Lionel Davidson is a writer of adventure stories and thrillers which have attained both commercial and critical success. While the former is not unusual for books of this type, what sets Davidson apart from other writers of action-packed "quick reads" is that his novels offer the reader more than they usually get from the genre.

Davidson is not a prolific writer, but he is a versatile one. His books are both original and entertaining; he expertly combines dialogue and descriptive prose to produce convincing, lively fiction with memorable characters and settings. His books contain interesting twists of plot, fast action, suspense, and enough historical and scientific information to add credibility. Davidson also manages to include subtle humor in his novels. Each work takes him in a slightly new direction.

Once Davidson has an idea for a novel, he spends much time researching, obtaining a command of his subject...