{"product_id":"puppet-on-a-chain-2","title":"Puppet on a Chain by Alistair MacLean","description":"\u003ch2 data-start=\"44\" data-end=\"104\"\u003eBook Summary\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"106\" data-end=\"181\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"25\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eFirst published in 1969\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem data-start=\"27\" data-end=\"46\"\u003ePuppet on a Chain\u003c\/em\u003e plunges readers into the dark heart of the heroin underworld in 1960s Amsterdam. The protagonist, Major \u003cstrong data-start=\"151\" data-end=\"167\"\u003ePaul Sherman\u003c\/strong\u003e, is a tenacious Interpol narcotics agent sent to the Netherlands after receiving a tip about a brutal drug ring. From the moment he arrives at Schiphol Airport—where his key contact is gunned down—Sherman is entangled in constant danger: ambushed by assassins, running afoul of local authorities, and betrayed by people he trusts. Alongside two female colleagues—one experienced, one inexperienced—he navigates a maze of deceit, twisting conspiracies, and violent confrontations. The plot builds to a nail‑biting climax featuring a rooftop struggle above Amsterdam’s canals as Sherman races to save the surviving operative and dismantle the smuggling syndicate. The novel is fast‑paced, tautly plotted, and infused with dry wit and sardonic dialogue that are hallmarks of MacLean’s thrillers.\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"ms-1 inline-flex max-w-full items-center relative top-[-0.094rem] animate-[show_150ms_ease-in]\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-start=\"188\" data-end=\"240\"\u003eAbout the Author: \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"242\" data-end=\"317\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003eAlistair Stuart MacLean was a Scottish author renowned for his lean, high‑stakes thrillers and adventure tales—many of which were adapted into films. Born on April 21, 1922 in Glasgow, he spoke Gaelic as a child and joined the Royal Navy in 1941, serving in Arctic convoys and Mediterranean operations—experiences that heavily shaped his literary voice. His debut novel, \u003cem data-start=\"371\" data-end=\"387\"\u003eH.M.S. Ulysses\u003c\/em\u003e (1955), drew directly from his wartime service. Over the next three decades, MacLean published more than 25 best‑selling novels, including classics like \u003cem data-start=\"541\" data-end=\"563\"\u003eThe Guns of Navarone\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem data-start=\"565\" data-end=\"584\"\u003eIce Station Zebra\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem data-start=\"590\" data-end=\"609\"\u003eWhere Eagles Dare\u003c\/em\u003e. Known for writing quickly, he once said he was “a storyteller, that’s all” rather than a novelist. Though critics sometimes noted formulaic plots and underdeveloped female characters, readers responded to his immersive settings, relentless pacing, and vivid action. MacLean’s work sold over 150 million copies worldwide, making him one of the best‑selling fiction authors of the 20th century. He passed away in Munich on February 2, 1987.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Best of Used books","offers":[{"title":"Used","offer_id":44270423408897,"sku":"2UN21A1VL-Used","price":99.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0421\/4299\/0495\/files\/81Jks5eVsIL._AC_UF1000_1000_QL80.jpg?v=1694244608","url":"https:\/\/bestofusedbooks.com\/products\/puppet-on-a-chain-2","provider":"Best Of Used Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}