The Xanadu Talisman

About “The Xanadu Talisman”

In this 1981 novel by Peter O'Donnell, Modesty Blaise finds herself trapped in an earthquake disaster with a dying man, from whom she receives a promise that leads her and her friend Willie Garvin into a dangerous crisis. Their journey takes them from Tangier to Paris, the Riviera, Corsica, and finally to a stronghold in the Atlas Mountains. They are watched and controlled by El Mico, a dangerous criminal genius. Modesty holds a secret that El Mico desperately wants. She faces a final confrontation with death in the stronghold of Xanadu. The story features eccentric characters, including Dr. Giles Pennyfeather, her friend, and opponents such as Little Krell, the Silk brothers, and Nanny Prendergast.