Down payment on death

by Jim Eldridge

Sick of the spying business, professional assassin Art Gordo decides to quit the Secret Service - but his old life won't leave him alone. It's Christmas, three months after his retirement, and Gordo is visited by an old colleague with a proposition. A senior MI7 agent has been selling secrets to the opposition and needs to be eliminated - and the job can't be traced back to the Department. What's more, the task must be completed within the next five days. Clarke's offering big money - but despite the temptation, Art turns him down. Only someone won't take 'no' for an answer. Hunted by a mysterious nemesis who'll stop at nothing - including murder - to get their way, Gordo finds himself caught in a deadly game of deception, double-cross and betrayal. To stay alive, he must find out the truth about his shadowy target, and re-enter a world he thought he'd left behind. A world with only one kill or be killed...

157 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Jim Eldridge is the author of many books for children, including titles in the My Story series, the Warpath books, and How to Handle Grown-Ups. He has had 250 TV scripts broadcast in the UK and internationally for children's and teen television, and is also the creator and writer of Radio 4's long-running comedy-drama series, King Street Junior.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

From BCC radio 4 Extra:
A Shot in the Night
Jim Eldridge - Down Payment on DeathEpisode 1 of 5

Sick of the espionage business, professional hitman Art Gordo had quit the British Secret Service. But then he's offered big money to carry out one last killing...

The first of a 5-part thriller adapted by Jim Eldridge from his own novel.

Stars Dinsdale Landen as Art Gauder, Manning Wilson as Clarke, and Frances Jeater as Louise Lenehan.

Producer: John Fawcett-Wilson

First broadcast on the BBC World Service in 1976.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/play/b007...

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bettie's Books

[Godly Gadfly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of the dramatized audio version (3 stars)

This book was written by Jim Eldridge in 1972, and is one of over 50 books he wrote, along with hundreds of radio and TV scripts. He adapted the story himself as a full cast audio play, which was aired in 1976.

In this espionage thriller, retired assassin Art Gordo is called upon someone (Clark) from from his former employer, and asked to eliminate one of his previous bosses, Allweather. He doesn't take the job, but he finds himself embroiled in events anyway once bodies start falling. It becomes hard to know who is on what side, with some crossing and double-crossing, and everyone from to the Russians to Art's own girlfriend falls under suspicion.

The audio version is done quite well, with good sound effects, minimal moral garbage, and a focus on constant action and suspense.

[Roberta Lynne Ruben · Rating 3 out of 5]

A retired MI-5 assassin was asked to kill a high level official who was a double agent. Everyone is trying to kill or trick the assassin from the Russians to his girlfriend. The exciting series of murders keep the listeners of this BBC weekly serial wondering who will be alive at the end.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story - the spying business in the 1970's