The Double Florin

The Double Florin is a 1924 thriller novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street.^[1] Like H.C. McNeile's Bulldog Drummond and Agatha Christie's The Secret Adversary the plot revolves around a Bolshevik conspiracy to destroy capitalism and western democracy.^[2] The title refers to the Double florin coin.

The Double Florin

First edition front endpapers
Author	John Rhode
Language	English
Genre	Thriller
Publisher	Geoffrey Bles
Publication date	1924
Publication place	United Kingdom
Media type	Print

It was his second published novel and anticipated the introduction of his best-known character Dr. Priestley in his following book The Paddington Mystery. The conspiracy is being directed by Professor Sanderson, a brilliant mathematician.^[3] Sanderson is not himself a communist, but is manipulating the organisation to try and create a new order based on pure reason.^[4]

Synopsis

A young English aristocrat Lord Robert Mountmichael is recruited by LIDO, a secret organisation formed by international financiers to battle the forces of disorder. He eventually exposes the Professor as the mastermind behind the plot to destroy Britain's social system as a prelude to world collapse, while falling in love with his daughter Joan. After exposing Sanderson's true motivation, the professor is shot dead by one of his fanatical henchman.