The Yellow Crayon

About the book

Mr. Sabin, also known as the Duc de Souspennier, leaves the comfortable retreat of his American home after his wife Lucille disappears. A communication associated with a yellow crayon points toward obligations and powers that his private life has not escaped. His pursuit leads through transatlantic connections into a world of secret organization, influential social circles, and competing political ambitions. Sabin's experience and controlled manner make him a formidable participant, but personal attachment gives the contest a vulnerability that professional calculation cannot remove. Oppenheim builds suspense through interviews, warnings, withheld explanations, and the uncertain significance of apparently courteous encounters. The central question is how much freedom an individual retains when an organization claims authority over past promises and present loyalties.

• Secret societies
• Marriage and loyalty
• Political manipulation

Why read it

Read it for an intrigue in which a sophisticated operator must use his skills on behalf of an intensely private need.

English text