The Namedropper

by Brian Freemantle

A con man gets in too deep during a risky job on the French RivieraHarvey Jordan is no ordinary thief. A few years ago, an identity-theft scheme left him destitute, his fortune stolen and his wife gone with it. After two years in the gutter, Harvey learned who ruined him and returned the favor, stealing back his money by taking over the crook’s identity. He didn’t recover his wife, but he did find a new career. Now he travels the world among the fabulously wealthy, cozying up to them before he empties their bank accounts. Anonymity is his greatest asset, so when a casual seduction leaves him embroiled in a sensational divorce case, Harvey plans to escape by orchestrating the greatest swindle of his life, stealing the identity of the man whose wife Jordan seduced. As the reasons for his crime become more and more personal, and a love affair shatters his hard-boiled façade, this man without a name finds himself trapped in a con he cannot escape. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Brian Freemantle including rare photos from the author’s personal collection.

314 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2007

About the author

Aka John Maxwell, Jonathan Evans, Jack Winchester, Harry Asher and Richard Gant.

Brian Freemantle [b. 1936] is one of Britain's most acclaimed authors of spy fiction. His novels have sold over ten million copies worldwide. Born in Southampton, Freemantle entered his career as a journalist, and began writing espionage thrillers in the late 1960s. Charlie M (1977) introduced the world to Charlie Muffin and won Freemantle international recognition—he would go on to publish fourteen titles in the series.

Freemantle has written dozens of other novels, including two featuring Sebastian Holmes, an illegitimate son of Sherlock Holmes, and the Cowley and Danilov series, about an American FBI agent and a Russian militia detective who work together to comabt organized crime in the post-Cold War world. Freemantle lives and works in London, Englad.

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I also almost gave up when I started this story. But the more I read, the more interested I was in finding just where it was it was going. The author is really good with details that are insane. I also liked how he was able to entwine the world of law with the world of stealing identities. Not for everyone but I liked it a lot!

[GERRY Hermans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting legal thriller with divorce, financial hacking, suspicious lawyers & two old rival families

[Karen Ross · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brian Freemantle has written a lot of good books. Unfortunately, this isn't one of them. Venereal disease as a central theme of a thriller? Interesting choice!

[Al · Rating 2 out of 5]

A con man gets in too deep during a risky job on the French RivieraHarvey Jordan is no ordinary thief. A few years ago, an identity-theft scheme left him destitute, his fortune stolen and his wife gone with it. After two years in the gutter, Harvey learned who ruined him and returned the favor, stealing back his money by taking over the crook’s identity. He didn’t recover his wife, but he did find a new career. Now he travels the world among the fabulously wealthy, cozying up to them before he empties their bank accounts. Anonymity is his greatest asset, so when a casual seduction leaves him embroiled in a sensational divorce case, Harvey plans to escape by orchestrating the greatest swindle of his life, stealing the identity of the man whose wife Jordan seduced. As the reasons for his crime become more and more personal, and a love affair shatters his hard-boiled façade, this man without a name finds himself trapped in a con he cannot escape. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Brian Freemantle including rare photos from the author’s personal collection.

[Lesley Hamilton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually gave up reading this as it did not hold me, got too boring