December 1938. Moscow. Josef Stalin has lost some gold. He is not a happy man. He asks his henchman Beria to track it down. September 1940 London. Above the city the Battle of Britain rages and the bombs rain down. On the streets below, DCI Frank Merlin and his officers investigate the sudden disappearance of Polish RAF pilot Ziggy Kilinski while also battling an epidemic of looting unleashed by the chaos and destruction of the Blitz. Kilinski's fellow pilots, a disgraced Cambridge don, Stalin's spies in London, members of the Polish government in exile and a ruthless Russian gangster are amongst those caught up in Merlin's enquiries. Sweeping from Stalin's Russia to Civil War Spain, from Aztec Mexico to pre-war Poland, and from Hitler's Berlin to Churchill's London a compelling story of treasure, grand larceny, treachery, torture and murder unfolds. Eventually as Hitler reluctantly accepts that the defiance of the RAF has destroyed his chances of invasion for the moment, a violent shoot-out in Hampstead leads Merlin to the final truth....and Stalin to his gold. Stalin's Gold is the latest in the Frank Merlin Series, and follows on from Princes Gate (Matador 2011).
ANDREW ROBERTS, BESTSELLING HISTORIAN
'Mark Ellis shows masterly form as he weaves a compelling narrative around the investigations of the quietly heroic Frank Merlin, one of the most attractive characters to emerge in recent detective-thriller fiction. As an historian I can attest to Ellis's impressive accuracy in his fine descriptions of Blitz-hit London of 1940-41.'
MILO'S RAMBLES
'Atmospheric and wonderfully written. Another gripping tale from a talented author.'
EURO CRIME
‘The characters are all very richly drawn and I was reminded of the Inspector Troy books by John Lawton. The details of the story are fascinating and give an insight into life at this time with all the difficulties over the rationing of food and time in bomb shelters. The plot with many dramatic twists and turns is very vivid and knowledgeable and the widely diverse scenes kept me transfixed until the last page. I found it very difficult to put this very gripping story down until the extraordinary end...I look forward hopefully to reading many more books by this very gifted author. Strongly recommended.'
YORKSHIRE GAZETTE AND HERALD
'A real treasure...'
