Death of an Agent

Easter 1965 and radical Wellington students are threatening President Johnson's envoy, here to urge New Zealand to commit troops to its Vietnam campaign. American 'advisers' warn security services of violent action by a disaffected anarchist. Former detective and spy-catcher Dan Delaney is first on the scene of a woman dead in a hot tub and his good friend Ru Patterson unconscious beside her. The deceased is a security agent attempting to infiltrate Patterson's left-wing circle, which includes radical students such as the anarchist and Ru's headstrong daughter Hine, Dan's goddaughter. The authorities demand Dan's help. Delaney is caught up in gang and police threats to Hine, a police raid on a suspected marijuana dealer, an SIS interrogation, the planting of an incendiary device, an unexpected encounter with Prime Minister Keith Holyoake, student confrontation at the envoy's airport motel, response to a Parliamentary intrusion with Special Task Force marksmen surrounding the building as Dan pursues the anarchist booby-trapping the building while trying to dodge the police sharpshooters. 'The mysterious "Control" ... comes across like a voice-over in a Raymond Chandler movie ... The star of the book ... gets the girl, loses the girl and then for good measure he's drugged and abducted ... A 1960s Wellington, at once naive and cultured, is lovingly portrayed.' Linda Niccol 'Some very thrilling moments, and the politics are fascinating -- especially considering recent events ... when we are once again realising sections of our community are being dangerously swayed by myths of imminent threat. Another great New Zealand read.' Alyson Baker