Birds of a Feather

Victor Canning enthusiasts and initiates alike will be delighted with Birds of a Feather, an elegant thriller with a civilized blend of action and wit that lifts it to uncommon heights. Exposing the humor in violence and the seamy side of riches, Canning follows the maneuvers of Sir Anthony Swale, an aristocrat who has spent his privileged life in quest of rare art treasures, many of them from behind the Iron Curtain. Of course, masterpieces have their price, but Sir Anthony has always been willing to pay it - even when the price has been treason. He is currently preoccupied with the capture of two fledgling falcons maturing in an aerie above the English coast. He intends to present the birds to a powerful sheik in exchange for yet another work of art. Despite the distinctly unpatriotic means he used to acquire it, Sir Anthony plans to bequeath his collection to his country after his death, which - the British and Soviet governments decide independently - may be sooner than he thinks. Only under a master like Canning can the suspense novel begin to explore the true nature of destiny and retribution, good and evil. Birds of a Feather does exactly that.