Golden Gate

Alistair MacLean (1922–1987) was a British writer, author of 28 thrillers and adventure stories, screenwriter. His name is widely known to readers around the world. MacLean's books have sold more than 150 million copies, and 18 films have been made... based on his novels, scripts, and plots. In 1983, the University of Glasgow awarded the writer an honorary doctorate in literature.
MacLean's heroes live and triumph across the globe, "from communist Hungary and the Gulf of Mexico to Singapore, the south of France, San Francisco, the Netherlands, and the Arctic Ocean" (kirkusreviews.com).
The flagship of this collection is the novel "Golden Gate." The bridge of the same name in San Francisco, a marvel of engineering, is considered impregnable, even from the perspective of vigilant FBI agents. Especially when the presidential motorcade is crossing it. But for the bad guys wanting to hit the jackpot, nothing is impossible...
The leader of the gang is a fanatic obsessed with the idea of provoking a colossal earthquake to sink the Golden State into the ocean ("Goodbye, California!"). The authorities confess their own powerlessness. Who will stop the rehearsal of the apocalypse?..
The risk of traveling through the Amazon jungle may be justified if the goal is to find an ancient civilization. Or stolen treasures. Or the kidnappers themselves ("River of Death").
In the novel "Circus," a magician with extraordinary abilities is recruited by the CIA to help discover the secret formula for antimatter.