'Donald MacKenzie is a born storyteller' Guardian
When a bent London policeman carries out two ruthless murders, it is with the goal of making himself rich through the sale of stolen diamonds. And to cover his tracks he sets up an ingenious labyrinth of false covers and alibis.
But when ex-cop John Raven is brought into the case by accident, it becomes a whodunit with Raven as detective in an exhilarating race against time.
Donald MacKenzie was born in Ontario, Canada, and educated in England, Canada and Switzerland. For twenty-five years MacKenzie lived by crime in many countries. 'I went to jail,' he wrote, 'if not with depressing regularity, too often for my liking.' His last sentences were five years in the United States and three years in England, running consecutively. He began writing and selling stories when in American jail. 'I try to do exactly as I like as often as possible and I don't think I'm either psychopathic, a wayward boy, a problem of our time, a charming rogue. Or ever was.'
He had a wife, Estrela, and a daughter, and they divided their time between England, Portugal, Spain and Austria.