Dorothy Dunnett was een Schotse historische romanschrijfster, bekend om haar ingewikkelde en zorgvuldig onderzochte verhalen. Haar werken duiken diep in de menselijke psychologie en de complexiteit van historische gebeurtenissen, waarbij politieke intriges en persoonlijke drama's met elkaar verweven worden. Dunnetts vertelstijl kenmerkt zich door een rijke, suggestieve toon die de lezer onderdompelt in het verleden. Ze weet de nuances van haar personages en hun turbulente werelden meesterlijk te vangen.
Joanna Emerson is engaged as a nanny to Benedict, newly born heir to a vast cosmetic fortune, when she becomes caught up in a complex kidnap plot. But the enigmatic portrait painter, yachtsman and former spy, Johnson Johnson is never far away - and he knows the dangerous game she's playing.
When Sir Bart Edgecome, a British agent who has been poisoned with arsenic falls ill, Dr. B McRannoch becomes involved in a series of events beyond her wildest imagination. It is only the presence of enigmatic portrait painter Johnson Johnson on his yacht, Dolly, that saves the day.
Morocco is a romantic place, but Wendy finds herself side-tracked by the antics of Rita Geddes and a few nuisances such as kidnapping, explosions, industrial espionage, murder and car chases across the High Atlas mountains.
Ruth Russell is enjoying her time in Rom, that is until Charles Digham, top fashion photographer and Ruth's lover, has his camera stolen and the thief ends up a headless corpse in the zoo park toletta. The enigmatic Johnson Johnson, in Rome to paint a portrait of the Pope, is on hand to unravel the mystery.
Tina Rossi, the world's leading coloratura soprano has travelled to Edinburgh, ostensibly to sing in the Festival, but in reality to meet her lover, top scientist Kenneth Holmes. Instead of finding Kenneth at their rendezvous, she discovers an unknown corpse. It's up to Dolly and Johnson and Johnson to solve this mystery.
Rita, a small, tough Scottish make-up artist is on Madeira trying to find out who killed Kim-Jim. She isn't one for quitting, even when she learns she's caught up in an international drug-smuggling ring. Fortunately, Johnson Johnson and his trusty yacht, Dolly, are there to help solve the case.
When Sarah Cassells, a British girl who has just completed her training as a chef, hears of her father's violent death on Ibiza, she refuses to believe it is suicide.
Quinto libro delle leggendarie "Cronache di Lymond", Assalto alla torre è ambientato nella Russia barbarica di Ivan il Terribile. Francis Crawford di Lymond, soldato di ventura, erede esiliato della nobiltà scozzese, abile spadaccino e raffinato poeta, è tornato dalla magica e crudele Istanbul di Solimano il Magnifico, pronto ad affrontare nuove sfide in luoghi ancora meno conosciuti. Abbandonata l'Inghilterra di Maria Tudor, Lymond approda, infatti, a Mosca dove diventa consigliere e generale del folle zar e cerca di ingentilire i costumi di una corte rimasta al Medioevo più oscuro, un'impresa assai ardua, ma non quanto quella di scoprirsi finalmente e per la prima volta innamorato… In Inghilterra, intanto, tramano alle sue spalle e Lymond sarà costretto a rientrare precipitosamente.
