A violent, power-hungry, flame-haired Scotsman who dies in a best-selling novel set in 19th century Hong Kong has unwittingly become drawn into one of the most bizarre crimes to happen in Australia.
Dirk Struan, a fictional character in James Clavell's 1966 historical novel Tai-Pan, was the signature reportedly used to sign off a typed ransom note attached to a fake bomb which was forcibly chained to the neck of an 18-year-old Australian girl.
The 10-hour ordeal started last Wednesday afternoon when Madeleine Pulver, a Year 12 pupil who lives with her parents in the wealthy Sydney suburb of Mosman, was home alone and an intruder broke in.
The balaclava-clad man reportedly tied the device to Pulver's neck, along with a list of demands.
It took hours before a bomb squad realised the device was a fake and police have since described the case as 'very unusual'.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said it was like something out of a Hollywood script.
A team was set up to investigate the incident and police are treating it as a serious extortion attempt.