cover image The Boss

The Boss

Stan Pottinger, . . St. Martin's, $24.95 (341pp) ISBN 978-0-312-27677-5

Bestseller Pottinger (The Final Procedure ) craftily plays on the metaphorical bigness of Texas in this oversized thriller—big egos, big money, big love triangles, all fueled by big oil. The biggest ego of all is that of 38-year-old Jack "Spin" Patterson, a good ol' boy from Houston who has scratched and scrounged his way to the top of Gulf-Tex Oil. He's got money, women and a shadowy past he's trying desperately to keep hidden. Love him or hate him, Spin's the sort of man who takes over a room, as well as a novel. Spin's nemesis is Max McLennon, a former protégé who thrives under his mentor's wing until he discovers Spin's greed and ambition know few bounds. McLennon lays a trap designed to bankrupt Spin and scuttle his boss's latest invention—a gold mine of a device dubbed Black Eyes that can detect oil fields at far greater depths than existing technology. Juicy sex, high-stakes vengeance and taut action will keep readers turning the pages. (Dec.)