Cast a Yellow Shadow

The DNA of Ross Thomas' novels contains unpredictability, witty urbane dialogue, inventive plotting, intricate double (and triple) dealing and a rogue's gallery of quirky characters. "Cast a Yellow Shadow" (1967) is the second in his Mac and Padillo series featuring two guys who just want to operate a nice bar and grill after their cold war time. Nevertheless, the saloon keepers are caught up in political skullduggery because of Padillo's enforced activities for the CIA. Mac's wife has been kidnapped to ensure that Padillo will assassinate a South African prime minister. The other side is offering cash for Padillo not to pull the trigger. For a couple of old soldiers of fortune, this mess should be no problem---except that whether Padillo does the shooting or not, Mac's wife is going to die. Padillo enlists the aid of a trio of foreign double agents he has tuned and Mac gets some helpers from the local criminal element. The scheme is hatched to free Mac's wife and the chase is on as clever devious people try to outfox one another. Who will pull the double cross, who will stay loyal? Like crossword puzzle fans, readers will delight at how neatly all the pieces fit. Ross Thomas: always surprising, always entertaining!

Cast a Yellow Shadow is the sequel to Ross Thomas' debut novel. The Cold War Swap. Both books feature the team of Mac McCorkle and Mike Padillo, a pair of restraunteurs who moonlight in the adrenaline rich world of international espionage. Mac's Place, the popular eating establishment they co-own, is now located in Washington, D.C., a world removed from Bonn, West Germany, its original site. The plot revolves around a plan to assassinate the prime minister of a Rhodesia like African country as his motorcade tours Washington's historic streets. In order to get Padillo to be the triggerman in this nefarious scheme, those orchestrating the assassination kidnap McCorkle's wife. If Padillo doesn't shoot to kill, Mrs. McCorkle will die. This is an intricately plotted novel of double and triple crossing told with a healthy dose of urbane wit. Perhaps its strongest feature is the very clever and authentic sounding dialogue Thomas has written for his characters. Another strength is the realistic way the ambiance of 1960s Washington is depicted. All in all, Cast a Yellow Shadow is a very worthwhile read. In my view, it's a sequel which surpasses the original.

Padillo lines up some foreign double agents as helpers. McCorkle does his recruiting from the local underworld. Much of the fun in a Ross Thomas tale is trying to guess who will pull off the double and triple crosses. There are always surprises. CAST A YELLOW SHADOW is an excellent action yarn

Set in Washington, D.C., CAST A YELLOW SHADOW is the second of the McCorkle and Padillo books. McCorkle is married now to a German girl named Fredl and he owns Mac's Place, a bar and grill near K Street. Padillo is the former partner in Mac's Place in Bad Godesberg, but has not been seen since he fell into the Rhine during a fight. Padillo reappears after being in Africa where he has become an unwilling operative in the planned assassination of a small country's Prime Minister. The killing is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., and to force Padillo to do his part, the bad guys kidnap Fredl. The rest of the story centers around efforts to rescue Fredl and stop the assassination. McCorkle and Padillo work in an atmosphere of great mutual trust and respect. McCorkle is the narrator and Padillo provides more than his share of excitement. The series improves as it develops, but even this early book is enjoyable.