SYNOPSES
of
Georges THIBEAUX’ NOVELS
« L’ENFANT DES CARPATES »
(An der schönen grauen Donau)
VIENNA 1987 - Who is Eugen Wittowski for which murder claims a secret organisation called Egon ? A trafficker ? A Soviet agent ? The escaped S.S. Kochka commander of a death camp released by major U.S. George Nashley ? A farmer of Carinthia, adpotive father of « Maïka the Rumanian » whom he made his mistress of ? The nazi circles and their sympathizers are suspected by the Hauptkommissar Volkenwasser discreetly supported by the former major and his Irish friend McCavenough ; both are still hunting the nazi torturer. Embarrassed by the case Waldheim, the Austrian authorities entrust the ambitious Dieter Klaus, assistant to the Hauptkommissar, with a parallel mission aiming at accusing Maïka lover woman and heiress of the assassinated farmer. Revolted by the reason of State, reached in his pride, Volkenwasser will clash with his assistant conscious of his chief’s feelings for the Rumanian.
First of a series devoted to the contemporary Europ, this novel wonders about Austria and its recent past. Will crimes against the mankind remain unpunished ? Would the blue Danube be grey coloured ? Will the sequel « Les Sapins de Carinthie » give the key to bring an answer to the question raised about Johan Strauss’ country ?
« LES SAPINS DE CARINTHIE »
(zum weissen Tannenhof)
CARINTHIA 1999 - Will the innocence of those sentenced for the murder of Wittowski reopen an explosive file ? In charge of the case, Dietr Klaus recently promoted takes the risk with his former chief’s help, the attorney Volkenwasser. Compromised by his woman’s affair wih the wife of a dubious banker, Aldo Renucci, the lawyer calls for help his Irish friend, father Mac Cavenough appointed to the Vatican. Wounded in an ambusch of the mafia, the latter convaélescent arrives in Vienna during the general elections under pressure of the extreme right. A banker named Staubl confess to be the instigator of Wittowski’s murder with a view to making a grab on his ownership - the white firs plantation - also coveted by the mafia. Wishing to save his friend from the scandal, father Mac willl face Aldo Renucci, the mafia’s representative, and will discover the very key of Wittowski’s murder.
Sequel of « L’ENFANT DES CARPATES », second of a series devoted to the contemporary Europ, this novel wonders about Austria and its recent past. Will the extreme right awaken Hitler’s period ? Is nazism still alive in Europ ? To what extent does the mafia influence the political life ?
« LE DESHONNEUR DU KAPITAN »
August 1939. Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia have signed a non-aggression pact with the aim of dismembering Poland. When the first Soviet tanks roll into Poland,
Kapitan Wladyslaw Jablonski of the Polish army, the happy husband of Beata and father of the young Aleksander, does not know whether to treat the Russians as allies or as enemies. He is soon to find out, to his cost, when he meets Red Army
Podpolkovnik (Colonel) Yuri Pomachenko. Wladyslaw's fate will be that of the vanquished, Pomachenko's that of the victor. But the Colonel is manipulated and used as a scapegoat for atrocities perpetrated by his superordinate, General Dugarin, which lead to the
Kapitan's dishonourable death. The sinister link between the two, both officers in the service of their countries, bears the name Katyn, the mass grave of 4,500 Polish officers. What will be the fate of Beata, the
Kapitan's wife, of Raissa the Podpolkovnik's fiancee and his sister Olga under a regime that wants to see witnesses of its violent acts eliminated?
« LES CARNETS DE VARSOVIE »
June 2000. Alain Dandrieu, a pianist from Lyon, finds himself in Warsaw as the heir of Aleksander Jablonski, his mother Sophie's former lover. What lies behind
Adwokat Sibieski's insistence that the Frenchman renounce his rights of inheritance? Aided by two young Poles, Ania and Jacek, Alain believes the answer lies in an event of the past. He chances upon Wojcieh Molok, author of the unpublished “Warsaw Chronicles”, an explosive document from the Communist period that is eagerly sought after both by former apparachiks and by Secret Services in the West. Entrusted with the task of publishing the Chronicles, Dandrieu traces them to a French bank, from then on endangering his life. A French agent offers him protection in exchange for information on the Mafia. What are the mysterious links between the Chronicles and organized crime? What are the roles of Sophie, Alain's mother, and the strange English reporter who makes advances to her? With the help of a Polish-Jewish friend and his daughter, the blonde Sonia, Alain Dandrieu succeeds in bringing the Chronicles back to Warsaw. A Vatican counsellor close to John Paul II, provides unexpected support in the battle to save Poland from Communist revanchists. But what will be the fate of those implicated in this murky intrigue?
