Hired as security man for Alexander's election campaign, Spenser checks out blackmail concerning the politician's wife. Aided by sidekick Hawk, and surrogate son Paul Giacomin, he is sucked into political ambition, corruption, violence, and the truth about his relationship with Susan Silverman.

Spenser has gone to London -- and not to see the Queen. He's gone to track down a bunch of bombers who've blown away his client's wife and kids. His job is to catch them. Or kill them. His client isn't choosy. But there are nine killers to one Spenser -- long odds. Hawk helps balance the equation. The rest depends on a wild plan. Spenser will get one of the terrorists to play Judas Goat -- to lead him to others. Trouble is, he hasn't counted on her being very blond, very beautiful and very dangerous.

The trail of a missing girl leads private eye Spenser into an underworld of vice and violence peopled by pornographers and pimps - the cigarette butts of mankind. And Spenser tackles each hurdle with the laconic, sharp-eyed coolness.

TV reporter Candy Sloan has eyes the color of cornflowers and legs that stretch all the way to heaven. She also has somebody threatening to rearrange her lovely face if she keeps on snooping into charges of Hollywood racketeering. Spenser's job is to keep Candy healthy until she breaks the biggest story of her career. But her star witness has just bowed out with three bullets in his chest, two tough guys have doubled up to test Spenser's skill with his fists, and Candy is about to use her own sweet body as live bait in a deadly romantic game--a game that may cost Spenser his life.

Doctor Finlay: Adventures of a Black Bag (BBC Radio Collection)

A dramatisation of the stories by A J Cronin - six episodes:

1. "The Resolution that went Wrong"
2. "Who Laughs Last"
3. "The Day Dandini Came to Town"
4. "Wee Robertson"
5. "The Wife of a Hero"
6. "The Sisters Scobie"