cover image Do Not Go Gentle

Do Not Go Gentle

Gordon Stevens. St. Martin's Press, $17.95 (382pp) ISBN 978-0-312-01488-9

A large cast of characters on three continents, roller-coaster plot turns and a rich background of terrorism should have made this a winning thriller. But annoying stylistic tics, relentless coincidences and a fatal sentimentality dull the narrative. Abu Nabil, head of a Palestinian terrorist faction, weaves a web of intrigue that includes an Arab prince, a top Tory in the Foreign Office, Reagan's chief Middle East adviser and various terrorist groups of Europe. Nabil's plan is to synchronize terror in Europe, induce a series of hunger strikes by jailed terrorists and cap it all with a spectacular Lufthansa hijacking. Chief among those affected are Nabil's head henchman, a top British anti-terrorist, Russian Jewish refuseniks, IRA Provos and members of their families. The coincidencesthe Brit saves the life of a Provo's son, the Arab terrorist rescues a refusenik's sonmount unconscionably. Worse, Stevens uses pretentious, predictable repetitions and often coyly witholds information from the reader. Worst, at the hijacking's mawkish end, readers will wonder what the fuss was all about. (February 24)