Vendetta for the Saint

Vendetta for the Saint, a 1965 mystery novel, follows Simon Templar, known as "The Saint." It marked the first full-length Saint novel in 19 years, following *The Saint Sees it Through*, and was the first volume in the series not written by creator Leslie Charteris, who had stopped penning the adventures himself. Charteris remained credited as author and editor, approving stories and revising material, but the book was largely written by Harry Harrison, a science fiction author who had written the Saint comic strip from 1953 to 1960. Harrison claimed Charteris contributed only minimally, though the reference work *The Saint: A Complete History* by Burl Barer states Charteris was heavily involved in editing.

The plot begins in Naples, where Templar witnesses an English tourist, Euston, greet an Italian businessman as an old friend, only for the Italian to deny knowing him. After Templar intervenes in a scuffle with the businessman’s bodyguard, he learns Euston insists the man is his old friend Dino Cartelli. The next day, an obituary reports Euston’s accidental death. Investigating, Templar discovers Cartelli was a bank employee murdered years ago, his face and hands mutilated beyond recognition, and that the businessman is actually Alessandro Destamio. Soon, Templar is flown to Destamio’s private island for a meeting, where Destamio claims to be a privacy-obsessed businessman with many enemies.

Back in Naples, Templar is attacked by street robbers. Police arrest him, but senior officer Inspector Ponti dismisses the charges, signaling an alliance. Ponti reveals the Mafia is involved and that the police cannot be trusted. Templar visits Destamio’s family, then investigates the Destamio mausoleum at night, but is clubbed unconscious. Captured in a castle, he is brought before the ailing Mafia head. Destamio aims to succeed him but must defeat rivals who question why he brought Templar. Templar escapes his cell, flees through the countryside, and receives reluctant help from locals terrified of the Mafia. Reaching Palermo, he contacts Ponti, who mobilizes a secret military strike force. Templar joins the attack on the castle, but the Mafia breaks through in a car. During a pursuit through Palermo, the leaders escape.