June 1969, New York. John Dortmunder is approached to carry out a heist by one of his former accomplices, Kelp, an expert in stealing cars. The plan is to take advantage of an African art exhibition to steal its star attraction - an emerald worth half a million dollars - for an obscure African state where the invaluable stone has special importance. Though reluctant to do it and ill-at-ease when meeting the silent partner behind the operation, Dortmunder lets himself be convinced and starts to recruit the crack team that will nab the emerald...