Norman Daniels (2) (1905–1995)

This is an very good thriller from the mid 60s. John Keith works for undercover for the American Policy Executive (yes, he's the man from APE) a super-secret agency of the government. But silly acronyms aside, this book delivers a top notch spy story for a throwaway paperback original series. No supervillains, no sci-fi orbitting weapons, no giant henchmen with steel thumbs. This is 142 pages of espionage chase. A top Russian general escapes the Soviet Union with a briefcase full of defense plans. He has no intention of defecting to another nation, but just wants the plans as insurance against his assassination by the KGB. When word gets out of the general's escape to Munich, he's hunted by a the KGB, a Chinese agent, the Munich police and John Keith. The key to finding the general involves keeping an eye on his ballerina daughter who's performing in Germany. Keith already has her in tow because his cover involves working public relations for the ballet troupe. The final chapter involves an audacious plan by Keith that puts the daughter and the defense plans in extreme danger if it doesn't work as devised. Again, don't let the Man From APE designation fool you, this one is worth reading.… (mehr)