Bitter Autumn — Colin D. Peel

Returning to New Zealand from Canada, Russ Gallagher becomes involved in a dangerous venture to recover a large quantity of illegally mined gold. Travelling to the Bay of Islands in pursuit of two American visitors who he believes have hidden the precious metal, he discovers he has been deliberately misled. Gallagher arranges to smuggle the gold to Los Angeles, but his plans to follow are complicated by unexpected events, forcing him into a desperate situation...