Old time spy drama from the cold war, with Nazis and Commies and US and British spies all converging on a tiny lake in Austria that holds a box.

Brought back some old memories from the 60s and 70s. Including my trip in 1970 still with spies running around Europe. And everywhere else I suppose. ( )

1960s Austrians, Americans, British, Communists, all trying to get the secret Nazi strongbox hidden in an alpine lake.... ( )

Sam Levitt is back, now working with Francis Reboul instead of against him. Recruited to present a construction project that, for various reasons requires a salesman with charm who cannot be Reboul, Sam is the man for the job. Added to the mix, his on-again girlfriend, Elena, goes with him. Once in Marseille Sam meets the competition, in the form of Lord Whopping, who will stop at nothing to get the job. Hi-jinks ensue! A fun, quick read, but be warned, read on a full stomach or else the descriptions of the food will cause some serious overeating! ( )

I started reading mysteries as did many of my generation with The Nancy Drew Mysteries by Carolyn Keene. Then it was on to the romantic mystery genre as developed by Mary Stewart and espionage novels by Helen MacInnes. This espionage novel is undoubtedly one of the best ever for its time.

This work of fiction is plush with setting descriptions and intricate details of the chase to discover if the rumor is true that an old chest containing Nazi war documents is submerged in the midst of an Austrian lake - a true Pandora's box that could seemingly easily become the basis for the recreation of the world's worst nightmare and possibly help to rebuild an underground network that would devote themselves to the rebuilding of the Nazi regime. Can the chest be retrieved if it is not just a rumor? What do the documents disclose? Who would the documents benefit? Can multiple agents from different countries work together for the common good?

Helen MacInnes wrote espionage before the assistance of technology in the formats of laptops, cell phones, and social media. Helen MacInnes brings her characters to life and the reader becomes engrossed in trying to solve the puzzles of the journey for the truth and who is truly to be believed in the midst of deceptive and cryptic messages. It is the classic question of "Will good prevail over evil?" The reader will continue to turn pages as fast as he/she can read to learn the answer. It is an espionage novel that reminds us of the harrowing twists and turns to the truth and forever reminds us of the challenges and costs for those that fight behind-the-scenes to preserve freedom. ( )

A bit predictable but holds up well considering it was written in the 60's.

A good holiday read if you are staying in the Salzburg area. ( )