Operation Sovereign — Clive Egleton

December 1941: With the threat of imminent Japanese invasion hanging over Hong Kong, the order goes out to smuggle 2.5 million in gold from the vaults of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank of Australia, via the SS Dephic Star. Codenamed Operation Sovereign, the mission seems doomed to failure as corrupt CID officials supervising the transfer - among them the ruthless George Ramsey - intend to snatch the gold before it reaches the ship.

The only fly in their ointment is Frank Waldron: on the run from the FBI and dodging extradition in Hong Kong, he stumbles into the midst of Ramsay's schemes - and in doing so, threatens to wreck the most spectacular and ingenious gold bullion hijack of all time.