My hands were crossed and tied at the front. I moved awkwardly, unnaturally, with them like that. I knew the Italian would have me in the crossed hairs of his sights. And every muscle in my body was waiting for the crack, the thump of the first bullet finding its target.

Essington Holt is out for revenge. The Australian millionaire and sometime art forger has been kidnapped, humiliated, mutilated and exchanged for three million dollars and a valuable painting. Now he wants to bring the criminals to justice - privately.

Praise for Essington Holt novels:

'The Aussie equivalent of Jonathon Gash's Lovejoy ... I personally prefer the more polished Essington ... I hope he sticks around.' - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

'...the real cachet of these novels is their thrusting style, at once rawly droll and painfully perceptive.' - Stephen Knight, Sydney Morning Herald

'...bouyant and humorous, which makes the violence Essington seems to attract all the more vicious. A marvellous thriller.' - Liverpool Daily Post