The Day the Music Died (Paperback)

Set in the early twenty-first century, The Day the Music Died tells the story of greed, patriotism, revenge, and misguided loyalties. The body of Charles Townsend III, former director of the CIA, is found floating in the river. Though initially thought to be a canoeing accident, his son, Charles Townsend IV, international banker, learns that his father's death was murder. As he attempts to find out who murdered his father and why, Townsend stumbles into an international plot to steal Nazi gold hidden since May of 1945. As Charles Townsend IV investigates further, he becomes involved with the CIA, the Mossad, the PLO, and the lovely Jeanne. He finds revenge, salvation, and love. The Day the Music Died is a suspenseful tale of intrigue and double-cross that takes the reader from Maryland to the heart of Russia, Eastern Europe, Japan, South America, and the finally the high seas. Seven greedy young European bankers locate a missing shipment of Nazi gold. Their attempt to recover the gold for themselves triggers the PLO to search for the gold as well. The PLO wants the gold to purchase two nuclear devices from two disillusioned Russian scientists, who are willing to sell their expertise and materials for a life in the West. The Mossad, always vigilant when it comes to the PLO, begins searching for the same gold. Charles' search for his father's murderers brings American interests into the intrigue, and the CIA joins the hunt for the gold, the bombs, and the scientists. The quest for gold and power and a son's search for a murderer culminate on the high seas.