“The February Plan,” by Robert L. Duncan

The February Plan, by Robert L. Duncan (Ballantine, 1978).

Duncan, who was born in Oklahoma and died there in 1999 at age 71, was a highly productive TV screenwriter, turning out scripts for popular series such as The Man From Blackhawk, Bonanza, Have Gun, Will Travel, The Virginian, and Lost in Space. In addition, he penned mystery and thriller novels, and at least one biography, some published under the pseudonyms James Hall Roberts and W.R. Duncan.

The February Plan was published originally in 1968 by William Morrow under the author’s Roberts alias. An Amazon reader review says its story “takes place in Tokyo, Japan, and is about novelist/father Phillip Corman trying to find out what exactly happened to his Army Lieutenant son (Paul), who turns up dead shortly after the Christmas/New Year’s Day holiday. What is the Army/U.S. government trying to hide and why?”

Cover illustration by Elaine Duillo.