The Assassin and the Deer

Belize is one of the sites where this outlandish first novel's gung-ho narrator Tessa works for the ``Organization'' in defense of human rights. A self-described exotic beauty, Tessa claims to be lethally effective in the pursuit of secret agents who torture and murder at will. After a failed attempt on her life, she follows her attacker to Belize and assassinates him, as well as his cohorts. (She also takes time out for social engagements and steamy sex with an adoring lover.) The mutilations Tessa boasts of, caused by nonstop derring-do, may weaken her claim to depiction as a raving beauty--but then, the entire story is preposterous. Although loaded with blood, lust and violence, the book, a juvenile fantasy of triumph over evil, arouses no feelings except irritated amusement. Weyer teaches jungle survival and spelunking techniques for the British Forces in Belize and Central America. (May)