Undercurrent

by Douglas Stewart

When Ryme Lady disappears with all hands and a 60 million dollar cargo, American hard-man Art Lemman and English ex-lawyer Gavin Blair investigate for the International Maritime Bureau. The ship-owners are fighting against liquidation and are fearful of a predatory attack from Carl Klodinsky, an American shipping tycoon. But has Ryme Lady actually sunk at all? Or is it an insurance scam, piracy or an act of international terrorism? On whose side is Claudine, the chic French-American assistant to Klodinsky who exploits Blair’s vulnerability?

Through Paris, Singapore, New York, London and West Africa, death and violent destruction threaten the investigation and only when Cerne View, a huge cargo vessel, is attacked and arrested in West Africa do Lemman and Blair realize that something far more sinister is involved . . . nothing less than an international outrage involving the White House and Downing Street. Despite their uneasy relationship, the investigators have to work together against that most deadly of enemies . . . time.

349 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Born in Scotland, Douglas was brought up in England and became a London based international lawyer, later living in Las Vegas. In tandem, he developed a successful career as a widely read author of mystery thrillers and non-fiction with a chart-topper and a W H Smith Paperback of the Week to his credit.

He has written 4 books in a series of international mystery thrillers based on Det. Insp. Todd "Ratso" Holtom, a London detective. Ratso also featured in a short story contributed to Capital Crimes, an anthology, which became a number one bestseller. They are available individually or as a box set of 4.

HARD PLACE, The first in that series was hailed as the best British crime thriller the reviewer had read in 2024.

His 18th book released on 18th November 2025 is DEADLY DESCENT is the second in the series involving Finlay "Dex" Dexter. The first was the acclaimed DEADLINE VEGAS.

Douglas is a member of International Thriller Writers (ITW) of the USA. His true crime book Terror at Sea was regarded as the benchmark on modern day piracy and crime at sea.

His series of three mystery books originally published under the pen-name of Cameron Ross are now available under his own name.

When not travelling,Douglas now lives on the Isle of Man - very different from Las Vegas!

Reviews

[Robert M. Galbraith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story line but the excessive descriptions of food, drink, rooms, and clothing bogged down the flow of the action.