The Jackal's Share (Ben Webster Spy Thrillers, Book 2)

AmurderinaTehranhotelleavestheLondonartworldspinning.Thedeceased,belovedathomeasaprouddealerinantiquities,nowstandsaccusedofsmugglingartifactsoutofIranforsaleintheWest.Butdespitethetriumphalannouncementsofthesecretpolice,thereissomethingperhapstootidyintheofficialreport—giventhatnoartifactshavebeenrecovered,nosmugglinghistorydiscovered,nosuspectsfound.Halfaworldaway,DariusQazaideliversastiringeulogyforhisdepartedfriend.Afabulouslysuccessfulfinancier,Qazaihasdirectedhislifeandwealthtowardphilanthropy,artpreservation,andpeacefulprotestagainsttheregimeofhisnativeIran.Hisfortune,colossal;hischaracter,immaculate.PleasantlyensconcedintheworldoftheLondonexpatriateelite,Qazaiisthelastpersonanyonewouldsuspectoffoulplay.YetsomethingominousisdisruptingQazai’srecentbusinessdeals,somerumorfromhispastsofrighteningtohisAmericanpartnersthattheywillnolongerspeaktohim.SoQazaihiresarespectablecorporateintelligencefirmtoinvestigatehimselfandclearhisreputation.AveteranofintelligenceworkintheformerSovietUnion,BenWebstersoondiscoversthatQazai’spristinepastisactuallyadensenetofinterlockinghalf-truthsandunansweredquestions:Ishearespectablecitizenoranartsmuggler?Ishisfortunebuiltonmeritoronarmsdealing?Ishe,afterall,hisownman?AsheclosesinonthetruthofQazai’sfortune—andthosewhowouldwishtodestroyit—Websterdiscovershemaypayforthatknowledgewiththelivesofhisownfamily.Avividandrelentlesstaleofmurderouscorporateespionage,TheJackal’sSharefollowsthemoneythroughtherottenalleysofMarrakechandtheshiningspiresofDubai,fromtheidyllicpalacesofLakeComotothebankhousesofLondon’sCity.TheJackal’sShareplungesreadersintoaMiddleEastasstrangeandrawaseverdepicted,whererecenttriumphsrestuneasilyatopburiedcrimesandmonumentalgreed.