: A dissolute American living an expensive, bored lifestyle heavily funded by a shipping job. His deep-seated greed instantly pivots him from a regular citizen into a cold-blooded killer.
: The loot belongs to the state, but Jaffe's overwhelming greed takes over. When his houseboy discovers the cache and threatens to alert the police, Jaffe loses control and kills him.
: Terrified of facing the corrupt local police force, Jaffe goes on the run.
: Orchestrating an exit visa becomes a nightmare as local syndicates and authorities learn of the missing diamonds and hunt him down.
is a classic thriller novel published in 1961 by the master of hardboiled suspense, James Hadley Chase. Set against the exotic and corrupt backdrop of early 1960s Saigon, the book brilliantly explores themes of unbridled greed and moral decay.
: Steve Jaffe, an expatriate American businessman working in Saigon, discovers $2 million worth of diamonds hidden behind a wall in his rented villa.
: The contrast between Jaffe's selfish, panicking survival instincts and the unexpected, pure loyalty shown by Miss Quon.
: Jaffe places his life in the hands of Nhan Lee Quon, a local taxi dancer and mistress whom he had previously looked down upon but who becomes his only hope for survival. 👥 Principal Characters