This is a book that has not aged well. I'm sorting out some old books and gave this a rerun as I'd remembered it being gripping enough twenty odd years ago. Not sure why I bothered! Story is far fetched and I found it hard to suspend my disbelief and get into the flow. There was also this odd italicising of words for emphasis, which just grated on my nerves. Persevered to the end out of sheer bloody mindedness.