Alistair MacLean, the son of a minister, was brought up in the Scottish Highlands. In 1941 he joined the Royal Navy. After the war he read English at Glasgow University and became a teacher. Two and a half years spent aboard a wartime cruiser gave him the background for HMS Ulysses, his remarkably successful first novel, published in 1955. He is now recognized as one of the outstanding popular writers of the 20th century, the author of 29 worldwide bestsellers, many of which have been filmed.

‘The most successful British novelist of his time’Jack Higgins‘The best adventure story I have ever read’Richard Burton‘A real humdinger. The best MacLean.’Daily Mirror‘MacLean has done it again; produced another king-sized thriller of tremendous pace and excitement. The tension is almost unbearable at times, but you can’t stop turning the pages in a feverish desire to know what happens next.’Liverpool Echo