The Dan Delaney Thrillers is seven novels covering a life and career that begins as a teenage acting detective in 1935 Auckland, where the rookie is assigned to the team protecting a scientist and his inventions sought by countries preparing for war. The Death Ray Debacle is a novel of the true story of Victor Penny, who was attacked in an attempt to steal his blueprints for radar and lasers. Nazis active in the city recruiting Germans and identifying Jews are suspects along with other foreign agents. The government puts the scientist under armed guard to develop his inventions. Delaney is part of the first counterintelligence department. The six other novels follow his career at decade intervals as he is bodyguard for the New Zealand prime minister, thwarting communist subversion, an anarchist attempt to incinerate Parliament during Vietnam protests, sabotage of Jerusalem sacred sites, an American nuclear warship in Sydney harbour and violent derailing of the Northern Ireland 1995 peace accord. Delaney is at the centre of the 20th century flashpoints.