The seventh Chester Drum novel takes Drum on a journey across the European continent as he tangles with political intrigue, blackmail, mobsters, family secrets, and is filled with action aboard an ocean liner, fist fights, and a race across Italy. This novel covers a lot of territory and Drum is a spy, a political operative, a conspirator, and a genuine good guy trying to do the right thing. There is more than one femme fatale here. The Drum series is one of the toughest and most hardboiled out there, placing Drum in a different country in each novel. This is not one of the best Drum stories as the plot becomes a bit convoluted and seems to get a little lost along the way. However, the fights with the mobsters in London, Paris, and Venice are great. The chase across the Italian countryside is not to be missed and nor is the final showdown. Overall, its definitely worth a read, particularly if you enjoy the Drum series. ( )