THE BANG DEVILS

Two bumbling American 20-somethings try their hand at a risky kidnapping and ransom scheme and end up in hot water in Foss's rousing first novel, set in Japan. Jessica Romano, a greedy "hostess" at the Hotel Happy Casanova has stepped up her lucrative escort service by catering solely to aging, married businessman Tamotsu Zeniya, a man with a mansion and a safe full of cash. Meanwhile, college friend Chris Ryan, now a club bouncer and drug dealer, is getting itchy for some real action—the kind that will make both of them rich. Together with Jessica's dopey jailbird boyfriend Taro, all three hatch a plan to kidnap Zeniya and hold him for ransom. Of course, ploys like this never come off as planned and as soon as Chris stuffs his mark into a van, the trio discovers that Zeniya is not who he appears to be. In fact, the salaryman they've kidnapped is actually a yakuza (Japanese mafia) kingpin, and heads will roll if they are discovered hiding out in a waterfront boathouse before the loot is collected. The story plays out in standard genre fashion as all three kidnappers fall prey to double-crossing, scene stealing and bouts of paranoia. One videotaped ransom note and several severed fingers later, Foss's slapdash, cinematic conclusion puts a thrilling clincher on the mayhem. This is Foss's debut and also the first title from HarperCollins's newest imprint, Dark Alley Books: an impressive start all around. (Sept.)

Forecast:Hip cover art and insouciant, Fight Club–style action should get this noticed by younger readers.