Lionel White specialized in writing caper novels. In this latest omnibus edition from Stark House, White varies his subject matter. In The Mexico Run (1974), Mark Johns returns from his tour in Vietnam with a plan to go to Mexico and smuggle a load of Acapulco Gold back into the United States. In the early 1970s, the Border was porous and drug smuggling was relatively easy.

But Mark Johns runs into complications. A young girl on the run named Sharon attaches herself to Johns despite his reluctance to get involved in her messy Life. Then, Johns has to deal with Captain Hernando Morales, who controls the police but is interested in Johns’s drug smuggling plan…as a partner.

Lies, double-dealing, and death follow Mark Johns as he tries to pull his drug caper off. The Mexico Run can’t escape violence, betrayals, and suspense no matter how fast it moves! GRADE: B

Jailbreak (1976) features many of the elements of White’s caper novels, but instead of trying to steal something, White’s characters in Jailbreak try to escape from a prison.

Sally Modesto, serving a Life Sentence, has the financial means to fund an elaborate escape plan. But, Sally can’t do it alone. The funds come from his lawyer. The plan requires distraction so Sally recruits Captain of the Guards McVey. But, that’s not enough so Sally brings Jed, Cotton, and Mordecai into the escape plan.

But the most brilliant plan is always vulnerable to the Weakest Link. Palmer, a prison snitch, grabs his opportunity to disrupt the escape and all hell breaks out! Like the best of Lionel White’s capers, the brilliant planning, the careful setup, and then surprises during the execution of the escape take the reader on a white-knuckle thrill ride into panic, fear, and intrigue! GRADE: B+