« LE MANOIR DES HIGHLANDS »
(The Outsiders)
GLASGOW (Scotland) 2004 - Who is the foreign lady picked up by Ken McConroy, taxi driver with an orange cab at Victoria station? Why does she visit earl Gresham hospitalized at Sint-George’s ? What does the landowner of Gresham’s castle expect from the woman arrived from Austria ? Is her visit connected to the lord’s past as British prosecutor in Vienna after the war ? The taximan will discover the affair between the former colonel and a nazi woman wanted by the Soviets ; this forbidden love resulted in the transfer to Great-Britain of the lord compelled to marry a British heiress. Fifty years later, lady Cynthia Gresham, the very Anglophilic countess betrayed but merciful wife, is confronted with her husband’s past and his fastly declining health. Will she be able to protect the clan against a blackmailer, a fishy banker and its social ennemies ? The « City Council » watches, a strange Englishman prowls but defenders loom up with James, the faithful butler. Facing a love story, the taxi driver will discover the plot against the renowned family and its links with the mysterious foreign lady. Will the « Manor of the Highlands » pass through the tempest ?
Fifth of a series devoted to the contemporary Europe, this novel looks for Scotland’s lochs, traditions and aristocracy. Near the liability of the German people with regard to the nazism, the author investigates about the recent past of Scotland subjugated to England and its future inside the E.U. He also wonders about France and the U-K. rival by the History, the culture, the language, both countries making a bid for their place in the frightening 21st century.
« LES GENS DE LONDONDERRY »
(The Victims)
LONDONDERRY (Ulster) 2004 – Who killed Markus Desmond, a British general’s son ? Is the IRA involved ? Through what links are bound the wealthy lord Gresham, a fascinating Austrian and the criminal ? Irish journalist, Liam Cox follows the enquiry assisted by Ken McConroy, Glaswegian fascinated by the Austrian lady but attracted by Evelyn, nurse at St George’s. The journalist encounters sir Jonathan Pike, head of the criminal squad and the beautiful Cindy, forensic scientist. Smelling a blackmail case, the chief constable suspects James, faithful butler at Gresham castle ; the police officer also watches Irish customers of the « Red Lion’s Inn. » also considering a possible political track. With sergeant Boyden, the constable watches the Irishmen suspected to act as terrorists, bearing in mind the dread of islamists’ attacks against Scotland. Meanwhile, lord Gresham close to his end looks for allies worried about his succession and the future of the clan. An Austrian lawyer will interfere with the help of « Father Mac », Irish bishop at the Vatican. For which secret was Markus Desmond assassinated ? Will old lord’s death endangers Gresham castle ? Will the chief constable dare to defy the Irish clan like lord Gresham’s allies facing their foes ?
Sequel of « Le Manoir des Highlands » », sixth of a series devoted to the contemporary Europe, this novel glances at the six counties of Ulster covered with blood and pain by a shameful conflict in a modern democracy. Member of the E.U, will this small country get rid of a few politicians and armed nationalists denying the peace it aspires to ? Will the hate prevail ? It also sketches the social tensions in to-day’s Great-Britain.
« OPERATION ARCADIUS »
May 2007. Who is the Frenchman that died on the cliffs of Santorini in unclear circumstances? On what grounds was he travelling with the fascinating Contessa de Sanctis, an Italian-British widow? Colonel Kalopoulos, from the Greek Special Services, investigates. Little by little, he will discover the shadier side of the Countess' life, threatened with death by the Islamists, yet implicated as being a member of 'The Caiman Circle', a dubious political association. The Colonel, in love with her protégée, is commissioned to fly to London with her for security reasons and to update the MI5 (counterterrorism) on 'Operation Arcadius'. The Greek Services are on alert because of disclosures bargained by the Bulgarian Mafia about an Islamic attack against British interests. But who is setting a trap, the terrorists or the Mafia? The Director of MI5 and his Greek colleague wonder. Will they discover the real target? Will the Contessa escape the threats and lastly live the true love with her Hellenic hero? A concert at the Royal Albert Hall will put an eventful end to the thrilling investigation.
Beyond a captivating plot, the author sheds light on the World War between Western Democracy and Islamist Theocracy, stakes for the coming centuries.
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