Puppet on a Chain

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Puppet on a Chain
Cover of the 1972 U.S. paperback edition
Author	Alistair MacLean
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Genre(s)	Thriller Novel
Publisher	Collins
Publication date	1969
ISBN	NA
Preceded by	Force 10 from Navarone
Followed by	Caravan to Vaccarès

Puppet on a Chain is a novel by Scottish author Alistair MacLean. Originally published in 1969, it is set in the late 1960's narcotics underworld of Amsterdam and other locations in the Netherlands.

[edit] Plot Introduction

Paul Sherman is a veteran Interpol Narcotics Bureau agent, used to independent action and blunt force tactics. He is assisted by two attractive female agents, one an experienced operative, the other a rookie. Sherman is in the Netherlands to break up a vicious drug smuggling ring that will kill ruthlessly to protect its operation.

Before Sherman can even leave Schiphol Airport he has already witnessed the gunning down of his key contact, been knocked half-unconscious by an assassin, and tangled with local authorities. "Puppet on a Chain" has the standard twisting plot, local atmospherics, and sardonic dialogue that were Maclean's trademarks as a story-teller. Maclean allows his protagonist to have a bantering sarcastic relationship with his assistants that provides a streak of humor as the plot unfolds. Unfortunately, Sherman's relationship with his assistants is used against him. As his investigation is undermined by betrayal, leaving him constantly a half-step behind his adversaries, Sherman must resort to increasingly violent action to turn the tables. The story culminates in a violent struggle above the streets of Amsterdam to save the life of his surviving female operative.

[edit] Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

Puppet on a Chain later appeared in film as a 1972 movie directed by Geoffrey Reeve.

[edit] External links

• Movie review at Alistairmaclean.de (German)

v • d • e Works by Alistair MacLean Novels: HMS Ulysses (1955) · The Guns of Navarone (1957) · South by Java Head (1957) · The Last Frontier (1959) · Night Without End (1959) · Fear Is the Key (1961) · The Dark Crusader (1961) · The Golden Rendezvous (1962) · The Satan Bug (1962) · Ice Station Zebra (1963) · When Eight Bells Toll (1966) · Where Eagles Dare (1967) · Force 10 From Navarone (1968) · Puppet on a Chain (1969) · Caravan to Vaccarès (1970) · Bear Island (1971) · The Way to Dusty Death (1973) · Breakheart Pass (1974) · Circus (1975) · The Golden Gate (1976) · Seawitch (1977) · Goodbye California (1978) · Athabasca (1980) · River of Death (1981) · Partisans (1982) · Floodgate (1983) · San Andreas (1984) · Santorini (1986) Short story collections: The Lonely Sea (1985) Non-fiction: All about Lawrence of Arabia (1962) · Alistair MacLean Introduces Scotland (1972) · Captain Cook (1972)