When Julian Radclive joins the European office of a US multinational manufacturer in 1978 he doesn't expect to be involved in a posible murder on arrival at its recently acquired factory in a small German village, nor in the mysterious contraband traffic with its sister company in Brazil. And nobody told him that he would encounter murderous former Nazis in Germany or be dealing wih a Gestapo war criminal when he visits Rio.  Avoiding the perils of corporate politics he enlists the uncertain support of British intelligence. Julian sets about rescuing his company from the threat of a looming public relations disaster. Playing amateur detective may be a game, but when he and his wife Gaby become targets for assassins the fun is soon over. Jonathan Reuvid enjoyed a long career in international business after university and miliary service. Over recent decades he has built a second career as an editor and author of business and academic books with more than 100 titles to his name. Rites of Spring is his first novel.