Fans of Helen MacInnes will find a lot to like in the latest suspense thriller from Russell (Exposure
), despite a story that basically fizzles out after an exciting start. PI Will Travis, a West Point dropout with a prodigious memory, does jobs that are "mostly corporate undercover." In the bar of a Chesapeake Bay hotel, where Will's on assignment to report on the quality of service, the highly observant investigator sees a man slip something into the drink of an attractive woman. With no time to call the police, Will follows the couple outside, where a hit man takes a shot at him. Will flees with the woman, Claire Harrington, who he learns is the daughter of the late Garret Harrington, a former congressman and West Point grad. (The West Point honor code serves to explain some important character motivation.) Garret supposedly committed suicide a few months earlier, but Claire believes he was murdered and asks Will to help her prove it before they go to the police. She claims the same killers are after her and, amazingly, are acting on behalf of an aspiring presidential candidate. Once Will and Claire escape immediate danger, however, the plot bogs down and comes to a somewhat baffling resolution with more than one loose end. Still, readers will appreciate the author's sense of humor, provocative view of national politics and effective use of the Washington, D.C., area for local color. (Dec. 15)
