The Golden Keel by Desmond Bagley is a thriller that follows the story of boat designer Hal, who gets involved in the salvaging of Mussolini's gold hidden during World War II. The plot involves a group of characters going after the treasure in rural Italy, encountering shady individuals along the way. The book is described as a fairly predictable yet entertaining yarn with a brisk pace and down-to-earth storytelling reminiscent of Alastair Maclean.

Bagley's first novel introduces a variety of interesting characters like the brawny Coetzee, the weak-willed Walker, and the resourceful Francesca, adding depth to the storyline. While the opening may be a bit clumsy, the book gains momentum as it progresses, offering an entertaining read with unexpected twists towards the end. Despite some flaws in character development and dialogue, the book is praised for its tight writing, plausible plot, and engaging narrative.

Characters:

Characters are varied but largely lack depth, making them feel somewhat one-dimensional.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is straightforward but shows inconsistencies, making it feel like a debut work.

Plot/Storyline:

The story centers on a heist involving gold from World War Two, combining elements of adventure and clever planning.

Setting:

The setting is a mix of early 1960s Cape Town and Italy, grounded in historical events.

Pacing:

The pacing improves significantly in the second half, enhancing the story's engagement.

My name is Peter Halloran, but everyone calls me "Hal" excepting my wife, Jean, who always called me Peter. Women seem to dislike nicknames for their menfolk. Like a lot of others I emigrated to the "...

Notes:

The Golden Keel is Desmond Bagley's first thriller novel.

The story is set in the early 1960s and involves a Cape Town boat maker named Peter Halloran.

Halloran is coping with the death of his wife who was killed by a drunk driver.

The plot revolves around a treasure from World War Two, specifically gold and jewels hidden in Italy.

A group of varied characters, rather than a single hero, is a feature of Bagley's early thrillers.

The pacing improves significantly in the second half of the book, especially during the dockyard battle and final storm.

The main character's wife is killed off early in the story, which adds to his motivation to seek treasure.

Some criticism includes unconvincing dialogue and flat character development, particularly for the love interest.

Despite its flaws, The Golden Keel is considered an entertaining read for Bagley fans.

There are hints of Alastair Maclean's influence in the down-to-earth storytelling.

The novel includes a romantic subplot, but it lacks chemistry and depth.

The book is described as predictable, yet it maintains reader interest due to its pacing and plot.

There are mixed opinions on the quality of writing, with some pointing to poor dialogue and character depth.

Readers appreciate the straightforward adventure narrative, without extravagant heroics like those seen in James Bond stories.

From The Publisher:

The first action thriller by the classic adventure writer, set in Italy.

When the Allies invaded southern Italy in 1943, Mussolini's personal treasure was moved north to safety under heavily armed guard. It was never seen again. Now, an expedition plans to unearth the treasure and smuggle it out of Italy. But their reckless mission is being followed - by enemies who are as powerful and ruthless as they are deadly...

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About the Author:

Desmond Bagley was a multi-million-copy selling author of 16 adventure thrillers, all still in print. Moving to South Africa after WW2, his transition from unskilled printer's apprentice, aircraft engineer, mine worker, nightclub photographer and radio scriptwriter to one of the world's most respected thriller writers is legendary, described by The Times as a 'craftsmanlike thriller novelist'. Returning to the UK in the 1960s, he lived with his wife Joan in Devon and then on Guernsey, where a blue plaque was unveiled in his honour in 2018.

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The Golden Keel

Desmond Bagley