Simon Templar faces a weapon capable of turning its victims to ash-and a ruthless enemy determined to possess it. While traveling with Patricia Holm, the Saint discovers a secret government installation testing a terrifying new weapon: the electroncloud machine. Simon immediately recognizes the danger. No government-and certainly no criminal-can be trusted with a device capable of annihilation. But powerful armaments dealer Rayt Marius has already set his sights on the invention, and when Patricia falls into his hands, Simon's private war becomes brutally personal. Blending crime, espionage, scientific menace, and high-stakes adventure, The Saint Closes the Case pushes Simon Templar into one of his darkest and most dangerous confrontations. Loyalty is tested, sacrifice carries a terrible price, and the struggle against Marius leaves consequences that continue into later Saint adventures. Originally known as The Last Hero, this early novel helped establish the larger world and mythology surrounding Leslie Charteris's famous modern buccaneer.