He is sent to the maximum security prison, Belmarsh, from which no prisoner has ever escaped. Danny, an East End illiterate garage mechanic, shares a cell with Nicholas Moncrieff, a Scots baron. Nicholas teaches Danny to read and write. There is a remarkable physical resemblance between the two men. Danny does his best to emulate Nicholas in speech and manner.

Days before Nicholas is to be released from prison, he is killed by one of the prison inmates. Nicholas is falsely identified as Danny. Danny walks out of the prison by impersonating Moncrieff. He finds that Moncrieff's brother has been plundering Nicholas' properties and finances. Danny hatches a plan to have the brother found guilty of embezzlement, and also to punish the Musketeers and clear his name. Beth has been faithful to him throughout his imprisonment and has been trying to prove his innocence. When Danny finally reveals to Beth his impersonation they decide to seek their lawyer and have Danny turn himself in. In the subsequent retrial of the case, Danny is confronted again with the Musketeers, but the result is startling and unpredictable.

Jeffrey Archer is a master story teller. With this modern day version of Alexander Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo he is at his best. The plot is skillfully crafted. The characters are well developed. The metamorphosis of Danny from illiterate East End garage mechanic to polished financial genius is a credit to his character and determination to prove his innocence and revenge the wrong done to him, as well as a credit to the perseverance of Nick Moncrieff to shape his personality. The faith of Beth and her continual pursuit to clear Danny's name is a testimony of true love. The characters of the Musketeers reveal their conceit and feelings of self importance.

One of the most likeable characters is the young barrister who was bested by a superior opponent in the first trial, but who continues to believe in Danny and works for him again (with the assistance of his father, a High Court judge) to gain justice and redemption. The dialogue is crisp and witty.

There are great court scenes. Archer has drawn upon his own legal background and his own prison experience to make the details of the story realistic.

It all makes for a book which readers will not be able to put down until they reach the final page.

Highly recommended.