The Curtis Adventures Series

The Hijacked Torpedo is the first book in the Curtis Adventures.   Yupah, a young Thai girl, is delivered to some fishermen in part payment for her father's debts. She is repeatedly raped and abused by the Skipper and his two sons who are deeply involved in the drug trade. It is clear that Yupah's life means nothing to them and that, once she no longer satisfies them, they will kill her or sell her to a brothel. She lives only for the hope of revenge.   On the other side of the world, a Russian naval exercise off Murmansk has gone horribly wrong and the Kursk lies broken on the seabed, after an apparent torpedo malfunction. RN and USN submarines observe the frantic but ineffective rescue attempts, as does a Chinese submarine in the area. But then the Chinese decide to play a more active role. A deadly underwater battle ensues as the USN decides to get involved.   A report of the proceedings is prepared by a most unlikely participant, one who decides to pass the report to the British SIS but only via Jason Curtis, an individual selected at random. Jason, along with his wife, Pornthip, is about to take a tour of Morocco and several European Countries.   Jason collects the report in Morocco and delivers it to Vauxhall Cross but then finds that plans are in hand to eliminate him and Pornthip, apparently at the behest of the CIA. The danger increases when Jason receives a second report. He sends it to a friend in Bangkok and then uses it as a bargaining chip to persuade the SIS to assist with their escape from the UK. Initially, they take refuge in Hong Kong where they split up. Jason to return to Thailand by junk, Pornthip to follow him using a false passport. Before she can, she is abducted and faced with rape and torture unless she divulges information that she does not have.   Unaware of Pornthip's plight, Jason is having his own problems, he had transferred to a Thai fishing boat and discoveredthat  the crew intend to kill him but only after they have enjoyed a lengthy interrogation.   Having been locked in her cabin overnight whilst the drugs are exchanged for cash, Yupah emerges to discover that there is a new passenger on the boat, a farang. Is it possible that she, at last, has an ally to aid in her revenge?   Eventually, Jason and Pornthip are reunited and arrive in Bangkok where Jason recovers the second report and passes it on to the SIS. Their little adventure is over until Jason discovers a third report waiting for him. It is now very clear why several governments would be prepared to kill to safeguard the contents of the reports.   But the major threat, when it comes, comes from an individual, not from a government. Jason and Pornthip are once more facing a most unpleasant death once more. They are saved by the intervention of their German Shepherd and the timely arrival of the CIA.  

BURMA RESCUE Burma Rescue is the second in the Curtis Adventures Series. Yupah is on her own, studying to become a hairdresser and open her own business. She is still in love with Jason but at present, the only man in her life is her landlord, who intends to rape her. She opens a salon but soon finds that she is heading for bankruptcy. With the help of a friendly Bank Manager, she transforms her salon into a bordello and is so successful that she can soon have her sister join her. But she is still obsessed with Jason and is convinced that all she needs to do to have him is to kill Pornthip. Meanwhile, Jason and Pornthip are enjoying their lives when they have an unexpected caller, a French Countess who is also a WWII hero. Her grandson is missing somewhere in Burma and she asks for Jason's assistance. Somewhat unwillingly, Jason agrees. His involvement increases from collecting information to making a foray into Burma to locate and free the young Count from a prison camp. He doesn't succeed. Instead, he finds himself sharing a Single Malt with the Camp Commandant and rescuing the Count's pregnant girlfriend. Not at all what the dowager Countess required. Armed with more information and contacts, Jason, Pornthip and the Countess go into Burma. There they succeed in rescuing the Count and getting him from the country but only with the assistance of a minor member of the Junta. But the hunt is on for a vital and embarrassing document that has gone astray. It is believed that the Count knows where it is hidden. The British SIS is suddenly very interested. But for a time, things settle down. Yupah has apparently also settled down; she has changed lovers, swapping the Banker for Khun Kovid, the wealthy fishing fleet owner, but despite him wanting to marry her, she is still obsessed with Jason. Still intent on killing Pornthip. When they manage to foil an assassination attempt in France, the Count and Jason decide they must go back into Burma to recover the document. Pornthip goes part of the way, dropping them off on the coast before retiring to Port Blair until it is time to collect them. Learning of this, Yupah sees an opportunity and leaves for Port Blair, intent on murder. She is unaware that the Skipper and his surviving son have traced her and are hard on her heels; they have something worse than murder planned for her. Fortunately, Kovid hears of it and sets out in pursuit. He finds the Skipper and his son, kills them without a qualm and then thrashes Yupah until she sees her infatuation with Jason as just that. Meanwhile, deep in Burma, Jason and his party have the document, but they have been betrayed and are being pursued. The unlikely alliance of Pornthip, Yupah and Kovid set out to the rescue. The Burmese navy is out in full force; it will be a very close thing.