Sidney Starman is nearing the end of his life but has some unfinished business in Spain to take care of. 70 years previously he had been involved in the Spanish civil war and managed to find himself the sole remaining member of a group who knew the whereabouts of a stash of missing gold. He recruits two would-be conmen to do the donkey work of getting him across Spain to the actual location and the task of loading up all of that lovely shiny stuff when they get there. Things don't quite go to plan though and they end up staggering from one adventure to the next while attempting to reach their destination. Even when they arrive, their troubles aren't over as there are still some people around that remember the name of Sidney Starman and without a great deal of affection for it.

This is not an out-and-out comedy caper but there is enough humour to bring an occasional smile as we follow Sid's current and past adventures as each step brings him closer to what he left behind. While not being anything too special this is an easily read adventure yarn by an author dubbed the British Hiassen. ( )

A pair of conmen are grooming an old man to leave everything to them in his will. When he talks of hidden gold from the Spanish Civil War, they see a chance to enrich themsleves even more. But who is using whom? A violent and convoluted thriller with many flashbacks to the International Brigades. It reminds us perhaps that harmless-looking little old men may have a very violent past and may not have lost all the skills and attitudes that they picked up in darker times.

It's a good read, with an unexpected ending, but I found the very last page a little disappointing - I wanted to know more! ( )