Sir Richard Hannay is living quietly in the country until he is persuaded to help unmask a vast criminal conspiracy dedicated to undermining English and European society.

Three young hostages are taken - the children of national figures - and their lives are forfeit. Unless Sir Richard can get there first.

To do so he has to grapple with a man whose plausibility is boundless, whose evil is without limits and who is hellbent on gaining control of Hannay's mind with his terrible powers...