'Casa Ferrobo and the Man in the Panama Hat' by Dan Latus

Independently Published,
8 September 2026.
ISBN: 979-8-17261394-4 (PB)

Jake and Magda are sitting in a café in the Algarve in Portugal, pleased to be back. Whilst relaxing in the sunshine Jake receives a text from his old boss Sir Giles Henderson from his days in the Foreign Office asking him if he can see a man in a Panama hat sitting at a neighbouring table.  ‘He used to be one of ours, still might be. …’ 

At that moment two men barge past Jake’s table towards the man in the Panama hat.  Turning Jake observes two other men standing the doorway observing. So, Jake jumps up saying ‘Tom, how are you? Good to see you old chap! The two men withdraw, and the man in the Panama hat gathers his newspaper and glasses case and gets to his feet and was gone.

Magda says, I don’t think that’s the end of it. I think we may hear from Sir Giles very soon.  And she was right…

Flight tickets, together with hotel reservations arrived on Jakes phone with the message, see you tomorrow 8am London. 

It’s the start of a challenging job for Jake and his partner, Magda, as although they are instructed by Sir Giles to set up a surveillance operation to observe the man now identified as Felipe Rodrigues, who was known as ‘our man in Southern Portugal for many years.  But observing increasingly leads to investigating and even protecting a difficult man whose current loyalties are still unknown.  What becomes clear is that he appears to have accumulated an array of enemies. 

And so, they flew back to Portugal and settled on a plan. Jake would visit Rodrigues in his house in one of the ancient narrow little streets.  But his conversation with Rodrigues was not enlightening, particularly as they had to move on pretty fast to stay alive.  Although there are dangerous people after him, Jake still felt that Rodrigues could not have been a big player in the service. More of an observer than an agent.  So, what has he done to have acquired so many people to be after him, and for what? 

A true espionage mystery. Who is on whose side? Who is out to kill Rodrigues? What does he know that’s making him afraid to talk to anyone?  And most important of all, whose side is he on? 

Jake and Magda have already saved him twice, but who is actually after him, the South Americans, the Russians, or drug dealers? 

A terrific mystery that will keep you on the edge of your chair. Recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett 

Dan Latus lives with his wife in Northumberland. By instinct and education a geographer, his novels are inspired by the regions and places where he has lived and worked, and knows best. Several are set on Teesside and along the Cleveland coast, where he grew up and developed a love of hill walking and climbing. Others are located in Northumberland, which has long been home. Some are set at least in part in Central Europe, a region he has visited frequently over many years for work and pleasure. And "Saving Harry" is based in Western Canada, where he lived and worked for the best part of a decade.