Royal Heist

May 17, 2004
La Plante (Prime Suspect
, etc.) heads for Ascot in this involving heist novel about a British champion racehorse owner who decides to steal the Crown Jewels after losing his fortune in an Internet scam. Son of a London bookie, husband of a Swedish beauty and owner of an enviable stable of horses, Edward de Jersey is also the retired mastermind of one of Britain's most famous unsolved robberies, a man who would rather die than give up his life of privilege. Step by step, he plans, prepares and executes a modern version of the Great Train Robbery, overcoming computerized security systems and penetrating royal protocol. De Jersey brutally dispenses enemies and boldly protects friends on both sides of the Atlantic, but it is his team of accomplices that makes this classic crime caper a compelling read, among them Pamela, the ex-con television actress; Lord Westbrook, the disgraced palace equerry; and Marsh, the computer whiz turned crook. La Plante's knowledge of the sport of kings, her sense of irony in human relationships and her deceptively cool narrative style allow her to visit familiar crime fiction territory with aplomb. She does not create the equal of her Masterpiece Theatre
detective Jane Tennison, but she weaves an intricate story of crime and character that starts off slowly and then keeps the reader guessing as it gallops to a photo finish. Agent, Esther Newberg.

July 1, 2004
La Plante's latest thriller takes the reader into the glitzy world of Ascot-level horse racing and international crime to heart-pounding effect. Edward de Jersey is the son of a bookie made very, very good. His great wealth has allowed him to build one of the largest racing stables in Britain and finally acquire a horse capable of winning the Derby. All of Edward's hopes come crashing down when he learns that he's lost everything in a dot-com investment gone bad. Determined to maintain his lifestyle at any cost, Edward has only one option: return to the criminal life he once knew and plot the biggest theft in history. With the help of new and former associates, he meticulously maps out a plan to steal the Crown Jewels. The very real suspense lies in whether Edward will be able to pull off this one last caper and survive disaster. And readers will root for this very complex antihero and his band of criminals. Best known for her Prime Suspect television series, La Plante has once again created an unforgettable protagonist and supporting cast of characters. Recommended for all popular fiction collections.-Jane Jorgenson, Madison P.L., WI

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2004
La Plante's most famous work is the gritty PBS crime drama " Prime Suspect"; her latest is also imaginable as a television miniseries but of a very different kind--the high-concept variety featuring great wealth, thoroughbred racehorses, a cosmopolitan setting, and beautiful women with incredibly big jewels. Throw in a little greed, jealousy, adultery, theft, and murder, and you're ready for prime time. " Royal Heist," however, is several cuts above its glossy brethren, thanks to a remarkable protagonist named Edward de Jersey (think Pierce Brosnan). A self-made British billionaire with a Swedish trophy wife, de Jersey is so darned likable that readers may feel slightly guilty rooting him on as he plots to steal the crown jewels--especially when a couple of people are murdered along the way. While the "heist" itself isn't all that believable, it's not enough to take our minds off de Jersey's cool head under pressure or his love for his racehorse Royal Flush. La Plante's opulent opus offers readers a chance to identify with a charismatic hero who romps with the super-rich.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)