Fallen Among Thieves

It started out as little more than a favour. Lath Thomas is employed by a newy released young man to follow up a fellow prisoner's obsession with a gang of Victorian thieves and the rumour that they hid a stash of jewels somewhere in London. But the man, Jim Green, who started this obsession was also using his research for other purposes. The police believe a criminal family led by Michael Stone has been using elaborate financial frauds from the Victorian era, frauds which the Serious Fraud Office did not know how to look for. Their success leads a German group to try to muscle in, and Michael Stone's brother is attacked, which Larh witnesses, and two young criminals associated with the gang are killed. One of whom is Larh's original client, and the other is Jim Green's son. Larh finds the jewels and using these as bait she follows the trail to the Caribbean islands where Jim Green is hiding, first on St Barts, but then she escapes with him on his boat to another island. Here they are attacked and the boat sunk, Larh is rescued from a nearby island, and later Jim Green gives himself up to the police. In his defense he gives information on two Metropolitan superintendents who have been helping Michael Stone for years, and it all becomes very dicey. To confuse things further, an old flame, Inspector Joseph is also involved. His ambitious new boss, Superintendent Jane Constantine has plans for the bent superintendents, and takes an instant dislike to Larh and her unofficial role.