The Baron at Large — John Creasey

It was to be an historic occasion. The Kallinov collection, jewels worth a quarter of a million pounds, were to be collected under one roof, and John Mannering -- alias the Baron -- had been invited to bring along his own Gloria diamonds. What his hosts were unaware of, however, was that their charming, elegant guest was in fact the legendary and highly successful jewel thief! So when Mannering is roused by a gunshot in the night and arrives on the scene to witness the whole collection being driven away by thieves, he has much cause for concern. But concern swiftly turns to alarm when he receives a gloating note from the thieves who, it seems, are trying to frame him…