedy?
There are more questions. Who’s been tipping off Lennie about police progress on both sides of the Atlantic? Has Scotland Yard caught up with the murderer of Simon Holmes? Why were the SFPD so pleased to see Jonas leave for London? And now that Vanessa’s a widow will she at last get together with her boss?
A Fast-paced thriller firmly set in 1968.