A Worm Turns

Jonathan Craythorne, the well-mannered but fearless major in Her Majesty's Forces who appeared in Douglas's Last Rights , is dismayed to find that his favorite aunt has been assaulted and robbed. As it develops, the kindly, elderly lady has long been a fence for stolen goods, and the amount of cash taken is truly staggering. Promising to keep police in the dark, Craythorne quickly assembles his own task force of army pals to trace the thief, reportedly hiding in Scotland. But his path is blocked by a particularly vicious faction of the provisional Irish Republican Army who have him high on their hit list. Tension rises as the army men, fortified with an enthusiastic group of able supporters, involve the thief and the IRA in an elaborate scam, culminating in a complex finale that is deftly managed. (Jan.)