Peter O'Donnell began his career working on several major pre-war comics, Tiger Tim, Chips and Captain Moonlight. During the 1950's he became involved in strip cartoons and eventually created his revolutionary Modesty Blaise, syndicated in more than 42 countries. The strip led to a series of bestselling novels about Modesty and her faithful lieutenant, Willie Garvin, all published by Souvenir Press: Modesty Blaise, Sabre Tooth, I, Lucifer, The Impossible Virgin, Pieces of Modesty, A Taste for Death, The Silver Mistress, Dragon's Claw, The Xanadu Talisman, The Night of the Morningstar, Dead Man's Handle, and his most recent collection Cobra Trap. El Mico is behind every crime along the Mediterranean coast and he is watching Modesty Blaise, who aims to fulfil the wishes of a dying man. Aided as always by Willie Garvin and the bumbling Dr Giles Pennyfeather Modesty sets out to solve the mystery of the Xanadu Talisman. The story moves from Tangier around Europe until the final gladiatorial duel of wits against guns in the Atlas Mountains when Modesty learns the secret of El Mico and discovers the talisman's real power. This is another vintage treat for all Modesty's fans.