I picked up this book after I found out that there was a sequel to Montezuma's Revenge. I must say, however, it's not the typical Harry Harrison that I really enjoy reading. With way fewer puns and jokes and humor than the Stainless Steel Rat series, these books have more of an early-career feel to them. They're not quite simple, but just not the well-rounded exciting books that are fun to read that I've come to expect from Harrison.

This book continues the story of Tony Hawkin, American Indian and FBI agent (though he only works in the gift shop). He has a penchant for drinking (cue racial stereotype here) and does so at every chance he gets. But then, so does the Slippery Jim DiGriz, so you can't really hold that against him.

Anyway, the FBI has a special case, and the only agent available, according to the computer, that meets all requirements is Hawkin. He is handed 2 million dollars in ransom money and sent to a newly hijacked Airbus 380 to pay off some terrorists when he gets shanghaied and drawn into an international incident. The Cuban counter-revolutionaries who hijacked the plane turn out (at least one of them does) to be a Scotsman in disguise (bet you didn't see that coming). They divert the plane while over England and in thick fog and land it at an abandoned military runway in Scotland. Several double-crosses ensue while each different faction tries to run off with the entire ransom instead of just their share. The Scots want it to free their country, too.

Anyway, Hawkin travels all around the UK either being kidnapped or escaping kidnappers. He eventually returns to London and enlists the aid of some Israelis (from Montezuma's Revenge) in solving the case.

While it was an enjoyable quick read, this book will sit on my shelf a long time before I go back to it. ( )