Germany, 1945, as the Third Reich realize that the end is at hand, a general is sent to Switzerland with a truckful of documents containing information on the formula for synthetic fuel, but is intercepted by an American before the documents can reach their destination. The scene cuts to present day Los Angeles and the discovery of the dead body of Thomas Neely, an ex-police officer who has recently been dealing in cocaine. His friend, Lieutenant Barney Caine, is put on the case. The myriad of clues eventually lead to Adam Steiffel, the head of an international oil cartel and the American officer responsible for the detention of the German general. Based on Steve Shagan's best-selling 1979 book of the same name, The Formula is a cracking conspiracy thriller with a great cast and an all too believable premise.