Puppet on a Chain

A U.S. government special agent with Dutch roots who pursues the Dutch heroin source fueling the drug war. He navigates friction with Amsterdam’s police leadership while driving a cross-continental investigation. His determination and adaptiveness keep him in the thick of a dangerous conspiracy.

Amsterdam’s chief of police who resents American interference in Dutch affairs. He represents official authority and resistance to foreign involvement. His stance sets the stage for tension between sovereignty and international crime fighting.

Sherman’s Dutch contact who is more cooperative, partly due to his niece Trudi’s brain-damage history from a heroin overdose. He serves as a bridge between American operatives and Dutch law enforcement. His involvement highlights personal stakes in the case.

A deep-cover agent from Washington who works with Sherman. She brings a clandestine perspective to the investigation and operates within a web of secrecy and danger. Her presence underscores the international scope of the mission.

Duclos’ girlfriend whose drug addiction and ties to the trafficking world complicate the case. Her life intersects with the violence of the drug trade, culminating in her murder. Astrid’s fate amplifies the human costs of the crime network.

Astrid’s troubled brother, whose overdose underscores the destructive reach of drug abuse. His involvement and death highlight the collateral damage of the narcotics trade. He represents the vulnerable victims caught in the system’s gears.

The drug lord at the heart of the conspiracy, who kills Astrid and captures Maggie before a dramatic escape. He is cunning, ruthless, and capable of manipulating others to protect his empire. His pursuit by Sherman ends with a perilous chase and a boat crash.

Van Gelder’s niece, who pretends mental disability to mask her involvement in the trafficking network. Her manipulation is exposed during the investigation, and she meets a tragic end in the ensuing chaos. Her arc reveals how families can be entangled in crime.

The warehouse operator who runs the distribution side of the drug network. His role connects the Amsterdam logistics of trafficking to the broader criminal web. His presence marks a key node in the supply chain.

A deep-cover agent who is killed by an assassin at Schiphol, triggering a wider pursuit. His death catalyzes the investigation and deepens the sense of danger surrounding undercover work. He represents the perilous costs of covert operations.

A mysterious killer who shoots Jimmy Duclos at the airport, setting off a chain of events that drives the chase. He embodies the relentless reach of the criminal network. Sherman later confronts and defeats him in a climactic moment.